“I was thinking of your silver tongue.”
He lifted his brows slightly.
“When you said you were shoveling for me,” she clarified. His expression didn’t change at all.
“What?” she insisted.
“What?” He stopped shoveling.
“You’re not saying anything.”
“What would you have me say?”
Goodness, his gaze was so intense. She hated herself for being overcome by something so shallow, but his eyes spoke for him, and they were telling her that he found her amusing. “What did you mean when you said you were shoveling for me?
“I think it’s quite clear, Miss Darling.” He said her name with the slightest trace of a smile, then seemed to catch himself and grew serious again. In fact, he appeared a little impatient. “If someone tells you they are doing something for you, what more do you need to know?”
How was it that the honey tone of his voice could seep so deeply to cover her bones?
“I need to know why. Why would you do any hard work for me? You don’t even know me. Do I have you all wrong and you do this for all your tenants? Or is this your way of trying to seduce me?”
He chuckled but dipped his head and blew a breath out of his nostrils, reminding Aria of some kind of animal getting ready to attack.
“I already answered your question,” he said, heaving snow aside. “I’m doing this to show you what kind of man I am.”
“Why do you care what I think of you?” she pressed.
“Because I saw you, Miss Darling. I saw you appear in an instant, standing in a place you weren’t standing a moment before. Your clothes were like garments I’ve never seen. They were scant and thin and not appropriate for the last week of April. It was if you were somewhere warm and then dropped here.”
Yes. She wanted to tell him. He seemed as if he would somehow understand and maybe help her. Would he believe her because he saw her appear?
“All of this makes me curious about you,” he continued. “I just want to know where you came from and if you know someone I used to know. I assure you I am in no way trying to seduce you.”
He looked a little sick to his stomach. Aria took offense. Was the thought of seducing her sickening to him? What a jerk! What was so revolting about her? Alright then, since he wanted to know so bad, she would tell him, and then she’d never bother thinking about him again.
“Fine! You saw me coming from another century in time. To be more exact, summer, New York City 2024 where I lived my life with my parents and my disabled brother, who I miss enough to scream. I missed his birthday!”
He looked like he was going to say something. She wasn’t finished. “I miss where I worked with Mrs. B. I miss my students.” She stopped to sniff. “I don’t even know how Jake did at the audition!”
Was she really crying in front of this jerk? She swiped her tears away and set her jaw. “Thanks for shoveling. Bye.”
She turned around and took a step. His fingers closing around her wrist stopped her.
“Don’t go,” he beckoned softly, like a melancholy wish—which was why she didn’t kick him. “What power brought you here?”
What? That’s what he chose to say? No compassion for her. Not a mention of her missing anyone and crying.
Jerk!
She yanked her arm free. “There’s nothing else I’m telling you.”
He didn’t stop her again as she headed to the house. And it was a good thing. She would have fought him.
Before she reached the house, a large raven flew across the pale gray sky and screeched above the marquess. He didn’t look up but turned to his horse.
Above him, the raven followed him, swooping low behind him, flying from side to side, but not too close.
Aria’s blood ran cold. Didn’t the Gables tell her a raven killed their father? What possible reason could there be for a raven to want the marquess’ attention—which it didn’t get?