“I see my brother has shared his favorite method of bribery.” Her words were scathing in their own fashion, but her tone conveyed only amusement. Amusement which Sebastian, until that moment, had never heard from her.
“He may have advised me on your fondness of chocolate, but of course I chose the flavors myself. So if I may claim some of the credit, I shall gladly do so.”
“I shall allow some credit to be given. And as recompense, I shall even share some of these with you. At the park, of course.” With that, she replaced the lid and looked up at Sebastian, her dark brown eyes alight with a kind of spark that made him inhale a bit too sharply.
Clearing his throat, he then held out the small stack of books to her, sans the bottom one, which he kept for himself. To these she gave a more serious look, confused. Glancing up at him once more, she took the books and opened the cover of the top one.
“Are these…are all of these by Leonard Braithwaite?”
“Yes. I purchased all of his works this morning, just in case you did not possess one. I even grabbed myself a copy of the one you recommended.” He held up the book he’d retained. “Since you stated that you would spend today’s walk reading and ignoring me, I thought it best to come prepared with some material of my own.”
That lovely gaze dropped away from him and a blush crept up her cheeks. “I believe I was a bit unfair yesterday when I made that statement. I am sure I will not spend theentirewalk ignoring you.”
“Only part of it, then?”
“Well, with these new books you have given me, I am sure you understand my dilemma.”
“Ah, so I am to understand that I will never be able to compete with this Braithwaite gentleman?”
It was bold, almost as bold as he had been in the library. This time, however, Miss Browning did not blanch against it. She merely stiffened a bit, then brought the books to her chest, where she cradled them lovingly.
“I believe I am capable of giving my attention to both you and Mr.Braithwaite today.”
It was a simple statement, likely meant to be cheeky, but Sebastian could have sworn that there was deeper meaning behind it. Perhaps it was the way that Miss Browning said it, quietly and with that slight husk in her voice. His eyes caught on the hollow of her neck as she swallowed.
“Well then,” Sebastian said, suddenly distracted. “Let us venture forth.”
They did as much, with the silent lady’s maid lingering a respectable distance behind. The sidewalks were not busy, though Sebastian knew that it did not take many eyes at all to spark a rumor. He did not mind it so much; rumors of a courtship would only serve his purposes, as it would keep matrimony at the forefront of Miss Browning’s mind.
She would hate it. But she would be thinking of it. That was a victory.
Along the way, the pair spoke only of immaterial things. The weather. Horses. The Haversham ball, which would soon end the season. Miss Browning was pleasant through each topic, no hint of the humor she had shown him in the drawing room.
Sebastian could not help but notice how she glanced about as they entered the park, as though looking out for anyone who might see them together. She did not appear shamed by their association, only self-conscious. He could sympathize, and one’s standing in society was always so fickle, and it often gave him concern when he paused to think of it.
Still, he aimed to take her mind from it.
“I have found many good quiet areas over here,” he said, taking her arm lightly and leading her over to a small semicircle of rose bushes.
“Oh,” she said. “This is quite lovely, actually. I had Milly bring ablanket.” Turning back to her lady’s maid, she called out, “Milly? Could I procure the blanket from you? Lord Brightwater and I would like to picnic.”
The maid, Milly, rushed to follow Miss Browning’s request. As she laid the blanket out in the grass, she said only, “I am sorry to have not packed food for you, Miss.”
Miss Browning waved her concern away. “Oh, that is quite alright, we have our chocolates and books, that is all we need. Thank you Milly.”
With a polite nod, the maid walked away some distance, busying herself with examining a nearby pond and some of the ducks which splashed in it.
“You treat your maid quite finely,” Sebastian said, settling himself down onto the blanket.
In the most demure, ladylike fashion, Miss Browning slowly brought herself down to the blanket as well, keeping several feet between herself and Sebastian as she sat. “She has been invaluable to me. I have no idea where I would be without that woman. She deserves the absolute best.”
“Hm,” was all Sebastian said, though he catalogued her response in the way he had with so many other of her responses.
Before he could gain further ground in the conversation, Miss Browning seized his silence and made good on her threat; picking up one of the Braithwaite books, she flipped to the first page and began to read.
He took the hint, and decided to open his own book, which earned him a quick, curious glance from Miss Browning before she returned to her own reading.
The pair spent the afternoon that way - reading, sneaking glances at one another, and only occasionally shifting into more comfortable positions without actually touching one another.Sebastian read the book by every technical meaning of the word, but he absorbed little of its meaning. Much of the text regarded patient cases in asylums and what information could be gained from them. There was much jargon, and he struggled to understand most of it.
