Chapter 3

H er heart was pounding so quickly Winifred was almost certain it was going to skip right out of her chest! But logically, she knew that was not possible. Besides, every now and then, her heart did like to beat like a horse's hooves at Newmarket. Usually when she realized that she had said something that was not favored in company.

That was not the case now. Not at all.

For Lord Ajax wasn't staring at her as if she was annoying or boring or something to endure.

Quite the contrary.

Lord Ajax seemed to like her conversation, and she had never been in the company of a man so utterly beautiful and so utterly self-possessed as he was. It was, she assumed, like being near a god. He was so confident, so relaxed, so at ease. She wanted to melt into that presence and take it into herself.

Could she catch it? Was it catching, that confidence? Dear Lord, she hoped that it was because at this moment she suddenly realized that everyone she'd ever met in the ton was pretending.

No one really knew who they were, and they were all just desperately trying to impress each other.

Lord Ajax clearly didn't care if he impressed anyone, and he seemed amused by her. And not in the cruel way that people sometimes were amused by her, as if she was utterly absurd and shouldn't be allowed out in company, or as if she still belonged in a nursery somewhere even though she was in her twenties.

No. His amusement seemed to be delight.

And his delight was a beautiful thing to behold.

In fact, she had never in her whole life been looked at the way he was looking at her now. And in that moment, she felt her whole body transform as if she was a caterpillar in a chrysalis becoming a butterfly.

For once, oh for glorious once, someone was looking at her with admiration, and she loved it more than she could dare say.

This was not at all what she'd anticipated. She'd expected him to say yes. His character and all his past actions of chivalry and love of the ladies had led her to that conclusion. She and Alfred had discussed it carefully.

But she had never ever expected that he would look at her like this.

And she found that under his intense gaze, breathing was no easy thing. Her entire body was warming, unfurling, basking under his attention.

How was it possible that such a man would look at her thus? After all, Lord Ajax was one of the most beautiful men to ever live, surely.

His golden locks tumbled about his strong face. And his shining eyes gazed upon her with a strange mixture of awe and lack of judgement. His shoulders—his beautiful, glorious shoulders—were so broad underneath his perfectly cut coat that she knew if there was to be a sudden storm, and the world was swept away, she would survive it all if she clung to him.

She wondered if other people wished to cling to him in the hopes of surviving the tumult of life. And if they did, would he allow it? She rather thought he might.

She swallowed. "Do you agree?" she asked.

Suddenly, she needed to know. She needed to know if he would be the one who would make her last foray into the world possible.

He smiled slowly. "Of course," he said. "I am most certainly intrigued."

"I'm so glad," she said, beaming up at him as a wave of sheer joy washed over her. "I really wasn't certain if you would."

"How could I possibly say no to you?" he said. "You are a young lady of quite admirable thought, Lady Winifred."

"Am I?" she asked.

"Indeed. It's not a Herculean labor, your request. It sounds quite enjoyable." His gaze roamed over her face, lingering on her mouth. His own lips curled in a slow smile. "And you are certain you're not selecting me because of my reputation for showing ladies…a lovely time?"

She cleared her throat, tempted to let her mind wander to what those lovely times could be. "Lovely times are all well and good, but I only have a little time. And I think I should focus on what I most wish to accomplish."

He cocked his head to the side. "And a kiss isn't something you wish to accomplish?"

She couldn't draw breath. Kiss him? She'd never imagined that he might wish it. "I think it best I do not give way to sin altogether. How ever would I recover?" she teased.

His eyes danced. "You think a great deal of my powers for sin."

"Am I mistaken?" she breathed.

"No," he said softly.

"But if I did give way, and the moment…"

"Arose?" he queried. "If you wish for your adventure to be sinful, my lady, you need only say the word, and I shall oblige. But I shall wait on you."

There it was again! Her blasted heart pounding away. Part of her wished him to steal her into his arms this very moment. But if she did allow such a thing, would she not pine for it? Or should she simply allow herself to give way completely?

