He looked steadily back at her. “Why not, if I mean them?”

Why not, indeed? It only set her pulse to racing and encouraged her to dream impossible dreams. Dreams were dangerous things. They made one dissatisfied with reality.

“It’s getting late.” Mr. Archer cast a glance at the gig. The horse tossed its head and gave another stamp of its hooves. “I should go. The vicar will be thinking the worst.”

“Yes, of course.” She held out her hand to him. She wasn’t wearing her gloves. Neither was he. “I expect I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon at Edgington Park.”

“I expect you will.” He took her bare hand gently in his, but he didn’t shake it. He turned it palm down, and then, before she could comprehend what he was about, he drew it to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

It was a courtly gesture. Not at all the sort of thing a modern gentleman might do. But it made her heartbeat quicken and the butterflies in her stomach soar to life.

“Good night, Laura,” he said.

She drew her hand away as soon as he released it, conscious of Yardley’s presence on the other side of the gate. “Good night.”

Monday morning, Alex and George arrived at Edgington Park on horseback in answer to a summons from Henrietta, only to find their young hostess in a temper fit. She stormed about the fashionable drawing room in a flurry of French silk, a crumpled note held in her hand.

“I sent for Laura to join us over an hour ago,” she said, “and have just received this message from her aunt. She says Laura is out all morning. That she won’t return until the afternoon. Out where, I ask you? What could possibly take all morning?”

“Maybe she’s gone to the village?” George suggested. “Or back to London to visit that solicitor of hers?”

Henrietta fumed. “I begin to regret lending her that money. If I knew the result would be her ruining my plans—”

George gave Henrietta a sharp look. “What money?”

“I don’t believe she’s gone to London,” Alex said before Henrietta could answer.

“Where is she, then?” Henrietta demanded.

“Does it matter?” George asked. “You’ll see her later, won’t you?”

“But I need her here now. I wanted to tell all of you about the excursion I have planned. I’ve put so much effort into arranging it.” Henrietta flounced down on the sofa. She looked very near tears.

Alex felt a flicker of annoyance. She was spoiled and pettish. A young lady used to getting her own way. It shouldn’t irritate him. He’d recognized what she was from the first day they’d met. Recognized it and accepted it. If he wanted Edgington Park, he was going to have to continue to accept it.