“Our house is over the hill. Your horse could be cared for there just as easily.”
“True, but then I would be announcing my arrival for a visit, and your mother would no doubt send for you to join us. So you see, Miss Lockhart, we both benefit from lingering here.”
She stood still for some time, pondering the situation. Then she shrugged.
“Very well, I designate your horse as chaperone. While you are holding the reins, I do not see how you can get up to any mischief.”
William grinned. “If you were any other woman, I might consider that a challenge.”
She pressed her lips together primly. “I believe you, Mr. Cole. You have quite the reputation among the ladies.”
“It is only ever harmless fun, I assure you,” William protested, surprised at his sudden urge to defend himself. What did it matter what she thought of him?
“And you are certain all of your companions feel the same way—that it is harmless and fun?”
William felt a little irked. “I’ve never heard any complaints.” Was it his imagination, or did his necktie feel oddly tight?
Miss Lockhart’s icy-blue eyes bored into his. “You may be certain, Mr. Cole, that if a gentleman were to toy with my affections, I would voice my disapproval unequivocally.”
“That… is good,” William heard himself say.
“Right, then.” She resumed the conversation in a more chatty manner, as if, with this understanding between them, they couldnow proceed pleasantly. “Would you like to know more about the tansy beetle?” She held up the jar for him to see.
“Er… yes.” William felt off-kilter. Somehow, he had been scolded without taking the usual offense, and now he had agreed to study an insect instead of admiring the nape of the young lady’s neck. It was all very unsettling.
“It should be burrowing underground now to hibernate,” she explained, looking at the emerald-shelled creature with what could only be described as genuine admiration. “But we’ve had such unseasonably good weather, I suppose their schedule is a little off. In the spring, you can see their eggs, like yellow rice grains, on the underside of tansy leaves. Here, look closely. You will notice that its antennae resemble a string of beads. They really are quite beautiful.”
William, to be honest, was not as much awed by the beetle as he was intrigued by the flush of excitement in Miss Lockhart’s cheeks as she spoke. Her eyes sparkled with fascination. She was, put simply, truly happy. And the way it lit up her face turned her pleasant features into radiant beauty.
“…and that is why I sketch them,” she concluded, several sentences having been lost to William as his thoughts had wandered. But he could imagine the general tenet of her speech—she was a collector. After all, did she not say she had wished to study further? She was clearly drawn to the sciences. And, while he did not share her interests, he discovered that he now wished to encourage her.
A thought took hold of him—a way to establish rapport with her. He had promised his father to make an effort. It would involve some research, but he had little else to occupy his time. He smiled with satisfaction at his idea.
Miss Lockhart returned the smile shyly.
“I must say, Mr. Cole, I did not think you would appreciate my sentiments on the matter.” She swallowed hard. “I amgrateful that you do.” Her smile faltered. “No one has ever grasped the importance this holds for me.”
Her lip trembled and she turned away.
William was moved by her depth of feeling. There was so much more to the quiet Miss Lockhart than he had expected. In a surge of compassion, he reached out and touched her gently on the shoulder.
“Do not be sad, Miss Lockhart. Look, your daisy beetle is waiting to be immortalized. I… I shall leave you to your sketch while I let my horse satisfy his thirst.”
“Tansy beetle,” she corrected, wiping her eyes as she turned around.
“What?”
“You said, ‘daisy beetle.’ It’s a tansy beetle.”
“Tansy beetle.”
“Yes,” Miss Lockhart confirmed, putting down the jar and gathering up her sketchbook and pencil.
“I will try to remember that.” William’s voice was soft and sincere.
She looked up at him. “Thank you, Mr. Cole. This has been a rare conversation for me, and I will cherish it.”
William cleared his throat.
