“You’ve done that on purpose?” Jem clapped him on the shoulder. “Thank you, though you could have come. Nellie’s had us chaperoned. It’s a royal pain, trying to get some time alone with Reese. She’s the reason I came on the trip, you know.”
“How’s that going?” Cyrus asked.
Jem grinned, remembering the kiss. Now if he could just shake their chaperones.
“That good, huh?” Cyrus asked. “Will your plans change if you two get together?”
“That’s what I’ll have to decide,” Jem said. “I’ve known plenty of people who’ve done the long-distance thing. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Even when it does, it’s hard on them.”
“What about your great career opportunity?”
“I just spent two years away from Reese,” Jem said quietly. “In some ways, it was the worst two years of my life.”
Chapter 11
REESE WANDERED OFF BY HERSELF for a while, trying to gather her thoughts. She should have known not to expect too much from Jem, should have known that the kiss hadn’t meant anything to him, that it would be what they called in this time a flirtation. It was her fault for making it more than it really was. After all her mother’s bitter tirades against her father, Reese should have known better.
As her mother had often said, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Well, Reese was done being a fool. Her doubts would have gotten to her eventually, she knew.
She headed back to the house and sought out Nellie to find out what she could do to help. The faerie sent her to where the other ladies were distributing the flower arrangements from the night before and decorating them with ribbons. Reese found Ellen there and joined her.
“I’m having Lulu pack my bags,” Reese said conversationally, “so I will be ready to go with you when you leave after the picnic.”
“Oh, that is wonderful.” Ellen clapped her hands. “I cannot wait to show you my home.”
The morning passed quickly. Nellie had brought on additional servants who stood ready to aid the guests with their horses, food, and the games. The rear lawn held the tables topped with white linens and piled with food. Reese’s stomach growled, and she realized she hadn’t eaten anything yet that day.
She was about to go in search of something to eat, when the guests began to arrive, with carriages and gigs making a procession up the lane. They discharged their passengers, who spread out and greeted each other, the ladies with their colorful muslin dresses, parasols, and hats. The men in their buckskin breeches and beaver hats made Reese feel like she was on the set of a historical movie.
The afternoon progressed, and she made sure to keep busy and on the move, always away from whatever activity Jem was engaged in. Whenever he headed in her direction, she would slip behind guests or servants and be gone before he could reach her.
Reese had no idea what to say to him, even if they were allowed some privacy to talk. She blamed only herself. Jem had every right to follow his dreams, just as she planned to go after hers.
While she milled around the guests, she had to pretend to enjoy herself and put up with the flirting guys who were after one of the American heiresses. Her mind kept pulling up memories of the last few days, the times when she and Jem had understood a joke no one else had or shared a fond memory of their childhood. Her heart wanted to believe that she meant more to him than a stolen kiss.
Then she forced herself to review how different their life goals were. They definitely had chemistry, but their worlds, their dreams were too different. There really had been no future for them, even if he had meant something by the kiss and the touches and the longing glances. She shook her head. He obviously hadn’t.
And even if they’d had real feelings for each other, they might have tried to make it work. The truth was they would have eventually disappointed each other.
She accepted that by visiting Ellen for a while, Reese was saving them both from future heartache. Overhearing that conversation had been a blessing, a reminder of reality. Better to hurt a little now than a lot later.
When the picnic finally appeared to be winding down, she wearily climbed the stairs to her bedroom. Lulu had her things packed.
“I didn’t think I had that many clothes.” Reese stared at the stack of luggage, too tired to care.
“You said we might be gone for several days, miss,” Lulu said. “Aunt Nellie insisted that I prepare you for any eventuality.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Lulu opened it.
“Her ladyship’s carriage is waiting,” a footman said.
The maid stepped aside, and he entered the bedroom, followed by two other footmen.
“I’ve been looking all over for you.” Kaitlyn came in behind the servants and paused. “What’s going on?”
“Lady Ellen has invited me to visit her house for a few days.” Reese hoped Kate wouldn’t ask about Jem.
“Oh, then you won’t be able to go to London with us.” Kaitlyn put on a pouting expression for a second but then grinned. “But you’ll get to visit another estate. That should be fun.”
