“You do, don’t you?”
“One feels so much better having done so, don’t you find? Even if the doing makes one feel somewhat inelegant? And if the outcome isn’t what one would have wished, at least thereisan outcome.”
“I think I agree.” She looked back up at their green ceiling and said, “Hmm.”
“Though this case is complicated by the fact that you are in possession of knowledge you weren’t meant to have. Blundering ahead and having a conversation with Olive about a secret she’s keeping isn’t the same as doing so regarding a secretyou’rekeeping.”
“You are saying that perhaps it isn’t my place to initiate such a conversation.”
“I’m not necessarily saying that, but it is a consideration.”
“Are you going to ask Lord Featherfinch abouthislong-lost love?”
Archie had asked himself that same question last night. “I think not. I believe if he wanted to tell me about it, he would have.”
“Hmm,” Clementine said again. “You’ve given me a great deal to think about.”
“Shall we go back to the house?”
“What about that bird? Shouldn’t we go find it?”
Ah. Yes. Speaking of sticky conversations. “We should not.Ishall, but later.”
“Will you eat it tonight?”
“Yes. I’ll give it to Mrs. MacPuddle to give to the cook.” That seemed to satisfy her, or at least to not visibly distress her. “We’ll dine separately tonight as usual, which reminds me that I gather you’ve spoken to the cook about tomorrow? Apparently Effie and Simon plan to join us for dinner, so I fear Olive’s plate of ham is to remain as elusive as ever.”
“Oh, no.” She waved dismissively. “The happy outcome—for you—of my little outburst this afternoon is that you are released from our bargain as well.”
“I don’t care to be.”
“Arch. Come now. We had an agreement, and my conduct has nullified it.”
He was unaccountably glad he was back to beingArchin her estimation. “That is of no consequence. I shall be joining you for meals tomorrow. The only question is how many additional place settings there will be at our table. I am merely trying to confirm that we can’t figure out a way for Olive to have her ham, and perhaps to persuade Effie to join her for it.” And Simon, too. Archie wanted more time alone with Clem, though he knew he was reaching for the impossible. And he was aware that to wish for time away from Effie and Simon on anEarlsTrip was perhaps ill-done of him.
It was just that they had so little time left. He would see the boys again, but when would he next see Clem? Even if he made good on his pledge to see more of the Morgan family, when would he next see Clemalone?
“Oh, Arch.” Clem was looking at him like he was . . . well, like he was one of those snakes she’d been admiring so intently earlier. “You are too good to me.”
“Hush now. We had a misunderstanding. It’s been sorted.”
“I wish more people were like you. Youlisten. And not just now, but always. You listen, and you try to make things better. That’s rare.”
Unwilling to hear any more praise, given how ill-thought-out this whole outing had been, he swung himself down to the lower, larger limb below them. Standing on it, his head just about reached the limb he’d vacated, putting his eyes level with Clem’s dangling legs. He could quite clearly see a slice of bare skin on one leg where her stocking had fallen down and was bunched around her ankle. Damn it all, his prick was taking notice. He tried to tell his prick that this was not the time, but of course it didn’t listen, just observed with interest the fine smattering of hair on her calf. He tore his gaze away. “Shall we go? I’ll walk you back to the house, then come back for our things.” And the dead bird. Yes.Think about dead birds.
“Arch?”
“Hmm?” He had to tilt his head back to see her, and he steadied himself with one hand against the tree’s trunk.
She was leaning over, looking down at him and wearing a small, impish smile. “I should like to ask you a question.”
“I am all ears.”
“It is of the sticky variety.”
“You know you can say anything to me, Clem.”
“It’s more of a favor, really,” she said, and was sheturning pink? He must be imagining that, because Clementine Morgan was not the sort of lady who blushed, and aside from the rosiness of her skin, her expression was quite stern.
