Bound by a Scandalous Secret (The Scandalous Summerfields) by Diane Gaston

Author:Diane Gaston [Gaston, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-11-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ross pulled up to the Tinmores’ town house in his curricle with its matched chestnuts. Gone were his days of driving high flyers and racing down country roads. Those had been exhilarating times, but, once experienced, he’d no need to repeat them. His curricle was the latest in comfort and speed, though he’d not tested how fast he could push it.

He suspected Genna would not care if he pulled up in a mere gig.

His tiger jumped off and held the horses while he knocked on the door.

As the footman let him inside, Genna was coming down the stairs, putting on her gloves. ‘I saw you drive up.’

She wore a pelisse of dark blue and a bonnet that matched, nothing too fussy.

‘Shall we go, then?’ he asked.

‘Absolutely!’ she cried. ‘I am ready.’

He helped her into the carriage. She pretended to examine it. ‘I suppose this will have to do.’ She sighed.

He took the ribbons from his tiger and climbed in next to her. ‘It must do, because it is the only one I possess.’

She blinked at him. ‘Truly? A duke’s son with only one carriage?’

He smiled. ‘All the others belong to my father.’

She laughed. ‘All the others! At Summerfield House we had one pony cart and one coach.’ Her smile fled. ‘My father had a curricle.’

He’d prefer her laughing. ‘Shall we take a turn in Hyde Park?’

She smiled again. ‘By all means.’

The park was mere steps away from Curzon Street. They entered through the Stanhope Gate. Right inside the gate, he stopped the curricle and the tiger jumped off. He’d pick him up again on their way out. He drove the curricle towards the Serpentine. The weather was overcast and a bit chilly, not the best, but at least it was not raining.

‘There is a rug beneath the seat,’ he told her. ‘Let me know if you feel cold.’

‘I like it,’ she said. ‘It feels so good to be out of doors.’

He turned to her. ‘And you are one to set up your paints while the snow is falling.’

She protested, ‘Not fair! I packed up when it began to snow.’

‘That you did.’

He’d guessed correctly that the Park would be thin of other vehicles at this hour. He’d wanted to be as private with her as possible. He waited until they’d passed the Serpentine, where some children were playing under the watchful eyes of their nannies and others were feeding the ducks.

‘You probably wondered why I asked you for this ride—’ he began.

‘No.’ She looked surprised. ‘I didn’t wonder.’

‘I have a proposition for you.’

‘A proposition?’ She pretended to look shocked.

‘It will indeed be shocking,’ he said. ‘But hear me out.’

The carriage path was edged with shrubbery and there were no other vehicles in sight. He slowed their pace.

Her expression conveyed curiosity, nothing more. This was why he could ask what he planned to ask. She would not take advantage, nor would she assume more than he intended.

He continued. ‘I have a plan that will get us both through the Season without feeling like commodities in the marriage mart.

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