Nora smiled. “Wonderfully. Everyone here is so kind. I don’t think I ever want to leave.”
“Nor I.”
Just as I slipped into bed, a knock came at the door.
Nora hurried to the door to accept my dinner tray, then carefully closed the door with her foot, and carried it to my bedside table.
My eyes widened at the spread. In addition to a fine meal, the tray also held a copy ofGuy Manneringand a small bouquet of lavender.
I hesitated to hope that this gift could be from Ollie, but it certainly wasn’t from Damon. He didn’t know of my love for the Waverley books, and he didn’t know I preferred lavender to other flowers. But Ollie did. I’d written to him about my love for the first Waverley book last year, and I’d mentioned to him that I wanted lavender to scent my room the night before the Rumfords’ ball. With a smile, I picked up the flowers and sniffed their sweetness.
“Shall I fetch a vase of water?” Nora asked.
“No, I wish to hang them from my bedpost to dry.” Now that I was convinced this gift came from Ollie, I did not want to forget this moment. Ever. “But there is something I’m hoping you can quietly help me with.”
“What is it?”
“I need dancing cards to learn the quadrille.” I’d considered asking Lady Winfield for help learning the different forms, but I didn’t want her to think less of Mama for not being able to train me.
“I’m sure one of the maids could attain a set for you. I’ll say it’s for myself, and no one will be any wiser.”
“Thank you, Nora.”
“Good night, miss,” she said and left the room.
After a delicious supper, I set my tray aside, and snuggling into my bed, I opened my book.
No matter what Damon thought of his future estate, I could not think of any place more heavenly. I could avoid socializing and listen to the rain while reading a book from my favorite author, all while in the comfort of my bed. Yes, Summerhaven was nothing short of heaven.
Chapter Eleven
Sitting in the formal gardenthe next morning, I closed my eyes and tipped my head back, wishing the sun would peek through the endless clouds and warm my face. Yesterday had been such a trying day, but today I’d awoken refreshed. As soon as Lady Winfield was ready, we would travel by carriage into town to meet Amelia and Lady Rumford at the modiste.
“I have been looking for you.”
I blinked out of my reverie and found Ollie standing before me. I quickly righted my bonnet and made sure the bow beneath my chin was nicely tied. “You were looking for me?”
“I was.” He stepped forward, and gravel crunched beneath his boots. “I tried the library first.”
The library had always been my favorite place to spend my mornings at Summerhaven. “Am I really so predictable?” I teased.
“Not lately,” Ollie said on a sigh, and then he gestured to the bench where I sat. “May I?”
“I would like nothing better.” I moved over to make room for him.
“How was your ride with Damon yesterday?” he asked.
“Delightful. Damon is animpressivehorseman.”
I didn’t miss how Ollie gripped the edge of the bench, so I wasn’t surprised when he said, “I do not like how we left things yesterday.”
“Nor I.”
“I want for us to be friends,” he said. “As we once were.”
“I do too,” I said.
“But you are still cross with me because I didn’t dance with you.”
