“Do not put such thoughts in his head!” Louisa redirected her glare to their host.
Helgate gave an innocent shrug. “I believe it might be instinctual to us.”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Oliver said to his friend before the lady across from him leaped up to box some ears. “It all depends on the man.”
“That is true as well,” Helgate relented, placing the spread on the table before taking a seat, and the kitchen fell into a pleasant silence as they busied themselves filling their stomachs.
After a moment, Leo asked, “Shall we go fishing again today?”
“Sure, why not?” Helgate said. “It’s not as though we are hiding.” He looked to Oliver. “What about you? Will you and the lady be joining us?”
Oliver glanced at Lady Louisa, who shook her head. “Me, fishing? I do not torture myself in such a manner. Besides, I’m not sure I need to be here waiting alongside you for those rough fellows to return.”
Oliver frowned. “You wish to return to Ashford?”
“No!” Leo exclaimed. “I wish to go fishing.”
Louisa exhaled, reaching for her tea. “You can go fishing, I shall not stop you. That is,” she glanced at Helgate, “if Mr. Helgate doesn’t mind your continued presence in his home. Otherwise, you can go fishing in the pond at home.”
The boy pouted, sending a pleading look at Helgate. “Of course, you are welcome to stay as long as you want, Little Leo.”
The boy beamed at his sister.
Oliver almost felt sorry for his friend, but he felt certainly sorry for himself. If Louisa insisted on returning home, there was no way he would allow her to do so alone. Those brothers were looking for them, and while they might have a bit of the upper hand now, if the Furys found her and decided to take her as leverage—kidnapher for leverage—Oliver didn’t know what he would do.
There would be hell to pay.
Chapter Fifteen
Louisa reclined againstthe seat of the carriage, the provocative scent of sandalwood playing with her senses once more. Not just her sense of smell—she could almost see its tendrils unfurl and cling to her skin, coaxing her lips apart to coat her tongue, and whispering against her ears, as though this scent had embedded itself into her whole person.
Was this what they called being utterly aware of another human being?
She had never experienced it on such a supremely deep level before. It would have been much better, and less distracting, if he had let her return home alone.
She snuck a peek at him before averting her gaze. “You didn’t have to accompany me, Duke.”
“Duke? What happened to Oliver?”
“Hewas found in my bed this morning and needs to be punished,” she snapped without thinking about what she was even saying. Louisa’s cheeks heated. “It’s called distancing oneself a bit.”
“Well, I couldn’t let you return by yourself either.”
She scoffed. He very well could, and he knew it! “Why not?”
“Because we are partners.”
Her head whipped back to him. Well, if that didn’t set a woman’s heart aflame...
He cocked his head, smiling at her.
Heh. She must look like a complete ninny to him, acting like a child after waking up in his arms. Why was she even still reacting like this?
“Wasn’t it you who said that we make a great alliance?” he asked.
“I believe my words were that unlikely pairs seemed to make the best alliances.” Or something to that effect.
He nodded. “Then we should capitalize on us being an unlikely pair and keep our alliance in full force for the time being.”
