“If this recipe is as sublime as those coddled eggs and soldiers you prepared, you are most assuredly forgiven.” He captivated her with another of his mesmerizing smiles. Dear heavens, the man was gorgeous, even more so because he didn’t seem to realize it.
Serendipity cut a sharp look Felicity’s way, narrowing her eyes as if homing in on a target.
“Lemon biscuits this time,” Felicity hurried to say before Serendipity could add to the conversation. “Cook and I worked out the perfect amount of zest to flavor the sugar.”
“Were those not lemon biscuits you prepared the day before last?” Merry asked with unmistakable leeriness.
“These are better,” Felicity said, willing her sister to be quiet. “Cook and I refined the recipe.” She turned back to the earl, attempting to turn her nervous smile into a self-confident one. “It is such a lovely day. Would you care to join us for tea in the garden? Cook is already gathering refreshments. Fipps could bring them right out.”
“The garden?” Merry started coughing as though choking.
“Merry? Do you need to excuse yourself?” Serendipity asked.
Patting her chest, Merry shook her head while flaring her eyes open wider at Felicity. “Forgive me. I do not know what came over me.”
Felicity knew exactly what came over her silly sister. Merry was afraid that if they were in their garden, the topic of the earl’s sad state of affairs might come up and unleash a full-blown interrogation of the poor man from Serendipity. While Felicity wanted to speak with Lord Wakefield in earnest, she did not wish to make him feel uncomfortable. “I think the garden would be lovely,” she said, “and I would happily give Lord Wakefield a tour of the roses while you two ensure our tea is properly laid. Shall we?”
The handsome earl’s already pleasant demeanor turned into an even more stunning display of happiness. “I most certainly would enjoy a tour of the roses, Lady Felicity, although I doubt very much if they could ever compare to your loveliness.”
Felicity didn’t know whether to blush or groan. She wasn’t accustomed to such overt compliments. Lord Wakefield was trying too hard. It hurt her heart and her feelings. The man was obviously desperate for her dowry. “Thank you, my lord. I believe you will find our mother’s flowers quite lovely. She tended them as carefully as she tended us.”
Serendipity rose. “I shall inform Fipps and Cook while Merry accompanies the two of you to the garden.” She offered the earl a curtsy and hurried out of the parlor.
Now that they were all on their feet, Merry waved them forward. “Lead the way, Felli. I shall follow.”
Lord Wakefield offered Felicity his arm. “Felli?”
“A childhood pet name, my lord.” She tried not to tremble as she took his arm.My goodness, how muscular.This was no soft lordling who lifted nothing heavier than a glass. And the golden-brown hue of his skin made her wonder if he had taken up the chores that he could no longer afford to hire out to servants. She clenched her teeth and triedto hold her smile. “With eight of us so close in age, pet names were quick to spring up whenever we were at play.”
“Some pet names were nicer than others,” Merry said from behind them.
Lord Wakefield snorted a laugh but quickly recovered. “Ah…as an only child, I fear I have no experience with such things.”
“No cousins, either?” If Felicity could gently lead him to the topic of his uncle, perhaps she could discover what she hoped was his true motive—and not just the obvious one. She so needed him to like her for more than her money.
The earl shook his head as he held the door to the garden. “Father once spoke of some distant relatives in Wales, but I have never met them.”
“I shall wait here for Seri and the tea,” Merry said, waving them onward. “As soon as they arrive, I will call out.”
“Thank you, Merry.” Nerves stirring her middle like one of Cook’s spoons, Felicity led the way to the path winding through the abundance of roses dressed in their showiest colors. Explosions of red, pink, white, and yellow filled the air with their sweet scents. “My mother loved her roses. They were her children, too.”
“The garden is exquisite.” He tipped his head and treated her to one of those smiles that drew her in and made her feel as though he thought her the most important creature in his world. “Almost as exquisite as you.”
“Merry and I saw your garden, my lord,” she blurted out before she could stop the words from tumbling off her tongue.
A stoic seriousness fell across him like a dark curtain. He bowed his head as their stroll through the garden slowed. “I see.”
“I am sorry. I should not have said that.” She took her hand from his arm and hugged her middle, willing the churning to cease. “It is just that Merry and I were walking home yesterday, and we had never seen your estate, and there was a large rock to stand upon and lookover into your garden, and…” Heaven help her, could she not shut her mouth and stop speaking? Could the earth not open up and swallow her? “I am sorry,” she mumbled. “I fear we were quite rude in pushing our noses into your privacy.”
His mouth flattened into a taut line, and he twitched a half-hearted shrug. “You have nothing to apologize for, my lady. You were curious about the man who had asked to call upon you.” He offered her a bow. “I suppose I should take my leave now. Forgive me for wasting your time.”
She caught hold of his arm as he started to leave. “Wait.”
A bitterness flashed in his eyes as he paused and looked back at her. “What can I do for you, my lady? Although, as you already surmised from the state of my manor and gardens, I am sure you realize I cannot do much.”
Now was her opportunity. While still holding his arm, she pulled in a deep breath and braced herself. “Would you still have called upon me if you had known I had no dowry? If you believed I was a penniless kitchen maid, would you have pursued me? Still rushed to my door as soon as today?”
His scowl hardened as he looked away, either unwilling or unable to meet her gaze. “I would like to say ‘yes,’ my lady, but that would be a lie. I need a wife of means to repair the damage done not only to the Wakefield name, but to the estate as well. I fear my uncle left both in tatters.”
