“I would love a cup of tea,” he said. “You look beautiful this morning.”
The simple compliment somehow made the warmth growing within her worse. “Thank you. I was just, ah, admiring you as well. Oh, how awkward and childish that sounds.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks, which, yes, were on fire. Pulling herself together, she took a bracing breath and focused on breakfast. “Forgive the informality, but as you’ve already dealt with me in the mornings, you know I’m a bit of a termagant before food.”
She spread strawberry preserves on toast, then took a bite. Agatha’s cook did amazing things with preserves. The strawberries tasted of summer, prompting a happy little sound, which drew a glance from Ethan. She ignored it for the moment. Fresh cream butter with strawberries was the best way to start the day. Ethan poured himself a cup of tea, then sat beside her.
“So what do you have for me this morning?” She sipped from her teacup and waited.
“I come with a proposal. As predicted, the ton won’ stop talking about our engagement,” he said. “I don’ know about you, but I’d prefer tae just escape it all.”
“Escape sounds lovely. What do you have in mind? I hear Trinidad is beautiful, no matter the time of year. Think they would have forgotten about us by the time we sailed there and back?” She bit into her second piece of toast and washed it down with a sip of tea.
The way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled never failed to charm her. “I’ve always wanted tae see that part of the world. But I was thinking Kent. Woodrest specifically.”
“You want to take me to your estate?” This time, her sip of tea was more of a gulp. Goodness, he wanted to bring her home? That felt like something a real fiancé would do with the woman he planned to marry—not the lady with the temporary role.
“Lady Agatha as well, obviously. We must observe the niceties, after all. Word around London is that we’re so enamored of each other, we’ll be the love match of the Season.” Ethan winked over the rim of his teacup.
“Gossip also says I’m a scheming tart who broke Montague’s heart to marry you for your money. I wouldn’t put too much stock in what people say.” Ethan’s low laugh hit her, making her body vibrate like a tuning fork.
“True. I must like tae love dangerously. Hold still a moment.” He tilted her face toward him. “You have a bit of jam right…here.” Their smiles touched as he nibbled on the corner of her mouth—close, yet not quite on her lips. Giving in to the urge she’d been dealing with since he walked in the door, Lottie turned her head. Kissing him hadn’t been far from her mind since last night, and tasting him again was both familiar and new.
They remained close for a moment, mingling air. “Lottie?”
“Yes?” Her toes were tingling. Were toes supposed to tingle?
“Your bacon smells almost as good as you. Is the offer of breakfast still open?”
Lottie laughed at the subject change. “Of course. Help yourself to whatever you desire.”
Ethan wiggled his eyebrows lecherously.
“Bacon, sir. As much bacon as you desire.”
He rose to get a plate for himself. “One must specify these things when given carte blanche from a scheming tart. This looks excellent. My compliments tae your chef and the pig. Speaking of pigs, what are we tae do about Montague?”
Lottie shook her head. “I imagine that segue was smoother in your head.”
“In my mind, I sounded witty.” Taking a seat beside her, he grew serious. “Lottie, he hurt you. On purpose and in a public place. You have bruises. We can’t know what he’s capable of. You made me promise not tae call him out, so I’m assuming maiming him would be frowned upon. And by that look, I’d say I’m correct.”
Raising a brow, she shook her head as if chastising a naughty child. “Your solution is to visit Kent for a few days?”
“Cal and I came up with a plan, if you’re agreeable. We go tae Woodrest, help your old brewmaster—who’s my new one, so thank you for that—settle in. You’re free tae traipse about the countryside. Meanwhile, Cal will visit some of Montague’s favorite haunts. He’ll keep an ear tae the ground and let us know if the man is planning anything. We said we’d give this a month. Might as well escape tae the country if we can, aye?”
They’d agreed to a month. That left three weeks before they’d return to simple friendship and she’d have to revisit her plan. Imagining the house by the sea didn’t bring the comfort it usually did. “I’ll speak to Agatha about Kent. When Montague finishes his little tantrum, he’ll move on to more low-hanging fruit. Surely there will be an indiscriminate heiress or two running about this Season for him to play with.”
“Indiscriminate heiresses are surprisingly hard tae come by—not that I’ve made a habit of looking for them. But I assume if they were common as ugly hats, then everyone would have one.”
Chapter Fourteen
Few things were more glorious than Kent in October. Lottie sighed and settled against the padded velvet seat, angling her body so she wouldn’t lose the view out her window. The road wound through gently rolling hills lined with orchards and fields peeking through fog. The bounty had been gathered, leaving vast acres ready for winter. It reminded her of home in many ways. This place embraced simpler living and the toil of agriculture.
“The mistress of Woodrest would be conveniently located to entertainments, modistes, and the best society in Town. She’d be close enough to visit friends and family in Berkeley Square.” Agatha kept her voice even, although the twinkle in her eye gave her away. “Perhaps she’d
