He lifted one hand and then the other to kiss, faintly caressing her knuckles with his thumbs.
She blushed, then gently pulled her hands free. “We mustn’t be seen in this way,” she murmured, distressed.
“Hush, love.” He dropped her hands. “I am selfish and unfair. I should know better and desist from plaguing you.”
Her head flew up. “Oh, you are not plaguing me!” she assured him, then blushed anew and smiled shyly.
He smiled fondly at her. “Yes, I am, but happy am I to hear you so ardently tell me nay. Well, for propriety and prying eyes, may I assist you in collecting flowers?” he suggested, picking up her basket.
She nodded, and they began to walk the garden paths, occasionally stopping as Adeline selected a bloom.
“By the length of stem you are cutting, I would gather you are not collecting for your flower art,” Trevor finally said, breaking the strained silence between them.
“No, you are correct. I’m collecting flowers for vases. I think a room looks so much prettier with flowers around, and by my sister’s admission, she is no dab hand at it.” She laughed slightly. “When I offered to create the bouquets for the parlor and hall, she agreed with unsurprising alacrity."
"When we are wed, I vow our gardens will rival any in the state,” he said sincerely.
She smiled shyly again. “I liked the sound of that."
"What, my love?”
She stopped and stood in front of him. “Our,” she answered, her eyes sparkling.
“Oh, Adeline,” Trevor said, closing his eyes tightly, then opening them and sighing deeply. “You make me want to pick you up in my arms and carry you away.”
She skipped away from him. “Remember where we are,” she said teasingly. Then she sobered. “We must discuss this evening. I have been watching Mr. Wilmot very closely. He does not notice me for he holds me to be a drab slip of a woman.”
“The man is blind.”
Adeline smiled and nodded her head in thanks but went on: “His eyes follow Vanessa everywhere, and he scowls deeply when any man talks to her, even Charles! He desires private conversation with Vanessa, but so far, he has been thwarted by you and Hugh. He is growing increasingly restive. Perhaps we should allow him his time with her.”
Trevor’s dark sable brows pulled together across the bridge of his nose as he thought. “I don’t know. Hugh and I had an opportunity to talk earlier. He seems to feel Vanessa is afraid to be alone with Wilmot.”
“Vanessa, afraid? I find that difficult to believe of my sister.”
“Well, perhaps afraid is the wrong word, but she is definitely uncomfortable.”
Adeline nodded. “I would venture to say that if she is afraid, she is afraid he will declare himself and demand an answer from her. She is well aware of Father’s needs for his warehousing this year and would be loath to be the cause of any problems for him.”
Trevor agreed. “I get the feeling there is more to it than that, but what I cannot say. I have started some discreet investigations into Wilmot’s activities, and I hope to have some information on Monday.”
“So, for now, we are left with our original idea,” she said forlornly.
“To continue the ruse of my courtship. Is that truly fair to Vanessa?”
Adeline smiled wanly. “It will not matter ultimately. Her heart is not involved as mine is. Here, I think we have gathered enough flowers. I’ll take the basket now.”
He handed it to her, capturing her hand in his as he did so. He held it for a moment, and both stared mutely at each other. It was the sound of a dog barking that broke the magical moment, and they parted self-consciously. They started up the well-manicured path toward the house.
A lone figure, watching from the shadows of the gallery, slipped silently back into the house and out of sight.
Chapter 11
Madame Teresa Rouchardier rolled into the room while Paulette held a pot of rouge in her hand, contemplating the delicate placement of its contents.
“Paulette!” she admonished, shock written plainly over the woman’s round countenance. She gasped and drew another breath.
Vanessa grimaced and closed her eyes, wincing at the impending storm. She’d tried to dissuade Paulette from the use of any cosmetics, but her young friend had airily dismissed her words, certain, she said, that the judicious use of such artifice was common in England. Vanessa doubted her, though she had no proof to gainsay her statement. She looked helplessly at Adeline and shrugged. When Adeline entered the fray to convince Paulette of her error, Paulette arrogantly informed them they were hopelessly provincial. At that, both retired from the lists, leaving the battle to those better able to handle the situation. It appeared one such person had now appeared, and Vanessa wished she were elsewhere.
