Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

“I’m getting along with them,” she said. “But not al of them are getting along with me.” She stepped away from the cameraman, and stepped up onto what must’ve been an old wal partition. Could this have been the great hal ? Grass grew in what would’ve been the stone floor.

“It must be difficult,” Sebastian said. He walked the perimeter of a crumbled wal until it ascended and he stood in one of the Gothic window openings. Chloe would not soon forget the image of him with his black coattails against the blue sky as he took off his hat to wave it toward Mrs.

Crescent. He looked like he was born to wear breeches and boots. He smiled down at Chloe, who steadied herself near a freestanding fireplace with a partial chimney.

He stepped down from the window and leaned against the chimney. “Is there anyone in particular causing you trouble? Do tel .”

“Lady Grace,” Chloe said. She smiled at the cameras. “Seems rather preoccupied with making me miserable.”

Sebastian laughed. “Does she, now?” Under his breath, he added, “I do find her rather tedious myself.”

That was to his credit. She had to wonder, then, why he didn’t send her home.

As if he read her mind, he leaned into her as he whispered. “I’m supposed to humor her because of this land issue. Very touchy, that.”

Chloe was shocked that he knew about the land thing, and even more shocked that he confided in her about it with the cameras rol ing. “You know about the land?”

“Know about it? Wel , her family’s been trying to claim a portion of our land as theirs for almost two hundred years.”

“It must get a little—old.”

Sebastian laughed. “Now, that was good.” He looked into her eyes, and she felt him taking her in. First her eyes, then her face, her breasts, her legs. He pressed against her arm and his breath warmed her cheek. “I need to spend more time with you. You’re just the tonic I need.”

Her breathing became heavier and her body ached to get closer.

One of the cameramen angled in, as if to capture her agony.

“You know where to find me,” Chloe said. “I’d be much obliged to you to take me away from my needlework and bonnet trimming.”

Sebastian clasped his hands behind his back. “Now then. I have a little task for you. See if you can find the castle keep. I’ve hidden something there for you.” He folded his arms, leaned against the chimney, and watched her intently, as if he wanted nothing more than to be here, with her, watching her.

“A scavenger hunt? What fun!” Chloe spun around. She was enthral ed. He had thought of a gift. He had taken the time to hide it here, in this enchanting spot.

“You have to hurry. Of course, the benefit for me is that I get to watch you run.”

“Ladies aren’t supposed to run.”

“Real y?” He pul ed out his watch fob. “You have exactly two minutes to find it and bring it back here. Ready? Go!”

She lifted her gown, and with the cameras behind her, she ran on the soft grass toward the keep, a crumbled tower in the far northeast corner of the property. The keep had a smal entry, like a cave, and it was very dark, but just inside, atop a stone ledge, was something wrapped in a gold cloth, and she grabbed it, lifted her gown, and ran back, laughing.

“Just in time.” Sebastian wasn’t even looking at his watch. His eyes were on her. He walked toward her and they met in the middle of the green, surrounded by the jagged fortress wal , where they were drenched in sunlight. “Go ahead. Open it.”

Her fingers fumbled in the excitement. It was a packet of painting paper, period-correct oil paints, brushes, and a freshly picked pink cabbage rose. Chloe heard herself say, “How lovely of you. Thank you!” as if she real y were English.

For a moment she felt transported to another place and time and she breathed in the perfume of the rose. How thoughtful of him. But she couldn’t kiss or hug him, so instead, she looked at him as if she had just finished kissing him.

He raised his hands as if to take her in his arms, but let them fal and cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, we real y must get back, or Mrs. Crescent wil give me a chiding.”

“You’re right.” Chloe pressed her paper and paints to her chest.

Sebastian beamed. “I’m glad you like the gift. But, listen. Feel free to come to me, to talk to me if Lady Grace ever crosses the line with you. I’m not sure how much longer I can tolerate her.” He guided them toward the carriage. “I so look forward to seeing you again tonight. It’s refreshing to have someone with intel igence and wit to talk to. And you wil get a laugh when you see who I have to sit next to al night. If only I could sit next to you!”