In truth, the day had much to offer despite Lady Twitchard and her staff being entirely consumed with preparing for the evening’s ball. The printed schedule to which they had all been slaves the entire week was woefully thin. Regardless, there would still be croquet, and evenjeu de Paumeif guests wished to don a thick leather glove and hit a ball back and forth. They could fish, too, or use the bows. And, as always, there was riding.
None of it interested her. Brilliance knew she was sulking. Most of the other guests would enjoy the outdoor activities and then, if they’d exerted themselves, take baths to ensure they were refreshed and sweet smelling for the last festive dinner and dancing.
Any staff not needed in the kitchen or for the final decorations in the ballroom would be kept busy lugging hot water and portable copper tubs to each room in turn. While there were a few dedicated rooms for bathing, those would be reserved for the Colonel, Lady Twitchard, and perhaps Lord Hewitt since he was family.
For the first time, Brilliance felt homesick, thinking of the splendid cast iron tub at her home on Piccadilly. She wandered outside, through the gardens, and down toward the river. Tomorrow, by nightfall, she would be back with her parents, but she would be changed.
Surely in her two decades, she had never experienced such a range of emotions, and in such a short time, too. Choosing a pebble, she threw it as far as she could to watch the rippling onthe surface of the gentle stream. It was satisfying, so she did it again with a larger rock.
“You will scare the fish,” came Lord Hewitt’s voice.
Brilliance gasped and whirled to face him, heart immediately pounding.
“My apologies,” he said. “I did not mean to frighten you.”
“I was wool-gathering, a nasty habit.”
“And throwing stones,” he pointed out. “Is that also a habit?”
She didn’t answer. In her mind, she was imagining him kissing Lady Georgiana. “Why are you here?Withouta fishing pole?”
“Youdon’t have a pole,” he pointed out.
“I didn’t come to fish.” She looked around. “I didn’t even mean to walk this far.”
“I didn’t come to fish, either,” he said. “I was looking for you.”
Brilliance almost gasped a second time. She wasn’t normally a dramatic person, but his gaze was unwaveringly direct. And they were alone.
Just as he had been with Lady Georgiana.
“I am surprised your lady-friend isn’t with you.”
“My lady-friend?” he asked quizzically. Then he barked out a laugh. “Do you mean Lady Georgiana?”
Brilliance was mortified. She had sounded irrationally, humiliatingly jealous. Dignity was not always necessary, nor even pride. But being pitiful was beyond the pale. Turning away, knowing she could not speak civilly to him when he was so casual with his kisses, she began to walk back the way she had come.
“Here now, where are you going?” Lord Hewitt fell into step beside her. “Are you angry with me? You didn’t seem so at supper last night, but at breakfast, you had lost every ounce of friendliness.”
“I am not to be trifled with,” she said through gritted teeth, increasing her pace so she would pass quickly through the copse of trees.
“I am no trifler,” he said, but she kept walking.
“Lady Cheese,” he called after her, his tone teasing, but that only made her angrier. “Giver of fruit and fabulous kisses,” he added.
She halted.Damn the man!When she looked back at him, his gray-green eyes were welcoming and happy behind his spectacles, and his mouth —so perfect— was in a half smile. She took a step toward him.
“You say you are not a trifler, but you were hidden away in the conservatory kissing Lady Georgiana last night, and now you have the gall to joke about kissing me! I shall report your behavior to your cousin.”
Brilliance turned away, but suddenly he had closed the distance and grabbed her arm.
“Release me,” she demanded, giving a little tug to free herself.
“I have not kissed Lady Georgiana,” he stated. All traces of humor had vanished. “You have no reason to believe me, except I shall be insulted if you don’t. What’s more, I haveneverkissed two women at the same party. That would make me a trifler, indeed!”
Brilliance considered his words. “Oh,” she said finally, believing him both because she wanted to and because he was too affronted to be lying. At least, she hoped so.
“You may release me now,” she said.
