Hart spun around and stood. ‘Ladies, I am terribly sorry I have offended you with my shirtsleeves and my glib tongue. It is not often that I find myself in such estimable company, and I will try my best to refrain from offending you in the future. However, I feel I must state that chances are great that I will offend in some way.’ He bowed down low with great flourish.
The women exchanged a glance and laughed. ‘You are forgiven, Hartwick,’ said Miss Forrester with a wave of her hand. ‘Keep your coat off if you wish. I assure you Katrina and I will not be offended. It is not such an unusual sight back home.’
Hart turned to Julian. ‘America sounds like a place I would enjoy immensely.’ He reclined back on the blanket and crossed his hands behind his head.
It was difficult for Julian not to kick him.
Katrina bit into a strawberry and studied Hart’s relaxed pose. ‘Why do you suppose it isn’t proper for a lady to see a man in his shirtsleeves?’
Hart flipped onto his stomach and rested his chin in his hand. ‘I was wondering that very thing myself.’
Miss Forrester, who was sitting next to him, raised her wine glass. ‘It isn’t as if we would swoon at the sight of a man’s arms. At least I would not.’
‘You need to take a closer look at my arms,’ Hart stated.
‘I see your arms now, Hartwick, and I find myself amazingly upright,’ she replied.
Katrina turned to Julian. ‘Do you suppose someone thinks a woman might lose control of her actions if she sees a man’s broad shoulders and muscular arms?’
‘Not all arms are muscular,’ commented Miss Forrester.
Julian shrugged, tying not to think of spending time with Katrina in a state of undress. His blood pounded through his veins. ‘We could test your theory.’
Bloody hell! When had he lost the ability to think before he spoke?
Hart choked on his Madeira. ‘Capital idea, Julian. Why don’t you take your coat off as well?’
Miss Forrester smiled brightly. ‘Yes, do, Lyonsdale. Apparently Hartwick, while finely made, simply is not causing Katrina and I to question our moral fibre.’
Hart narrowed his eyes at her.
‘Well, I did acknowledge that you were finely made,’ she amended. ‘However, to test the theory properly we need more than one subject.’
Both Miss Forrester and Hart stared at him.
‘You want me to remove my coat?’
‘It was your idea,’ Miss Forrester pointed out.
‘His Grace never does anything improper,’ Hart muttered, refilling Miss Forrester’s glass.
* * *
Katrina thought that Julian had done nothing but act improperly with her since the moment they’d met. However, she was not about to voice that thought. She had seen men in their shirtsleeves before. Why was the mere thought of Julian in his making her feel different? Suddenly she was very eager to see him remove his coat.
He looked over at her. ‘What is your opinion on the matter, Miss Vandenberg? It is your question we are addressing.’
She rubbed her lips. ‘Hartwick in his shirtsleeves is having no effect on me. I suppose if we are to be scientific on the matter we need you to remove your coat as well.’
He smiled at her and her stomach flipped. ‘I am glad to hear he has no effect on you.’
‘Yes, yes...we know. I have no effect on the ladies,’ Hart said impatiently, with a wave of his hand. ‘Just take your damn coat off.’
‘Tut-tut, Hartwick. There is no need to resort to such language,’ Sarah said in amusement.
‘Very well,’ Julian said.
Reluctantly, he stood and removed his coat.
The air left her lungs as she watched his brown coat fall away, revealing a broad chest behind his yellow waistcoat and a pair of strong, curved shoulders. Maybe the English were correct. Maybe women should not see men in their shirtsleeves.
‘I am sorry,’ Sarah said. ‘It appears we still have no answer as to why men need to remain in their coat-tails.’
‘Wait, Miss Forrester,’ Hartwick said slowly. ‘Miss Vandenberg hasn’t given us her opinion.’
What could she say? Could you remove your waistcoat and shirt as well?
She scratched the back of her neck and bit her lip. ‘You look very nice without your coat.’
He looked triumphantly at his friend.
‘Just because she gave you a compliment it doesn’t mean you look better than I do. Miss Vandenberg is being polite and doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.’
‘This is not a comparison of who looks better, Hartwick,’ Sarah said. ‘We are trying to determine if seeing a man in his shirtsleeves causes us to act irrationally.’
‘Are you sure, Miss Forrester, that you have no desire to act the least bit irrationally?’ Hartwick asked, wiggling his brows.
‘No, Hartwick. I have no desire to do so at all.’
Katrina shifted her gaze to Julian’s yellow silk waistcoat and bit her thumb. She had a longing to slide her hands over his firm chest to his broad shoulders. Her gaze edged to those inviting lips of his...
‘I have already showed you the view of the river, have I not, Miss Forrester?’ Hartwick called out.
‘Yes, but I suppose one can never fully appreciate such a lovely view unless one sees it for a second time.’
Julian was staring at Katrina, making her feel incredibly warm.
‘We can hear you,’ he bit out.
Sarah laughed, and Hartwick cleared his throat. ‘Would you like us to leave the two of you alone?’ he asked.
‘That would be highly improper, Hartwick,’ Sarah said, ‘since His Grace is in his shirtsleeves.’
‘Sarah! Honestly...’ chided Katrina, narrowing her eyes at her friend.
Julian turned to Hartwick. ‘So when I finally do something improper this is how you react?’
Hartwick raised his hands in surrender. ‘We are only trying to be accommodating. So, I think we have determined the reason why it’s improper for men to be seen in their shirtsleeves by ladies.’
Katrina turned to Hartwick. ‘No, we have not. Sarah and I are completely composed.’
‘Well, I am anyway,’ muttered her traitorous friend.
‘What other rules can we test today?’ asked Hartwick eagerly.
