“It’s probably because you didn’t get enough sleep,” she retorted and marched from the portrait gallery. If he was going to be cold and not answer her questions, then she’d treat him the same.
Without a backward glance, she made her way out of the manor and into the gardens. She knew exactly what she was looking for, but it wasn’t among the more formal gardens, so she made her way toward the kitchen gardens, which also included a separate herb garden used not only for cooking but for medicinal purposes. Just as she’d suspected, in a lovely row along the back border were pink Centifolia roses.
She felt Crisp’s presence behind her but ignored him as she retrieved a petal since there were no notes amongst the bushes.
“Are you certain?” he finally asked. “How could roses be an herbalist’s delight? There are several herbs and most of them are fragrant.”
“These are also called Cabbage Roses.” That was all the explanation Vanessa offered as she marched past him.
After she gave the petal to Lady Sewell and she confirmed that they’d solved the riddles, Vanessa excused herself to retreat to her chambers.
“Wait!” Crisp called when she was half-way up the stairs. “Where are you going?”
“I find I have a headache coming on,” Vanessa answered without turning around.
“We still need to continue our other search,” he reminded her.
“Go on ahead. We may be required to solve the riddles together, but as to the other, we can do as we please.” She then strode up the stairs, and it took all her control not to slam the door once she gained the chamber assigned to her.
Crisp had never treated her with coldness before or with anger. It was as if he didn’t even want her around, nor would he answer her question.
Had she hurt him so deeply? Or was it only her assumption that his coldness stemmed from last night?
If only he would talk to her.
Now he’d probably find the ruby without her, and he’d claim a day of her company and she wouldn’t get the kiss she longed for.
Except, he may not even want to spend an hour with her now, let alone a day.
Vanessa fell back on the bed. It was her own fault. She should have just been honest last evening, assuming that is what had upset him.
She’d tell him the truth now, but he wasn’t truly speaking with her.
Vanessa rolled over and punched the pillow. He could find the ruby without her. She was done with this quest, and she might be done with Lord Crispin Tilson as well!
Nine
Crispknewhe’dangeredVanessa, but he had been hurt.
And his pride was bruised.
He’d never confessed to being jealous before.
But still, that was no reason to have treated her coldly today. They had been friends first and he had been gone for years and couldn’t expect her to carry the same tender feelings that she had before. Just because his regard for her hadn’t changed didn’t mean she hadn’t put youthful love behind her.
Then last night, she hadn’t even sat next to him at supper, and he was forced to entertain the two silly misses on either side of him.
Why had Lady Osbourne invited such twits? All of them were without substance and the gentlemen were dandies who lived on quarterlies. Why would Lady Osbourne even wish to have them about? Was she doing a favor to the mothers who accompanied the girls?
He had heard rumors that Lady Osbourne was fond of matchmaking, so that must be her purpose for having this assortment of guests, though he couldn’t imagine who she wished to match with whom and was grateful that he was only here to find a ruby.
When they settled into the sitting room for tea, he was just about to approach Vanessa when Mr. Percer offered his arm and Crisp was forced to watch as they took a turn about the room, their heads together in discussion and Vanessa laughing as if she was quite entertained, while the misses plied him with questions of his travels.
He’d hoped to have a word with her once Mr. Percer relinquished her, but Vanessa bid everyone a good night and disappeared upstairs.
Crisp retired not long after but spent a fitful night in vivid dreams of Vanessa, and not pleasant ones. Upon waking, the first thought that flitted across his foggy brain was that he needed to mend the rift between them.
Knowing that he had hurt her yesterday and made her angry, all because of his foolish pride, bothered him far more than the humiliation he’d suffered by his confession.
