I knew the kind of man her father wanted her to marry.

He wasn’t me.

Not even close.

I knew she thought I was rude and grumpy, but it wasn’t the entire truth. Keeping her at arm’s length was my goal and being rude to her was the easiest way to achieve that. I wasn’t entirely sure how much longer I’d be able to do it for, especially if she kept asking for my advice in the garden, but I was going to give it my best shot.

Even more so now that I was here with her and I’d had to look after her because of her ankle. As long as she didn’t need me to help her walk anymore, I’d be all right.

“So why were you so desperate to leave earlier?” Gabriella asked, resting her foot back on the cushions and looking over at me.

“I wasn’t desperate to leave,” I lied, getting up and walking to the fire. I picked up the long poker and stoked it, giving the ashes a new lease of life as fire sparked on a bit of wood that was yet to burn. I set another log on it. “I would prefer to ride out the storm in my own home, that’s all.”

“Mm. Bet you’re glad you’re here now, though. Sounds like you’d be cold and screwed without my doomsday box.”

Doomsday box. That was one way of putting it.

I had to admit that I was quite impressed with her ability to think ahead. Perhaps I’d underestimated her.

“I might be cold, but that’s what a jumper is for.”

“Mhmm.” She picked up a book from the table. “Oh, I haven’t read this yet,” she said brightly, peering over the top of it. “You can help yourself, if you’d like something to read. There’s a little bit of everything here.”

I cast my gaze around the vast library with its floor-to-ceiling shelves that only broke for windows and a few drawers and cupboards for storage. “I should imagine there is.”

“What do you like to read?”

“I usually stick to reading for work.”

“How terribly boring.” She shifted so she was sitting a little more upright. “Well, now is as good a time as any to read for fun. What do you like to watch on TV?”

“I don’t watch much TV.”

“Good Lord, Miles. Do you have any hobbies at all?”

I stared at her. “I play cricket.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “You do? Where?”

“At the tennis club,” I replied dryly. “The cricket club. Where else?”

“All right, calm down. No need to get your knickers in a twist.” She looked away. “Try that bookcase over there. There’s some sports non-fiction in it, and I’m sure there’ll be something on cricket. Daddy used to play when he was younger.”

Of course he did.

“I’ll take a look. Thanks.” I wasn’t particularly in the mood to read, but I didn’t want to talk to her either, so at least a book would solve the latter problem. I didn’t know anyone who talked while reading, and I hoped Gabriella would be one of those people.