Correctly interpreting her expression, he chuckled. “I can’t do it justice with words, anyway. You have to see it for yourself, sunshine, and you will soon enough.”
Their destination turned out to be a secluded country estate a few miles from Amwell. Massive oak trees, robed in golden autumn splendor, lined the drive, which led to a charming ivy-covered manor. When Cull helped Pippa alight, she was surprised to see a handful of servants waiting to greet them.
“Who are we staying with?” she whispered.
“No one. The place is mine,” Cull said. “Bought it a few years back.”
She took in the picturesque property and acres of land that stretched beyond it. “This all belongs to you?”
“I’m not a pauper,” he said mildly.
Clearly not. Charlie had mentioned that he was in much demand and commanded a princely sum for his services. Accustomed to his unassuming ways, however, Pippa sometimes forgot that he must be a wealthy man.
“Tillie will take you to your room and help you get changed,” he said. “But don’t take long. We want to get out there before dusk.”
“Get out where?”
But he had already headed off with Long Mikey and Matches.
Equal parts exasperated and intrigued, Pippa followed Tillie, a chatty country girl, into the manor. The interior was as charming as the exterior. The theme of the decorating appeared to be rustic comfort, with overstuffed furnishings and thick Axminster rugs of gold, sage, and maroon. Pippa glimpsed a sitting nook by the window, piled with cushions and perfect for reading or sketching. How long had it been since she’d enjoyed a carefree day with a book or with her drawing pencils?
Tillie led her into a light-filled bedchamber, the walls charmingly stenciled with a vine design. With the maid’s help, Pippa refreshed herself and changed into an old blue promenade dress and sturdy half-boots. She donned an Italian straw hat in the Marie Stuart shape, which Suzette had fancifully trimmed with ruched tulle and blue silk flowers.
Checking her reflection, she thought she looked rather well. Her eyes twinkled, and her cheeks were tinted pink with excitement. She hurried back downstairs and found Cull waiting for her in the foyer. He looked brawny and dapper in a brown jacket and checkered waistcoat, his trousers tucked into tall boots.
“Beautiful and punctual,” he said. “There’s a rare combination.”
She blushed. His sincerity made it impossible not to.
“There is only an hour until dusk, so we’d best be on our way,” he added.
He hefted up a large, covered basket and took her hand with a spontaneity that swelled her throat. She was rooted on the spot, aware of his callused hold, the way his fingers linked with hers.
He cocked his head. “Is something amiss?”
She didn’t know how to tell him that no other man had held her hand in public before. Edwin had offered her his arm, of course, but he hadn’t been one for what he termed “vulgar public displays.” She hadn’t thought holding handswasvulgar; growing up, she’d seen her parents do it all the time. But she hadn’t shared her logic with Edwin for fear that it would deepen his contempt for her middle-class upbringing.
“No,” she said softly. “Everything is fine.”
With you, everything feels...right.
Hand in hand, they walked through a quaint maze of overgrown rose-bushes behind the house to the woods beyond. The warmth of the day made it feel more like summer than late autumn. Oaks and silver birches formed a thick grove, mellow sunshine filtering through the branches. A carpet of moss and fallen leaves padded their steps, wildlife rustling and birds chirping in the background. The air smelled of earth, foliage, and a hint of woodsmoke.
“It is so peaceful here,” Pippa said in wonder. “A different world from London.”
“The estate is my escape,” Cull replied. “Although I don’t get out here as often as I would like. Autumn is my favorite time.”
She took in the beauty around her, her mind translating it into brushstrokes of umber, ochre, and grey. “I should like to paint it one day.”
She’d spoken without thinking, and her heart skipped a beat as she realized that she might have overstepped. They were supposed to be having a casual affair, yet she’d brought up the future. Implied that she expected to return here with him. How would he respond?
He squeezed her hand and said easily, “We’ll come back. When we don’t have a murder investigation hanging over our heads.”
Relief flowed through her. “I would like that.”
She would, so very much. The truth was it was getting harder to imagine a future without Cull in it. To not develop an attachment to this man who held her hand and planned surprises for her, protected children and wounded birds, and treated her like a princess. Yet this was supposed to be a carefree liaison. He’d told her he had nothing to offer but the moment…and wasn’t that what she wanted too? Fun, freedom, and pleasure without consequences?
Don’t make the same mistakes,she told herself.Enjoy the moment.
