Page 62 of The Language of Love

As if on cue, she heard carriage wheels slowing behind her and turned.

Rather than the phaeton he’d driven before, today Henry was in a dashing curricle.

Now that she knew who he really was, it made sense that he was so comfortable handling the expensive equipages and costly horses. After a few drives with Mr. Norburg, she realized just how skilled Henry was with the ribbons.

Annis smiled up at Henry as the curricle came to a halt.

“Hello, Annis. Have you been waiting long?”

“Not at all, I only arrived a few seconds before you.”

“What do you think of this day that I have ordered up for your pleasure?”

“You have excellent taste, sir: it is glorious.”

Henry kicked down the single step and held out a hand.

“No yellow bounder today?” she asked.

“No, I thought I’d impress you with my serious, sober side.”

Annis laughed. “Yes, because this vehicle is so serious and sober.”

His eyes glinted with genuine pleasure as he smiled down at her. “That is a very pretty hat you’re wearing,” he said, as she settled her skirts. The bench in this carriage was, unfortunately, much wider, giving Annis no reason to squash her body against his.

“Thank you, I trimmed it myself last night.”

“In honor of today?”

“Yes,” she admitted. Why lie? This was the most exciting thing that had happened to her since… well, ever.

“It suits you,” he said, his changeable eyes darker today, more brown than green.

Annis faced forward and caught her lower lip with her teeth, so excited to be spending a whole day with him that she was afraid of what might tumble out of her mouth.

“I brought a picnic lunch prepared at the Clarendon.”

“Oh, how extravagant! What are we celebrating?”

“How about your new hat?”

She laughed. “I don’t think that merits a picnic.”

“Why don’t we celebrate a full day of leisure together?”

“Excellent idea,” she agreed. “I plan to do nothing but lounge and feast on the delicacies you’ve brought.”

“And I suppose it is I who will do the laboring and serve you?”

“Naturally—I am a lady of leisure, after all!”

“Do they work you hard at your aunt’s?” he asked, the tightness around his mouth telling her how he felt about that.

“Oh, please let’s not speak of my cousins today,” she begged, even though to say so wasn’t kind to her family. She also wanted to forget that she’d be spending yet another afternoon with Mr. Norburg tomorrow—a thought that was even more unkind. But Annis knew there would be more and more occasions with the cold, slightly unnerving banker now that they were formally courting.

“I can agree with that,” Henry said. “What would you like to talk about, ma’am?” He skillfully eased the curricle into the flow of traffic.

“Tell me about yourself, Henry.” Would he lie to her? Or slide some of the truth in among the lies?