“I’m already quite carried away,” Delilah replied with a laugh. She stared up into the blue afternoon sky and stretched like a cat. Then she gathered more of the pink roses and let them fall atop her.
“Have you enjoyed our picnic?” Thomas asked, sitting up next to her and tracing the edge of her cheek.
“So much,” she replied, rubbing her cheek against his hand.
“I’m glad,” he replied. “This is the type of courtship you deserve.”
She pushed herself up on one elbow. “Oh, but we’re not—”
“Will you go to the theater with me tomorrow night? Lucy will accompany us.”
Delilah didn’t want to stop pretending, so instead of finishing her sentence, she nodded and said, “I would love to go to theater with you tomorrow night.”
“Excellent.” Thomas stood, pulled her to her feet, and helped to right her clothing. He leaned down and grabbed her bonnet from the quilt and placed it atop her head and tied the ribbon beneath her chin. “You’re beautiful,” he said, stroking the tip of her nose with the end of his finger.
“No, I’m not.” She nudged at the roses with her foot.
He stopped, lifted her chin with his finger, and stared deeply into her eyes. “Delilah, listen to me. You’re beautiful and always have been… inside and out.”
Tears stung her eyes. She turned away, pretending to be occupied helping him clear away their picnic. Thomas had always loved her as a best friend should, but now, now things were different between them, and she couldn’t help but wish they were real. What she’d done here today had been nothing short of shameless. She’d allowed him to kiss her and touch her, knowing he was only doing it because he was enchanted. She’d selfishly wanted it and allowed him to continue. How would she ever explain this to him when he realized the truth?
She blinked away the tears. “I should get home. Mother will be waiting for me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The next night, Delilah accompanied Thomas to the theater with a group of friends including Lucy and Derek, Cass and Julian, and Jane and Garrett. When they arrived and situated themselves into Claringdon’s box, a small group of the theatergoers who’d attended the performance in the country gave them a standing ovation.
They stood and bowed and blushed appropriately before settling in to watch a performance ofMuch Ado About Nothing.
When the play was over, Jane and Garrett launched into an argument about whether Beatrice or Benedick was the more clever of the two main characters in the play. Lucy rolled her eyes and exclaimed, “Neither of them ever wins this argument. They’ve been having it for years.”
Thomas excused them from the others and escorted Delilah out to the waiting coach.
She stopped short when she saw Clarence Hilton standing in front of their conveyance.
The robust man dabbed a handkerchief at his wet bottom lip and glared at Thomas. “Good evening, Lady Delilah,” Clarence said, as Thomas took a protective step in front of her.
This was the first time Delilah had seen Clarence since their supposed engagement. She certainly hadn’t spoken to him. He hadn’t bothered to so much as pay her a visit, let alone formally ask for her hand. He’d allowed his father and her mother to arrange the entire thing.
Clarence was nearly five and twenty, but he rarely left his father’s home. From what Mother had told her, he preferred instead to stay in his bedchamber playing Patience with an old deck of cards, drinking port, and eating sweets. Lord Hilton had been trying for years to get his son to leave the house and find a bride to produce an heir, but Clarence had refused. Apparently, the earl had found another way to accomplish that task.
“Lord Clarence,” she said woodenly, inclining her head to him. She had to wonder what had made the short man leave the comfort of his bedchamber this evening. His clothing was too small for him, and he looked exceedingly uncomfortable in it, as if his cravat was choking him.
“What are you doing here withhim?” Clarence asked, nodding toward Thomas.
“Himhas a name,” Thomas declared. “I’m the Duke of Huntley, but you may refer to me asYour Grace.”
Thomas was angry. He would never behave this way otherwise, lording his title over someone else. At the moment, Delilah couldn’t blame him.
“Very well,Your Grace,” Clarence sneered the honorific. “I’ll thank you to unhandmy bride.” He glaredat Thomas, whose hand lay on the small of Delilah’s back.
“She’s not your bride yet,” Thomas retorted.
“We’re to be married in a fortnight,” Clarence replied.
“If she weremybride, she wouldn’t be out with another man.” Thomas narrowed his eyes on Clarence.
Clarence clenched his fat little fist, but he was obviously too intimidated by Thomas to do anything else. Instead, he glared at Delilah. “I want you to stop spending time with him.” He jabbed a round finger toward Thomas. “I demand it.” He stomped his foot.
