He kept step with her easily. “Of course we agree. There is much we have always agreed on. Until now.”
“If we have agreed in the past, it has been in a professional capacity. If you think you know me based on that alone, you are wrong.”
“Hm. Perhaps you’re right. It would explain pink. And green and red.”
“Pardon?”
“Since I’ve been here, you’ve not worn gray once. Nor black nor brown. Nor any other sedate color—the colors, by the by, I’m used to seeing you wear. Instead, everything’s been bright and bold. And my sisters-in-law aren’t even here to dress you.” He sounded rather despondent.
And that made her despondent. The truth was they did not fully know one another. What if she grew to know him better and fell out of love? Though her heart had pained her every day and night since she’d realized his name was written there, she did not want to give it up. It was a lovely thing to love another person. It made her days brighter.
“This is why it is well you are staying. So we could come to know one another. Truly. To see if staying with you, I mean, in your employ, for another four or so years?—”
“Longer.”
“Or longer is?—”
“Much longer.”
“Whatever the length of time, if we are not compatible, it would not be wise to continue the association. We must go in different directions for both our benefits.”
“You’re correct, of course.” But the grumble that carried the words did not sound pleased about it.
The cliffs rose before them, and the soft, swaying grass, browning in the autumn cold, gave way to dirt and gravel. She stepped to the edge as she always did, feeling her stomach flip asthe cliff rose up to meet the soles of her feet. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sky, and in the salt-scented darkness, a hand stole over her shoulder, warm and strong, and drew her back, away from the edge.
“Too close, Amelia.”
She opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder. His eyes were cold. But a spark had ignited there, and he’d not yet removed his hand from her shoulder. He looked more like the dripping man who had banged on her front door and kissed her with a desperation now than he had since he’d snapped out of his wildness mere moments after that kiss. He did not like her on the edge, and when his most potent emotions were stirred, he acted.
Excellent to know.
She took another step back to stand beside him, and the spark in his blue eyes faded.
“Let us begin to know one another better now.” She looked out to sea. Below, the waves crashed against the shore. “Let’s see… what should you know of me? Perhaps that I enjoy taking a risk. Or two. Now and then.”
The fire sparked back in his eye. “If you step up to the edge of that cliff again, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and take you back to the castle.”
Her heartbeat surged on a wave of victory. She almost wanted to step back to the edge. But knowing he might do such a thing was enough to satisfy her. Not necessary to push it just now.
“As a little girl, I used to come here often and sit on the very edge, dangling my feet over.”
“Dear God, no one stopped you?”
She sat and pulled him down to join her. “No one often knew what I was about. My grandfather was kind, and he was gladto have me here, but he spent most of his time in London for parliament. Or at his other estates, monitoring things.”
“And he never took you with him?”
She shook her head. “Such places are not suitable for children. He had work to do, and I had questions, a never-ending string of them. And I liked being around him and others. I’m afraid I was a bit of a nuisance.” She chuckled.
He stretched his legs out before him and leaned his weight on his hands behind him, and his fingers made claws in the grass.
“So,” she continued, “I stayed here most of the time. I liked coming here, to the cliff edge, because I came here on an ocean, and I liked to imagine a string connecting me to the place where I was born, as if I could follow it, hold onto it, and find my way back there.” She laughed. “The ship I traveled on docked on the Thames, and then we traveled by road to get to Hawkscraig, but I did not care about technicalities.”
“Do you wish to return to America now?”
“No.”
“Then stay away from the damn edge.” He looked out to sea, and his jaw twitched.
