“I only seek to remove my cravat.” He tugged at the annoying strip of heavily starched material. “I can’t bloody well release this knot. All this running has overheated me.”
She let out a hearty laugh and bent at the waist; he joined her.
“You can’t be serious,” she said.
“I most certainly am.”
She seemed to ponder the idea of him removing any piece of clothing for a moment. Finally, she raised her hands and brushed his away to help release the elaborate knot. She made quick work of it and pulled it from around his neck, handing the material to him once it was off. He shoved it in the pocket of his trousers.
He tugged at his collar to let the cool air brush against his skin. “Marginally better, if I do say so. Thank you.”
Grabbing up her hand again—because he couldn’t not touch her—he led her over the hillock that separated the Carleton property from his.
“Are you ever going to tell me where we are going? We’ve walked for a good quarter hour.”
“I insist upon this being a surprise.”
He led her down a set of stone steps and toward the greenhouse situated off his property. They’d not be found here, not unless his servants were wandering about in the middle of the night. Regardless, his servants could be trusted to remain silent about his midnight visitor.
He grasped her by the waist to lift her over an odd incline and onto one of the narrower paths flanked by a myriad of wildflowers and tall oak trees that hid the large glass structure ahead of them.
“There are only so many places you can take me within walking distance to the Carletons’.”
“True enough. We are almost there, so I might as well tell you that we are at the greenhouse.”
Her head tilted to the side in question. “But the Carletons don’t have a greenhouse.”
“They don’t. But I do. Come on, we’ll do the hothouse first.”
This time he placed his hand to the small of her back and led her down the slate stone path.
“This isn’t some sort of trick to get me alone and away from anyone who might find us, is it?”
“Would you mind so much if that was indeed my plan?”
She yanked her hand away from his. “Lord Barrington.” There was no mistaking her tone for anything but a firm reprimand.
“Don’t go pulling away from me.” He tugged her close once again and smiled when she didn’t resist. He would have gotten her off the Carleton property days ago if he’d known she would drop her guard and allow him to touch her in any way. “I’m simply returning the favor of last evening. I might not know a star from a comet, but I spent a great deal of time with my father and stepmother in this greenhouse. I can name just about every flower that grows here.”
“Oh.” Her brows furrowed and she seemed baffled by this hidden facet of his character. “I assumed … I really shouldn’t say what I assumed.”
He pressed his forefinger to her lips. “You needn’t say anything. I know my reputation is well deserved. But I did promise you could trust me.”
“Then I can do no less than just that.”
“Thank you.” And because he liked holding her hand, he took it back and led her through the doors of the greenhouse. “I know you enjoy the flowers in the Carletons’ gardens. I’ve seen you out there enough times picking flowers and putting together bouquets.”
“I didn’t realize you took notice.”
“There isn’t much I don’t notice where you’re concerned, Genny.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I thought you would enjoy seeing the little piece of heaven my parents created on the estate.”
“Didn’t you say it was your stepmother’s garden?”
He nodded. “My mother died shortly after my birth. My stepmother came to live with us when I was five and I think I loved her from the moment she gave me that first motherly hug.”
She cleared her throat. “She must have been a wonderful woman.”
“She was. But enough about me, tell me what you desire to see most.”
“I have a certain fondness for roses. Do you have any?”
He nearly snorted. Didn’t every gardener have their fair share of roses? “More than a handful of varieties. My parents were fervent horticulturists.”
“I never knew.”
“It was a great hobby and passion of theirs. I keep on a large staff to maintain this place in their memory. My father might have been a bit stuffy and old-fashioned, but he loved nothing more than spending time in here, especially after my stepmother died.”
“Your father passed away around the same time my aunt did. I remember someone telling me. I’m very sorry.” She squeezed his hand affectionately with her condolences.
“No more sorry than I. Now, enough of this reminiscing; tonight is supposed to be about us.”
“I didn’t intend to stir up sad memories.”
“I know. But thank you for the condolences. As I was saying, there is a whole arboretum dedicated to some forty varieties of roses. But they will come in due course. Orchids first, since they are the closest.”
He twirled her around, quite taking her by surprise. When she was standing next to him again, she clutched her fist to her chest and laughed. She had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
“What was that for?”
He shrugged as though he’d done nothing out of the ordinary. “I like to see you laugh.”
She dropped her gaze demurely, and when she looked at him again, she asked, “Why haven’t you ever suggested a morning expedition from the Carletons’ estate?”
He didn’t miss the note of excitement in her voice.
“It’s my private place. I don’t want people who don’t appreciate this as much as I do tromping through here, breaking flowers, and wearing down the paths.”
Her hand tightened around his. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
Opening the first door, they stepped into a tropical garden filled with various orchids. He threaded his fingers through hers, enjoying the feel of her skin against his. What he really wanted was to pull her into his arms and taste her lips.
“It is warm in here,” she said.
“Orchids need a stable temperature. They won’t thrive in our damp cold for long, so the temperature is controlled with steam pipes.”
Her gaze followed his pointed finger that indicated the piping about twelve feet up that surrounded the perimeter of the greenhouse. He led her down the stone path that rounded the small hothouse, her arm threaded tightly through his as the path narrowed and he felt the press of her bosom against his arm. He pointed to a stalky plant that was only starting to furl open.
“Those beauties are called birds-of-paradise. Not an orchid, but they enjoy the hotter temperatures in here. I’ve seen them grow as tall as eight feet. And the dark blue centers turn to deep shades of burgundy, orange, and red when they open up.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before.”
“You’ll see a lot of firsts here,” he promised. “Do you hear the water trickling down the rock façade?”
“Yes, I hear it but don’t see it anywhere.” She turned, like a child in a confectionary for the first time, looking for the source of water. She really did have the most splendid smile. “It’s just missing the sound of birds to make one feel as though we really are in a tropical paradise.”
That depended on the type of paradise she referred to because she certainly played his Eve in the Garden. He could swear the serpent whispered in his ear, telling him to do wicked things to her. He shook his head and walked into an adjoining hothouse. He had promised only an evening out. That’s not to say he’d stop her if she felt inclined to initiate something more.
“The odd warbler and yellow tit tend to find their way into this little haven from the outside world, but they won’t be up and chirping for another few hours.”
The source of the water was before them. Water cascaded down from large boulders his parents had thought to put in here to create a miniature waterfall and to keep the water in the koi ponds refreshed and clean.
She put her hand out and brushed it along the stone rail that lined the three-foot bridge and stared down at the large gold and black koi that swam and created a tide of sunshine beneath them.
Her shawl fell from her shoulders to rest in the crook of her bent arms.
“It’s not too hot for you, is it?”
“No,” she answered, a little breathless.
“I probably should have had you dress more appropriately for the different temperatures.”
He hoped the heat in the arboretum would have her removing her shawl to reveal the gentle scoop of her evening dress and the nip of her laced-in waist. Hell, he wanted her to take off more than her shawl. But not here. Well, maybe he did want her to take it all off here.
Damnation, what was wrong with him?
He needed a hell of a lot more focus than he currently had.
“Come along.” He took her hand again and led her down the shale path. “The orchids come in every color and size; flowers ranging from tiny bulbs to palm-sized petals. Some stems are taller than you or I.”
Her gaze was everywhere, taking in the rainbow of beauty around them. “It’s all so wonderful.”