Page 70 of All For You

But he didn’t seem angry. I gritted my teeth, waiting for at least his annoyance. Was he going to ask why I’d climbed a tree?

“I’m back a week early,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

He said it with mild curiosity, not even like he was mad, as I’d expected. What on earth was going on? Still, I braced myself for whatever he was going to throw at me.

Don’t let him focus on the fact that I was perving on him.

“I climbed up a tree because I was—” Shit, what the hellwasI doing up a tree? What would anyone be doing up a tree? “I was…bird-watching.”

He rubbed his forehead, looking dazed, as his wet hair dripped down his face.

“But what are you doing at Pemberley?” He raked back his wet hair.

“I thought you were away. I came up with Tabitha for a break. I’m so sorry—this is horribly embarrassing. I’ve put you in a terrible position.”

He studied me, his face warm and kind. “Come up to the house. I need to get changed.”

That was it? I’d expected a scolding tone, but he’d said it gently. Maybe the scolding was coming. Maybe even Tabitha was going to get a reprimand too. Oh no. Not Tabitha. I had to make sure that didn’t happen.

We walked together across the open grassy front, him barefoot and carrying his shoes and socks. He seemed a different person here, more relaxed. Still, I felt horribly self-conscious, scruffy with leaves and branches clinging to me. I tried to come up with a way to start a conversation and yet wanted to rush away from him as quickly as possible.

“Were you out running?” I asked.

“I ran from the train station. I’ve done it all my life when I arrive home. I started when I was at boarding school. I love it. My route takes me along a country lane, fields, and a forest, and then I end up at the lake, where I go swimming. Someone fetches my luggage.”

That did sound like a wonderful tradition. He blinked and gave me a boyish smile, drips sliding down his cheeks and hanging on to his eyelashes. Somehow all his grumpiness had been washed away with the water. I remembered how happy he’d been diving and swinging into the water hole near the Amor Inn.

“Oh, that does sound great. How was your run today?” I asked nervously, even though this was sounding like an amiable exchange between two acquaintances.

Should I come out and ask him if he was angry? Get it out in the open? I didn’t feel as angry with him as I had. But still, mortification singed me, every bone in my body tense. My only goal now was to get back to Tabitha, tell her what had happened, and drive away and not come back.

“Not as eventful as what came after.” He sounded kind of bemused.

I grimaced. “Again, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

“It’s okay. I guess that kind of thing happens when you’re a keen bird-watcher.”

He glanced at me pleasantly as we climbed up the small grass hill toward the building. His shorts and T-shirt were getting damper by the minute and clung to his body, but I was too anxious to enjoy the clinging.

“Yes. Yep. I am very keen indeed on the watching of the birds,” I replied.

“Tell me. What bird caught your eye?” His smile was innocently curious.

“What bird now?” I was confused.

“What bird was so astonishing it made you climb up the tree for a better look?”

“Oh, I see. Yes, ha! It was the…” Playing for more time, I looked back at the cluster of trees and smiled fondly as though envisaging the particular species. “The black-spotted, red-crested, blue-tailed warbler.”

Oops. I got a bit carried away with that one. Too many descriptors. My editor would have slashed at least one of those.

“Interesting. Now I can see why you climbed up a tree. That is quite the warbler.”

Really? Shit. I was good! No wonder I was an author. I could spin such a compelling yarn.

“It really is.” I nodded sagely as we climbed the hill.

“I’ve always thought it was the most interesting of the red-crested family,” he said.