She laughed lightly. “I’m a bit peckish.”
He nodded toward the shore. “We’ll pull over here, enjoy a bit of a repast.”
Matthew secured the punt to a low-hanging bush, delivered the blanket and wicker basket to a spot beneath a willow tree, and returned for Fancy. She looked like sunshine in her yellow frock, like a lady of quality with her white parasol, like a country lass with her straw bonnet. With one foot in the boat, he sought to steady it as he offered her his hand. “Hold on to me to balance yourself.”
As she placed her hand in his, he closed his fingers around hers and became the support for her as she gingerly rose to her feet, the punt rocking slightly with her movements. “It’s all right,” he cooed. “I’m not going to let you go over into the water.”
“I have absolute faith in you.”
He was completely taken aback by how much her words meant to him. When she began to wobble slightly, he placed his free hand on her waist. She froze. Their eyes met. He could gaze into those brown depths for the remainder of his life and never fully uncover all the various facets to her. She was elegance and poise, a perfect fit for the aristocracy. She was adventurous and fun, perfect for the world she now inhabited. She would forever be a part of both, of where she’d come from and where she was going. He had little doubt she would succeed in whatever she attempted. She would wed a lord.
And their paths would cross at future balls and affairs, because Sylvie was correct. Eventually he would have to return to Society, find a woman to marry in order to gain his heir and secure the line. He had closed off his heart, decided it served no useful purpose when it came to his determining whom he would take to wife. But now with this woman putting all her trust in him, he realized he’d been more foolish with that assertion about involving his heart than he’d been when he allowed Elise to so effectively seduce him. Whether he desired it or not, his heart was becoming involved, was nudging him toward Fancy Trewlove. He could have her so easily if he told her the truth, but he wanted to earn her, without the advantage of his title.
“Easy now, don’t move,” he murmured. Slowly releasing his hold on her hand, he lowered his to her waist, so she was now bracketed between both his hands. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”
When she did so, he tightened his grip on her, lifted her up, and swung her over to the bank. She was as light as the branches of the willow beneath which they’d soon be sitting, and he was reluctant to let her go, but as her feet came to rest on the ground, he loosened his hold and brought his own foot from the boat to the shore.
“It’s odd to be standing on land after being on the water,” she said softly. “I feel as though we’re still moving.”
“It’ll pass, but you can hold on to me until you’re feeling more steady.”
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to offer his arm and have her wrap both of hers around it, fairly snuggling up against him. As he led her toward the tree, he kept his steps small and realized it had become a habit for him to do so whenever they walked together. How many other aspects of his life were dictated by his desire to ensure she always felt comfortable in his presence? How often did he do something simply because he knew it would please her?
How was he going to feel when a gentleman called on her, not for a cup of tea, but for a stroll in the park? He didn’t want to think of her arm intertwined with another’s. Didn’t want to contemplate her gazing up into another’s eyes.
When they reached the tree, she eased away from him and together they spread out the blanket. After they’d settled on the wool, he opened the wicker basket.
“Are you truly going to make tea?” she asked.
With a grin, he pulled out a bottle of red wine. “No, too much trouble.”
As she laughed, she untied the ribbon on her bonnet, removed the hat from her head, and set it down near her side. He handed her a glass. “Proper stemware.”
“I didn’t think you’d like drinking from the bottle.” He brought out a platter and removed the cloth covering it. “It appears we also have some cheese, bread, apples, and grapes.”
“Did Mrs. Bennett prepare all this?”
“She did.” Stretching out on his side, he rested on an elbow. “I didn’t realize she couldn’t read until I saw her at your class. I don’t know how she manages her household.”
She studied her wineglass for a moment. “I think people who can’t read find a way to remember things. My mum was never a very good reader. She had a basic understanding of most of the letters, I think, but she still struggles. Yet she raised six children. And we’ve all turned out fairly well.”
“Is she the reason you teach reading?”
She nodded. “I hope to have an actual school for adults in a building, very much like the ragged schools. Not only to teach them reading but to introduce them to some skills that might help improve their income, their lives. I just have to secure a husband willing to embrace all I hope to accomplish.”
“It’s all worthwhile. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble there.”
“I can only hope.” Reaching out, she snatched up a small chunk of cheese and popped it into her mouth. “I’m curious. How did you become a gentleman of means? How do you make your way?”
After the kiss they’d shared, she had every right to ask. “I inherited a good deal from my father. I have some property.” Not everyone who owned property was a noble. “Have a few tenants working the land. I meet occasionally with my man of affairs to discuss ways to make the property more profitable.” How to ensure his income could cover all the maintenance costs associated with having an earldom, an estate, a manor house. “I’m also keen on investing, and I’m rather good at it.”
“So you’ve never actuallyworked?”
“It takes a great deal of effort, insight, and skill to manage property, people, and money. I would have thought your brother would have taught you that.” Not to mention his duties in the House of Lords, not that he was ready to tell her about that portion of his life.
“I didn’t mean to insult your efforts.” She took a sip of her wine, glanced up at the tree. “The gentleman I marry will no doubt partake in similar endeavors. Or perhaps none at all. Lords don’t generally engage in labors. I can’t imagine what he will do with his day.”
“Don’t underestimate what they contribute. They have their duties in the House of Lords. They provide work for laborers and farmers. Think of the people in this country who are employed as servants. A good many of them work in noble households. Lords always have some matter with which they must deal. It’s not as though they loll about in bed all day. They have responsibilities. Sometimes it’s a heavy burden.”
