He gave a little shrug. “I never wanted to, particularly. And she never asked. There was nothing romantic between us, you know. She wanted the title and she was determined to get it, and in the end it was easier just to let her have her way. But I was quite relieved when it fell through. It was the only good thing about the whole business of Nicholson and the inheritance. You know what I think, Winnie? It seems to me very likely that Lomax botched the whole kissing affair. Probably he just grabbed you and set about it, without any warming up first, so no wonder you were startled.”
“Warming up?”
“Kissing is not just the actual kiss, you see. There is far more to it.”
“So what should he have done, instead of grabbing me?”
“It needs to be romantic,” Walter said, jumping off the swing. “Let me show you, because then you will know how it should be done, and you will be able to give Lomax a little hint. Pretend that I am Mr Lomax.” He minced towards her in a parody of Mr Lomax’s manner of walking. “First, I should say something about how beautiful you are, and enchanting, and charming… that sort of nonsense. I would come a little closer…” He leaned nearer, his face inches from hers. “Then I should ask if I might kiss you, and of course you would say…” His voice became girlishly high. “Ooh, yes please, Mr Lomax!”
She giggled. “How absurd you are, Walter.”
“Mr Lomax, remember?” He grinned boyishly at her, relishing the game.
“How absurd you are,Mr Lomax. And then… you would kiss me?”
“Not yet. First… first I would just touch your hair… like this, and say… ah, so soft, like silk. Something trite of that nature. And then I would run one finger down your cheek, so lightly you can barely feel it. Can you feel it?”
“Barely,” she whispered.
“I might run one finger across your lips… like so.”
“Ohhh,” she breathed.
“I might tell you that your eyes look as clear and unfathomable as a mountain pool.” His voice was bewitchingly low. “Your cheeks… so soft, so perfectly soft and smooth, and your lips…” His eyes were focused there, his face no longer mischievous, but oddly intent. It was almost as if he meant it…
“Your lips…” he murmured again, his hands cupping her face, gazing at her as if he had never seen her before.
She could not breathe, could not move, transfixed by his face so close to hers, the intensity of his voice, histouch… the warmth of his hands against her skin, his ragged breathing, his eyes fixed on her mouth. He moved slowly nearer.
Her lips parted and she closed her eyes.
“Winifred!What do you think you are doing?”
Mr Lomax’s voice, blaring and harsh, broke the spell so abruptly that she jumped.
Walter shot away from her and spun round. There were voices, Mr Lomax’s raised, angry, and Walter’s more temperate. Winnie could not tell what they were saying, for she was still cocooned in the warmth of that moment. Their argument seemed to have nothing to do with her. Walter had almost kissed her, had held her face in his hands and looked at her with… with what? Not the playful friendliness of their normal dealings, that much was certain. It was almost as if… as if helovedher.
No, that was foolish. He was playing a part, that was all. He had always been talented in that way, taking the starring part in all their childish dramatic performances. He was a good actor,no more than that. But oh, how much it had told her of her own heart! If she had felt one tenth as much for Mr Lomax when he had kissed her, as when Walter had merelytouchedher, she would have gone to her wedding with the lightest of steps. But now…
“Winifred!You are not attending!” Mr Lomax’s voice grated on her so much that she shuddered. “Isaid,I shall see you in your father’s book room directly. This appalling behaviour cannot be kept from him. There must have been some great mismanagement in your upbringing to lead you to act in such a reprehensible way.”
She gazed at him blankly. What was he talking about? It was all nonsense. If only he would go away and leave her alone to savour that glorious moment with Walter…
***
Lomax!Where had he come from? What was he doing there, so early in the day — before breakfast, and at the tree house, for surely he had never walked so far before.
Walter could make no sense of it. All he knew was that Lomax had to be appeased, had to be made to understand that he was safe, Winnie was his and Walter would not for the world jeopardise that.
Except that he had, of course. So stupid, so reckless, sothoughtless!When would he ever learn? A fine one he was, to talk to Winnie about growing up when he had just put her whole future in doubt —again!
“This is not what it might seem,” he said to Lomax, raising his hands placatingly. “It is just… it is not… we are not…”
“It is fortunate that I learnt of these early morning walks of Winifred’s…‘go to the tree house before breakfast and you will find her quite alone,’Lady Strong told me. Well, she was quitewrong about that! At least now I am undeceived.‘A healthy walk before breakfast’,indeed! Ha! An assignation, that is what this is.”
“No, no, nothing of the sort,” Walter cried. “Please believe me—”
“I have nothing to say to you, sir!” Lomax said. “You are the worst sort of scoundrel, but the blame here is not yours alone.”
