“You didn’t have a busy day,” his grandmother countered. “You were nowhere to be found during the treasure hunt. Where did you go?”
“I fell in the river.”
“What!”
“Yes, I stumbled.” He hoped that Lady Edwina hadn’t told anyone of her own misadventure at the water. If anyone heard both stories and pieced them together, they would easily realize that he and Lady Edwina had been at the water together. And though that wasn’t the worst thing imaginable, given that it was known they had been partners for the scavenger hunt, it would beg the question of where they had each disappeared. Andthat was a question he wasn’t prepared to answer…perhaps he shouldn’t have told his grandmother anything at all.
But she didn’t appear to be hung up on the particulars of his tale. “So, I take it you went to change,” she said.
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“Why did you not then emerge and return to the festivities?”
“Well, I did,” he told her. “I’m sure you saw me at dinner.”
“For a very short time, yes. Just long enough to eat your meal—and then you were gone. What was anybody to make of that? You do understand, do you not, that people wish to socialize with you?”
“Marriage minded ladies and their scheming mothers, you mean.”
“That’s precisely who I mean, and what of it? Aren’t you in search of a duchess? Don’t you wish to be in the company of the very people you describe, Allan? I can’t see how you would choose solitude, given that option.”
“Well, I’m here now,” Allan said. “There’s no reason to dwell on last night.”
“I only mean to say?—”
“Enough. The subject is closed, Grandmother. Now, tell me of your thoughts on today’s events.”
His grandmother clearly wanted to say more, but she restrained herself. “There’s going to be a picnic,” she told him. “It will be the perfect opportunity to socialize. I’m sure every young lady will stop by your table to spend time with you. You must keep a seat open at all times, if you can, so that as many young ladies as possible will feel welcome to join you and to spend time in your company. It’s the clear way to make the most of the event.”
She was right, even though Allan had no interest in behaving according to his grandmother’s instructions. “I suppose you’d like to join me out at the picnic?”
“In fact, I believe I will spend the day inside,” his grandmother said. “You enjoy yourself, Allan—I’m sure you will. For me, the air is a bit too warm. But I look forward to hearing all about your exploits.”
“If you wish to know about my exploits, I suggest you come along,” Allan argued. “I highly doubt I’ll have any interest in recounting them later.” He had grown weary of this conversation with his grandmother. She would know, of course, when he found himself a suitable match, and she would be kept apprised of any courtships or engagements, but he wasn’t going to allow himself to be continually questioned by her about his romantic affairs. If she wanted to know what was going on with him, she was welcome to accompany him to the picnic and see for herself, but he was not going to be questioned about it later.
She looked rather taken aback. “You refuse to discuss these matters with me, then?”
“I’ve grown tired of our conversations on this subject,” Allan said. “And the answer to your question is no—I don’t mean to indulge them any further. I understand, Grandmother, that you care for the future of our family and the title that was once my father’s. I care for those things too. But they are my responsibility, not yours. Your only duty is to respect my title and support me in making the choices I must make. So, join me at the picnic.”
“Very well,” his grandmother relented with some dignity. “I will join you. And together, we shall see what manner of young lady we can attract to become your future duchess.”
It was a beautiful picnic, with tables on the lawn and blankets for those who preferred to sit on the ground. Allan took a seat at one of the tables far from the center of the action. His grandmother frowned as she joined him.
“That table there is available,” she said, pointing it out. “Don’t you think it would suit you better?”
“I can’t think why.” He feigned ignorance. “You were worried about the heat, Grandmother, and this table is in the shade. You’ll be much more comfortable here.”
“Perhaps I will, but look—all the young ladies are clustered over there.”
“They’re still making their way around the grounds, Grandmother. Surely, you wouldn’t have me chase the pack.”
He relaxed into his seat, a part of him hoping for the very thing he knew his grandmother feared—that he simply wouldn’t be noticed here. It would be wonderful to have a few hours to himself, to sit in the shade and ponder the events of last night. He had been up all night thinking about the way that gown had clung to Lady Edwina’s frame and the way it had felt to carry her in his arms.
They were most ungentlemanly thoughts, and though he had thought similar things about other ladies before, it felt very different to harbor these ideas about Lady Edwina. A part of him felt sure she wouldn’t like it, and that made him want to control his mind. Another part of him recalled the way she had looked at him just before they had nearly kissed, and he thought that perhaps she would like it after all.
The thoughts couldn’t be dispensed with anyway. They held sway over his mind, and as he leaned back in his chair, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to daydream.
“Your Grace?”
