It had been a good day and a long time since Julia had accompanied Brina to Pilwillow Crossings. As was expected, the two didn’t spend as much time together since Julia had married last year.
“We’ll see you back here in an hour,” Brina waved and called up to the driver as the two friends stepped out of the carriage and stood on the pavement in front of Brina’s parents’ house in Mayfair.
The landau rolled away at a jaunty clip, and she turned back to Julia and said, “A few days ago I was remembering when I first started going to the abbey. Before you knew. The ride home used to seem so long. I was always afraid someone would see me there and tell Mama where I’d been. Now, everyone knows I go once a week. Mama still doesn’t want me to go, but like everyone else in the ton, she remains quiet.”
Ladies of Society were encouraged to be benevolent to such organizations as abbeys, orphanages, and hospitals, but heaven forbid they ever be seen at one of the places. What others thought about her charity work no longer bothered Brina.
“I think it’s because you go about it so quietly and you don’t impose your will on anyone else,” Julia said with a reminiscing smile. “Memories of the times I went with you last year will be with me forever. It was good to see the sisters today. There was a time I truly worried you would decide to give up your life with us and join their order.”
“I came close, didn’t I?”
Julia nodded.
“It’s good they didn’t want me. What I do now is more manageable than joining them would have been. Thank you for wanting to go with me today to deliver the tea and bandages.”
“It was my pleasure to see Sister Francine again. Besides, I wanted to spend some time alone with you so I could see how you are really doing. We talk at parties, but we’re often interrupted and there’s always the worry someone will overhear us. How are things going with you and Blacknight?”
Hearing the earl’s name swelled Brina’s chest and made her abdomen tighten and tremble with a heavenly feeling. Brina looked up at the sky and breathed in deeply. Puffy white clouds dotted the azure blue. The air was cool but still. The neighborhood was quiet, and now that the landau was out of sight, there were no carriage wheels or voices to be heard along the street or in the distance.
“I kept thinking you would say something about him today,” Julia continued when Brina remained silent. “Did I make you uncomfortable by mentioning him?”
“How could I feel uncomfortable on such a beautiful day? I haven’t said anything because you haven’t asked about him.”
Julia pursed her lips and seemed to think on that before answering, “True. I kept hoping you would so you wouldn’t think I was prying.”
“Ha!” Brina said with a laugh. “When has that ever bothered you, my dear friend?”
“Always,” Julia said with a knowing shrug. “I know you’re a very private person, and I do respect that. At times. But not today,” she added with a deliberate smile.
“You know I would never think you were prying. Only anxious for me.”
“Good. I am. So tell me about him.”
Brina looked up at the sky again as the turmoil of what was happening between her and the earl weighed on her. Her time with him was always exhilarating.All of it.“He continues to astound me,” she admitted. “And probably everyone with his lack of appropriateness at times.”
“Well, I’m not one to throw stones. As you know, Garrett forsook the role of a gentleman at one time.”
“I remember. When Blacknight told me he disliked the tediousness of long, sit-down dinners such as the one at the Duke of Middlecastle’s house, I said he must give one himself.”
Julia’s eyes widened with surprise. “You didn’t.”
Brina laughed. “I did. The date’s been set and I’m working on the guest list. Hopefully, it will smooth over some of the feathers he ruffled for not responding to the duchess’s dinner party and then attending.”
“This was a clever idea, Brina. And it will be good for the earl to do this.”
“I’m not sure how clever it was. Though his sister will be his hostess, I am doing all of the planning, which, of course, takes time.”
“Are you seeing him often?”
Curls of pleasure tumbled in Brina’s stomach. “I sawhim briefly last night at the Windhams’ party, and a couple of days ago we went for a ride in the park.”
“Hmm. Carriage or horse?”
“Horse,” Brina said and started slowly walking up the stone path that led to her parents’ front door. “I don’t remember enjoying riding so much. I’m glad he reintroduced me to it. There’s something peaceful and comforting about it. The animal is warm, gentle, and very easy to guide.”
“And what about the earl? Is he all those things? Comforting, gentle, and easy to guide?”
Brina stopped. “Not in the least,” she answered quickly, but frowned when she immediately remembered the gentle touch of his fingers against her cheek, the tenderness of soft kisses, and the caress of his hands on her breasts. Every time she had such thoughts, she wanted to be with him. “Well, he is gentle,” she corrected. And eager and passionate too. “But no, he’s not comforting because he disturbs me greatly. Continuously. In many ways. And he certainly isn’t easy to guide—as everyone knows.”
