in such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
Behind them, her maid rolled her eyes.
Lady Mary sighed. “Wordsworth.” She glanced at her maid. “Ignore Raleigh. She exists on a more practical plain.” She accepted the daffodil and tucked it into the edge of herdécolletage, an action that drew more of Thad’s attention than it should have.
The soft petals now lay against the pale mound of her breast, and Thad cleared his throat, forcing his eyes back to her face. “You are an admirer of Mr. Wordsworth?”
“We are about twelve miles by road from Grasmere. Less as the crow flies, but I do not know many who would walk those fells. Spectacular views but the weather on the tops can be unpredictable, especially in the winter.”
“So he is practically your neighbor. Have you made his acquaintance?”
Lady Mary shook her head. “I have hardly met anyone, which is why I wanted to come to London. At home, we mostly remain on the estate. There are a couple of villages nearby, but my mother creates a fuss every time I leave the house.”
“I suppose that’s the purpose of mothers. To be concerned about their daughters.”
Lady Mary paused, and her cheeks pinked.
Thad’s stomach clinched. “I said something awry.”
She chewed her lower lip, then slowly shook her head. “I find it intriguing that you associated her raising a ruckus with concern for me.”
“You do not?”
“My mother can be... unpredictable. I believe it is less about concern and more about what other people might think of me. Even now—” Lady Mary took a breath and looked around, much as he did earlier.
“Spies?”
She gave a low laugh. “Not exactly.” She motioned to a nearby bench. “Let us sit for a moment. I should tell you something.”
Thad waited until she settled before joining her. Raleigh stepped behind the bench but hovered a few feet away. “This sounds ominous.”
Lady Mary smiled. “Yes. And no.”
“Ah. A conundrum.”
She shifted to face him. “More of a paradox, more precisely. And it has to do with why Lady Elspeth and her friend were discussing us behind their hands.”
Thad’s chest tightened as he fought a sense of exhilaration, and he barely heard the last words.She had used the word “paradox.” Paradox!He swallowed and forced his voice to remain calm. “How so?”
“My mother appears caring and generous, but in truth, she can be rather the opposite.”
“Ah.” That he understood.
