“Does your mother cook?” Harry’s eyebrows rose in obvious surprise.

“Sometimes. So does Sophie. Mother swears it’s therapeutic after too much time away from home.” Elise rolled her eyes.

“You don’t believe them?”

“Trust me; I’ve never once found cooking therapeutic. I’d rather muck out a stall.”

Harry threw back his head and laughed, exposing the strong column of his throat.

“Men generally don’t find that amusing,” Elise informed him, a little bewildered that he did.

Why had she confessed that anyway? Generally, she used that tactic to put off men she didn’t care to date—not someone who made her heart thunder like a jackhammer. Was she subconsciously trying to sabotage herself?

“I do.” His head shifted toward her mother and sisters. “Did we interrupt your trip?”

“We’re finished and are on our way home.”

Once more, his foot moved incrementally. Good thing she was watching, or she would have missed it.

“How would you feel about extending your trip?”

Her heart added a backflip to its repertoire. If only Harry would take off those sunglasses so she could read his expression. Nix that. His face would give nothing away; she was better off staring at his feet.

“What do you have in mind?” Elise asked, drawing from years of poise lessons.

“Dad needs kitchen things,” Sammy reminded her.

“Have you ever shopped for kitchen items with a man?” Harry leaned forward and whispered under his breath, “If not, you’re missing out, Elise.”

Her galloping heart stumbled, then pitched headfirst. Breathless, she pivoted back to the Jaguar, where Hugh stood at attention as her mother climbed into the backseat, followed by Sophie and Cairstine. The front was always reserved for Elise and her long legs.

“Are you coming, Elise?” Mother’s finely tweezed brows rose ever so slightly.

“I think I’m going to stay . . .”

Mother eyed her, not unhappily. “I understand that gentleman is escorting you to the Jumpers Ball? He looks familiar. Have we met?”

“Aye. He brought me to your anniversary party.” Elise braced for the rejection, the echo of almost ten years past.

“That young man entered the military?”

Elise nodded, her nails digging into her palms.

“I certainly hope you invited him to our supper beforehand.” Mother beamed at her.

A little thrill shot through Elise. “I did.” Mother approved of Harry?

“Where are you off to?” Mother asked, her eyes on Harry and his son.

“Kitchen stores. He needs a few specialty items. What shops do you recommend?”

“Okana’s.” Mother lowered her voice as though she were about to give away state secrets. “They have everything.”

“Thanks. And thank you for tea and the gown, Mother.”

“We’ll see you at home?” Sophie asked, her eyes on Harry too.

“Eventually. I think Harry has several other stops in mind before he returns to Clovenfords.”

Cairstine snickered.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Cairstine,” Mother snapped.