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“I THINK WE SHOULD GO on a walk,” Sebastian declared.
Mother sent him a skeptical look.
“I am well enough to go on a walk.” Sebastian glanced at Genevieve. “In fact, I’m well enough to do all manner of things.”
There was one particular activity that Sebastian was particularly enthusiastic about performing, but unfortunately, his wife wanted to postpone that particular pleasure.
“Can we look for frogs?” Billy asked.
Sebastian nodded solemnly. “I’m particularly fond of looking for frogs.”
Billy beamed, then eyed him skeptically.
Evidently, he was his mother’s son.
“Nobody is fond of looking for frogs.” Billy pointed at both his mother and sister, assigning a hand for each subject. “They hate it.”
Sebastian crouched down. “Well, I’m your big brother. I’m very fond of searching for frogs.
“Brother?” Billy asked, his eyes wide.
Mother cleared her throat. “Since Sebastian is married to your sister, he calls himself your brother.”
Genevieve’s face tensed, and Mother’s visage appeared equally strained.
Billy nodded. “I get it. It’s the game.”
“Yes, frog hunting is a game,” Genevieve said quickly.
Personally, Sebastian would have described frog hunting as an activity, or, evidently in Billy’s case, as a hobby, but he wasn’t going to quibble on his wife’s loose usage of the word. Even the most magnificent woman in the world was bound to have flaws on occasion, and certainly, a loose interpretation of the word ‘game’ seemed a trivial one.
“Can we go?” Billy turned eagerly to his mother. “Pleeeeeease?”
Mother grimaced. “Frog hunting sounds muddy.”
“It is muddy,” Genevieve said, speaking with the voice of experience.
“I can go with Billy alone,” Sebastian offered.
“You wouldn’t mind?” Genevieve stared at him.
“Naturally not,” Sebastian said. “I love frog hunting.”
“Me too!” Billy exclaimed. He ran to the door.
Mother sighed. “I suppose that’s a joy I should discover.”
“You don’t have to go,” Sebastian said. “It is muddy.”
“I don’t mind.” Mother gave a tight smile and glanced at Genevieve.
“I’ll go too!” Genevieve said brightly.
Well.
This was going to be wonderful.
“I have the impression,” Sebastian said, “that frog hunting has never been so fun.”
Billy beamed, and Genevieve’s face pinkened.
“I like having a brother,” Billy announced.
“Well, games are fun,” Mother said, even though she had the appearance of a woman not prone to playing games.
He supposed that Genevieve’s inaccurate use of the word ‘game’ derived from a faulty understanding of it from her mother.
Soon, Genevieve, Mother, Sebastian, and Billy were trampling through a wooded area that Billy assured them was a prime spot for frogs. Eventually, the sound of a creak gliding over rocks and pebbles sounded, and Billy leaped toward it.
Sebastian glanced at Genevieve. “So, this isn’t your first-time frog hunting?”
“No,” she said. “But I’m enjoying it now.”
He smiled, then furrowed his brow. “It’s strange I’ve never gone frog hunting with your family before.”
Genevieve’s face paled, and she averted her eyes. “Well—”
His shoulders slumped. “I was an appalling person. I’m sorry. I can’t believe I was spending so much time thinking about horses.”
“It wasn’t so much time.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. “And we just moved with my family to Cornwall. We’re still discovering all the locations as well.”
“Ah.” An odd weight in his shoulders eased.
Billy and Mother were farther away now. Birds chirped merrily, perched on various branches. Squirrels played, darting this way and that, and light sparkled as it shimmered through the leaves. A wonderful woodsy scent wafted throughout, and Sebastian inhaled happily. No scent equaled that of Genevieve, and he pulled her toward him.
“Sebastian?” her voice trembled.
He smiled at her.
Her eyes were bright and shining, and her cheeks were flushed.
“I like the way you fit against me,” he said.
“Indeed?” her voice quivered, and he smiled. One would almost think her an innocent. He stroked her hair, touching her glossy locks.
“W-We shouldn’t.”
“Your mother and brother can’t see us,” he said, keeping his voice low. “And these trees are most magnificent.”
“Because of their size?”
He shrugged. “I was more contemplating that they function quite well as a wall. A pretty wall. But a wall all the same.”
“Are you very fond of walls?” she asked.
“I find their privacy purposes practical.”
“Oh?” Her voice had a breathless quality to it.
He nodded and took her hands in his. She was quivering. No doubt, she was as eager for him to kiss her as he was. Joy surged through him.
“Though the trees’ beauty is considerable, I am more interested in your beauty.” He squeezed her hands. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
So, he did.
He leaned toward her and brushed his lips against hers. Pleasure jolted through him. She seemed to move nervously, and he smiled.
“I’m not going to break,” he said.
Her lips twitched. “You just had a significant head injury.”
He shrugged. “That took a great ocean.”
He concentrated on the wonderfulness that was Genevieve. He focused on her lips and her tongue.
He focused on her slender figure, which somehow had just the right amount of curves.
He focused on her lovely locks and her cerulean eyes.
He focused on her.
She pulled away, finally. “We should join the others.”
“You wouldn’t fancy a tumble in that bush?” he pointed at one.
Her eyes widened, and he smiled.
“Do not worry. I’m jesting, sweetheart.” He took her hand in his. “Let’s join them.”
His heart swelled as they strode, her hand still clasped with his.
*
THIS WASN’T SUPPOSED to happen. Genevieve knew that. She shouldn’t be strolling through the woods with Sebastian, and she certainly shouldn’t feel happy about the matter.
And yet, his hand was so warm, and the size seemed to fit perfectly with her palm.
An odd lightness moved through her. She was acting scandalously. Unmarried women weren’t supposed to hold hands with unmarried men, and they certainly weren’t supposed to kiss them.
But she was doing one thing, and she’d already done the other.
This was when guilt was supposed to come toward her, followed by an urge to take a horse straight to Mr. Ackley’s parish and spend the next ten hours on her knees praying.
The instinct did not come. Instead, she enjoyed the sensation of Sebastian’s hand. They strode evenly, practically gliding, despite the prevalence of fallen twigs and leaves in their path.
“Coming?” Mama called.
“We should hurry,” Sebastian said, still clutching her hand.
They came across a corner, and found Mama and Billy examining a creek. Billy was squatting on a rock.
“I found one!” Billy exclaimed.
Mama’s gaze fell to the joined hands of Sebastian and Genevieve, and she smirked.
“Let’s see the frog.” Sebastian joined Billy, and they soon were noting the intriguing characteristics of the creature.
Mama smiled and moved toward Genevieve.
Genevieve waited for Mama to scold her, but Mama only smiled serenely, and Genevieve had the odd sensation that everything might truly be fine.