Augusta laughed as Nancy rushed towards the blanket, prying the wooden basket open. She had had it only once and it was such a wonderful treat so she was excited to try it out too.
She sat on the blanket and took the bowl Benedict handed her. “It’s strawberry. I’m certain you will enjoy it. However, there’s almond if you would rather try that instead.”
“Thank you,” she said, spooning the treat into her. She groaned as the sweet treat filled her mouth and slid all the way down her throat.
“This is even better than I remember it to be,” she said.
“Yes. I think we should have it more often,” she said, scooping the almond flavor into her mouth.
After a while, both couples took some time to walk together.
“How have you been, Lady Augusta? It’s been a while since the ball,” Benedict asked, his face turned towards hers. She spared him a glance for a moment before turning away from him once again.
“Quite all right, thanks for your concern,” she said, her voice small. “It’s quite a relief, not having to go to any balls for the past few days. It has been very fulfilling to sit down at home and do absolutely nothing save for walking around the gardens and reading. I do not have to be dressed in high fashion or speak to people I’d rather avoid. But Nancy hates it, and understandably so.”
She bit her lip, her face turning red. She’d been rambling on incessantly without even realizing it. She looked at him to see if she had bored him with her words, but much like before, he paid her attention and seemed to be listening to everything she had to say.
“How so?” he asked, confusing her.
“What?” she asked him.
“You said that your sister hates having to be at home without any balls to go to with all the activities that it entails.”
“Ah right. It is her first season and while I have done everything that I can to stop her from getting caught up to it, much to my brother’s displeasure, she is still fascinated by it. I do not blame her of course, nor do I plan to take it from her. I did find it fascinating as well, until I realized that it was not as glamorous as it presented itself to be.
“I do want her to enjoy it however and I’m glad that she does. So, yes, she hates that we’ve been cooped up at home and all she has to do is walk the gardens and embroider. She was quite glad to promenade,” she finished with a small smile.
Her face dropped, losing its smile when he stared at her, mirroring it. She looked away from him. She’d been unable to face him because her mind was stuck on the night at the ball. She did not know if he meant to kiss her and had thought better of it for her sake or not, and it worried her endlessly.
Augusta had been replaying that moment from the time it happened until now. She had gone home after the ball and in the dark of the night, she had screamed her frustrations into her pillow. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about it? Especially since nothing had happened.
His face had been so close to hers, his lips parting slightly as their breath mixed. She could almost taste him on her tongue. She had raised on her toes, leaning into him to receive his kiss when she suddenly pulled away.
Augusta had been left with too many thoughts in her head. Why hadn’t he kissed her? Was she the only one that had felt something when he touched her and stood so close to her. Her breath caught in her throat even now as she thought about it and she blushed lightly, grateful her skin did not turn a bright red on the days she blushed.
“It is good that she enjoys it. My sister certainly does. It is the appeal of something new and I’m glad that they get to experience that for themselves. The only thing we need to do is protect them from those who might seek to hurt them, emotionally or otherwise,” he said. his gaze turned intense as he stared at her with a smile.
“You already appear to be doing a good job of that. I don’t believe the sort of men you wish to protect other ladies from would ever seek to approach your sister. Not when she’s got with her.”
His words filled her with happiness. Augusta groaned quietly. She did not know how to act around him without making a fool of herself. She turned away once again, not saying anything to his compliment of her actions at the balls. It was a great improvement from the man who had stood with his family on the first night and told her he did not need her help.
The park was filled with many others, romantic couples, enjoying a stroll as they got to know each other, with their chaperones a little way off from them and families simply enjoying the beautiful day.
The sun was out but not bright enough that it scorched her skin, the air smelled of flowers and food as people sat down to picnic.
“Did you hear me, Lady Augusta?” the duke asked, moving closer to her.
Augusta jumped at how close he was. She had been so lost in thought that she had not realized that he was speaking. Nor had she thought he would be so close to her when she finally came to.
She tried to steady herself but instead, her foot slipped. A small bit of pain shot through her and she whimpered as she lost her footing and started to fall. She set her hand in front of her to break her fall, her eyes shut so she did not see it happen.
She had never been this clumsy in her life before. She had never been referred to as a clumsy person at any point in her life even. It was an embarrassing situation for her to be caught in and she wished for the ground to open up and swallow her whole so she did not have to face him.
Hands caught her, righting her just before she hit the ground, saving her from the embarrassment she was sure to face. He set her on her feet, holding her until she was fine to stand on her own before he let go.
“Are you all right, Lady Augusta?” he asked her, his eyes laced with concern. “I must apologize for shocking you the way I did. it was not my intention to cause you to fall.”
She nodded. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I should have been paying attention instead of letting my thoughts drift off with me like that.”
