Her features relaxed. “So then what happened?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “The other boys chimed in about having read it as well. I didn't want to be the odd one out, so I told them I'd read it too without any clue as to what the book was about.”
“Oh dear.” Even though she appeared to be making a stoic attempt at looking serious, her lips twitched with humor.
He gave her a quelling look. “Naturally the boys quizzed me. They asked me which part I liked the best.”
“And what did you say?”
Tristan let his own lips slide into a smile. “The part about the hill.”
Lady Lilliana burst out laughing in the most unladylike manner. Her whole body shook while tears spilled from her eyes. And then she snorted and all Tristan could think of was how much he wanted to pull all that joyful energy into his arms.
“How about you?” he asked instead. “What was your most embarrassing experience?”
She swiped at her damp cheeks and gulped down a series of breaths before telling him, “I vomited in the Duchess of Merryweather's vase once.”
Tristan stared at her, aghast. “No.”
“Oh yes.” She sniffed, cleared her throat. “Mama and I were invited to visit the duchess last year for a ladies luncheon she was hosting. That morning at home, we were served eggs, bacon, pancakes, and custard–filled pastries to celebrate Papa's birthday. All of those dishes are favorites of mine, so I couldn't resist and foolishly overate. Then when we were shown into the duchess' parlor, the cloying scent of perfume from a dozen women caused my stomach to turn and before I knew it, I'd grabbed the nearest container and cast up my accounts.”
“I suppose the duchess should have thanked you for saving her rug,” Tristan said.
Lady Lilliana raised an eyebrow. “I was swiftly sent home to recuperate and neither I nor Mama have been invited back. It was not my proudest moment since I do tend to pride myself on having a robust constitution. But that smell…” She scrunched her nose. “It was nauseatingly sweet.”
“Does your mother blame you for ruining a valuable connection?”
“No. Mama was lovely. She knew I didn't do it on purpose. Her primary focus was on me and making sure I was all right.”
Tristan appreciated that since he was fairly certain his own mother would have been angered by the humiliation.
They walked a few paces before he asked, “What's the most outlandish thing you've ever done?”
She slanted her chin. “Probably swimming naked in the pond.”
“And the most terrifying?” Tristan pressed while doing his damnedest not to linger on the image her most recent comment evoked.
“Facing you.” Her honesty slayed him, but before he could think of a suitable response, she spun away from him with a quipped, “Your turn.”
Tristan inhaled deeply. He dropped his gaze to some coral–colored roses with yellow centers, more unique than any he'd ever seen before. Reaching out, he broke off a stem and twirled it between his fingers.
“I suppose the most outlandish thing I've ever done is pretend to be someone I wasn't.”
She faced him again, her expression distinctly curious. “What on earth would compel you to do that?”
“It was the only way for me to acquire the job I wanted,” he said, making his answer as truthful as possible.
She stared at him for a moment during which he feared she’d seen right through him. But then she gave a small shrug of her shoulders. “I can only assume you lacked the references but knew you had the qualifications.”
“Precisely.” Tristan offered the rose.
She took it without hesitation and raised it to her nose for a deep inhale before saying, “I imagine a lack of references can make it hard for capable people to gain employment, especially when their education ought to make them deserving of good positions. You quoted Shakespeare yesterday?”
“Indeed. I’m extremely fond of his plays.”
“As am I.” A sweet smile followed this statement before she turned serious. “Forgive me if this may seem ignorant, but I never imagined a working class man would favor such writing.”
“Indeed, I’ve read most of the dramas, particularly those that feature people who once existed since I’ve a penchant for history.”
