Adam’s grin deepened.
‘Careful now. You’ve done a good job becoming a proper Mowbray Miss, but your tree-climbing ways tend to show under pressure.’
‘I wonder if anything of what you once were would show under pressure,’ she shot back. ‘Or have you done too good a job at becoming what everyone thinks you are? I use to think most of the tales about you were the exaggerations of tattle-mongers, but quite frankly I think they weren’t doing you justice. I am not surprised you are so sympathetic to Percy. Useless fribbles must stand by each other, no?’
Adam inspected her approvingly. The exotic slant of her green eyes elevated her face from merely pretty to fascinating. He had no idea why her attack amused rather than annoyed him. It was rather like being growled at by a kitten.
‘That’s better. It is so much more comfortable with gloves off, isn’t it? Unless you are going to try hitting me,’ he added, indicating her clenched fists. ‘In which case, keep your gloves on, it’s less painful.’
She forced open her fisted hands and took a deep breath, stepping back. It was fascinating to see the almost physical transformation as she tucked herself back inside.
‘Are you so bored here in Mowbray you have to resort to squabbling with me? Can you find no better sport?’
‘I am perfectly willing if you are,’ Adam offered. She remained suspended for a moment; then her slightly confused look gave way to a frown even as a flush swept up her cheeks.
‘You cannot just go around saying things like that... Oh, for heaven’s sake, I don’t know why I am even arguing with you. It only seems to encourage you. You are determined to live up to everyone’s expectations of the debauched rake, aren’t you? If this is an example of how you mean to conduct yourself, your reception is unlikely to get any more inviting than what you have witnessed these last few days.’
She turned away resolutely, planting her hands on the counter, her gaze fixed on the closed door behind which Milsom had disappeared. Adam laughed slightly and leaned back against the surface, crossing his arms.
‘Is that what all this anxious staring is all about? Is everyone waiting for me to commit my first act of iniquity? And here I thought it was my past, not my potential future that had everyone scurrying for cover. What on earth do they expect me to do? Set up a harem at the Hall? Hold orgies? Do you all gather to lay odds on the possibilities?’
‘Believe it or not, but you are not the only topic of conversation in Mowbray, Lord Delacort. What on earth is keeping Mr Milsom?’
‘He is busy gathering books for me. Are you in a hurry or are you concerned that too much time spent in my noxious presence will sway you from the true and narrow? Shall I leave? Or would that be presuming too much?’
Her lips pressed together firmly, but he saw a dimple waver. Then she laughed suddenly, her shoulders relaxing, and turned to him with a much friendlier smile, again reminding him of the young girl of ten years ago.
‘I concede defeat. You are far better at provoking than I am at disapproving. Is all this to convince me not to bother you about Percy? I have learned my lesson—I assure you I expect nothing of you.’
Adam told himself his return to Mowbray had made him unnecessarily sensitive to nuance. Her eyes were still warm with amusement and there was nothing to indicate that the bite he felt at her words was intentional. And even if it was, it should make no difference if her opinion of him was as low as everyone else’s in Mowbray. He had long ago stopped caring about other people’s opinions. If there was one thing he was used to, it was being weighed and found wanting. He was not about to pick up that bad habit again simply because he was in the one place he’d told himself he would never come back to.
‘That is a relief,’ he said drily.
She cocked her head to one side, her eyebrows lowering with concern.
‘Have I offended you? I did not mean to, at least not this time.’
‘I am not that easily offended. Being informed I arouse no expectations is hardly offensive. Expectations, like principles, are exceedingly tiresome. A great deal too much effort is spent either trying to live up to them or explaining why one has failed to do so.’
The disconcerting anxiety in her eyes faded, replaced once again by mischievous amusement.
‘You have developed a whole philosophy on the subject, it seems. I am glad your studies have not gone completely to waste.’
‘Who’s being provoking now? And I have made very good use of my studies. The classics set the ground for most challenges one encounters in life, and where they fall short, there are several very useful Sanskrit texts that fill the gaps.’
‘From your tone I gather I should probably not ask which texts,’ she said suspiciously.
‘Not in public at least.’
Her eyes, intent and curious, searched his for a moment, but then her long lashes veiled her eyes and she sighed.
‘And so, once again, we circle back to you trying to shock me. I’m afraid you can’t outdo the moment ten years ago when I realised what Oedipus was really about and you didn’t even mean to shock me then.’
‘I was probably misled by your name. Anyone named after the founder of Carthage should be able to deal with Greek tragedy.’
She smiled, but there was a sharp edge to her expression.
‘Queen Alissa? Nothing so grand. I believe my father suggested my name in one of his very few contributions to our upbringing—I am named after alyssum, the Greek word for sanity. Perhaps he feared having children might threaten his. Now I really should go and keep an eye on Mary and Percy. Aunt Adele is not a very effective chaperon. Could you please tell Mr Milsom I will return later for my book? Good day, Lord Delacort.’
She turned towards the door, not waiting for him to respond. He watched the door close behind her, turning as Mr Milsom stepped hurriedly out of the back room.
‘I was quite certain I heard Miss Drake,’ he said in a puzzled tone as he placed a wrapped stack of books on the counter and pulled a single book from beneath it, brandishing it at the closed door.
‘You did, but she was in a bit of a hurry, I’m afraid,’ Adam informed him.
‘But her book!’
Adam glanced at the book Mr Milsom held and raised his brows as he recognised the title. He had once read part of The Treasure of Orvieto on a voyage between Cape Town and Zanzibar, but it had been lost along with some of his belongings when they had run aground on the African coast. Still, he had read enough to know it was hardly standard reading fare for young women. Perhaps she was collecting it for her father. He had not expected that the reclusive and very annoyingly moralistic poet William Drake would indulge in popular tales of adventure. Still, he had long since learned people were rarely what they appeared.
‘I will deliver it to her, if you like,’ he said and held out his hand imperatively.
Mr Milsom hesitated, looking rather worried, but in the end he handed it over. Authority had its advantages, Adam realised. He rather thought that however diffident people were around him, there was little he could not demand in Mowbray.
Adam added the book to the wrapped stack of books on the counter and stepped outside, heading towards his curricle. He knew he should probably go and deliver her book as promised, but he did not head towards the garden promenade. He wouldn’t mind glancing at the novel again. The aggravating Miss Drake could wait until the next day for her book.
Adam glanced up at the tree, now devoid of toys and