When Two Hearts Meet (Brightmore #2)

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter 13

"I SAY, ORIANA," Aunt Beatrix hollered over the breakfast table the following morning, "WHY DO YOU HAVE A BEAR FOLLOWING YOU AROUND?"

Ori felt her cheeks colour as the entire table turned to regard her. She was not used to being the centre of attention and she found it unnerving, moreso now that Beatrix was insisting on making a spectacle of her. Having successfully avoided Cole Stanley all through dinner the previous evening and almost through breakfast this morning, she was now forced to acknowledge the intolerable man. Catching his riveting ice-steel gaze, she tried to ignore the amusement she recognised in their depths.

"It's Captain Stanley's dog," she explained calmly to her grandmother despite the discomfort she felt at being the centre of attention now at the table.

Beatrix snorted indelicately and waved a fork around that had skewered a defenceless slice of fried tomato. "THAT'S A BEAST, M'DEAR," she roared, "AND I'D WAGER HIS MASTER IS ONE TOO, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT PERTAINS TO THE-"

"Perhaps you'd like some more bacon, aunt," Imogen interjected quickly before the old woman could complete her sentence, ushering a harassed-looking footman to Beatrix's side.

During the entire interaction, Cole had been boring a hole through Oriana's very soul, his gaze impenetrably silver and astute, never once flinching at Beatrix's insinuation. One corner of his lips twitched upwards slightly and Ori thought that he looked positively and incorrigibly roguish, that perhaps he was quite the beast of all things lurid and sinful and secretive.

Her toes curled in her shoes and she tore her gaze away from him, attempting to concentrate on the lavish breakfast fare spread before her and finding that she had quite lost her appetite. Thankfully, Lady Ashcroft deemed it necessary to make an announcement for them all. "Once we have all adjoined for breakfast," she said to the table at large, her small yet confident voice drawing the attention of all present, "I'd be ever so pleased if you could all await me on the terrace outside. We are to all partake in an activity-"

"Christ help us all," Lord Marshall Sutherland muttered under his breath, not quite so loud that their host overheard but loud enough to cause a murmur of agreement from Lord Rhys Ashcroft who was seated at the other head of the table, opposite his lovely wife.

"A treasure hunt!" A barely suppressed groan could be heard from the table, causing Danielle to retort, "Now don't be like that! I am positive the weather will hold and you'll all have a grand time. We'll each have a partner to work out the clues with and there will be a prize for the winners!"

"I hope," Rhys muttered into his cup of coffee, "that the prize entails the winners to never partake in any more planned activities on this estate."

Lady Ashcroft threw him dark look. "All of our guests are leaving tomorrow, my lord," she told him tartly. "Surely some comradery in a merry game is hardly a burden."

A grunt of agreement was all that was forthcoming from her husband.

Oh, Oriana was no fool. She may be quiet and at times docile, shy as a bird, but she was not immune to a ruse contrived for her benefit. Her ears were burning throughout the remainder of breakfast and the rest of the time that it took her to change into attire suitable for time outdoors. It was obvious to her that Danielle had contrived this game in order to ensure that her and Cole Stanley spent time together, most likely alone, under the pretence of a bit of fun. Oh, she could hardly begrudge Danielle the sentiment but the thought of enduring time alone with the man after what had transpired between them several nights ago...