The Earl's American Heiress. Carol Arens

crunched on the path.

      “Excuse me, my lady,” said a deep voice from the shadows. “I did not realize this space was occupied.”

       Chapter Four

      It was her, the woman with the red hair Heath had caught mysterious glimpses of throughout the evening. He was not sure why it was that she had caught his interest more than any other beautiful lady in the room tonight.

      His voice must have startled her because she gasped, touching her throat with lacy white gloves.

      “I apologize for intruding on your solitude.”

      “It’s quite all right. I was just about to go inside.” She stood up, and then all at once her green eyes—even in the dark he could tell that they fell somewhere between emerald and peridot—blinked wide.

      “Mr. Ramsfield? Heath Ramsfield?”

      If she was startled to see him, he was doubly surprised to come upon her in the duchess’s garden. How was it that this lovely commoner came to be dressed in satin, lace and exceptionally exquisite jewels?

      “Miss Fitz—is that you?” Yes, he was nearly certain it was and yet... “What are you doing out here?”

      “Seeking answers to a dilemma. And you—have you run afoul of a cat again and come here to escape it?”

      He could hardly be offended, not when she looked up at him with good humor winking in her eyes.

      “Also seeking answers to a dilemma.”

      She sat back down, turning a fraction to the side to make way for her small, fashionable bustle. She patted the bench.

      “I recognize that it isn’t proper to be alone together in the garden, but I do not happen to have a chaperone at the moment.”

      “At the first sign of footsteps I promise to dive beneath that bush.” He indicated a large, dense rosebush behind the bench. Thorns be damned, he wanted to spend time with this lady who, he expected, was far different than the one he would be wedding in a very short time. “Will you not be missed?”

      “No doubt I’m being sought as we speak—but I am in no hurry to be found.”

      Did she not value her employment? Although she hardly appeared to be in service.

      Still, sitting down beside Miss Fitz seemed the most natural thing in the world to do. Had he been in the same situation with anyone but this forthright American, he would have immediately fled. Being alone in the dark of night with one of the debutantes would have found him at the altar within a fortnight.

      At the altar with expectations of love and romance. Much better he wed the heiress and be free of such entanglements.

      “Nor am I.” He smiled at her. It might be the most genuine pleasure he’d taken in that gesture since he’d last seen her. “You look quite fetching, by the way.”

      Fetching in a very expensive way. Odd, that.

      “My grandfather has been very lavish in making me look like an exquisite doll.”

      “I tip my hat to him. He has succeeded beyond measure.”

      “Grandfather always succeeds when it comes to me. I do his will quite obediently on most occasions. It is my downfall, I’m afraid.”

      “I find it hard to believe you are submissive.”

      “Loyal, I think, rather than that.”

      “And what loyal act are you hiding from out here?”

      “Marriage.” The thought flashed through his mind that some fellow was a very lucky man. “He has arranged one for me and I am not at all sure the fellow and I will suit.”

      He had more in common with Jane Fitz than she knew.

      “Have you spoken to him about how you feel?”

      “I’ve told him I would only go through with the marriage if I found the man was someone whom I could respect. My fear is that I will not even find him tolerable.”

      “You should not marry a man you cannot tolerate. I support you in that.”

      “Do you? I appreciate your saying so. I’ve been quite alone in my concern over it. I can scarce believe I’ve told you, a stranger, about it.”

      “It’s because I am a stranger. I think it’s easier to speak one’s mind openly to someone one does not know. Although I do feel we are no longer quite strangers. But tell me, why do you believe this fellow will not suit?”

      “We were supposed to meet for the first time tonight and yet he has not had the courtesy of emerging from the gaming room.” Wasn’t that one of life’s odd coincidences? He had yet to meet his bride as had been arranged, either. “I believe he might not be the most stable of men. I have no wish to act the fellow’s keeper.”

      Heath had taken a brief walk through the game room tonight. Slademore had been in attendance, but surely he was not the man she meant. Which of them could she have been speaking of? None of them appeared to have anything in mind but cards, or, if he was a footman, serving the gentlemen.

      Gentleman or servant, none of them seemed to be anticipating meeting a bride for the first time.

      “Perhaps circumstances prevented him from meeting you.”

      “I sincerely hope not.” Her brows arched. Her chin lifted while she looked steadily into his eyes.

      “I’m sure it’s only that he had a duty—”

      “A duty to his cards? Never mind. Time will tell if I consent to wed him or not.” She lifted her shoulders with a sigh, gave her head a slight shake. “And what drives you out into the night, Mr. Ramsfield?”

      “Much the same thing as you. Apparently we are kindred spirits.” Somehow, speaking to Miss Fitz seemed comfortable. Even knowing he should not be out here alone with her, he wanted to talk all night long. “Shall I call for a chaperone?”

      “I’m hardly a blushing child. Besides, we’ve been alone long enough already to be thoroughly compromised. Calling for a chaperone will only draw attention to the fact. No doubt we would be forced to marry and I surmise that you are promised to another?”

      “Bound and fettered.” He should not have revealed that. It was a thought best kept to himself.

      Overhead, he heard the soft pattering of raindrops. Dense leaves of the rosebush growing over the arbor kept the moisture from penetrating, at least for the moment.

      “I must say—” she arched one pretty brow “—that attitude does not bode well for a blessed union.”

      He nodded. “You understand that, I believe?”

      “Sadly, I do. Still, I do not have to go through with it. Although it will be at the cost of crushing my grandfather’s heart. He’s had one granddaughter do that already. But you, are you so bound that you cannot walk away from it?”

      A drop of water must have hit her nose because she lifted her hand and brushed it off. If only he had been the one to whisk it away. For some reason he desperately wanted to feel the warmth of her skin under his thumb.

      “Yes, I am. There are many people who would be destitute if I walked away from my duty.”

      “Birds of a feather are what we appear to be, Mr. Ramsfield. If only we were free to take wing and fly away.”

      Rain began to leak down the leaves. A torch on the path glowed dimly on Miss Fitz’s face and revealed a smattering of raindrops across the bridge of her nose.

      “I find that I would not mind flying away with you,” he admitted.

      Nor