“Miss Garrington,” Alexander said absently. “A great pleasure. It is a fine day, Laurence. And this picnic does put me to mind of years past when we used to run around these hills as children.”
Laurence smiled but before he could speak on the topic more, they were interrupted when Julia stepped up to their blanket. She smiled down at Laurence, sent a quick side glance to Alexander and then said, “I-I thought I might join you for the meal, Laurence.”
To his surprise, his cousin didn’t rise to help her, but stared up at her with a frown. “Oh. Yes, that would be a fine idea, dearest, but don’t you think you ought to mingle with our guests?”
Her smile fell and bright color filled her cheeks. “I—Laurence, we have hardly spent time together since my arrival. I would very much like to get to do so this afternoon.”
Now Laurence did get up and looked at the others on their blanket almost apologetically before he took her elbow and led her away a few steps.
Alexander sat, coiled as a spring, watching as the two of them talked a few feet away. He could see it wasn’t a positive exchange. His cousin scowled and spoke close to her face. She went blank, completely unreadable but for the slight tremble to her shoulders.
“Foolish little thing,” Miss Garrington murmured, dragging Alexander’s attention back to her.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I know you must disapprove as much as anyone of this foolishness,” the young woman said. She stared off at Laurence. “A man like that, lowering himself to her? Outrageous!”
“I think one ought to be careful of how one speaks of a future viscountess,” Alexander said, noting that Julia had walked away from his cousin toward the lake. He pushed to his feet. “Good day.”
He moved in the direction Julia had gone, glaring at his cousin as he made his way back to the blanket, all smiles and complete disregard for whatever pain he’d just laid at his fiancée’s feet.
“What were we talking about before we were interrupted?” he heard Laurence say with a laugh.
He ignored it and made his way down the little bluff right to the edge of the water. Julia stood, arms folded, looking out at the water as it rippled in the breeze.
“If you’ve come here to gloat, you can walk yourself right back up to the others,” Julia said without looking at him.
He flinched at the rawness to her tone and the drawn expression on her face. “I wouldn’t. All I’ll say was that my cousin was just abominably rude to you.”
She glanced toward him. “What do you want, Alexander?”
He started at her use of his first name. She’d never been so familiar. He found he liked the sound of his name coming from her lips. “I came to inquire after the cat,” he said.
At that she fully pivoted toward him, her blue eyes wide. God, they were a beautiful color. “The cat?”
“I must admit that I saw you with the kitten down by the stable a few days ago. Since I haven’t seen…her? Him?”
“Her,” she said softly.
“Since I haven’t seen her in the area after that day, I wondered if you might have claimed her as your own.”
She shifted. “I have. She’s in my chamber even as we speak, likely curled up on my pillow, purring like the spoiled princess she is.” He smiled, but it fell as she began to worry her hands. “Do you…do you think Laurence will allow me to keep her?”
“My cousin has never liked cats,” Alexander said. She recoiled a little immediately and he knew he’d struck upon a negative mark against him. Exactly along the lines of his new plan, but he hadn’t said it for that purpose. Not like what he said next, “I’ve always been suspicious of those who don’t, honestly. Dogs are wonderful. They are easy. Cats make you earn their trust and affection. Anyone not willing to do that work…”
“Hmmm.” She let out her breath in a shaky sigh. “I think you’re right. I had a cat as a little girl, but I haven’t had a pet since—since we all fled to London. There hasn’t been enough stability for that.”
Stability. It wasn’t the first time she’d said that word. When she did, there was such a lilt of longing to it. “What did you name her?”
Now her smile returned. “Beatrice.”
“Is that a reference toMuch Ado About Nothing?” he asked.
She nodded. “It is. It’s my favorite work by Shakespeare.”
“It’s mine as well,” he admitted. “I do love a good pair of enemies who can’t resist each other.” She swallowed and turned back toward the water, but he saw the flush to her cheeks. “Did you see it at the Cannondale Theatre last year by any chance?”
“I did,” she said. “That theatre is so tiny, but they always put on the best shows. I went with my sisters and then dragged Laurence to it. He didn’t care for it, but I thought the set pieces and the acting was divine.”
