Lisa cast an apologetic glance over her shoulder toward Lord Findlay, but didn’t protest. She was pretty sure the question Robert had interrupted was “Would you be that wife?” and she didn’t have a clue what to say to it. Lisa was actually relieved that Robert had interrupted and dragged her off. She needed time to think. To figure out what she wanted. She’d thought she had given up on Robert and was looking for a husband, and then she’d decided to try to make him love her, and then she’d fallen in with the plan to force him to marry her, only to decide she didn’t want him that way. Now she simply didn’t know what she wanted.

That wasn’t entirely true, of course, Lisa acknowledged to herself as Robert mounted and then helped her onto the horse behind him. She knew she wanted Robert. She just didn’t want him if he had to be forced into marriage and didn’t trust her. And that appeared to be the only way she would get him. So if she couldn’t have him, what would make her happiest? Living alone for the rest of her life, surviving on memories of her one night with Robert? Or marrying another and perhaps at least managing a warm, friendly marriage of reading by the fire at night, easy conversation and children to distract her?

“Put your arms around my waist,” Robert ordered and waited for her to do so before urging his mount to move.

They were silent as they rode out of the clearing, through the park and headed for the townhouse. Lisa simply sat behind him, her arms around his waist, her breath matching his as they rode. But the feel of him and his smell reminded her of the night before. The faint scent of his aftershave had stayed with her all night, filling her dreams with his kisses and caresses. She had been sorry to wake and wash it away in her bath. But she’d also been relieved. His scent had made it impossible not to think of the man, and thinking of him was a sort of torture.

It started to rain as they turned up the road where Richard and Christiana resided, so she was surprised when Robert didn’t stop at the front door to let her dismount and hurry inside. Instead, he continued on around to the back of the property and right inside the small stables there before stopping. They both hesitated, waiting for the stable master to come rushing up. When that didn’t happen, Robert frowned and muttered, “Harry must not be here.”

“It’s all right,” Lisa murmured, removing her arms from around his waist. “I can get down myself.”