All of this was dangerous; it was a treacherous path she was heading down. But there was something so delicious about not being fully in control of where her feelings led, of being almost swept away without a choice—as if her body inherently knew something that her mind did not.
Alice so desperately wished to surrender to these feelings, but she knew she could not. Oh, why was it that the first man to make her feel even the slightest bit understood was so far from those she had met in Mayfair ballrooms? Letting out a muffled scream into the crook of her arm, she managed to startle Knightly awake. He scrambled off her with a small, offendedmeow and resettled in the nest of blankets beside her, seeking her warmth.
“Am I too much for you as well?” Alice let out a sigh and knew she must get ready for the day. Nathalie was leaving that morning, and she was sad to see her go. Though she had been consumed with the garden much of the fortnight of Nathalie’s stay, Alice appreciated having a friend around—someone her own age she could talk with candidly—without agenda or the need to make a good impression. And Nathalie had opened her eyes to the idea that there was more a woman could do with her life than simply make a match and produce heirs.
After quickly getting ready, Alice gave Knightly one last kiss, burying her face in the soft fur of his side while he slept, before making her way downstairs to say goodbye.
Of course, the first person she saw upon entering the breakfast room was Mr. Beaumont. It was unusual for him to break his fast at the same time as Alice, but it made sense that this morning he prolonged his meal to spend more time with his sister before she left. His eyes found Alice as she entered the room and he dipped his head in politeness, the most he had acknowledged her in days outside of gifting Knightly.
She knew he had been avoiding her, choosing to spend his time fixing up a cottage on the outskirts of the estate for the new steward who would arrive any day now. It was a convenient excuse. But staying away this morning on Nathalie’s last day would have raised a few eyebrows.
Alice returned his nod before rushing to Nathalie’s side, ignoring the way her lower belly twisted at the sight of the smile that lit up his features when he looked at the woman of the hour. Her slight flush did not escape Nathalie’s notice, however.
“You seem to be a bit warm, did my brother’s presence throw you into such a state?” Nathalie asked, leaning in as Alice sat beside her. The expression on her friend’s face was nothing butinnocence, her eyes sparkling in mirth. And after a moment, she cracked, unable to keep her neutral façade, her lips twitching as she tried to suppress a laugh.
“Don’t tease me,” Alice forcefully whispered. “I am perfectly fine.”
She wasn’t sure exactly when Nathalie had noticed her affections. Neither of them had ever acknowledged the situation outright, but Nathalie had been sending not so subtle jabs in her direction for about a sennight. Maybe her earlier inquiries regarding Mr. Beaumont weren’t quite as subtle as she’d supposed them to be.
“And how is Knightly this morning?” Nathalie inquired as she piled strawberry preserves onto her toast.
“Who is Knightly?” Mr. Beaumont asked, a crinkle forming between his brows as they pulled together.
“The sweet, little kitten you gifted our dear Alice, of course.”
“It wasn’t a gift,” he said gruffly, Nathalie clearly knowing how to rile her bother. “It simply needed care, and I knew Miss Pembroke had a softness for animals. It was practical.”
Wishing to disrupt the awkwardness that had descended upon the room, Alice hastened to answer, “Knightly is well, I left him soundly asleep on my bed. Lucky little thing can return to sleep whenever he wishes, whereas I was awakened early by a prodding paw to the face.” The ladies grinned at one another, equally enamored with the kitten.
“Why on earth would you name the poor thing Knightly?”
Nathalie looked at her brother utterly aghast. “Why, for Mr. Knightly of course. Only one of the greatest heroes to have been written by the author ofPride and Prejudice. From her bookEmma.”
“You enjoy this book, Miss Pembroke? You did not simply allow my sister to foist such a name on you?”
Alice colored as his attention turned toward her, but regained her poise, answering in as dignified a manner as possible. “I do enjoy the book. In fact, the name was my idea, not your sister’s. Though Nathalie did heartily agree with me that it was fitting.”
He assessed Alice, tilting his head as she answered through her practiced demeanor, his eyes slightly compressed as if he didn’t fully believe her. Remaining silent, he returned to eating his breakfast.
Soon the meal was over, and Nathalie’s carriage was ready. Alice didn’t wish to say goodbye to her friend—in truth it felt like the first real friendship she’d ever had. Nathalie made her way around the small circle of people who had gathered to see her off. She thanked West and Priscilla for their invitation and hospitality, then gave her brother a fierce hug, telling him how proud she was of the work he was doing.
Alice was fighting back tears, which had materialized without her permission, when Nathalie finally turned to her. “I don’t want you to leave,” she said while embracing Nathalie tightly. “You are such a delightful person, and I have so enjoyed getting to know you.”
“You’ll be just fine.” Alice had trouble hearing her friend’s words, as they were said into her shoulder where Nathalie had buried her face to hide tears of her own. “And I suspect I’ll see you again soon enough. Once my fool of a brother wakes up and realizes what’s in front of him, I don’t think it will be long before I return for a wedding.”
And with that astonishing statement, Nathalie released her and mounted the carriage stairs, leaving them behind with a large smile and twinkling eyes.
CHAPTER 15
Ethan mentally braced himself for what was likely to be a long morning. He’d been doing his best to stay out of Miss Pembroke’s path, considering how close to disastrous their last encounter had been, but today’s excursion would thrust them into one another’s company for an extended period.
“Are you sure it must be the wood anemone?” he asked again, rubbing his temples in anticipation of the headache which was the certain outcome of this adventure.
“Yes, it must be the wood anemone,” Alice said, rolling her eyes, exasperation at his questioning slipping through. “You agreed that adding plants of significance to the garden would be a nice touch. You approved these plans the day I visited your office—don’t change your mind on me now.”
Sighing, Ethan resigned himself to what was to come. He wouldn’t fail her challenge—and yes, he had agreed to her plan a few weeks ago. He just hadn’t realized it would mean traipsing through the woods in the sole company of the woman he was trying to avoid.
“We’d better be on our way if we want to outrun the incoming storm. I don’t have all day for this, and I definitely don’t want to get caught in the rain.”
