He toasted her, downed the wine, then set the glass on the balustrade. He marched to the stairs and started toward her. She didn’t scurry off into the dark to escape. She stood her ground, watching warily, as if she wasn’t sure what he intended. He wasn’t certain himself. Any bizarre conduct was likely.
He continued until they were toe to toe, and instantly, so many sparks ignited that he felt, should he point his finger, fire might shoot from the tip.
“Are you following me, Mr. Ralston?” she asked.
“Yes,” he blatantly admitted.
“Why?”
“You fascinate me.”
She scoffed. “I do not. Don’t be absurd.”
“You’ve dodged me all evening so we haven’t had a chance to chat.”
He thought she’d deny her ploy, but instead, she confessed, “Yes, I’ve been dodging you.”
“Are you frightened of me? Have my awful manners scared you? Please tell me you’re not that silly.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Then why have you been hiding?”
“We shouldn’t be cordial. It’s not a good idea.”
“Are we to be enemies then? Is that your plan?”
“No, we won’t be enemies. We won’t be anything.”
“Why not? I’m an amiable person and you are too.”
She frowned. “Must I provide an explanation?”
“I guess it’s not necessary.” Besides, he knew the answer: She perceived their heightened connection, and she was about to marry Gregory. It seemed illicit for them to simply be talking. “Why have you tiptoed away from your party?”
She shrugged. “I’m often claustrophobic. The fresh air helps.”
“Are you a nervous Nelly? If you claim you are, I won’t believe it.”
“I have occasional. . . issues that render me breathless. It’s always been a problem for me. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Let’s just,” he murmured.
He wondered what those issues were. Had she been neglected by her family? Had she been abused? The stories about her grandfather were horrific. What must it have been like to grow up under his cruel thumb?
She exuded an aura of vulnerability that would have emboldened a bully like her grandfather. He’d been dead for years though, so how was she treated by Gregory’s father, Samson Grey? How was she treated by Gregory?
Not very well, Caleb suspected, and he was being pelted by the most powerful impression that she needed protecting from her Grey relatives, and that he, Caleb, should be the man to supply that protection.
The concept was unfathomable, and he’d already reminded himself that he could never be her savior. He wasn’t anyone’s savior. He’d learned that lesson from guiding his brother, Blake, through his debacle with the navy.
All Caleb had gotten for his efforts was a black stain on his character and a quick trip to being a civilian. He’d been roiling with fury ever since, so while Miss Grey generated many odd impulses, he wouldn’t act on any of them.
“May I still call you Caro?” he asked.
“I suppose—when we’re alone—but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t attempt it when we’re in my front parlor.”
He grinned. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because I am about to be married, and you are a pompous roué. I can’t have my guests thinking you’re flirting with me.”
“Is that why you decided we shouldn’t be cordial? Your guests might think we’re flirting?”
“Among other reasons. I’ve been pondering our earlier meeting.”
“Ooh, I love it when a beautiful female ponders me.”
“Don’t compliment me and don’t be smart.” She sounded like a grumpy schoolteacher.
“You are so strange. How can you not like compliments?”
“When they’re delivered by a cad like you, I’m sure you don’t mean them.”
“I might mean them, and you are very beautiful. It’s not a lie.”
“You’re too much man for me to handle.”
“I’m too much man for every woman.”
“I’m certain that’s true, so I’ll avoid you at all costs. It’s how I cope with dicey situations.”
“I’m not a situation you can escape by ignoring me.”
“It’s always worked for me in the past, so I’m positive it will work with you too.”
She peered at the house, clearly trying to devise a pithy parting remark, then abandon him in the garden like a spurned suitor, but he couldn’t bear to have her go inside just yet. If she did, he’d have to go in too, then he’d have to pretend he didn’t know her.
So far, she was the only person in the manor who intrigued him at all. He was bored and simply waiting for the high-stakes gambling to start later on. It was her party, and she was the hostess. Didn’t she have a duty to keep him entertained?
“How is your claustrophobia?” he asked. “Has it waned? Or should we walk until it’s completely vanquished?”
She inhaled a deep breath. “I’m fine now, but thank you for worrying about my condition.”
“We should walk anyway. You can tell me about yourself.”
“I never talk about myself.”
“Why not?”
“There’s not much to say. I live in the country with my relatives. I’m about to wed my cousin. That’s the sum total of my biography.”
“You’re a veritable bump on a log, aren’t you? We can talk about me then. I’ll wax on about how marvelous I am.”
The comment dragged a laugh out of her. “You’re so accursedly vain.”
“Yes, I am.” He extended his arm, urging her to grab hold. She didn’t move, and he goaded, “Are you a coward, Caro?”
“I’m not a coward, but you just might be a bully.”
“I might be.”
“We can walk for a bit, but I’ll turn back if you attempt any mischief.”
“Such as what?”
“I’ll let you know if you cross any lines with me.”
“I shall be on my very best behavior.”
“I doubt that very much. It’s clear you are a wastrel, and I’d better be careful around you.”
“Yes, you’d better be.”
They strolled away, the lights and noise from the manor quickly fading. Up ahead, he saw a lake and a gazebo.
“Would you like to sit in the gazebo?” she asked.
“I would.”
They sauntered over to the structure and climbed into it. She went to the side facing the lake
