“I will,” she says.
It’s perfect. Christopher can be another set of eyes. Help her determine if she can truly pair off MissPine and Mr.Sholle. And he’ll be honest. He can tell her if MissPine is really as special as Rosalie thinks—as distracting as she thinks.
They’re a rowdy group as they clamber through the woods, heading for the Palladian Bridge in Prior Park. Aunt Genevieve has insisted they step off the road and rough it through the underbrush as much as possible. Rosalie’s hemline will be ruined, and her boots will need polishing for ages, but it’s been invigorating.
She’s walking with Mr.Dean and Aunt Genevieve, a bit behind Christopher and MissPine, who made the head of the pack almost immediately. Henrietta, Mr.Rile, Mr.Sholle, and Amalie are behind them, which doesn’t do much for her plans for Christopher and Amalie, but does seem to be providing Christopher with ample time to get to know MissPine.
He’s peppering her with questions Rosalie can’t quite hear. She wishes she could get the answers right away, rather than needingto figure out how to get them out of Christopher later without letting on that she’s developed this massive, inconvenient crush.
Though she supposes there’s always the off chance Christopher will fall for MissPine. Which she hadn’t considered, bafflingly, until just now.
Why wouldn’t he? She looks so fetching in her green walking dress and brown spencer jacket. She’s taller than Christopher, but bears it so gracefully. Her hair is curling more than usual with the humidity beneath her short brown bonnet, and it only makes her whole face that much more welcoming.
What if Christopher falls for her? Surely Mrs.Pine wouldn’t allow her daughter to marry Rosalie’s mother’s son. Not with... whatever animosity lurks between them. He may not have a subsidiary title now, but hewillbe an earl. That would be better even than a viscount.
What has she done? What about Amalie?
Mr.Dean coughs softly, nodding to something Aunt Genevieve’s saying. Rather playfully, Aunt Genevieve has been on a solid ten-minute diatribe about how much she hates the Louvre. Mr.Dean clearly has no idea she’s taking the piss, which is fabulous.
Because while Christopher and MissPine have been all chat, as usual Mr.Dean has said nothing but “Hello” to Rosalie since they met up with the group at the Southgate Bridge to cross the river.
Aunt Genevieve finally finishes her rant about museum acoustics and winks at Rosalie, who stifles a laugh. Aunt Genevieve then speeds up to join MissPine and Christopher, leaving Rosalie and Mr.Dean to walk together, only the crunching of lightly frosty grass and leaves beneath them, and the chatter from their group ahead and behind.
Rosalie thinks about engaging Mr. Dean in conversation, but decides she needs some quiet to get herself under control. To convince herself that Christopher won’t fall for Miss Pine. She’s catastrophizing. She must be.
“Are you looking forward to attending the theatre tomorrow?” Mr.Dean asks.
“I am,” she says, looking up at him.
“I am as well,” he says, and then turns his head back to their path, saying nothing else.
A wonderful opportunity to discuss the play. To ask questions about what she’s seen recently. To bring up even something he saw on his engrossing world tour. Andnothing.
He is beautiful, and stable, and such a smart, pragmatic choice for a future husband. But she has to admit to herself, he isn’t fun. And everyone around them sounds like they’re having fun.
Christopher glances over his shoulder again and it’s like he can instantly tell she’s upset, even though Rosalie’s fairly sure she hasn’t moved a single facial muscle. Christopher still slows down all the same, which brings MissPine and Aunt Genevieve with him.
“MissPine tells me you have stories about Barcelona,” Christopher says to Mr.Dean.
“Oh, it is such a beautiful city. Have you been?” Mr.Dean asks, releasing Rosalie’s arm immediately to fall into step with Christopher. Any chance to bring out his favorite hits. He hasn’t had fresh ears since he started courting Rosalie.
Christopher leads Mr.Dean ahead of them, which leaves Rosalie and MissPine walking alongside each other, Aunt Genevieve on MissPine’s other side.
“I should fall back, make sure those boys are being gentlemen,” Aunt Genevieve says, her face serious but eyes alight, asif she knows this is putting Rosalie in an uncomfortable position.
Which she probably does. Though there’s no good reason Rosalieshouldbe uncomfortable with MissPine.
But as Aunt Genevieve slows down to join Amalie, Henrietta, Mr.Rile, and Mr.Sholle, Rosalie feels her shoulders going up. She doesn’t know how to talk to MissPine, not after the garden party. Not after Aunt Genevieve’s painting. Not after the dreams she’s been having. Inappropriate, scandalous, delicious dreams.
She wants to distract herself—ask MissPine a safe question.
“You and my brother certainly found things to discuss” is what pops out of her mouth. Not a question, and frankly accusatory in tone.
MissPine only laughs. “He’s a delightful young man. I see a lot of you in him, actually.”
“Do you?”
“I imagine he says everything you wish you could in polite company.”
