IT WASN’T THAT Lily didn’t know how to talk to gentlemen. No matter what Londoners might say, there was plenty of society to be had out here in the countryside. Lily could hardly remember a time when boys hadn’t buzzed around her and Rose like flies. None of them had ever made her nervous.
But for some reason butterflies seemed to be battling one another in her stomach.
And Rand’s piercing eyes seemed to see it.
With a nice smile, he gestured toward three oak trees hung with swings. Two children sat on a broad one built for a couple. “Is that your brother, grown so tall? He was an imp of six last I saw him.”
“Rowan is still an imp, I assure you.” Lily smiled back. Casting about for something else to say, she added, “The girl with him is Ford’s niece, Jewel.”
“They make a handsome pair.” A frown appeared between Rand’s eyes. “Do you think they’re sitting rather close on that swing?”
Their raven heads were rather close together. But Lily wasn’t worried. “They’re longtime friends. Rowan thinks of her as a sister—or a brother, more like.”
The two children slipped off the swing and headed toward the house. When Jewel reached for Rowan’s hand, he hid it behind his back. Watching, Rand laughed. “Apparently Jewel doesn’t feel quite so sisterly towards the lad. And I reckon Rowan will wake up someday and notice she’s a girl.”
“And a pretty one at that.”
“Almost as pretty as you.”
Lily had received compliments before. But most young men were glib, flattery tripping off their tongues with little thought and many flowery phrases. Rand’s words were simple and soft-spoken.
And he should be saying them to Rose.
Taken aback, Lily clutched the kitten tighter. The animal squeaked and leapt from her arms, landing by Rand’s feet. It looked up at her with an injured expression before scampering away.
Lily stared down at Rand’s black shoes, long-tongued with stiff ribbon bows. The heels were black, too, not red as was the fashion. Her gaze drifted up muscled legs to his trim waistcoat, noting his slate blue velvet suit was well-tailored but free of ribbons and baubles. Smart but not foppish.
Perfect.
When her gaze reached his face, he wore a grin full of meaning she couldn’t decipher. Did he think she’d been ogling him?
Hang it, she had been ogling him. Why, she was acting like Rose!
To her great relief, he chose not to comment, instead motioning to where Jewel and Rowan made their way toward the house—by way of a stroll atop an eight-foot-high stone wall. “Is that wise?”
“Not to worry,” she replied. “My brother is a monkey. Forgive me, but I’m after a turn in the garden…”
Though she’d meant to excuse herself, Rand turned with her toward the formal garden, a charming area divided by low hedges cut in geometric patterns, the flower beds dotted with cheerful reds, yellows, and purples. “Do you suppose Jewel is taking him to see the water closet?”
“Probably. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re plotting a way to use it for a prank.”
“I would hope not,” he said. “I imagine they could make quite a mess.”
She wrinkled her nose at the thought. Chamber pots were hardly appropriate conversational subject matter, no matter how new and fancy. “So you’re staying with Violet and Ford until the translation is finished?”
“I’ll be here for just a week or two, until my house is ready. Although I do hope to make good progress on the translation in that time.” At the edge of the garden, he stopped beside a long table laden with food. “Would you care for some refreshments?”
Though Lily was famished after this morning’s lengthy ceremonies, she hesitated, looking about. But Rose was nowhere in sight. “Yes, thank you.”
He handed her an empty plate and took another for himself. “The house was supposed to be completed long before now, but the builder is an old friend, and you know how that goes—when something else comes up, it’s always easier to put off a friend’s job than a contracted client’s.”
“He doesn’t sound like a very good friend,” she observed.
“Quite the contrary. We’ve known each other since we were knee-high lads in dresses. It’s just that Kit has recently taken on a demanding new client. Very powerful fellow.”
“Oh? Anyone I’ve heard of?”
“You may have.” Piling fruit on his plate, Rand cast her a glance. “Charles Stuart.”
“Oh!” Lily giggled as she selected a wedge of apple tart. “I suppose, then, I can understand how another client might take precedence.”
