Alex would be there. He had come to her window to see her, and the gesture had carried her like clouds across the sky for the last day.
“Hello, Master Walter, Miss Roylance!” Alex called before Charlotte had even noticed the rider turn onto their path.
She pulled Penny to a stop, and Alex dismounted. He came close to Penny and helped Walter down.
“Might I assist?” he said, glancing up at her.
Even the timbre of his words caused a thrill, and Charlotte’s heart triumphed that their plan had worked thus far. She could very well have led the horse to a log and stepped down there, but his hands outstretched to her proved inviting, and she nodded. When his strong fingers curled around the bodice of her gown, she thought he might hear her heart beating, but if he heard it, he didn’t mention it; he just wielded his confident smile and said, “How are you, Miss Roylance?”
“Very well,” she managed, despite her breath being stolen away by his proximity. “Thank you for meeting us.”
“Certainly,” Alex said. His eyes held hers for a moment until he swallowed and turned his attention to Walter. “Where to, my good man?”
“Um,” Walter said, scrunching up his nose. “Aren’t you the expert?”
“Oh... yes,” Alex said, making a show of remembering himself. “I am indeed. I can see you brought a spoon with you.”
Walter smiled proudly.
“That is by far the best worm-digging utensil one can employ.” Alex nodded. “Right this way.”
They weren’t too far from the stream, and the summer runoff crackled against the trees. Charlotte relished the sound, thinking a creek was one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful instruments. They walked to the bank, and Alex dropped to his knees, Walter following suit.
Charlotte’s memory flashed back ten years to the boy she’d often played with, his hair floppy, his arms long and lanky. Those had been some of the happiest memories of her life, and now she couldn’t believe she was here with him again. In contrast, his strong, grown arms were helping her own brother. She was supposed to be looking for worms, but she found her gaze more often gravitating toward Alex. Despite the distraction, she still managed to assist when needed and brandished her jar when Walter found his first worm.
As she watched Alex, she couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes wrinkled kindly and the way he championed Walter so he felt like he was the best worm hunter in all of England. Alex helped him every time they came nearest the water, Walter still a little skittish despite the calmness of the stream.
Charlotte found herself too often studying Alex’s handsome face, the lines around his smile more worn than the faint lines that crossed his brow. That alone indicated the strength of his person—he’d chosen to smile more than grimace despite the hardships he’d been thrown in life.
A touch of sadness stole through her as she thought that Alex was a better brother to Walter than Christopher had ever been to any of his younger siblings. He’d never deign to dig in the dirt with a little boy. That was something he’d given up years ago, like most of his more amiable pursuits.
The afternoon felt almost too perfect, and a bit of nervousness niggled in Charlotte’s thoughts. This meeting wasn’t sanctioned, and she hadn’t been entirely truthful about it. But wasn’t the reward of seeing Alex and creating Walter’s happiness enough to justify the deceit? Pushing away all negative thoughts, Charlotte walked down the bank of the river with three of her own worms, deciding she’d contributed enough. She deposited two into Walter’s jar, and though it nearly made her stomach wrench, she decided to tuck the third worm into a bit of linen and stow it in the pocket of her apron until the opportune moment.
“Very good, my boy.” The sound of Alex’s voice downstream caused her to turn her head. “You carry on. I think I’ll check on Charlotte.”
Charlotte’s breath quickened, but she tried to focus on the adorable way Walter’s tongue stuck out the side of his mouth in intense concentration as he dug in the dirt. Alex smiled as he walked toward her, and then he was at her side. “Very well done, on all accounts,” she said as he offered her his arm. She took it and continued. “I hoped you’d understand my worm invitation, and you have proved to be very good at it still, even after all these years.”
“A true proficient never forgets.” He laughed. “A brilliant plan from a brilliant girl.”
She glanced down, taken aback by his compliment. Other men had praised her often, her beauty especially, but he’d mentioned her intellect, and that felt different.
“And how did you escape from your mother’s duties?”
“She’s taking a much-needed nap.”
“I see. So you are quite skilled, too, especially at organizing your day.”
“Yes.”And skilled at deception, it would seem.She knew that sooner or later meetings like this couldn’t continue, but for now she would enjoy them and try not to think of the consequences. “Thank you for your attention to Walter. He really likes you. He’s even started speaking to me again, thanks to your visit to my balcony. I fear he hasn’t had enough interaction with any of his older siblings, and I regret that he’s almost forgotten about sometimes.”
Alex nodded. “Yes, well, I’ve never had a brother, so I consider myself lucky to be around him.” He swallowed, and pain flashed in his eyes, but he glanced away quickly.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” He sighed, but she would not let him end there. Something was on his mind. The day might have seemed perfect, but they both had their worries.
“You can tell me, Alex,” she coaxed. He was the strong, confident one, but that tone meant he was hurting.
“It really doesn’t matter.”
