Awakening The Shy Miss. Bronwyn Scott

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       Chapter Six

      Which was just as well, Evie reflected, the curricle jolting to a halt outside her house in the summer twilight. The drive wasn’t nearly as exciting as it should have been. It was, in fact, something of a disappointment. Perhaps it was simply that the rest of the day had been far more exciting than it should have been and all else paled by comparison. After all, it wasn’t every day a girl got to catalogue and draw items that were a thousand years old. A few centuries old, that was one thing. She’d done that plenty of times for her father, even for herself when she drew her tapestry patterns. But a thousand? That was incredible and she had the ink stains to prove it. She clenched her hands into fists, hoping Andrew wouldn’t notice, not when he looked like perfection itself handling the reins on the seat beside her, his hair burning gold in the sinking sunlight, his clothes the height of summer fashion, straight from London. He, like most gentlemen of her acquaintance, would find it odd for a girl to get excited about artefacts and ink.

      Andrew set the brake and she let herself engage in a moment of fantasy. Would this be what life would be like with Andrew? What if they were pulling up to their house after a day spent engaged in the pursuit of history? Would they go inside and sip cool lemonade before dinner? Would they talk through the finds of the day on a back veranda, a candlelit dinner laid before them? Would they watch the sun sink together before he took her hand and led her up to the bedroom?

      It occurred to her that when she’d thought of Andrew in the past, it had never been with an eye to finding any intellectual fulfilment with him. Andrew drew a woman with his looks, with the way he carried himself. Those were always the things she noticed about him first. She wasn’t alone. They were the things every girl in the parish talked about when they talked about handsome Andrew Adair. But now that she knew he loved history too, it seemed more important than ever that she win him. They would have so much in common, so much to build a life on. It proved her instincts had been right all these years of gazing at him from afar. She and Andrew belonged together, no matter what reservations Beatrice might hold.

      Andrew came around to her side, reaching to help her down. His hands were at her waist, swinging her to the ground and breaking her out of her daydream. She stumbled a little as he set her down. Andrew laughed as he steadied her. ‘Evie, where are you? You’re miles from here.’ She loved his blue eyes when he laughed, all sparks and lights. Today, they were laughing for her. That should be a victory of sorts. How long had she waited for such a reaction?

      ‘Just enjoying the scenery.’ Evie dared the flirtatious line before she could think better of it. She smiled up at him. He was tall, nearly as tall as the Prince, who was more than six feet. She got a beaming smile in return, but nothing more. What had she expected? Andrew was a gentleman.

      Andrew ushered her up the steps to the front door, his hand skimming the small of her back, a gesture her body and mind barely registered. She waited for more: for heat, for recognition. Nothing came. Perhaps the touch was too insignificant. It wasn’t as if the front steps of her home was a setting designed to coax any intimacy. But the lack of any registration left her strangely let down. She felt as if she was waiting for something that had not yet arrived and she was loath to let Andrew leave on such a low note because of it.

      ‘Would you like to come in? I’m sure my father would love to talk about the project. The Prince gave him a thorough tour this morning.’ She tried not to hold her breath, tried not to appear too wistful. It was just a casual invitation issued to a long-time neighbour.

      Andrew gave her another broad smile. For a moment she thought he’d say yes. Then he shook his head. ‘I appreciate the offer, but I must decline. I’ve had a long day and another early start tomorrow. You do too. The Prince is lucky to have you assisting us in this endeavour.’ He held her eyes for an extended moment. ‘I will look forward to my drawing, Evie.’

      He strode back down the steps and drove away, leaving her still waiting. Still wanting something.

      * * *

      It wasn’t until the end of dinner with her parents, over the cheese and fruit course, that she understood what she’d been waiting for and why. She’d wanted her body to register his touch as it had registered the Prince’s; with a rush of heat and sharp awareness.

      Evie nearly choked on a slice of pear. What did she think she was doing? Comparing the Prince and Andrew? That was a piece of wanton madness if ever there was one. She tried to rationalise the direction of her thoughts. Was it too much to expect that she feel something at Andrew’s touch? And why not? After all, the Prince had only touched СКАЧАТЬ