Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(53)
“Good, I will find you then.” He took another bite of toast.
“But, I—”
“I am sure you would not want to disappoint your mother or me, Miss Ripon.”
She could still refuse, but what was the harm of a walk? She would merely need to be careful not to give any indication that she was interested in anything more.
—
“Meet me at the folly on the west side of the lake, midafternoon,” Colton whispered as he walked past her toward the tables that had once again been spread upon the terrace.
“But…” she tried to answer, but he was already past.
“There you are, Angela,” her mother said, shooting a suspicious look at Colton’s back. “I am glad to see that you are staying away from that man. I was worried last night when you wandered off on your own but glad that you were so careful to stay in sight. A lady can never be too careful of her reputation. There are several eligible men about and more due to arrive. And I believe several of them ride spirited horses. I must admit that Lord Thorton’s gelding looks like it’s been taking laudanum.”
Why did her mother keep talking about men and their horses? Her mother didn’t even like riding, and Angela remained convinced that her mother didn’t intend a more bawdy meaning. “About that, Mother, you must know that—”
“You have no interest in Lord Thorton,” her mother spoke as if reading her mind. “I do know that he is too old for you, dear, and perhaps a little too fixed in his ways. The poor man actually tried to explain to me that I should not let you stroll about at all without a maid.”
“I am glad you understand.”
“I do, but I also know that nothing attracts a man as much as another man showing interest. Take your stroll with him this afternoon—although I am tempted to send a maid along with the two of you. Be pleasant and sweet, but keep an appropriate distance. Lord Thorton will appreciate such behavior and it will help prevent trouble in the future.”
What would Colton think of seeing her with Lord Thorton? He might not care at all; then again, he might, and if she wanted to keep Colton thinking she was not trying to entrap him, then it would be good to show interest in another man. It was all too confusing.
How was she supposed to know what to do when she wasn’t even sure how she felt? “I will do my best, Mother.” And if she kept the walk short, she should still have time to find the folly and visit with Colton.
“I am sure you will, my dear. You are always such a good daughter.”
If only her mother knew.
—
Colton stood in the folly, looking out over the sun-dappled water, contemplating what he had planned.
He knew it was not wise, foolish even, and yet he could not resist the promise inherent in every one of Angela’s precious smiles. He sucked in a deep breath.
He had never been a fool, and yet she made him one.
When he’d seen her leave to stroll down to the lake with Lord Thorton, he’d felt a strange desire to intercede, to cause a public scene. He didn’t want her smiling with anyone but him.
Fool.
And it was not simply the desire to get her here, to take this game one step further.
It truly was that smile, that laugh, the desire to sit by the side of the lake and fish without bait.
He forced his mind from such dangerous territory and stared at the small satchel he had brought with him, thought about what it contained. Was his angel ready?
He thought of her fantasy, of her French lieutenant, of her secret desires.
Yes—or, at least, she would be.
—
Angela nodded a polite farewell to Lord Thorton and headed up the steps to the house. The man was not unpleasant, except when he decided to lecture her on her duty. They’d spent half the walk talking about several mutual friends, and he had been far more amusing than she had expected. He’d actually turned the conversation to England’s foreign interests, and if his tone had been a bit simplistic, he had only once asked if she could follow and if she found the conversation too taxing.
“You should take a rest before dinner,” her mother said, stepping out from a side parlor.
Could she manage to go up to her room and then slip out? “That sounds like a most wonderful idea.”
“Should I have your maid sent up?”
“No, I’ll be fine. This dress is quite easy to loosen.” And that was true. She’d been careful to choose one that morning that she could free herself from and slip back into with minimal help. She did not know exactly how handy Colton was with laces and ties—and she expected she did not want to know any more than she already did about his past.
A brief image of him standing with the naked actress suddenly filled her mind, but she shook it away. She would not let that interfere—not now.
Her mother patted her cheek. “If you are sure. I know I always rest much better when stripped to my chemise.”
“I will be fine, Mother. You worry too much.”
“And I was glad to see that you kept a few feet between yourself and Lord Thorton.”
“Of course, Mother.” She hadn’t wanted to be any nearer to Thorton anyway. The man still gave her the most unpleasant shivers. There was something about him that wasn’t quite right, even when he was being amusing.
She hurried up the stairs and into her room. Colton had been right: The window was much too far from the ground to present any possible escape route. She peeked out the door and slipped into the corridor. Somehow she would have to make it out of the house and then back down to the lake without being seen.