Taylor closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She shouldn’t be surprised. Her friend faced life and its challenges head-on. No evasion. No time wasted on fears or heartache or second thoughts. Millie believed in drawing every bit of goodness from each day. Naturally, this would be her solution to Taylor’s dilemma.
At the sound of approaching steps, Taylor pressed a hand to her stomach to ease the jitteriness and turned to face the duke.
“Your Grace,” she murmured.
“Lady Taylor. Finally, we meet again.”
THE FIRST TIME THEY MET, Bamberg had been taken with her courage. Her strength and character shone through, regardless of the unfortunate circumstances. And when it came to physical attraction, she was irresistibly beautiful, even knee-deep in mud.
At this moment, however, standing on this island in these wild Highland hills, Taylor Fleming was nothing less than transcendent. From her hair of spun gold to her angelic face to her voluptuous curves, she was Aphrodite. She was Diana.
But she was also the woman who’d successfully ditched him at every turn for the past three months. Her reticence only fueled his interest. His inquiries about her confirmed that she was a prize worth chasing. In coming to England and Scotland to choose a wife, he’d never imagined running into someone like her. Now that he’d met her, she was the only one who would do.
Taylor had never flatly rejected him, but she was unconvinced, unwilling. So he had today, perhaps only until she made a dash for the beach, to convince her otherwise.
“Your Grace, is that your boat departing with mine?”
Her question forced Bamberg to tear his eyes from her and look out at the loch.
“Damn…!” He took a couple of steps down the hill but immediately remembered his manners and turned around. “My apologies.”
She smiled. “I believe our hosts are playing games with us.”
Bamberg reluctantly looked away from the upturned corners of her lips and motioned toward the departing groom. “I’ll swim after him and bring a boat back if you ask me to. I have no desire for you to feel trapped or forced into meeting with me.”
The prettiest of blushes bloomed on her face. How could she possibly get any more attractive?
“That’s very kind of you. But I’m hardly a strong swimmer. I couldn’t come to your rescue you if you were to call for help.”
He returned her smile. “An excellent point, because I would, without doubt, be calling out to you.”
He picked up her bonnet, and their fingers brushed as he handed it to her. They both drew back at once. If a mere touch sparked the air around them, Bamberg wondered what would happen if they were to kiss.
“What was their ploy in sending you here?” she asked.
“Lady Millie’s family is arriving at any moment. The good doctor told me there are no available guest rooms at the Abbey. And you?”
She started to say something but then shook her head. “I think my friend’s intention was for me to speak with you alone, without the presence of family.”
“I’ve been hoping for the same thing.” He offered his arm. “Would you care to walk with me?”
“Where to?”
“We could see what the island has of interest to offer.”
She looked around her. From where they stood at the crest of the hill, they could see the entire shoreline. Nevertheless, she took his arm, and they started down the slope.
Bamberg felt the pressure of their limited time together, and he had so much he wanted to say. Dermot had hinted that they might have this moment when the men met in his office. He knew that somehow, somewhere, his friend and his wife would arrange for the two of them to meet. And Dermot had made good on it. But now that Taylor was here, Bamberg was already lamenting the moment when she’d be gone.
“Your Grace—” she began before he interrupted.
“Please. My friends call me Bamberg.”
“Very well.” She nodded. “I owe you an apology for the way I’ve behaved toward you.”
“I find no fault in anything you’ve done.”
The hill was steep, and as they descended, she had no objection to an occasional touch along her waist to steady her step.
“I’ve been avoiding you.”
He smiled. “I thought you were avoiding your father. Or was it your brother? I certainly didn’t think
He hadn’t realized before that the sparkling blue irises of her eyes were encircled by a thin silvery band.
“Now, I’m feeling especially guilty. I left you time and time again in their company.”
“You
Her brows pulled together, and her eyes narrowed, conveying her skepticism. Discreetly, she withdrew her hand. “You have considerable charm, Your Grace, but you’re wasting it on me.”
