“That sounds splendid,” Juno said, darting a look toward the currently very rigid duke. “Pardon me a moment.” She went to where he stood in the corner. “You look as if someone has stolen your horse.”
He blinked at her in surprise. “I can’t possibly look that angry.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t know how angry that would make you, but you do appear quite disgruntled. What’s happened to cause your wretched mood?”
“I don’t want to walk to the village with everyone.”
“But you invited me to walk today. In fact, that’s why I came downstairs.”
Another flash of surprise, but different from the previous—there was a spark in his gaze too. Anticipation, perhaps. “Is it?”
“Now I wonder if I should find someone else to walk with.”
“No,” he said quickly. “I just… This is not the walk I had planned.”
She cocked her head to the side. “What did you have planned?”
“Just the two of us.”
“I see.” She thought of what he’d said the night before about not being able to tolerate so many people and about not liking to change plans. “What if we walk behind everyone else?”
He relaxed, his shoulders dipping. She could see some of the tension leave his frame.
“Why are you so very rigid?”
“I like routine. I like knowing what’s expected.”
“You don’t like surprises, and this spontaneous activity has set you off-kilter.”
Appreciation warmed his gaze. “You understand.”
“I think I do.”
A smile teased his lips, and she wished he would just outright grin. He was even more handsome when those flashes of humor lit his face. If he allowed it to take over, she suspected the effect would be devastating.
Cecilia came toward them. “Ready, then? We’re going to leave in a few minutes. Unfortunately, Lord Cosford isn’t able to join us due to an emergency with one of his horses.”
The duke’s brow furrowed. “I hope everything is all right. Does he need any help?”
“I’m sure all will be well. Thank you for your concern, Duke.” She inclined her head toward him, then departed.
Juno was a bit surprised she hadn’t lingered. She rather expected Cecilia would want to walk with her, which would ruin the duke’s revised expectations. Perhaps she wouldn’t. And if she did, well, Juno would deal with that problem when and if it arose.
She turned to him as the others began to leave the drawing room. “I suppose we should be on our way.”
“I’m amazed you’re able to perceive me so well.”
She cast him a sly look as they waited for everyone to precede them from the room. “I’m not sure that’s flattering.”
“I only mean that you’re so different from me. You aren’t rigid—I believe that’s the word you used—at all. You’re cheerful and charming, obviously quite comfortable with any number of people around you. I wonder if you thrive on it.”
“I do. Somewhat. I’m always keen for a reprieve.” She sent a look toward the last of the guests leaving and whispered, “Especially with Society types.”
He laughed. “Am I not a Society type?”
She stared at his face, shining with amusement. Absolutely devastating. “Oh, do that again.”
“What?”
“Laugh. Promise me you’ll do it again before the day is over.”
“With you beside me, I’d say that’s a great possibility. I don’t recall the last time someone provoked me to laughter.” He looked at her in bemusement. “That’s what I mean—we’re so very different. You are light, the very sun, while I am darkness. Not even the moon, for that can glow brightly. Rather a void.”
She frowned at him. “You can’t think that about yourself. You are certainly not a void.” She grasped his forearm and gave him a squeeze. “See? You’re flesh and bone, a man.” Suddenly, she was thinking of him in the most primal way.
“We should go before we can’t catch up.” She spun on her heel and started from the drawing room.
He walked beside her once they left the room. “You didn’t answer my question. Am I not a Society type?”
“Heavens, no. You’re a duke, of course, but I gather you loathe Society. And you certainly don’t behave like anyone I’ve met in Society.”
“You’ve met a great many people like that?”
“My grandfather is a baron, so yes, I’ve met enough.”
He looked genuinely surprised. “How on earth does the granddaughter of a baron end up as a paid companion?”
“My dear duke, we’re all just a decision away from a completely different life. Only think of your near engagement to Marina. If you’d decided to propose, everything would have changed for you already.”
“This sounds like a story I’ll need to hear on the way to the village. Will you tell me?”
“You’ll have to tell a story of my choosing in return.” Juno didn’t yet know what she would ask, but she’d think of something.
They stepped outside into the sunlight, and Juno looked up at him. “Do we have an accord?”
“We do.” He looked at her intently, his dark eyes seemingly trying to see every part of her. “Now tell me about the decision that changed your life.”
It wasn’t what Dare had envisioned when he’d invited Juno to walk with him today. It was better. He hadn’t anticipated the curl of joy threading through his chest or the absolute rightness of how it felt to be with her, as if there were nowhere else he was supposed to be.
They walked several paces behind the nearest trio of people. Everyone was somewhat spread out along the track, golden sunlight bathing them as trees painted in a riot of color lined the right side.
“Deciding to marry Bernard Langton changed my life,” she said simply. Then she smiled and shook her head. “Actually, it wasn’t the deciding part exactly. It was when I informed my parents that I wanted to marry the dashing schoolteacher I’d met at the local assembly. They were horrified.”
He looked over at her, resplendent in her dark blue walking gown trimmed with bright gold. “Because he was a schoolteacher?”
“Not just because of that, but yes, that was a factor. He was also boisterous and charming—excessively so is how my mother described him.”
“He sounds like he was a good match for you. You’re very charming.”
“My mother would argue that was why I needed a husband who was more sedate.”
“She thought you needed calming?” Dare wouldn’t change a thing about her. Now. When he’d first met her—a scant few days ago—he’d thought she smiled too much, that she was too…energetic. That seemed ludicrous given how much her smiles and energy lit the world. His world.
Another laugh. “Why, yes, she did. More importantly, she wanted me to marry someone respectable. Bernard was loud and opinionated. People either adored him or reviled him. I fell into the former category, of course. He also tended to drink more than he ought.” She winced, and he wondered how Langton had met his demise.