Mr. Campbell’s eyebrows shot up. He was obviously unimpressed with my compliment, but it had been the only thing to come to mind. His lips twitched. “I’m glad you appreciate them. They don’t often receive the admiration they deserve.”
I gave a swift nod. “I have never found myself overlooking such small details. I am quite discerning, you know.”
Mr. Campbell smiled again, but it was fleeting. “I shall keep that in mind.”
I stared at him with misgiving as he lifted a glass and filled it with lemonade from the pitcher. I still didn’t believe that this entire ordeal was genuine, but I could think of no reason for him to be putting on a ruse. He met my gaze as he handed the glass to me. I took a sip, my mouth puckering with the tartness. It was still much better than the mineral water Aunt Julia had given me that morning. My gaze traveled to the bench where she sat with her own small picnic. That was a thoughtful detail. All of it was thoughtful. She was too far away to hear our conversation, so I turned to Mr. Campbell with a question.
“I trust my pineapple is in that basket?”
He poured himself a glass of lemonade with a rueful smile. “Unfortunately, I have yet to obtain one. I hope you will allow me more than a day to do so.”
I glanced heavenward. “I suppose I didn’t specify how long it should take.”
“I am most grateful for your patience.” Mr. Campbell reached for the basket and opened the latch. He withdrew an assortment of fruit, small pastries, sandwiches, and cheeses. My mouth watered at the sight.
I tore my gaze away. I had to keep my wits about me. “In the meantime, how should I know your intentions are genuine?”
He paused, a tray of sweets suspended halfway between the basket and the rug. “Is this not enough?”
I paused. There was surely a fine line between challenging his pursuit and acting entitled to it. But I hadn’t seen any success until I had started acting aloof. Wouldn’t it be best to continue? My mind raced. “It’s a promising start, to be sure.”
He lowered the tray abruptly to the rug, and one of the miniature cakes rolled off the edge. I reached for it at the same moment he did. Our hands touched lightly, a trail of warmth spreading up my fingertips. The sensation lasted only a brief moment before I jerked my hand away. Mr. Campbell met my gaze. For a strange reason, my cheeks heated. It was a hot day, yes, but notthathot. Unsure of where to look, I glanced up at the back of the house.
Sunlight glared on the windows, but I thought I saw a man’s face behind one of them. A jolt of surprise struck my chest. I squinted, and before I could catch another glimpse, the curtains closed abruptly.
CHAPTER 11
CLARK
“Who was that?” Miss Sharp asked in an abrupt voice.
“Who?” I followed her gaze to the window of Colin’s bedchamber, where the curtains still swung from side to side.
“Someone was watching us.” A crease appeared in her brow as she stared up at the back of the house.
Blast Colin.And he had always calledmereckless.Had he really thought he could observe our meeting without being caught? Perhaps Miss Sharp was just as discerning as she claimed to be. Upon inviting her to the house, Colin and I had taken as many precautions as possibleto ensure that she wouldn’t suspect that there were two of us. TwoColins, as it were.
I laughed in an attempt to dispel the concerned look from Miss Sharp’s face. “Could it have been a servant? What did she look like?” I dared the question.
“I think it was a man.” Her brow furrowed again.
Well, drat.So shehadseen his face. But how well? The window was distorted by sunlight and distance. Surely Colin’sface had been unrecognizable. “It might have been my valet,” I said with a sigh. “His standards are quite high when it comes to my hair. He must have been looking to ensure it survives the elements.”
Miss Sharp frowned, taking a quick glance at the sky. “What elements?”
“Sunlight.” I shrugged. We were sitting in the shade, but hopefully she wouldn’t notice. A faint breeze brushed past my skin. “Also the wind.” I knew how ridiculous I sounded, but there was no way forward but to pretend I was the preening peacock that Colin was. Hewasquite protective of his hair.
Miss Sharp’s lips pinched together in a suppressed smirk. I couldn’t blame her for being amused. “I should like to see you in an actual breeze,” she said. “I suspect you would lose your composure entirely.”
“I would. Most definitely.”
She smiled, a soft laugh escaping her lips. She seemed to regret it immediately, her features slackening. I found myself staring at her face in the hopes that it would resurface again. Her laugh was soft and altogether charming, and I wished I could hear more of it.
Though she refused to admit it, she had seemed impressed with the picnic that I had prepared. Colin had been searching for a pineapple since the day before, but without any success. To import one would take months and would be costly. The only other option was to find an acquaintance with a hothouse growing pineapples, which was rare. Renting one for display was common, but that meant we couldn’t eat it. At any rate, it would likely be rotten by the time it reached England.
“Would you like any sandwiches?” I asked, pushing the tray closer to Miss Sharp. I was eager to change the subject from my hair. The valet had used enough of that dreadful paste to prevent even the strongest winds from disheveling it.
Miss Sharp reached for a triangular cucumber sandwich, examining it from all angles before taking a small bite. Did she think I was poisoning her? Every look and movement she had made that day told me she was still suspicious of my intentions. Rightfully so, of course. I didn’t dare imagine what would happen when she learned that I was a struggling solicitor. But by then, I wouldn’t be struggling anymore. Colin had promised me that much.
