Page 64 of Lady Waldrey’s Gardening Almanac for Cultivating Scandal

“I hope you’ll feel free to bring him with you in the future. I told Candace—I had a bad experience with a dog once, and Seamus surprised me is all. If I know he’s coming, I won’t be afraid of him.”

“He doesn’t need to come and shed all over this house—not when he has so much shedding to accomplish at home.”

“Please, don’t leave him home on my account. It would be good for me to get more experience with a gentle dog that I can trust.”

James nodded. “If you think it would help, of course I’ll bring him.”

“How was the weather today for your ride?” Vera studiously ignored Candace; her eyes sparkled at James with the mirth of their game of conversational keep-away.

“Very nice, thank you. Sunny and cool, just as I prefer.”

Candace watched their exchange with barely concealed impatience, her hands propped on her slim hips. “You two are having a laugh at my expense, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry, Candace,” Vera relented, grinning. “Please, tell us your plan.”

As if she didn’t want to risk the conversation skittering out of her control once more, she blurted, “I’m going to landscape the estate.”

“What do you mean? You aim to plant flowers?” Vera asked.

“Yes. And design the arrangement of the garden. There’s an old garden folly by the pond at the back of the estate that’s completely overgrown. I need to inspect it, but perhaps I’ll have it repaired and replanted as a wedding gift to Percy and Adelaide.”

Candace’s eyes sparkled, and her smile spread so wide the bow in her upper lip stretched smooth. James hadn’t seen her so happy in a very long time. Still, he couldn’t help teasing her a little.

“I’m sure your brother will appreciate the sentiment so much he won’t even mind signing the bill afterward,” he said in as serious a tone as he could manage.

“Oh, quiet.” Candace waved a hand, dismissing his words easily. “He’s not one to quibble at the waste of money where his wife is concerned—there are six crates of flower bulbs set to rot in the potting shed. I’ll use those quickly, so they hopefully won’t go bad, and he’ll overlook any purchase once his wife applauds my efforts. You’ll see.”

“Your brother won’t deny you anything.” Especially considering what you recently went through, he thought.

“I think that’s a marvelous idea.” Vera leaned forward, fanning the flames of her friend’s interest with her enthusiasm.

Not for the first time, James felt a surge of gratitude that Candace had found such a wonderful confidante to help her through this difficult time. It was no small sacrifice to leave one’s home indefinitely—especially when home was London, and at the height of the social season, too.

James had no inkling as to how Vera had convinced her mother to agree to her absence; perhaps Lady Ashbury possessed more compassion than he’d previously realized. Whatever the case, he was grateful to the entire family.

“How can I help you?” Vera added. “What’s to be your first step?”

“Well, for the bulbs, I suppose I’ll dig a hole.” Candace frowned as if visualizing such a thing.

“You will hire gardeners to do the actual digging, of course,” James prompted. Though he didn’t wish to come across as high-handed, he wasn’t keen to see the ravages a shovel handle would wreak on her soft hands.

“Of course.” She chewed her lower lip.

“We should probably get started right away.” Vera glanced out the window. “The planting season will be past before long.”

“Will it?” Candace plopped onto the sofa cushion next to her friend, jostling Vera abruptly. Candace didn’t appear to notice. “Perhaps I haven’t thought this through.”

James frowned at the little pucker of uncertainty that appeared between her eyebrows. “Thinking is rarely as effective as doing, Candace. You have an eye for beauty, for color. I’ve no doubt you’ll design the most beautiful garden our dear homeland has ever seen.”

“I’ve never done anything of the sort,” she said, but her eyes had lifted to meet his, and they held a modicum of hope once more.

“Madame Aubert never designed a gown, until she did. Mrs. Davis never baked a cake, until she did. There is always time to do the things you might have done, if you’re willing to face the uncertainty that comes with trying something new for the very first time.”

Vera leaned forward and smiled. “This is the perfect place to try such a thing. The gardens are in such disarray you couldn’t possibly make them worse. Which of course, you won’t,” she hurriedly added. “It would be impossible to mess up flowers, after all. They’re beautiful.”

“Very true. Thankfully, Percy seems to have only purchased flowers in a complimentary color palette—light pinks, yellows, white, and purple. Not a red flower to be seen. Nothing will clash.”

“Precisely.” Vera nodded emphatically.