Page 14 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

“What are we doing?” he asked, confused.

Thomas knelt down. “We are preparing the garden for some important visitors.”

“Is it Lady Lavender? I like her. I’ll help to make her happy.”

Thomas hadn’t precisely been making the garden beautiful for a specific person. But now that this boy brought her up, he admitted it was more motivating knowing he was making the garden lovely for her sake. Thomas only hoped she wouldn’t see him doing so, or at all, actually let alone in his dirty state.

Not even a day, and the lovely Lady Lavender had wound her spell around the young boy just as she had with Thomas himself.

“What is your name?”

“I’m Daniel.”

Thomas bowed low. “It’s nice to meet you, Daniel. Now, let’s go tell your nursemaid that you would like to spend some time in the garden with me. I can keep an eye on you so she doesn’t worry.”

Daniel nodded his head with a bit of dejection. “If I have to.”

They walked to the back of the house and stepped inside. “I’ll wait here for you. You can always have your nurse come down here to speak with me if she needs to.”

Daniel scampered out of the room and Thomas sat down on the wooden bench next to the kitchen table. He stretched out his legs and twisted his torso, working out some tight spots in his back. Before long, he heard Daniel’s small steps coming back down the corridor, and Thomas stood back up.

“I’ve got her,” he cried in triumph, tugging none other than Lady Lavender along behind him.

Thomas felt his ears go red. He bowed. “Lady Lavender, what an honor.” Then he stooped to look at Daniel. “I thought you were going to fetch Nurse Bonnie. The garden may not be ready yet for Lady Lavender.”

“Oh, I forgot.” His eyes went wide. “We don’t want you to come yet.”

Lady Lavender looked a little relieved. “That’s alright, Daniel. I’ll come visit the garden later on.”

“The garden might not be in perfect shape, but we would welcome your presence all the same,” Thomas blurted out before he could stop himself.

She fidgeted with the hem of her extraordinarily long white gloves that went up past her elbows, chewing on her bottom lip.

Daniel took her hand. “Please come, I want to show you my pet lion.”

Lady Lavender nodded and smiled. “Of course I’ll come.”

She stepped up beside Thomas and looked him over. “Do you spend a lot of time in the garden?”

He recalled that his face was covered in dirt and dropped his gaze. “I intend to.”

She nodded once and stuck her hand into a small hidden pocket of her dress. She produced a tiny vial filled with pale pink liquid. “I quite enjoy spending time out of doors, but I have very strong reactions to bee stings. This is a special concoction of rose water. If I am stung by a bee, it is imperative that someone helps me get this on the sting as soon as possible. I have one on my person at all times.”

He’d heard of people dying from bee stings. It wasn’t often, but it happened. “Are you sure you ought to join us outside?”

She stood a little taller. “I try not to live in fear. Besides, Daniel wants me to come with him—I’m not going to disappoint the little boy.”

“Do you visit here often?” Thomas felt a pull to learn all about this fascinating woman.

“No, this is the first time I have been in residence here. My elder sister is married to the duchess’s brother. Miriam and Rose are the best of friends. It is because of that friendship that Her Grace has agreed to sponsor me this Season.”

Thomas held the door open for her and they walked out into the sunny afternoon. “And how long do you intend to stay?”

Lady Lavender gave him a long, curious look. “Until I marry, I suppose.” She walked ahead of him but turned back. “You speak quite freely for a gardener.”

“Oh, I’m not always a gardener.”

“Yes, I know. It was you who greeted me upon my arrival. Was it not?”