“Mmm. Cake’s excellent though,” he took a second bite while raising an eyebrow. “Coffee? How continental of you.” He finished the treat in one final gulp. “That was really tasty. Always loved raspberries.” He licked his lips.
The sight of his tongue flustered Cherry, to her stunned surprise, and she had to clear her throat.
“Pour some tea for Lord DeVarne, darling,” said her mother. “Perhaps you both might like to take your refreshments outside for a little while?”
“A lovely notion, Hazel,” endorsed Lady DeVarne. “Listeningto us prose on for hours must be unspeakably boring for you both.” She waved a hand toward the lawn. “With such wonderful weather, and the perfect setting, it seems foolish not to take advantage of it.”
“Of course, Mama. A thoughtful notion.” Garrett offered his arm to Cherry once again. “If you would bring a cup of tea for me, I’ll put a couple more of those cakes on a plate, if you approve?”
The task was easily accomplished, and no more than a minute or so later, both Cherry and Garrett were seated together at a small garden table, with the aforementioned delicacies and a single cup of tea. Cherry signed in vain, since she knew a cup of coffee would not be appearing in the presence of company.
“Well, isn’t this charming?” Garret leaned back, munching on another cake.
“I’m sure you must be quite bored,” Cherry replied, irritated at how easily he seemed to handle their situation. “After all, you have barely recovered from that headache of yours…”
“Not to mention the bruise from where I was kicked,” he shot back.
She bit her lip. “I apologise, sir. That was not well done of me.” She nibbled on a tiny piece of iced biscuit, aware of his gaze. “However, in my own defence, I was—at that moment—profoundly concerned that you might be dead.”
“The fact that I was breathing didn’t give you a hint?” He sipped tea nonchalantly.
“I failed to notice that detail, since I was in considerable shock at finding what I thought was a tramp sleeping onmygrass.”
“Ah.” He polished off the last raspberry cake. “My compliments to your cook, by the way.”
“Thank you. I will be sure to pass them along.”
Silence fell for a few moments, but oddly enough, Cherry didn’t find it uncomfortable. The sun was warm, the garden as beautiful as always, and it was rather nice to be able to listen to the birds and the muted voices of their mamas as they laughed and conversed in the house.
“I had no idea our mothers knew each other,” commented Garrett. “Truly, it was a huge shock.”
“To me also. In fact, when you step back and look at it, the coincidence of them being old friends? Well, you’d not find too many people who would even consider such a thing.”
He nodded. “Just our luck.”
“Perhaps it will be brief.” Cherry tried for icy politeness, but the way he relaxed in the chair gave every appearance that he was enjoying himself, and it soothed her.
Then he straightened and frowned. “Oh no. I just had a terrible thought. Did you tell your Mama aboutourmeeting?”
“Um…” Cherry sighed. “I may have mentioned something about it…but I had no idea who you were, of course. Not until you walked in the door a little while ago.”
“Oh God.” Garrett shook his head and closed his eyes.
“What?”
“You’ve gone and done it now.”
“Done what?” She blinked at him in confusion.
“You don’t realise what you’ve set in motion?” He blinked and stared at her.
“What thedevilare you talking about?”
“Those two. In there.” He tipped his head in the direction of the Summer Room.
“What about them?”
Garrett took a breath. “By now, they’ve covered most of the history they missed. And they are probably on current events, and family. I wouldn’t want to bet on the fact that they’vealready guessed I was the man you met in the forest.” He swallowed. “You, Miss Trease, are the eldest unwed daughter of my mother’s best friend. And I?”
