Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters (Spinsters Club #1)(34)

As he neared Merry, she met his gaze. Her smile dropped as did the kite, swooping down. Harcourt ducked at the last minute, barely avoiding a collision with the kite. He picked it up from the sand and carried it over to her.

“If I did not know better, I would think you were aiming for me.”

The color in her cheeks remained and darkened. She bit down on her bottom lip and took the kite from him. He had no doubt she was recalling the last time they were together. And if she was anything like him, she was thinking about whether there would be a repeat of the moment. Of course, Merry would be battling the instinct whereas he was more than happy to give in. If only he could teach her to let go of control a little.

“The wind caught it,” she blurted out. “I had no control, I—”

“Miss Arabella, what a fine kite you have.” He turned his attention to Arabella. “As do you all. I am grateful you did not try to take my head off too.”

Arabella blushed. “I would never attempt such a thing, my lord.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Merry glower at him. He had to fight hard to mask a triumphant smile. For a woman who claimed she wanted nothing to do with him, she played the jealous lover well.

“Shall I help you fly them?” he asked the ladies.

Bella hoisted hers into the sky with the help of Sophia. “No need, my lord. I’m an excellent kite-flier.”

He turned his attention back to Arabella. “Miss Arabella?”

“Oh, no. Please do not bother yourself. Sophia can help.” She eased away.

“What are you doing?” hissed Merry.

“Offering my help, I believe.”

“Arabella is shy, you know that.”

“I do not think I did anything wrong, Merry. I was merely offering my help to a lady in need.”

Creases appeared between her brows. “None of us are in need, Harry. We are quite capable.”

“Humor me. Let me help you just once and I shall leave you to it.”

Merry huffed. “Fine.”

He stepped back and lifted it into the sky, letting the wind catch it. Then he hoisted it high and watched it soar upward before joining Merry again. She kept her focus on the kite—deliberately he was certain.

Coming to her side, he watched the kite while Merry directed it to swoop and soar in the sky. Her tense posture eased, and a smile curved across her lips when she brought it down low then lifted it high again.

“Have you been secretly practicing?” he asked.

Her smile expanded. “I am just an excellent kite-flier.”

“Hmm, I do not recall you being quite so talented last year.”

“Just because I am better than you.” She flicked a teasing look his way that made him want to tear her away from the event and kiss that cheeky smile into submission.

“No one is better than me.”

She handed over the strings. “Very well then.”

He took the strings and a sudden gust caused the kite to drop to the ground.

She giggled. “Oh yes, I see now. No one is better than you, my lord.”

“You sabotaged me,” he protested. “Get it flying again and I shall show you who is best.”

Merry stomped across the sand and lifted the kite again, thrusting it up with all her might. The wind blew again, forcing the kite sideways and downwards. The strings wrapped about Merry and she stilled, effectively trapped.

Harcourt laughed as he made his way over to her. She huffed. “I cannot decide if you did that on purpose.”

“I certainly did not. Now stay still.” He began to unwind her, but she moved, and he gave the strings a tug, tightening them about her arms.

“You’re making it worse!” she exclaimed.

“You are making it worse. Keep still or you shall be forever at my mercy.”

She froze at this threat, her lips a mutinous pout. Harcourt continued untangling her, lifting the strings up over her head and allowing the backs of his fingers to brush her neck. He met her gaze and saw her pupils widen.

“Got yourself in a tangle there, Easton?” Griff strode over, grinning.

Harry leaned in and murmured, “This is not over, Merry.”

Merry’s cheeks filled with color. Harcourt wanted to say more but Griff’s vicinity prevented him from doing much other than releasing her from the kite.

A lone figure up on the hillside caught his attention and he stilled. He stared at him until realization dawned. It was hard to tell but it looked an awful lot like the man who had been snooping around the house.

He thrust the kite back into Merry’s hands. “Excuse me, I just need to do something.” He strode off toward the path that led up to the hill. He was going to find out once and for all what the stranger wanted.





Chapter Fourteen





Merry gnawed her bottom lip as she made her way down the slope of the road away from Arabella’s house. If only there was more she could do. The news of the return of this brother still shook Arabella. Merry kicked a stone from the road. If she got her hands on the man who had ruined her...

Lord, sometimes these men so aggravated her. As much as Arabella tried to insist she was well and had forgotten about him, it was clear it still haunted her to this day. She had waited for so long for him to return for her, clinging to hope. Merry could hardly imagine what that must have been like, anticipating every letter and having her heart broken over and over when the man never came back. As a friend, she felt so powerless against the past. If only there was more she could do.