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that. And the oddest thing of all was that she felt disappointed that her own stupid mouth had ruined something just when it was becoming interesting.
    Finally he blew out his breath. “I know Tim thought it was important,” he said quietly. “Thank you for being one of the few people with whom I’ve spoken since to also think so. Most sympathize and say he deserved a better death, as if there was such a thing.”
    “Oh, thank goodness,” she burst out, relieved, then clapped her free hand over her mouth. Stupid, stupid, stupid. “I mean, I was afraid I’d offended you,” she muttered through her fingers.
    Thankfully he smiled as he plucked her fingers away from her face. “I’m not offended. I am somewhat curious as to why you’re suddenly concerned over offending me. A few minutes ago you couldn’t wait to foist me off on your sister.”
    “It was more than a few minutes ago. And my acquaintance with you previous to today consisted of you asking me to dance because it was expected, and then ignoring me. And admittedly I wasn’t terribly happy to be one of the chits catapulted at you. I know you must have thought I was after you.”
    He laughed. “You made it quite clear from the onset that you weren’t dancing with me to please yourself. Don’t worry on that count.”
    “Oh. Well good, then. I suppose.”
    Geoffrey studied her serious, thoughtful expression for a long, hard beat of his heart. Clearly she saw her tendency to be...forthright as a flaw. In previous conversations with men more expecting of flattery, it had likely caused her trouble.
    “I’m glad you speak your mind, Theodora,” he commented, selecting the longer trail that rounded the lake when it curved away from the shorter one leading back to the garden. The more time he had alone with her, the better. Of course this way she could also push him into the water if she decided this was some elaborate jest, but it was a risk he was willing to take. The more he spoke with her, the more she fascinated him. “And I’m glad that other men find that off-putting. Otherwise neither of us would be standing here at this moment.”
    “Then you truly didn’t come to Beldath to hunt foxes? Or to court Belle?” From her tone Theodora still didn’t quite believe he was doing anything but teasing. The idea made him angry – not at her, but at whoever it was, whatever it was, that had convinced her being herself was unattractive.
    Best make his intentions unmistakably clear, then, before she assigned him some other sin. “No. I’m here to hunt foxes or your sister,” he confirmed. “I’m hunting you, Theodora Meacham.”
    Color darkened her cheeks, and for the first time in their admittedly short acquaintance she didn’t seem to know what to say. He found that rather encouraging. Taking advantage of her discomfiture, Geoffrey faced her. Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he leaned in to taste her mouth again.
    He’d kissed women before; hell, he’d had lovers before. But the stutter of his heart at the touch of her soft lips...that was new. Perhaps it was merely his mind attempting to convince his soul – or vice versa – that he’d found the one, but given that at first glance she was absolutely not the wife for a man new to his title and one who had only inherited accidently, this pull he felt for her was more than just circumstance. And she tasted like strawberries.
    If he’d had any doubts before about whether he’d been right to pursue a lady he’d only met twice and with whom he’d clashed on both those occasions, this kiss answered them, shot them in the arse and sent them running away. Her arms lifted to wrap around his shoulders, and desire pulsed through his muscles warm as summer.
    The other women throwing themselves after him – the eyelash flutterers and weather chatterers – had no idea. But why would he want a compliant, demure porcelain doll when he could have a challenge, a conundrum, a match? Of course the other side