I am imagining that.
“I…erm…” she pushed her chair back abruptly and stood to her feet. Hayward reared back in his seat, clearly startled by the movement. “I…I should retire.”
“Retire? For the evening?” he said, with a smirk playing upon his lips. She turned away and stumbled out from the chair, determined not to look too long at that smirk.
“Y-yes,” she said hurriedly. “I think it for the best.”
“Any particular reason?” The flirtation in his voice made her snap her head back round to him as she backed up.
“No,” she said, shaking her head, hoping she could perpetuate the illusion that what had occurred had not just really happened. “I am just tired – ooh!” She collided with another chair as she attempted to round the table. She managed to set it in place before she hurried off toward the door.
“My Lady, you do not need to run,” he said kindly, calling after her.
“Run? I am not running. I am…” she paused in the doorway.
“Merely tired and heading to bed?” he offered the end of her sentence to her.
“Yes, exactly,” she said and nodded her head. “Good night, Your Grace,” she said and bobbed a curtsy to him. With the door closed, she leaned her forehead on it, tapping her forehead in reprimand there for a minute before she hurried off, running toward the staircase.
What just happened?
* * *
“So…you are not avoiding him?” Louisa asked.
“No, I am just…” Phoebe paused as the two of them came to a stop on the estate. They had reached a point in the garden where all around them was formal borders, with roses on one side, in alternate patterns of white and red, whilst on the other, foxgloves stood tall and towering, coming up to her head height or even higher. “Distracting myself,” Phoebe said at last with a sigh as she busied herself with admiring the roses.
“Rather sounds like you are avoiding your host to me,” Louisa said, earning a glare from Phoebe that she laughed at.
Phoebe was reluctant to admit it was the truth. It had now been two days since that dinner with Hayward where she had wondered what it could be like to kiss him. She couldn’t allow herself to do such a thing again. The couple of times she had seen Hayward at dinner, she had tried to be distant from him.
“Is there something wrong with Hayward?” Louisa asked as she followed Phoebe along the rose bushes.
“No, nothing,” Phoebe said softly.
“Nothing at all?” Louisa said.
“Oh, do not tease me!” Phoebe said, pulling another laugh from Louisa.
“I think it is best I do not spend as much time in his company as I did the first day,” Phoebe said with a whisper to Louisa as she looked around the bushes, wary of any gardeners or groundskeepers lurking nearby who might overhear them.
“Why not?” Louisa asked.
“Because it was…” Phoebe broke off abruptly, realizing just what she had been about to say. It was captivating! She had been utterly charmed by Hayward in just one day. Now, she had to spend a couple of weeks here at least. What would happen to her then if she continued to spend such time in Hayward’s company? She might be tempted to truly try one of those kisses she had pictured the other night. Such a thing could only risk her reputation!
“Oh my,” Louisa said, fanning her face for dramatic effect. “Do words fall short of how wonderful it was?”
“You are in a teasing mood today,” Phoebe said, walking along the rose bushes a little further. Since that first day, she had spent each day mostly in Louisa’s company, choosing to avoid Hayward as much as possible.
“Forgive me, I am just happy now we are here. I find happiness suits me. It makes me more carefree about the world, and really quite playful,” Louisa said with a smile that pulled another one from Phoebe.
“Then that delights me,” she said softly. “After the past you and I have had,” she paused and looked up the sky, “I think we both deserve a little happiness.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Louisa said, “so why aren’t you smiling the way I am?”
“Well, why are you smiling?” Phoebe asked.
“Because I am free!” Louisa said. She backed up a little and spun round in the garden, with her arms wide. “Look at me,” she giggled. “I am far away from the control ofthatman’s hands. The only person who can decide anything for me, is myself.”
