It was he who drew away. “I think it best we stop.” He reclaimed her hand and knitted his long fingers withhers.
Regaining her breath and what was left of her composure, Laura sank back into a corner of the carriage, a heartbeat away from his disturbingpresence.
“There’s an exhibition of Art Nouveau style at the Grafton Gallery in Mayfair tomorrow. Is it of interest to you?”
He knew just how to entice her. “Yes. I saw it advertised.”
“Then see it with me. Tomorrow afternoon at two. Your mother might like to accompany us.”
“Perhaps she would. Thank you.”
Her mother would be overjoyed. If Laura sent him back to Cornwall without seeing him again, her life at home would become unbearable. And even though she couldn’t marry him, she did want to spend more time in hiscompany.
***
“I’ve sent Mary to bed.” Mother had waited up for her, and as Laura undressed, she told her about his invitation, but not his proposal. “Lord Lanyon has invited you too, Mother.”
“I’m to arrange the flowers in the church tomorrow. He was the perfect gentleman? He didn’t behave inappropriately?”
“Of course not.” Trying to settle her own rampaging emotions was enough. She could not deal with hermother’s.
“Lord Lanyon’s intentions would be entirely honorable. You have no need of a chaperone.” She hung up Laura’s dress. “Do you like him, Laura?”
“He’s interesting.”
“Find out more about Wolfram. Get to know him.”
“I’m not considering marriage, Mother.”
“It’s what he obviously expects. He’s a busy man. You should not give him a false impression.”
Was she? Laura suffered a wave of guilt. She only knew that she would be deeply disappointed not to see himagain.
Chapter Three
The next afternoon, Lord Lanyon accompanied Laura around the gallery. She had a refusal prepared should he press his suit again, but he did not mention it. She felt oddly piqued. Had he given up on her so easily?
The exhibition proved fascinating. The William Morris collection absorbed her, and when they left, she bubbled over with enthusiasm. He agreed with most of her comments while revealing a good eye for color anddesign.
As the carriage approached her home, she found it extremely difficult to end theirassociation.
“I have the day free tomorrow,” he said. “I fancy a picnic if it remains fine. Might I entice you to accompany me to Richmond Park?”
She should refuse him. Cut it off cleanly now. And with words to that effect forming in her mind, she met his sensual gaze. “That sounds perfectly lovely,” she found herself saying. “I’m not sure it will be permitted, however.” Laura hoped her mother would agree. It appeared that she wasn’t ready to see him walk out of her life. Quiteyet.
“I shall reassure your parents that I will take good care of you,” he said with his usualconfidence.
And of course, his confidence was well placed. Her mother beamed when Laura asked her. “Yes, you may go. Your virtue shall be perfectly safe in a carriage. Richmond Park will be filled with visitors during this dry spell.”
Mother immediately turned her attention to Laura’s clothing. “The bronze straw trimmed with feathers and flowers, I think.” She tapped her chin with a finger. “Teamed with the flannel Eton jacket and skirt in Dresden blue over a lawn shirt-waist. Dressy, yet suitable for an informal outing.”
After telephoning the next morning to confirm, Nathaniel arrived, dashing in cream wool trousers, a striped gray and white coat with silver buttons, and a straw boater on his dark hair. They traveled in a brougham, a carriage following behind. It was perfect weather for a picnic, the sky a deep Wedgewood blue and barely a cloud insight.
Her white parasol shielded her face from the sun, as Laura strolled with him along a meandering path through a meadow of wild grasses, thick with bluebells and harebells. Behind them, two servants carried a wicker basket into a grove of oak trees where King Henry VIII hunted deer centuries ago. A herd still grazed over a rise, a huge stag keeping guard. It occurred to Laura that Lanyon might have brought someone here before. He seemed sure of his destination. They passed a family party gathered beside the pond, the air filled with the children’s sweet voices as they tossed bread to theducks.
A servant spread out the rug in a sheltered spot, while shooing away a gray partridge intent on building a nest. The hamper was unpacked, and the champagne cork popped. Then they werealone.
“I trust this will be sufficient. My hotel prepared it.” A feast of ham, roast fowl, lobster, bread rolls, salad, and strawberries and cream fordessert.
