“Why?”
He distinctly heard several whispered curses before she spun back around to him.
“Because you’re distracting and — and flustering. And I cannot think properly when you stand so close.”
Her words where music to his ears.
“And you can rid yourself of that smile. It’s not a compliment.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“HERE IT IS. The birdbath. I told you,” Hugh said triumphantly, seconds before Louisa arrived to see that he had been right.
Drat the man.
Now he’d never shut up about it.
Her irritation however was quickly replaced by suspicion when she eyed the other occupants of the small space.
Lucas and Meredith had beaten them here and the pair of them looked guiltier than children who’d been caught doing something naughty.
“Ah, I see you two figured out the clue as well.” Lucas was saying to Hugh, a self-satisfied grin plastered on his face.
Louisa ignored the gentlemen and looked instead at her sister. Meredith was avoiding eye contact, a sure sign that she was up to something she shouldn’t be. But, she did look happy, just as Hugh had said. She really did.
Louisa felt suddenly unsure about the grand plan to keep her sister away from the dastardly Lord Ashbury.
“Too bad you’ll need to wait till we read the next clue.”
Lucas was obviously taking great delight in annoying his brother, as he waved the envelope in the air, a defiant expression on his face.
Hugh was scowling at his brother.
And it all seemed so, so normal. Two brothers bantering and enjoying themselves. Not at all like the cruel, terrible frogs they had painted the Mayfords as all those years ago.
It was disconcerting. More so because her feelings for Hugh were already confusing. She didn’t need to start liking his family, too.
“Well be quick about it! I aim to win!” Hugh was demanding.
“Me too,” Louisa spoke, drawing Meredith’s attention. She offered her sister a smile, making sure to seem as though she were merely being competitive, not planning to put a stop to the relationship developing between her sister and the earl.
Without another word, Lucas pulled Meredith farther along and around a small bend so that they were out of sight.
After a moment the envelope containing the clue flew toward the bushes.
Hugh laughingly called foul but Lucas and Meredith were already dashing away, if their stomping footsteps were anything to go by.
Hugh sighed and turned back to face her.
“I suppose you want to chase after them?”
Louisa took a deep, steadying breath.
She’d never been the type to admit defeat. Never.
But sometimes, one had to recognize that there were things which could not be controlled. Perhaps her sister’s involvement with Lucas was one of them.
She glanced up at Hugh, feeling her heart do its usual gallop in the face of his harsh, masculine beauty.
She would never tire of looking at his face. Which was a problem, admittedly. But at least it was a problem with a nice view.
“Perhaps we should just let them go. Let them win.”
His eyes lit with pride and Louisa thrilled at the expression.
His opinion of her had suddenly become rather important.
“You know that means you won’t get to be my queen at the Frost Ball?” he teased, smiling and stepping closer to her.
Louisa’s breath quickened.
“Well then, it will be a happy ending for all of us,” she quipped, but her tone lacked its usual bite.
Hugh grinned wolfishly.
“Oh, I hope so, sweetheart.”
There was a sudden commotion behind them and Louisa looked round to see Sara come rushing forward, looking decidedly less put together than she had at dinner.
“Sara? What has happened?” Louisa asked, studying her sister’s disheveled state.
“Nothing,” Sara replied mutinously.
Hugh was frowning at her.
“Where is — ah, Jackson.”
Louisa looked as a very cross looking Jackson Mayford came into view.
He and Sara stared daggers at each other.
“Where’s the clue?” Jackson asked sulkily.
Hugh bit his lip and looked as though he were trying very hard not to laugh.
Wordlessly he pointed toward the bush.
Jackson reached up and grabbed the paper but before he had a chance to even glance at it, Sara reached forward, snatched it and then turned to dash away.
“My thanks,” she called laughing.
Jackson frowned darkly, looking murderous. But Louisa had caught the flare of appreciation in his eyes, too.
It couldn’t be, could it?
Before she could think any longer on it, Jackson took off after Sara.
This week obviously wasn’t turning out as any of them had expected.
Louisa turned once more to Hugh and her breath caught at the predatory glint in his eyes.
He dipped his head toward her own.
“If we’re not in a rush to win,” he whispered close to her lips, “that means we can take our own sweet time.”