Page 28 of Indecently Daring

Her laughter made him turn to stare at her, an odd sensation tickling down his spine at the merry sound.

“I don’t, truly. I do know I’m a trying creature. I’ve been told often enough, I assure you, though I don’t mean to be. Mama says we both have an excess of animal spirits, whatever that means. I’m very like her, you see, and she was a terrible troublemaker before she married Papa. No, what am I saying? She’s still a terrible troublemaker. So, don’t blame yourself,” she said, patting his arm reassuringly. “It’s me, not you.”

The words animal spirits slid under Harry’s skin and burned there, making him increasingly tetchy as it conjured tantalising images and thoughts he had no business having.

“Oh dear. I’ve done it again, haven’t I?” she said, regarding him quizzically. “Well, never mind. If you would only give me the key to the village hall, I shall get out of your hair. My aunt wishes to deliver all the donations for the auction Friday night, but she does not wish to bother you if you’re busy.”

“I’m afraid I left the key at the vicarage,” he said apologetically.

“Oh, bother. In that case, I’ll simply have to come back tomorrow.”

“No!” Harry said hastily, and then cleared his throat in light of the smirk she turned upon him. “I’m not avoiding you, Miss Cadogan. I only mean to save you a journey.”

“Mm-hmm,” she replied, obviously unconvinced as well she might be.

“Jeb will be back at the vicarage by now. He knows where the key is.”

“Excellent. I’ll visit with Jeb for a bit and collect the key at the same time. Farewell, Reverend Martin. Until we meet again.”

The wicked female winked at him and then turned with a flurry of petticoats, chuckling to herself as she walked away.

Harry watched her go, frowning and feeling thoroughly distracted.

“Miss Cadogan!” Jeb said, beaming as he opened the door to the vicarage.

“Good afternoon, tyke. How are you settling in?”

“Fine and dandy.” The lad grinned, a cheeky expression she approved of. “But His Nibs ain’t here. Gone off do-gooding, like he does,” he added with a mystified expression.

“I know,” Alana said, fighting a smile. “I met him on my way here. I’ve come for the key to the hall. He said you’d fetch it for me and that I might visit with you whilst I was here. Shall I make some tea?”

“I can make tea,” Jeb shot back at once, looking affronted. “I know how.”

“Even better. I shall put my feet up and let you do all the work.”

“Best come in then, hadn’t you?” Jeb said, opening the door wide and ushering her inside.

Jeb put the kettle onto boil and went off to fetch the key. Alana looked about the kitchen, which was clean and tidy. She wondered how the two of them were managing together. The scent of bacon lingered in the air, so she assumed they weren’t starving.

“There you are. Mind you give it back to him, though,” Jeb said sternly.

She smiled. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

Alana enjoyed a pleasant half hour with Jeb, who she found an entertaining companion. He even presented her with a plate of biscuits to go with the tea. They were a little soft, not that Jeb seemed to notice. Alana hoped her aunt would find a housekeeper for them soon.

“What a gentleman you are, Jeb,” she said approvingly as he opened the door for her. “I have very much enjoyed our visit. Might I come again to see you?”

“Anytime you like,” he said, looking mightily pleased with himself.

“’Ere! What you doin’ with my boy?”

Alana turned at the sound of the strident voice, dismayed to see an angry woman with hard expression hurrying towards them. A glance back to Jeb, whose face was set, his expression frozen, told her all she needed to know.

“You must be Jeb’s mother. How nice to meet you,” she said politely, offering the woman her hand as she stalked up the path to the front door. “He’s a credit to you. Such a gentleman.”

His mother looked Alana up and down, giving her a measuring glance before turning to her son. “What’s all this, then?”

Jeb said nothing, his jaw rigid, but Alana could see the tension singing through his narrow frame. Regret filled her chest as she considered the lovely half hour they’d just spent.