Page 92 of Waiting for Love

Vanessa said coldly, “Well, I don’t.”

“Nor do I,” Benjamin added.

Jasper had the grace to flush.

They didn’t eat, but only talked and enjoyed the fresh air. Finally, Vanessa said, “I think now we may stroll and find some of the entertainments. Acrobats and jugglers and such. Then we come back to dance.”

“I only want to dance with Hazard and Benjamin,” Olivia reminded them. “I don’t want to bother with being polite.”

“Good Lord.” Hazard shuddered. “I’m filled with dread.”

Olivia grinned at him, and then squinted, wondering why he wore his hat tilted at such a strange angle. It cast a dark shadow over his face.

Vanessa said, “Jasper promised you would not have to think of suitors tonight.”

“No suitors,” Jasper agreed. “Now let us walk.”

They left the box and returned to the garden path. At first, they walked in a tight group, in couples. Olivia was thrilled to be paired with Benjamin. Jasper and Vanessa led, pausing to point out statues and unusual flowering shrubs, whatever they came across.

They stopped to join a crowd watching three extraordinary acrobats. Olivia squeezed Benjamin’s arm a few times in excitement and then he put his hand over hers, and left it there. She thrilled over the small victory.

When the acrobats stopped for air, a boy passed a hat. Jasper dropped a guinea on top of the pence and shillings. Olivia felt Benjamin tense. She glanced away when he dropped in his coin, but regretted doing that. Benjamin should not be ashamed. She was certain Reg was not throwing away guineas either.

As they walked on, their group spread out. They trailed Vanessa and Jasper down a less popular path. The shrubs here grew close together and were not yet flowering. Before long, Vanessa and Jasper were at least twenty paces ahead, Georgiana and Reg halfway between, and then Olivia with Benjamin. Hazard and Alice kept close on their tail.

They talked about Hannah, whose sentences were getting longer and who was outgrowing her clothes.

“I borrowed a horse from your brother this afternoon,” he said, raising a hand to scratch his temple. “The fattest and slowest.”

“Turtle.”

“We went to Green Park for an hour or so. We rode together first, the way we do, but she kept saying, ‘Let me, Papa. Let me.’”

“She wanted to ride by herself?”

He nodded, smiling faintly. “I dismounted and led Turtle. I thought I would have to hold her in the saddle, but I didn’t. And then, naturally, she yelled to every bystander, ‘I’m riding. See, I’m riding.’”

Olivia laughed. “Will you take me next time? I never see enough of her.”

Benjamin was quiet a moment, then said, “She misses you, too. She keeps asking for her Olly.”

Olivia warmed not only because Hannah said it, but because Benjamin shared it. But then they fell into a silence that was uncomfortable.

She was not surprised when Jasper led Vanessa onto a narrow side track that swallowed them up. There was no sign of them when the rest of the group passed by the spot. Olivia was a good deal more surprised that when another such track appeared in the distance, Reg began nudging Georgiana’s shoulder. And when the two of them reached it, he pulled her arm, and she laughed and followed.

Benjamin grunted. “Your brothers are too trusting.” He sounded angry.

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

He didn’t answer.

Hazard and Alice fell behind. Olivia and Benjamin took turns glancing over their shoulders. The path darkened as the lamps became farther apart. Ahead she saw another break in the wall of shrubbery. Another narrow path. She looked back. Hazard and Alice had stopped under the last lamppost. They were quite far behind, but easy to see in the light. Benjamin turned to look at the same time. It seemed as though the two were bickering. Then Alice put her hand on Hazard’s cheek. Olivia gasped. Hazard caught Alice’s hand and thrust it away. The bickering appeared to grow more heated.

“What is it?” Olivia said. “Should we go back?”

“No.” Benjamin took her arm and nudged her along. “Hazard’s face is bruised. Not very noticeably unless he is in the light, and I imagine Alice just noticed.”

“What do you mean? How bruised?”