The Memory of Your Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page B

take in women’s clothing. His compliments had been of a very general nature.
    Vanity won out later in the day as she wore the new bonnet for the drive with Lieutenant Quintin. He had arrived punctually and, after polite greetings with her relatives, handed her into his curricle. He placed his cane on the floor of the vehicle and somewhat awkwardly hoisted himself into position beside her to take up the reins.
    “I’ve not quite mastered my technique for getting into and out of a vehicle with grace,” he apologized.
    “I thought you did very well,” she said, feeling again that strange but not unpleasant physical sensation that had so astonished her the day before.
    He glanced at her, smiled, and said, “I’m told on good authority that ladies like to be complimented on their headgear. And I must say you look very fetching in that bit of straw and ribbons.”
    “Why, thank you, kind sir.” She was glad she had given in to temptation and worn it.
    Both were silent as he maneuvered the carriage through the worst of the city traffic. Then he said, “Alexandra Park is on a hill and affords a very nice view of the city. Gives one perspective.”
    “That would help get me oriented,” she said. “I was in Bath once before, several years ago, but I was too young to appreciate what I was seeing.”
    “There is much to see and your time is short. However, a gooddeal of the city is best seen on foot—the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge with its shops, the Abbey.”
    “And I do want to see it all,” she said.
    “Perhaps you will allow me the pleasure of being your tour guide.”
    “Oh, but you just said much is best seen on foot,” she blurted, then blushed with embarrassment at drawing attention to his infirmity.
    He gave her a rueful smile. “I am not so lame as all that, Miss Waverly. As a matter of fact, I am encouraged to walk as much as possible. So, you see, you would be doing me a great favor.”
    “Oh, well—if you put it that way—”
    “That’s settled. Now what shall we talk about? The terms of our agreement last night put the future out of bounds.”
    “Hmm.” She pretended to be puzzled. “I suppose there is always the weather …”
    “ ’Tis a fine day. Let us hope it does not rain.” He paused. “Now what?”
    “The royal family? No. Some of that would not be quite proper.”
    “And is Miss Sydney Waverly—that champion of women’s rights—always so very proper?” His tone was teasing, but she thought there was sincere interest in the question.
    “Oh, my. How does one answer a question like that without seeming either pompous or hoydenish?”
    He laughed. “With the truth?”
    “The truth, then.” She thought hard for a moment. “I suppose the truth is that I am, indeed, ‘proper’ in terms of behavior, but somewhat unorthodox in my thinking.”
    “And you do not see that as being hypocritical?”
    “No. Merely practical. One must live in the real world, even though it is not ideal.”
    “A thought definitely worth pursuing,” he said, “but here we are.” He reined in his team to position the carriage to allow a panoramic view of the city. “See? All the major landmarks lie before you.”
    “It is like having the world at your feet.”
    “Yes, a peaceful, serene world.”
    She thought she heard a sense of longing in his tone, so she said lightly admonishing, “No future now.”
    “Right,” he agreed heartily. He leaned close to point out sights to her. “See the Royal Crescent there? It was the work of John Wood theYounger. His father built the Circus—just down the street, there. And way down there is the Abbey.”
    She was intensely aware of the warmth of his nearness and the subtle spicy scent of what must have been his shaving soap. “It’s beautiful,” she said and turned to him. “You were right. This view gives one wonderful perspective.”
    He held her gaze for a long moment and she thought he might be going to kiss her, but she forestalled that by