She felt his gaze slide over her profile, then he looked at the view.

“On the contrary.” He slid his hands into his pockets; he seemed to relax. “There are some creations of nature I’m addicted to worshipping.”

It required no thought at all to divine to what he was alluding. In the past, she would have made some tart remark… now, all she heard in her mind were the words of her vow… “You’re here for the Glossups’ house party.”

It wasn’t a question; he answered with an elegant shrug. “What else?”

He turned as she drew herself up. Their eyes met; he’d heard her vow and was unlikely to forget…

She was suddenly sure she needed more space between them.

“I came here for the solitude,” she baldly informed him. “Now that you’ve arrived, I may as well start back.”

She swung toward the exit. He was in her way. Her heartbeat accelerating, she glanced at his face.

In time to see his features harden, to sense him bite back some retort. His gaze touched hers; his restraint was almost palpable. With a calm so deliberate it was itself a warning, he stepped aside and waved her to the door. “As you wish.”

Her senses remained trained on him as she swept past; her skin prickled as if in truth he posed some potential danger. Once past him, head high, she glided out of the archway; with a calm more apparent than real, she set off along the path.

Jaw setting, Simon ruthlessly quelled the urge to stop her, to reach out, catch her hand, reel her back-to what end he wasn’t sure. This, he reminded himself, was what he needed, her on her haughty way back to Glossup Hall.

Drawing a long breath, he held it, then followed her out into the sunshine.

And on down the path. The sooner she got back to civilization and safety, the sooner his own journey would end. He’d driven straight down from London-he was thirsty; a glass of ale would not go astray.