Bella heardthe great entry hall door close behind him and plopped down in the chair next to Mary, fanning her face with an exaggerated effort. “Did you see those gorgeous brown eyes?”
“I did, milady. I am glad ’is lordship found the gloves. Yer mother would have noticed the difference between those and the ones you purchased. She takes a great deal of time in ’er gift selections.”
“I noticed. And Mary. ’Tishislordship,yourmother, andhergift selections.” She realized her tone had a slight edge and immediately felt bad.
The maid reddened. “I do not wish others to think me above my rank, milady.”
“I cannot think it so. No one in our employ here would think such stuff,” she admonished gently. Bella thought about it again. Mary would get several of her gowns, shoes she had remade to fit her maid, and other fripperies. Perhaps her friend was right.
“I am sorry, Mary. You may have a point that I have not wished to acknowledge. However, I would not do less for you. You are like a sister to me. And I realize we still must maintain a sense of distance, socially. But you have always been my truest confidant, and I want you to have the best of chances life can offer,” her voice whispered gently to the maid, not wishing the housekeeper or anyone to overhear.
Mary cleared her throat. “I think his lordship is interested in you, milady.”
“You do?” Bella hoped so. She had always liked Slade, but always felt that the duke’s son had other ideas and marriage would never be one of them. When he had taken a commission in the Royal Navy and left, she had worried. He returned from war and sold his commission and immediately went to India. Bella had feared there was a woman. It turned out, the man had business on his mind and had created one that competed with the loftier East India Company. And tomorrow, he was visiting her. A small prickle of excitement shot up her arm.
“What should I wear tomorrow?” she asked Mary, nudging her out of the parlor and towards her room. “Let us return to my room and check my dresses. I want tomorrow to be perfect.”
Five
The next day
The next day, Slade pulled his brother’s carriage to the front of Rothmore Manor. Grabbing the small bouquet of petite pink roses, he took the steps two at a time. The door opened when he arrived. Gordon took his hat, and he followed the butler to the small foyer off the entry hall. “I will alert her ladyship you have arrived,” the man said, giving a small bow.
“No need, Gordon,” I am ready,” Bella said, meeting the butler at the base of the stairs. She smiled at Lord Drake, who found himself unable to resist a broad grin.
“Very good, my lady,” the older retainer said, then cleared his throat and regarded Mary, who had just made her way downstairs, behind her mistress.
Slade extended the small bouquet. “These are for you, Lady Bella.”
“Pink roses are a favorite of mine,” she gushed, holding the bouquet to her nose. “When Mama was planting hers, she introduced me to these smaller ones. As a little girl, I saw them as perfect and am still drawn to them. Thank you!” She turned to the butler. “Can you have these placed in a small vase?”
“Yes, my lady,” the butler returned.
Small steps behind Gordon announced Mary’s arrival. “I have milady’s new pelisse. If you will grab mine for me, please,” Mary said softly, showing the large cloak thrown over her arm.
The butler helped both women into their coats. A footman met them at the carriage and offered an assist into the conveyance. Mary sat in the seat opposite Bella and Slade.
“Where would you like to go?” Slade asked Bella, leaning close enough to smell the rose scent of her hair.
“I am partial to the path around the estate’s lake. ’Tis not far from here,” Bella offered.
Slade laughed. “It has not been so long since I have been home that I have forgotten the place where you and your friend exacted your mischief upon Percy and I.Frogs, I believe?”
He heard a small snort and noticed Mary had covered her nose with her hand. Her maid had been listening. That was a friendly reminder that they were not alone. It had been a long time since he had been interested in any female. Slade was courting . . . and he was courting Lady Bella Stewart.
Bella nearly choked. “You recall the frogs? As much as I would like to, I cannot take all the credit, my lord. However, they are not the vile creatures many make them out to be. They have always reminded me of a fairytale.”
“And do you believe in fairytales?” he heard himself ask. Since when did he care about fairytales?
“I do,” Bella said, smiling. “I like that they have happy endings.” She gave a soft laugh. “I had forgotten the frogs but seem to recall that we tied the clothing together.”
“Yes, and put frogs in our boots,” he said, grinning.
“I am positive that you were not around to see the aftermath of your efforts, but your brother and I found it clever. He recognized the work to be that of you and your friend, Lady Diane. As I recall, the clothing was lying just as we left it, only the ends were tightly joined. When we picked up one piece, everything came up. It took long minutes unraveling our clothing. Meanwhile, we had to stand there wet and naked. You left us . . .exposed.” Slade watched her reaction as he enjoyed the memory. It had been a chilly spring day, and he had gone into the pond on Percy’s dare. “When we arrived back at the manor house, you were already inside having your midday meal. You both appeared very innocent—innocent indeed!”
“We could not stay around to see, as much as we might have wanted. But our imagination nearly had us undone, although Percy feigned indignation over it.” She chuckled. “But then, I doubt my brother has ever forgotten.”
The sound of the road changed beneath them to a smoother sound as they moved off the rockier road to the clay road that surrounded the pond. Slade pointed to a basket in the seat next to Mary. “I hope I am not being presumptuous. It is a glorious day, and I asked my mother’s cook to prepare a light fare for a picnic.”
