Free Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas Page A

of the—”
    “Don’t tell me! Don’t!”
    Rohan laughed, a mocking gleam in his eyes.
    Giving him a warning glance, Amelia brushed a few stray watercress leaves from her palms and continued on her way.
    Her companion followed readily. “Tell me about your family,” he coaxed. “How many of you are there?”
    “Five in all. Leo—that is, Lord Ramsay—is the oldest, and I am the next, followed by Winnifred, Poppy, and Beatrix.”
    “Which sister is the frail one?”
    “Winnifred.”
    “Has she always been that way?”
    “No, Win was quite healthy until a year ago, when she nearly died from scarlet fever.” A long hesitation, while her throat tightened a little. “She survived, thank God, but her lungs are weak. She has little strength, and she tires easily. The doctor says Win may never improve, and in all likelihood she won’t be able to marry or have children.” Amelia’s jaw hardened. “We will prove him wrong, of course. Win will be completely well again.”
    “God help anyone who stands in your way. You do like to manage other people’s lives, don’t you?”
    “Only when it’s obvious I can do a better job of it than they can. What are you smiling at?”
    Rohan stopped, obliging her to turn to face him. “You. You make me want to—” He stopped as if thinking better of what he’d been about to say. But the trace of amusement lingered on his lips.
    She didn’t like the way he looked at her, the way he made her feel hot and nervous and giddy. All her senses informed her that he was a thoroughly untrustworthy man. One who abided by no one’s rules but his own.
    “Tell me, Miss Hathaway … what would you do if you were invited on a midnight ride across the earth and ocean? Would you choose the adventure, or stay safely at home?”
    She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from his. The topaz eyes were lit by a glint of playfulness, not the innocent mischief of a boy, but something far more dangerous. She could almost believe he might actually change form and appear beneath her window one night, and carry her away on midnight wings …
    “Home, of course,” she managed in a sensible tone. “I don’t want adventure.”
    “I think you do. I think in a moment of weakness, you might surprise yourself.”
    “I don’t have moments of weakness. Not that kind, at any rate.”
    His laughter curled around her like a drift of smoke. “You will.”
    Amelia didn’t dare ask why he was so certain of that. Perplexed, she lowered her gaze to the top button of his waistcoat. Was he flirting with her? No, it must be that he was mocking her, trying to make her look foolish. And if there was one thing she feared in life more than bees, it was appearing foolish.
    Gathering her dignity, which had scattered like bits of dandelion fluff in a high wind, she frowned up at him. “We’re nearly at Ramsay House.” She indicated the outline of a roof rising from the forest. “I would prefer to go the last part of the distance alone. You may tell the earl that I was safely delivered. Good day, Mr. Rohan.”
    He gave a nod, took her in with one of those bright, disarming glances, and stayed to watch her progress as she walked away. With each step Amelia put between them, she should have felt safer, but the sense of disquiet remained. And then, she heard him murmur something, his voice shadowed with amusement, and it sounded as if he had said, “Some midnight…”

Chapter Six
    The news that they were to have supper at the home of Lord and Lady Westcliff was received with a variety of reactions from the Hathaways. Poppy and Beatrix were pleased and excited, whereas Win, who was still trying to regain her strength after the journey to Hampshire, was merely resigned. Leo was looking forward to a lengthy repast accompanied by fine wine.
    Merripen, on the other hand, flatly refused to go.
    “You are part of the family,” Amelia told him, watching as he secured loose paneling boards in one of the common rooms.