Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(25)

Awkwardly Lily limped along beside him. “Aren’t you going to offer me your arm?”

He shoved his elbow at her. She took his arm, leaning her weight on the solid support. Lily did her best to hamper Raiford as they made their way back through the garden. She wanted Zachary and Penelope to have as much time alone as possible. Discreetly Lily glanced at her companion. Some time after he had left the parlor, Raiford must have raked his hands through his golden hair, for the usually immaculate smoothness was ruffled and disordered. The humid air was making it curl on the back of his neck. A stray lock or two had fallen onto his forehead. Really, he had beautiful hair for a man.

Walking so close to him, Lily became aware of the pleasant scent that clung to him, the mixture of tobacco and crisp starched linen and some appealing, underlying fragrance she couldn’t quite identify. In spite of the throbbing of her ankle, she was almost enjoying her stroll with him. That disturbed her so profoundly that she was compelled to stir up another argument.

“Must you walk so fast?” she demanded. “I feel as if we’re in a frigging footrace. Blast it! If this worsens my injury, Raiford, I’ll hold you accountable.”

Alex scowled but slowed his pace. “You have a foul mouth, Miss Lawson.”

“Men talk the same way. I don’t see why I can’t. Besides, all of my gentlemen friends admire my colorful vocabulary.”

“Including Derek Craven?”

Lily was glad that he was aware of her friendship with Derek. It was good for him to know she had a powerful ally. “Mr. Craven has taught me some of the most useful words I know.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“Must we plow ahead like this? I am not some obstinate mule to be dragged forth at such a relentless pace. Could we slow to a more reasonable speed? Incidentally, my lord, you reek of cigars.”

“If it offends you, make your own way back.”

They continued to quarrel as they entered the house. Lily made certain that her voice was strong enough to echo through the gallery and the marble hall, alerting Penelope and Zachary to their return. As Raiford opened the parlor door and yanked Lily inside with him, they saw the star-crossed lovers sitting respectably far apart from each other. Lily wondered what had transpired between them during their moment of privacy. Zachary appeared to be in his usually good humor, while Penelope looked pink and flustered.

Alex surveyed the two of them and spoke dryly. “Miss Lawson mentioned something about an argument?”

Having risen to his feet at their entrance, Zachary gave Lily a bewildered glance.

“My quick temper is legendary,” Lily interceded with a laugh. “I just had to dash out and clear my head. Am I forgiven, Zach?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Zachary said gallantly, coming over to kiss her hand.

Lily switched her hold on Alex’s arm to Zachary’s. “Zach, I’m afraid you’ll have to help me to a chair. I turned my ankle while I was strolling through the garden.” She waved a hand disdainfully in the direction of Raiford’s immaculately groomed landscape. “A root was protruding from the ground, nearly as thick as a man’s leg!”

“A slight exaggeration,” Alex said sardonically.

“Well, it was quite large, nonetheless.” With Zachary’s help, she limped dramatically to a nearby chair and eased herself into it.

“We’ll have to make a poultice,” Penelope exclaimed. “Poor Lily—don’t move!” She rushed from the room and headed toward the kitchen.

Zachary began to question Lily in concern. “How bad is the injury? Is the pain limited solely to your ankle?”

“I’ll be perfectly fine.” She gave an exaggerated wince. “But perhaps you would return tomorrow, to check on my condition?”

“Every day, until you’re better,” Zachary promised.

Lily smiled over his head at Raiford, wondering if the grating sound she heard was his teeth gnashing together.

By the next day, Lily’s ankle felt almost like new, with only a twinge of discomfort as a reminder of having sprained it. The weather was unusually warm and sunny. In the morning Zachary arrived to take her for a carriage ride, and Lily insisted that Penelope accompany them. Brusquely Alex declined Penelope’s halfhearted invitation to join them, electing to stay behind and attend some business about the estate. Needless to say, Lily, Penelope, and Zachary were all silently relieved at Alex’s refusal. Had he participated in their outing, it would have made things rather tense.

The threesome set off in an open-air carriage. Zachary handled the ribbons expertly, occasionally looking over his shoulder and grinning at the comments made by his two passengers. Lily and Penelope sat together, their smiling faces shaded by straw bonnets. They came to a fork in the road. At Zachary’s suggestion they took the less-traveled avenue, until they reached a particularly beautiful section of country. Zachary pulled the carriage to a stop. They admired the wide green meadow before them, fragrant with violets, clover, and wild geraniums.

“How lovely!” Penelope exclaimed, pushing an errant blonde curl away from her eyes. “Might we go for a walk? I’d love to pick some violets for Mother.”

“Hmm.” Lily shook her head regretfully. “I’m afraid my ankle still pains me a little,” she lied. “I’m not up to tromping through fields today. Perhaps Zachary would volunteer to escort you.”