An Exotic Heir by Meredith Bond

Author:Meredith Bond
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: romance, historical, regency, calcutta
Publisher: Meredith Bond

Chapter Ten

Miss Renwick, I must apologize again. I am rather ashamed, actually, to have brought you to see this temple. It was… well, inappropriate.”

“Oh no, Mr. Ritchie, think no more about it.”

Julian was sitting with Miss Renwick on a bench in the shade of a tree behind the guesthouse. The garden around them was filled with large colorful flowers artistically arranged into formal beds.

Julian had been rather loath to break the gentle silence that surrounded them. But he still felt uncertain about the wisdom of this outing. It was true that he was trying to make her fall in love with him, but he would never do anything to hurt her.

Miss Renwick suddenly began to giggle. It was soft at first, but then it grew until her shoulders were shaking with it.

Julian couldn’t imagine what she’d found so amusing in this garden, or, in fact, any of the events of the day so far.

He turned to ask her, when she said, “I’m sorry, I was just thinking how ridiculous I have been.”

“Ridiculous? How?”

“Just my reaction to the sculptures on the temple walls. I was so embarrassed by…” She searched for a modest way of saying it. “…by the realism in the human forms that I failed to even look at the sculptures in their entirety or indeed at the temple itself. It really was quite wrong and very silly of me, I am afraid.”

“Oh no, I completely understand your reluctance to truly look at it. Indeed, it was not silly at all–as I said, I should not have brought you here. It was most inappropriate of me, but I had forgotten how explicit the sculptures are. I have not been here in a very long time.”

He continued softly, “I do hope you will accept my apologies, Miss Renwick.”

“But it is I who owe you one for not appreciating the art, which is clearly an important part of the culture. I asked to learn more about India, and you held up your end of the bargain. But I have not.”

Miss Renwick’s eyes suddenly opened wider and she turned her open face toward Julian once again. “But perhaps it is not too late! Do you think we could go back to the temple so that I may truly look at it again?”

Julian thought of her first reaction to the temple and his own when he saw it while standing beside her. The heat that had suddenly suffused him. No, going back to the temple would not be a good idea.

“I am sorry, Miss Renwick...”

“Oh, please?”

“But Mrs. Brown is still resting.”

“Yes, that is why just now would be a perfect time to go. Wouldn’t it be a nice way to pass the time while she rests?”

“It is really not proper…” he began.

Miss Renwick stood up, looking at him beseechingly. She gave him the sweetest, most pleading expression. He nearly laughed at how adorable she looked.

“Very well, but we will have to hurry, so that we can return with no one the wiser,” he finally relented.

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