“There you are, Miss Delmonte,” she said with a smile. “You have a visitor.”
Judith frowned at that. “A visitor?”
The housekeeper nodded. “Waiting for you in the parlor.”
Frowning, Judith tried to guess who it might be, but she hadn’t forged any proper friendships with the ladies of the parish, so it was unlikely to be any of them. Beyond that, Judith knew few in the area, none of whom would bother to call on her.
“Where is Mr. Byrnes?” Judith forced herself to speak in a reasonable, calm tone, though she felt like growling at the shortsighted man. A fever like this might very well strike again before the illness ran its full course, and she wasn’t prepared to see him wear himself to the bone again.
Mrs. Barton’s eyes sparked with laughter. “He is out and about.”
Judith sighed. If he expected her to nurse him after his impetuousness caused him to fall ill again, he would be sorely disappointed. Though Judith wasn’t certain why she bothered trying to fool herself with that blatant falsehood.
With yet another sigh directed inwards, Judith went in search of her visitor. The parlor door stood open, and when she swept inside, Judith found Mr. Byrnes standing before the fireplace. He looked far haler than he’d seemed of late, and her heart lightened at the sight of it, even though much of his improved appearance had to do with his clothes, which were among his finest. Mr. Byrnes had odd tastes at times, but Judith had always adored his pale blue waistcoat as it was particularly flattering for his eyes.
“Miss Delmonte,” he said, sweeping into a low bow. Bringing his hand around to his front, he extended a bouquet that was lovelier than she’d seen in a very long time. “How good to see you this fine afternoon.”
Judith stared at him and the flowers but did not take them. “I am surprised to see you out of bed.”
“Nonsense,” he said with a smile, nodding at the bouquet. “Thanks to your efforts, I feel as good as new.”
“I am pleased to hear that.” Judith frowned. “Are you my visitor?”
Mr. Byrnes swept into another ludicrous bow, once more extending the bouquet, though Judith did not touch it. “That I am, Miss Delmonte. And very happy to be allowed the opportunity to pay a call on such a lovely lady.”
“You are being ridiculous,” she said, giving the flowers and their bearer a narrowed look.
But he straightened again, the humor fading from his expression as he met her gaze with an intensity that she felt to her core. “As you will not believe I am madly in love with you, I am forced to ridiculous measures to prove my affection.”
“Mr. Byrnes, you are being—”
“Adorable?” And the rascal gave her a waggle of his brows.
“Irritating,” she said, turning to the parlor door, but Mr. Byrnes moved quickly to stand before her, holding his hands up to forestall her.
“I am not jesting, Miss Delmonte,” he said, though he paused and considered that. “I suppose I am being a tad silly, but I am in earnest.”
Lifting the bouquet, Mr. Byrnes held it between them, capturing her gaze in his. “You have said again and again that you do not believe my affection, but not once have you said you do not welcome it. And so, I will behave as any courting swain ought. I will call on my lady, bring her bouquets, and wait patiently as she comes to trust that my intentions are worthy of her accepting and returning my love.”
“You are being ludicrous.” Her voice wobbled, and her words came out as a whisper. Judith tried to clear her throat, but she couldn’t.
“And you are repeating yourself.” Mr. Byrnes’s eyes sparked with mirth, but then, his expression shifted, the laughter fleeing as he held her gaze. “I want to prove myself to you, Miss Delmonte. I adore you, and I will do whatever is necessary to prove to you that I know my heart.”
Mr. Byrnes held up the bouquet once more, and Judith’s traitorous hands took it. The scent filled her nose with all the heavenly fragrances of spring when the world was awakening from the long winter slumber.
“I am even willing to throw myself upon the mercy of the Slades for you,” he added with a touch of humor. When Judith gave him a questioning glance, he said, “To protect your reputation, the children and I are staying with them until you come to your senses.”
Judith’s voice failed her altogether, and her heart thumped an angry beat in her chest, railing against the safeguards she’d placed upon it. She felt lightheaded, which only grew worse as she lost herself in his handsome eyes. They were so very close. Or rather close enough that Judith could easily throw herself into his embrace. Mr. Byrnes leaned closer, his gaze fixing on her lips, and Judith felt herself moving towards him.
But no. She needed to remain strong.
If only she could recall why.
Mr. Byrnes broke the spell, turning his gaze to the bouquet. “I didn’t know which blossoms are your favorite, so I bought what I thought were loveliest.”
“I do not have a favorite flower,” she managed to say, though Judith was dismayed to hear how weak her voice was. “Or rather, I don’t know if I do as I have never received any before.”
His hand lifted, drifting to the edge of her jaw and brushing a feather-light touch against her skin. In a low voice, he said, “That is a shame. But I shall just have to help you discover it.”
