Free Dare to Kiss by Jo Beverley Page B

him mentioned as clever, but it was obvious in his presence. He had said nothing erudite, but a very sharp mind worked behind the smooth facade.
    She shepherded the children downstairs and outside, knowing Ben would join them, bringing Perriam and the dogs. The nursery maid came, too, these days, to take care of Anna.
    For some reason, Lily felt things would go better if the sun were shining, but nature wasn't on her side. It was a dull, misty day, but at least that meant it wasn't so cold. Charlotte rolled the hoop with Susie, and Michael played ball with Tommy. Lily felt keyed up, waiting.
    A woof was the first herald, and then the lurchers raced over to chase the hoop. Having conquered that, they raced after the ball thrown by Tommy -- carefully away from the house after the near miss.
    Lily turned to smile at the gentlemen. It was interesting how at ease Perriam looked, walking across rough ground in boots when he must be more accustomed to smooth surfaces and heeled shoes. In fact, her enemy was irritatingly at ease in this setting when she was sure it wasn't his milieu.
    If he was an enemy, he was an amiable one. He took up the hoop and performed an interesting trick, making it go a little distance and then return to him. All the older children demanded to be taught the way of it, and he obliged them.
    "Fascinating fellow," Ben said, smiling. "Rubs along with everyone."
    "I find that rather disturbing."
    "Why?" he asked, surprised.
    "Should a person not have constancy rather than being able to shape themselves to every situation?"
    "It's having been trained to court. Kings are rarely constant, so those who serve them must adapt."
    "An odd life for a clever man. He is, isn't he? Clever."
    "Extremely, though he often conceals it. He's a good, honorable man, Lily. Don't think poorly of him for his superficial skills."
    "You know him best, so I'll be guided by you."
    Surely a good, honorable man would see that exposing her would only hurt his cousin.
    "Heavens," she said. "Surely he won't take accommodation so far as to climb that tree!"
    But he did, racing Michael upward.
    "He'll tempt him to go too far," she protested, hurrying forward.
    Ben didn't stop her, but said, "He'll judge it aright."
    And it seemed Perriam did. He stopped, complaining that a higher branch wouldn't take his weight. Lighter Michael could go just a little higher and crow, "I won! I won!"
    He looked so much the carefree boy that Lily could have hugged Perry Perriam.
    Perriam returned nimbly to earth, captured the ball, and tossed it to Ben. "Capture it if you can," he said to the children. "A ha'penny for every catch."
    Lily watched as the two men threw the ball to each other, as gently as possible and low enough to be within reach of the children, but not too much so. It was challenging, and the children only sometimes caught the prize.
    Then she saw how Michael and then Charlotte let the littler ones seize the prize. Even little Anna joined in and by deft handling from the others managed to have the ball clutched in her hands at one point, giggling with delight.
    Lily had to sniff back tears.
    Perriam was as kind as Ben.
    All would be well.
    But then Perriam said, "Why don't I escort you back to the house, Mistress Gifford? Then Ben can have some time alone with the children."
    It was an odd request, and Lily saw that he wanted to speak to her. She could refuse, but he'd find some other way, and she supposed he was right to want to discuss the matter. He probably wanted to warn her to treat Ben well.
    Especially that she not treat Ben in the way she'd treated Tom. Ben and Tom were so different that it was impossible, but it had to concern a friend.
    "I do have some tasks to attend to," she said and turned back toward the house.
    When they were out of earshot, he said, "Lillias Dellaby."
    "Yes," she admitted.
    "A false name does not engender confidence."
    "A notorious name would not engender safety for my children. It's my maiden name," she offered