Page 48 of Beguiling the Baron

There was light in the folly. It could only be Hal, surely?

Tia hesitated. By moving across the grass, heralded by her tiny pool of light, she would announce her presence and her vulnerability to all the night things that were abroad. She would also risk Hal’s wrath by seeking him out at the folly.

A bat flitted past her head and slanted in beneath the archway. The trees soughed in the gentle night breeze and shivers ran across her skin, even though it was mild.

No, she couldn’t let her courage fail her now. What kind of mother would she make for Polly if she was afraid of the dark?

A mother to Polly? Now from where had that thought sprung?

Don’t get distracted, Tia. Lifting her head and her lantern high, she strode across the lawn toward the folly, hastened up the steps, and knocked heavily on the door. Next, she put her back against it and turned to face the night, to ensure nothing evil or untoward had sneaked across the grass in her wake.

For some moments she stood there, afraid she’d get no answer. Then, to her relief, she heard the door open behind her and turned at Hal’s surprised voice. “Tia? Whatever are you doing here?”

“I’m so glad you answered. I was afraid you wouldn’t open the door.”

“Afraid?”

“I’m sure someone or something was watching me as I came across here.”

“Foolish girl. No one’s there.”

It was a relief to hear the comfort in his tone, but he didn’t invite her into the folly. Instead, in a notably obvious fashion, he pulled the door shut behind him, took the key from around his neck, and locked it.

“What do you want?” There was no anger in his voice. Hopefully, a positive sign, but clearly the folly remained forbidden territory.

Before she could respond, he took her hand. “I’ll walk back to the house with you if you wish, but I’m sure you’re not being watched. The dogs would have made a ruckus if there were an intruder. They have extremely good noses and know exactly who should be about and who should not.”

Of course—she was being ridiculous. She took a deep breath, tried to steady her heartbeat . . . and failed. Hal had her hand captive in his. Did the wretched man have no idea what his touch was doing to her? A tremor of fear became a quiver of desire.

“Has something happened, my sweet?” His voice was soft.

She swallowed hard and forced her thoughts back into their proper channel. “I wanted to ask your permission for something. Can we descend before we talk?” Her knees had already weakened, a considerable problem on the steep, gritty stairway.

“Certainly. Shall we go for an evening stroll?”

He helped her down with a care bordering on chivalry. Gracious. Was this really the same man she’d seen on her arrival at Foxleaze, so devoid of emotion or interest, she’d believed him a hermit?

Refusing to allow her mind to stray down the path of lust again, she burst out, “Mama and I want to invite some of the local children to join us for a game of croquet one afternoon. Polly has had no company her own age since her mama died. I’m certain it would be good for her to practice sharing and taking turns, and maybe get involved in a bit of rough and tumble.”

“In a stately game like croquet?”

She could barely see him in the darkness, but no doubt he’d raised a quizzical eyebrow, a gesture that made her insides melt. She gave no reply, unsure she could trust her voice.

“How many children?” He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they wandered back in the general direction of the house.

“Oh, I thought perhaps ten. No more.”

“Let us reduce the number to five. I know how much children can make their presence felt. So, who will you invite and who will accompany them? Will you have Cook organize a picnic? What will you do if it rains?”

“So, you don’t refuse me outright?”

“I’m finding it increasingly difficult to refuse you anything, Miss Galatea Wyndham.”

The warmth in his voice, as he spoke her name, thrilled her. It seemed she might be on the verge of winning more than one battle here.

“We’ll make sure everything is well planned. I want to cause you as little inconvenience as possible.”

“I don’t intend to be inconvenienced at all. I shall go out.”

Up ahead in the darkness a duck muttered to itself. A tawny owl wafted past on silent wings.

“But you never go out.” Tia tried to keep the disappointment from her voice.

“Except to London and fairs.”

“Apart from those. I assumed they were exceptions to the rule.”

“Not anymore. You’ve undermined all my rules, turned my life upside-down, driven me out of my refuge, forced me to cut my hair, and let me make a laughingstock of myself in front of the local peasantry. I don’t know what to do with you, Tia. I don’t know what to do without you, either.”

The darkness hid her elation, but she thought she had never been happier than when she heard this confession fall from his lips.

Yet, until she knew the secret of the folly, she could never truly consider herself the victor.