Delia had believed she would be next. With the unexpected reprieve, she allowed the butterflies that had been fluttering in her stomach to settle again. Lady Miriam was far less organized than her predecessor. She had no books nor photos. She merely talked about her family’s wealth from their connections to Brussels, and then showed her own lace collar.
Delia sighed. She wouldn’t be nearly as difficult to come after.
In a very few minutes, the audience was applauding again. Then, Lady Osbourne looked directly at her.
“Lady Delia has agreed to discuss some of England’s flowers, shrubs, and trees.”
She vowed she heard someone mutter, “plant lady.” Squaring her slender shoulders, she went to the front of the drawing room, clutching her drawings.
“I have long—” Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat. Someone tittered. Delia started again.
“I have long had an interest in the indigenous flora of our country. My family lives near an exceptional garden, the Oxford Botanic Garden. Because of my father’s ties with the university, I was granted access at will to a place that is otherwise private.” She knew her tone was flat, but she was doing all she could to keep it steady, not high and wavering.
Someone in the audience coughed. She ignored it. “While they have plants that have been brought in from around the world, they also have nearly every kind of species from our own verdant island.”
Again, someone coughed, a female she would guess.
“Not only does Britain grow beautiful plants, we have many healing ones, as well. We even have plants that would help with the annoying cough I can hear plaguing one of our guests.”
That engendered a satisfactory silence. However, she’d interrupted the flow of her speech. Without starting over, her brain emptied.What had she been going to say next?
Frozen, she was about to bolt from the room when her glance landed upon Lord Perish. He smiled and pointed to his hand. She looked down, having forgotten her drawings. Swiftly opening the pad, she held up some of her drawings from home, stating their names, before showing the more interesting plants she’d found around Lady Osbourne’s property. She even had a surprise for their hostess.
“I found an overgrown herb garden growing wild, not too far away.” She showed the sketch. “Your cook could make use of them.”
“I thank you for the discovery,” Lady Osbourne said. “You are a meticulous artist.”
“Can you draw other things as well?” another lady asked. “Like portraits?”
“Were you self-taught?” asked a gentleman.
“What flower is easiest to grow here?”
Delia answered all their questions, realizing she had filled more than half an hour. Enjoying the genuine, appreciative applause, she took her seat.
It was Lord Perish’s turn. Instead of a proper speech about horses, he simply told what he looked for when purchasing a new mount, compared to a farm horse or a carriage horse. The men found his speech interesting. The women foundhiminteresting.
For his part, he conducted the entire talk appearing relaxed, arms crossed, leaning his backside against the piano.
Another show of appreciation came from the audience, and Lady Osbourne declared they had concluded their lectures.
“Everyone, feel free to stretch your legs. Then some charades and riddles, if you please.” Delia rose to her feet.
“What if Idon’tplease?” Lord Perish muttered in Delia’s ear. She glanced at him.
“Well done,” he told her, making her happy down to her toes.
“You, as well,” she said, still relishing the relief at putting the nerve-racking speech behind her.
“Did you learn anything you can bring to your lesson tomorrow?”
“My lesson?” She was a little breathless from his proximity and how he looked at her with intent.
“Yourridinglesson,” he clarified.
Oh!“Tomorrow?”
He nodded. “As you pointed out, we are short on time. I would like to get you riding well enough to show you some places of interest.”
