Lilli gasped. “You’re–”
“Viscount Islington’s valet, my lady.”
No.
No, no, no.
This could not be happening. Lilli stared at Mr. Henley in horrified silence. The attraction she felt toward him could not be denied, which had to mean he was the man the stone had brought her. But the idea of an earl’s daughter being courted by and eventually marrying a servant was ludicrous in the extreme. Which had to mean the stone had gotten it wrong because this… This was like a cruel joke or some sort of nightmare from which she prayed she would soon awaken.
“I ought to return to the house.” Her voice sounded hollow to her own ears. It matched the crippling disappointment now weighing her down.
“Allow me to escort you.”
“Thank you, but that will not be necessary.” Right now, she wanted to run from him as fast as she could, pretend they’d never met. “Besides, you still have a rabbit to catch.”
“The trap will see to that.”
“Nevertheless.”
He held her gaze for a moment. “What about your ankle?”
“It’s fine. I can walk unaided.” When he gave a swift nod she dipped her head and turned, walking away and leaving him there without a backward glance even though it felt like her heart was breaking.
Three
When Lilli woke the next morning she did so with the certainty of having been wrong about her response to Mr. Henley. Obviously, him being the first young man she’d encountered since acquiring the rose quartz crystal had convinced her of feelings that simply weren’t there. How could they be when a match with him would be as impossible as flying to the moon?
With this in mind she rose from bed with renewed determination. While being in the country might limit her social options, it didn’t exclude them entirely. Perhaps if she could convince Mama and Papa to invite some local gentry to dinner she might meet someone else, someone to take her interest away from Mr. Henley. Who somehow managed to remain lodged in her brain. As irritating as it was, he’d even invaded her dreams where the soft caress of his fingers against her cheek had…
“Bother.” Lilli fixed her attention on the pull of the comb her lady’s maid, Vera, was currently applying to her hair. Locks rolled up with strips of cotton during the night were untied and pinned until Lilli’s face was framed by bouncy curls.
“Are you all right, my lady?” Vera asked, pausing in her task. “Did I nick you?”
“No. You’re as gentle as always.” When she offered no further explanation, Vera finished styling her hair and then dabbed Lilli’s favorite jasmine oil to each side of her neck.
Next, she helped Lilli dress after which Lilli made her way down to breakfast. As she approached the dining room, she heard voices coming from what had once been a small sitting room but now served as her brother’s study when he was in residence. The door stood slightly ajar, permitting her to hear every perfect word uttered by Mr. Henley.
Lilli shook her head even as liquid heat pooled in her stomach. This was madness. The man was merely listing numbers, no doubt while reviewing the ledgers, yet somehow, against all odds, his voice managed to send the most delicious shivers down her spine.
Annoyed and frustrated by the realization that the hours she’d spent apart from him since their first encounter had not dimmed her foolish desire to be near him, she set her jaw and continued toward the dining room. Thankfully, Mama was still there reading the scandal column she enjoyed every morning once Papa was done with the paper.
After wishing her a good morning, Lilli collected a plate from the sideboard, filled it with eggs, bacon, and toast, and took her seat at the table.
Mama glanced at her. “How are you feeling today?”
“Perfectly well.” Lilli had told her parents she’d tripped and fallen in the woods when they’d questioned her disheveled appearance upon her return yesterday afternoon. “In fact, I’d like to suggest a dinner party.”
Mama blinked. “A dinner party?”
“Yes. There are several good families in the area with whom we rarely socialize.”
“That is because we do all our socializing in London. When we’re here I like to relax without any fuss. Which is why I’m relieved your brother refrained from bringing friends with him this time.”
The mention of Henry and his friends reminded Lilli of Mr. Henley. She steeled herself against the hope of spending more time in his company. That would not happen.
“My Seasons have not resulted in an engagement,” Lilli pressed, “so maybe it’s time to consider a different tactic. If you prefer, we could host a picnic instead since that would be more casual in nature.”
Mama dropped the paper and settled her gaze more firmly on Lilli. “I’ve never known you to be so keen on securing a match before. Indeed, I believe your Seasons proved fruitless due to your own lack of effort. Rest assured, your papa and I have decided it’s time for you to set your mind to finding a husband soon, lest you end up on the shelf. But we had thought to wait until spring.”
