Masquerading with the Duke by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-09T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

It was the first that time Jared had seen Martina formally dressed. The view did not disappoint, but at the same time he couldn’t help thinking that he preferred her the way she’d looked that afternoon at the lake, in an old gown, crumpled because she’d fallen asleep in it. Without a bonnet and with her hair half falling from its pins. She had seemed wary of him, which given the circumstances of their meeting was hardly surprising. He thought she would scream and run back to the house but she had surprised him when the informality forced upon them by his state of undress had given way to guarded caution. The child didn’t completely trust him; she didn’t know how to trust. Given the snippets she had revealed about her childhood, he understood why.

Jared did his best to entertain her throughout dinner with light conversation, applying to her for information about the district since she had lived in the area for longer than he had.

‘You have purchased an estate here,’ she said, blinking up at him through wide, glowing eyes. ‘Surely you would not do so without exploring the area first? It is such a very large commitment to make and not something that one ought to rush into. What would you have done if your new neighbours all turned out to be miserly curmits who never socialised and were permanently at odds with one another?’

You mean hermits,’ he smiled.

‘I know what I mean.’

‘Well, if I did make a reckless purchase I cannot now complain. Besides, my neighbours seem like agreeable fellows, and I found you here.’

Her cheeks reddened at the implied compliment, but she didn’t simper or look away from him as he half imagined a child of her tender years might. ‘Be serious,’ she scolded.

‘Oh, I rather think I am.’

‘You are ridiculous and attempting to embarrass me, but it won’t serve.’ She tossed her head. ‘I have your measure.’

In profile, her features so perfectly complimented one another that they would give fresh inspiration to the most disillusioned of poets. Her generous mouth frequently drew his attention as he wondered idly about the taste of those plump lips. But it was her huge green eyes, reflecting both amusement and reserve, that captivated Jared. He wanted to chase those reservations away and make her smile at the absurdities of life. On the occasions when she did smile, the gesture lit up her features and made her seem almost ethereal. Unattainable. It was as though smiling was an alien concept to her, which he supposed in many respects it must be.

‘When you get to know me better, you will learn that I am often ridiculous,’ he said returning her smile. ‘But I never offer false praise. That would be unkind.’

‘Grand gentlemen with the money to follow their impulses can be as eccentric as they like and everyone makes excuses for them. That includes purchasing estates on a whim. It’s different for ladies.’

‘All it requires is independence.’

‘Ah.’ She set her fork down and waved an admonishing finger at him.

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