Glimpsing Lady Emily, he took a deep breath and attempted to tamp down the old familiar queasiness gripping his stomach. It never happened in anyone else’s presence.
It took some effort for him to ignore the frantic beat of his pulse as he walked through the door, gripping the bouquet as though it would offer support. For some absurd reason, calling on Lady Emily at her home made him far more nervous than meeting her in the park. There was a certain formality to coming here with a bouquet of flowers.
Good heavens.
He hoped she wouldn’t think he’d embarked on a courtship.
Casting that possibility aside for the sake of pure self-preservation, he swept the room with his gaze. It was a lovely space, furnished mostly in creamy tones that were accented by hints of sky blue.
He sucked in a breath the moment he found her. Heat washed the back of his neck and his palms grew clammy. Unsure of himself, he was suddenly terrified he might cause some other mishap. Like tripping over the carpet and sending the flowers flying, or worse, landing upon the low table before her and knocking the teapot into her lap.
She stood, with the same sort of hesitance he’d decided he’d best apply. “Welcome, Your Grace. Please have a seat.”
Callum took quick stock of any potential obstacles in his path. Finding none, he approached the armchair she’d gestured toward. The maid who’d joined Lady Emily on her previous outings to the park sat a few yards away, her attention on some piece of mending she busied herself with while serving as chaperone.
“Thank you for seeing me.” Callum cleared his throat and pushed the flowers toward her. “These are for you.”
She smiled with what appeared to be genuine warmth in her eyes. The sight was so dazzling he forgot himself for a second and didn’t realize she was attempting to take the bouquet while he continued to grip it.
“Sorry,” he muttered, letting the flowers go. He cleared his throat again and started to sit, only to realize that she still stood. He quickly straightened himself once more while silently cursing himself for his foolish behavior.
Get a hold of yourself, man. She must think you’re stupid.
“They’re lovely,” she said right before she pressed her nose to the flowers and took a deep breath. “I think this may be my favorite bouquet to date.”
Heat rushed to Callum’s cheeks. He averted his gaze and scrubbed a hand across his jaw to hide the embarrassing effect of her words. “I’m glad you approve.”
She gave him a funny look before turning toward the maid. “Georgina, can you please find a vase for these?”
“Of course, my lady.”
“And please bring a fresh pot of tea with an extra cup when you return. Some of Cook’s freshly baked rhubarb tarts would be lovely as well.”
The maid departed, leaving Callum alone with Lady Emily though the door to the parlor remained wide open. No chance of getting up to mischief here. Not that he would consider it. Although thinking ofnotconsidering it made him ponder exactly that. His gaze shifted to Lady Emily. To her mouth in particular, and, for a second, he allowed himself to wonder what it might be like to kiss her.
Delicious.
“Your Grace?”
“Yes?”
“I was suggesting we sit.” She studied him a moment. “Unless you merely intended to drop off the flowers and leave.”
He laughed, the sound a touch too nervous for his liking. “No. I’d like to stay for a bit if you’ve no other plans.”
“None besides reading.” She lowered herself to the sofa and he took the armchair adjacent to it.
“Do you read a great deal then?”
“As often as I can. It’s my greatest passion.”
“Really?” He was slightly surprised. The Lady Emily he’d seen over the years hadn’t struck him as a bluestocking. “What’s your favorite book?”
“An impossible question for me to answer.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Which have you reread the greatest number of times?”
She averted her gaze and fiddled a bit with her skirts before saying, “You’ll think it silly, I’m sure, but it’s actuallyCelestina.”
