Cherry felt the colour drain from her cheeks as realisation set in. “Oh my God. You’re singletoo?”
“Exactly.”
“You think they’re going to try and make a match ofus?”
His raised eyebrow answered her.
“Damn, damn,damn. What the devil are we to do about it?”
Chapter Five
In Which We Learn that Devoted Mothers can, and will, Outwit even the Most Skilled Offspring
After a few moments of silence, during which they both dealt with the quite dreadful possibility that their futures might be ripped from their hands and reshaped by a pair of overly-enthusiastic women, Garrett and Cherry slowly made their way back toward the Summer Room.
“How should we approach this situation?” Garrett glanced at her.
“With extreme caution, I would suggest,” she responded dryly. “As far as my Mama is concerned, I doubt she will say much of anything overtly personal. I cannot speak for yours, however.”
“I honestly have no idea what to expect. I’ve never imagined anything quite like this.”
“Really?” Her eyebrow flew up. “You have never, in yourentirelife, been the target of a matchmaking Mama?”
“Well of course I have,” he shot back. “Just not myownmother.” He frowned a little. “Well, with the proviso that if she did meddle, it was without my knowledge.”
She seemed to accept that statement. “I suppose that does make a difference. Perhaps we might be overthinking this, Garrett. If we’re lucky, they may have been discussing something completely different. Recipes, perhaps. Or fashions…”
He managed not to snort, but it was close. “Right. I’m sure that’s possible.” He also found himself absurdly pleased that she’d slipped into using his first name.
She sighed. “One can only hope.”
He opened the door for her and as she passed whispered lowin her ear. “Look at their eyes. My mother won’t reveal anything anywhere else.”
She nodded in response, and together they braved the looks of the two older ladies, who sat together on the couch. The table in front of them bore testament to the tea, cakes, and other delicacies they’d been enjoying.
“Hello, my darlings,” began Lady Hazel. “Did you find the garden acceptable, Garrett? Not a patch on yours at Belcaster, I’ll warrant…”
“They are indeed delightful, Ma’am,” he bowed slightly. “I find this entire part of the country most agreeable. I’m sure Mama will concur.” He looked at his mother, and his blood chilled at the interested delight he saw brewing in the depths of her pretty eyes. He wondered if Cherry could see the goosepimples rippling over his skin.
“I understand from Miss Trease that you also have a considerable acreage of farmland, and that your crops are prodigious…” He continued, directing his comment to Lady Hazel.
“Indeed we do, but I’m not sure about the prodigious part. You’d need to speak to my husband for the details,” she replied, laughing. “I simply eat the harvests.”
“It is a lovely estate, is it not, Garrett?” Lady Henrietta glanced at her son.
“It is, Mama.”
“And I understand you have much to do with the grounds, Miss Cherry? Your Mama tells me you’re an avid gardener…”
“I am?” Cherry looked puzzled. “Not to disagree with my mother, Ma’am, but my knowledge and abilities in that area are primarily directed toward the forests.” She took a seat on one of the nearby chairs and folded her hands in her lap. “There are so many different species of plants living together in the woods.Not just the trees, of which there are numerous varieties, but also the ground plants. Everything from rhododendrons to wild azaleas offer colour in the spring, and the bluebells of course are always spectacular. As the season progresses other flowers and shrubs bloom, and those offer seeds to many of our lovely birds, not to mention cover for the creatures that call the forest home.”
“My goodness, such passion,” nodded Lady Henrietta. “It is most charming to see someone as young as yourself with what must be a profound knowledge of her surroundings.”
“I hope to learn even more, my Lady. I believe I was quite young when I determined that my future would be closely tied to the natural world, and I have made it the focus of my life here at Forest Grange.” She smiled calmly. “Where else could I find such a perfect laboratory for my education and studies?”
“A laudable goal, dear,” said her mother. “But you will allow your Papa to have a few things to say about it, I’m sure, especially before you start planting oddities nobody’s ever heard of.”
Fascinated, Garrett watched her cheeks flush with colour. “That was…well, never mind.” She glanced at him. “An incident with a plant that should have done well in our climate, but didn’t.”
