Nash said, “It’s a one-two-three step, and all you need to do is to relax and trust me. On the first step, I will move forward with my left foot, and you will move backward with your right. After that just follow my moves. Now, on the count of three: one, two, three.”
They moved off and almost immediately she tried to steer him in the direction she wanted. He stopped. “The man is supposed to lead,” he told her. “The woman follows.”
“Lead then,” she said.
Again they stepped off in perfect harmony, but half a dozen steps later, she was trying to steer him to the left while he wanted her to go right. The trouble was she needed to have it out with him, and while her emotions were in such a turmoil, she couldn’t concentrate on the wretched dance.
“It’s a matter of trust,” he murmured in her ear. “The children did it instinctively.”
“They’re children, they trust easily.”
“The trouble is, you’ve been running your life for so long by yourself that you’re used to being in control. But it’s like marriage. I lead, you follow, and we move forward together as a team.”
It was the perfect opening. She dropped his hand and stepped back. “But you don’t think that about marriage, do you? You don’t expect us to move forward, you think I’ll drag you down.” Her voice shook on the last part of the sentence.
“What?”
“That’s what your aunt said.” She bit her lips to stop them trembling.
“Well, she’s wrong. I don’t think anything of the sort.” Nash was outraged. “I’d never say such a thing. Or even think it,” he added angrily, seeing the doubt in her eyes. And the hurt. He reached to take her hands but she snatched them away. He swore under his breath.
She folded her arms in what he recognized was a defensive position and said, “Then why did you tell her you’re considering resigning your position in the diplomatic service and becoming a country squire?”
“Blast Aunt Maude for an interfering old woman!”
“I quite agree, but is it true?” She waited.
Nash forced himself to calm. “I am considering it,” he said coolly, “though nothing is decided.”
“Why?”
He cast around for the most convincing way to put it. “I’ve never had the opportunity to run my own estate before. It interests me. And I find I enjoy country life. I could breed horses, like Harry, and—”
“Fustian!”
“Fustian?” He wasn’t used to people, especially women contradicting him. Apart from Aunt Maude.
“Complete and utter fustian,” she said composedly. “You’re afraid I’ll be a disaster in diplomatic circles.”
“I am not!” He denied it indignantly. He hadn’t though any such thing. Out of her depth, perhaps, but not a disaster.
“You are. You haven’t said it, and perhaps you haven’t thought it in so many words, but that’s what’s behind this. And I won’t have it.” She lifted her chin in a challenge.
God, but she was adorable when her temper was up. He raised an eyebrow. “You won’t?”
“No, I won’t. Have a little faith in me, Nash Renfrew. I might not have been raised in government circles, but I will learn. And manage. And have a little faith in yourself. A few mistakes on my part will not reflect on you and the years of excellent service you have given your country.”
He blinked at the confidence she had in him. The pride. And felt ashamed that he’d doubted her, even for a minute.
“Don’t listen to that horrid old aunt of yours.”
“She’s not so bad when you get to—”
“You and I will make an excellent team. And we’re going to be very happy.”
He knew that. He was already very happy. Frighteningly happy. She wasn’t going to call off the marriage. For a second he’d feared she might.
Maddy swept on. “I won’t be hidden away at Whitethorn simply because I might fail. All my life I’ve been stuck in the country, dreaming dreams of how life could be, of travel, adventures, and lo—” She broke off. “And now I have the chance to make those dreams come true,” she amended.
