“I want a grandmama, you see,” Mina said as if it were perfectly natural for a man to marry in order to please his granddaughter.
But, after Henry’s last marriage, Susannah hoped he’d marry to please himself, too.
He returned with the lemonade and both delighted and surprised Susannah by immediately lying down on his side on the blanket, using his elbow to support his head while they ate. It was such an informal posture, so youthful and easy, so at odds with how he usually held himself.
“Dare I ask how you’re going to get up?” Susannah said teasingly.
“The usual way,” he said.
“With lots of moaning,” Mina said and gave her crusts to him.
“I may not be spry, but I do not moan,” he said. He popped one of the crusts in his mouth and chewed, all while looking at Susannah. “How are you going to get up?”
She had her legs coiled to the side, so she rolled to her knees and, holding her skirts, got to her feet. It was not entirely graceful, but she had done it.
He watched her. “Not fair.”
“Said the earl.” She laughed and plopped back down again. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you up. But I have to rest first.”
And he smiled.He smiled.
“I’ll help, too,” Mina said.
He turned his smile on his granddaughter. “Will you? Then I shall never have to invest in a walking stick as long as I have you two to help me up.”
But when the moment came, he refused all help and did it as Susannah had, albeit with a few creaks and grumbles.
“You won’t believe this,” he said to Susannah. “But when I was young, I could sit cross-legged and rise straight up without uncrossing my ankles until the very end.”
“And did all the young ladies swoon in admiration for you?”
He snorted. “I was surrounded by the rest of my regiment, so no.” Then, “Would you have swooned for me?”
Silly man, I swoon for you now.
“Of course,” she said, folding the blanket. “I’ve seen that picture of you in your uniform.”
Yes, it was flirtation. Of course, it was flirtation. But they were with Mina, and the sun was shining, and there was no harm in making him feel admired. Because he was.
“I have excellent taste in young men,” she added.
“Who was that boy?” Henry asked as they walked back towards the house. “The one who danced with you. At the fête.”
Her face went hot at the thought of that night. That kiss.
“Will Skinner, the village scamp.”
“I was walking towards you, trying to get through the press, but then he swept you up, and?—”
“And then you disappeared!”
“You danced with such a light heart. I suddenly realized I might spoil your fun with your friends.”
She didn’t have friends. “You wouldn’t have spoiled anything, my lord.”
“I hope Mina and I are now among your friends,” he said stiffly.
Friends.