“When that client is the king,” he agreed.
“Still, it’s unfortunate you’re forced to leave Oxford for the present.” Though fortunate for Rose, she added silently. “Are all Oxford professors allowed to come and go as they please?”
“It’s summer,” he explained. “A four-month break. I usually travel the Continent, looking for lost languages”—he flashed her a lopsided grin—“but I thought I’d stay home this year and settle into my house.”
She followed him into the garden, stepping gingerly since Beatrix had reappeared and was padding along with her, batting at her swishing skirts. “Yours sounds like an exciting life.”
“I’m not sure I’d describe it as exciting, but I enjoy my life, yes. It’s interesting and rewarding.”
They skirted around a sundial, old but lovingly repaired. A few tables of various sizes were scattered about the garden, surrounded by chairs for the guests. Sitting with Lady Carrington, Lily’s friend Judith waved in invitation, her golden curls gleaming in the sun. Lily waved back and started over, but Rand stopped at a tiny square table and pulled out one of the two chairs. “Will you do me the honor?”
“I…” There was no polite way to refuse. “Yes, of course.” She seated herself carefully, sending Judith an expressive shrug. Judith winked and waggled her brows, obviously misunderstanding why Lily was with Rand.
That was something Lily didn’t quite understand herself. It should be Rose here, she thought as Beatrix returned and leapt onto her lap.
“This striped cat is yours, if I’m not mistaken?” Rand took the chair opposite. “However did it find its way here from Trentingham?”
She found herself caught again in that astonishing gray gaze. “I’m guessing you don’t know much about cats.”
“My father raises dogs,” he told her, taking two pewter goblets of wine from a serving maid passing by with a tray. “Big, mean ones who would eat your cat for breakfast.”
Laughing, she pretended to cover Beatrix’s ears. “Shush, you’ll scare her!”
He laughed along with her, smiling another of his inscrutable smiles. “You’re beautiful when you laugh.”
She looked away, hoping he wouldn’t notice her choking on a bite of tart. Ford was coming out of the house, leading another little group around to see the pipes to the river.
Swallowing the cinnamony apples and custard, she turned back to Rand. “Thank you, but I believe being nice is much more important than being beautiful. Although Rose is very beautiful,” she added as an afterthought. “Don’t you think so, my lord?”
“Rand,” he reminded her. “And yes, Rose is indeed beautiful and being nice is much more important. But you are both beautiful and nice.”
What on earth was she supposed to say to that?
He was impossible.
Her fingers went to the back of her left hand before she realized what she was doing and hid it beneath the table. Rose would love this sort of attention. The two were quite definitely suited.
A sparrow landed on their table, providing a welcome distraction. “Hello, Lady,” she murmured and fed it some crumbs from her plate.
Watching her, Rand absently rubbed the ends of his magnificent golden mane between two fingers. “Are you still hoping to build a home for stray animals?”
After all this time, he remembered her dream. “I am,” she said, both startled and pleased, but also wondering if he thought her goal childish. She’d been a child when she’d chosen it, after all.
But he seemed to be taking her seriously. “Have you made plans?”
“Of sorts. I’ve come into my inheritance this year. I’m planning a simple building so as to have funds left to staff it for a number of years. I’m hoping to obtain donations as well. Eventually enough to keep running it once my money is depleted. And perhaps even build others.”
“A solid strategy. Have you thought of having the building donated?”
“I’d prefer it built specifically for my purpose. To convert a house or other building could cost as much as starting from scratch.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps an architect would donate his services.” His eyes twinkled, looking silver in the afternoon sun. “I happen to know one—”
“Uncle Ford!” Jewel came bounding out of the house, her pink skirts flying. “Uncle Ford! Something’s happened with…”
Her words faded as she disappeared around the corner.
Rowan flew through the door next and darted after her, pink-cheeked to match her skirts, his mouth hanging open in something akin to horror.
Lily jumped to her feet. “They’ve done something,” she exclaimed as Ford appeared at a run and dashed into the house, shouldering his way past all the guests hurrying out. “I knew it!”