She'd never given way in her whole life. Going in degrees seemed wise.

As if he sensed her overwhelm, he asked, "What will you tell your parents?"

She was relieved to change the subject from thoughts of kisses, for those thoughts stole her wits away. "Our father died years ago."

"I am so very sorry," he said with what appeared to be utter sincerity. His gaze softened as if he could sense her pain.

She nodded, refusing to give way to the memories of a happier past that had been stolen from her.

She sucked in a fortifying breath. "My brother and I have that sorted out. We're going to tell our mother that I am going with him to visit a friend in Scotland for a month, and it shall be my last hurrah, so to speak, before I go and live with my great aunt. My brother will have an adventure of his own, and our mother shall be none the wiser."

He nodded. "Good. I am grateful that you have chosen me to help you," he said.

She licked her lips. "Truly?"

He smiled down at her, lifted his hand slowly to her cheek, and cupped it. "Yes, Lady Winifred, I am."

The feel of his gloved hand against her cheek stole through her, whispering the most delicious of temptations. "That is a very interesting thing to do, sir," she observed.

"Is it?" he asked, his gaze half-lidded.

"You've just touched me in a very intimate way."

"I'm sorry if it displeases you, but I confess I felt compelled to do so," he replied, leaning down slightly. "You intrigue me in a way that no one else has done."

She nibbled her lower lip. "Most people don't—"

"Remember what I said about most people?"

She laughed, tilting her face into his palm despite herself. "That I should not care about what others think. But I care about what you think, Lord Ajax," she said. She searched his visage. "You'll be content to go with me?"

"More than content," he said, letting his gloved hand lower as if the action of separation pained him. "I shall be honored."

"I understand why ladies adore you," she blurted.

"Oh?"

"You're delectable," she stated. Then she winced. "Forgive me. That was rude."

"Was it?" he asked, his eyes brightening.

"I just insinuated that you were something tasty to eat," she said, "like a cake."

He laughed boldly. "I have never been compared to a cake. It's true. Surely, I'm a bit of venison. Something strong, something fortifying," he teased.

"Well, if I'm quite honest, no. Not venison. I can see how one might compare you to a summer ice. Something which would soothe the heat and yet…entice the soul with its rarity."

"Entice the soul?" he queried. "My, Lady Winifred, you are actually quite romantic."

"I," she said, "am not romantic at all. But I do say things that are odd."

"Good," he replied. "Life is too short to avoid those things."

"If only the rest of the world thought so. We shall go in two days?"

"Two," he said. "That's rather quick."

"I don't want to waste any time," she replied hastily, kicking herself for her utter nonsense about the ice and soul. "You see, if my mother was to get wind of this, then it could go very badly."

"So where are we to meet?"

"I have a whole itinerary. I can send it to you this evening."

"Please do," he said. "I shall be happy to pore over it and prepare for the trip. But will you be prepared? Have you thought of how we shall travel together? Because—"

"Oh, I have it all planned," she enthused, suddenly quite proud. "I promise you, Lord Ajax, no one shall think anything is amiss."

"What?" he drawled. "Are you going to travel as my caretaker? Will you practice for your role with your great aunt?"

She snorted. "Your caretaker? Anyone who looked at you could never think that you were in want of someone to look after your health," she said.

He smiled slowly at that. "We all need someone to look after us," he said. "Even a fellow like me."

She found that hard to believe. Surely, he was the epitome of health, the epitome of strength. Surely, he didn't need anyone.

He smiled slowly at her. "Lady Winifred," he said, "we all need someone to see us for exactly who we are. I'm just very fortunate. I've grown up in a family where that is an everyday occurrence and you… Well, you're just beginning to understand that."

Yes, she supposed she was. As she left him there, standing by the tree she had so carefully picked for this meeting, she felt braver and more capable than she had in her whole life. Moreover, she felt that the adventure of her life was just about to begin.