She raised her head and saw the pleading in his eyes. She ducked her head again and nodded.
“Let me get a wrap.”
“I’ll be outside.”
With her heart racing, Olivia sidestepped Adam and hurried out of the classroom. Flushed with both excitement and uncertainty, she rushed to her room to fetch a worn shawl the matron had given her.
Dear God, please take control of the outing and the talk. Please help me not to make a spectacle of myself. Thank you. Amen.
The matron wasn’t in residence so she took permission from the cook. The willowy woman with a twinkle in her eyes told her to take all the time she needed.
“You can spend the whole day with a fine man like the marshal.”
Olivia’s color heightened and she hastily left the room. Thankfully some of the children were still playing in the backyard and the others were receiving lessons in the classroom so she was able to slip out of the compound without being seen. They would have questioned her and begged to come along.
Olivia’s lips parted with surprise when she saw the wagon. She had assumed they were going for a walk.
Scratching the back of his neck, Adam said, “Annie helped me package the baked goods I bought for a picnic.”
Olivia’s heart leaped for joy. A picnic?
“Oh. How delightful.”
Adam helped her up the wagon bench and she noticed he quickly stepped back after doing so. She decided not to make anything out of it. After all, he was taking her to a picnic.
Adam steered the horse in the opposite direction. “I found a perfect spot a short distance away.”
Olivia nodded and looked straight ahead. As usual, she was so conscious of Adam, she could hardly sit still. She toyed with the hem of her gown as she tried to get her heart to stop flickering.
Olivia sighed with relief when they reached the open fields. The awkward silence between them had strained her nerves. She wondered at the wisdom of coming to the picnic when she couldn’t help being shy around him.
Adam helped her from the wagon and stood back. Olivia’s eyes widened when she saw the things on the wagon bed. The sight of the picnic blanket, a small wicker basket that was filled to the brim with wrapped pastries and some bottles of juice along with glasses brought a smile to her face.
“This is a feast,” she couldn’t help saying.
Adam grinned and reached for the basket. Olivia took the picnic blanket and some of the bottles and followed him.
He placed the basket on the low grass and helped her spread the blanket before placing the basket on it. He returned for the remaining things while she sat on the blanket and looked around her.
For a long distance, there was no single building in the area. Everywhere was covered with both lush and dry grass.
“This is amazing,” she whispered and sat up straight when Adam returned.
He waved a hand at the basket. “Feel free to dig in.”
Smiling a little, Olivia reached for the basket and flipped it open. Her mouth watered at the delicious-looking pastries. She started with serving the cake on two plates along with the other pastries and some chicken legs.
Adam helped to pour the plum juice into two glasses. He handed her one and their fingers brushed. A bolt of hot sensations ran through Olivia’s body and she almost spilled the drink.
“Thank you.”
They ate their food for a while in silence until Adam said, “Olivia, I’m sorry for what happened last night. Please forgive me.”
Olivia lowered her head and stared at her plate. “It’s fine.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
