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“I do not think we have discussed the weather once,” Slade remarked, meaningfully grinning and sipping his wine.
“Outside of knowing what to wear when I leave the house, it does not signify for discussion,” she replied shyly. “However, I enjoy days like today.”
“You are not like other young women of your ilk,” he followed up. “Most find the weather stimulating.”
Bella giggled. “I know many of those, Lord Drake.”
“Slade.” He corrected softly. “Please call me Slade.”
“Slade . . .” her voice was tentative. “My friend, Lady Diana Harris, calls the expectations Society demands of womenbombastic. They taught us to engage on benign topics so as not to frighten away the men.”
“Frightening to think that they instruct your conversation to be about the weather and the mundane.” He hooted. “Your friend Lady Diana is Lord Spencer Harris’s youngest sister, correct?” He had forgotten the name of the young lady that was always in cahoots with Lady Bella when he visited. The two of them constantly followed him and Percy whenever he visited. Lord Spencer Harris had never been a favorite of his, nor Percy’s, and was known for questionable ethics and rakish behavior.
“It is. I have not seen her in weeks,” she replied, trailing off with a sudden distant voice.
“Have I said anything to offend?” Slade inquired, concerned about the abrupt change in her demeanor.
“No, my lord. I apologize. I thought I saw something moving in the tall brushes on that side of the house.” She pointed to the opposite corner of the pond nearest the road. “Mayhap it was my imagination playing tricks on me,” she said, smiling while taking a last look. “Perhaps it was a deer.”
“Where?” Slade regarded the area directly across the pond from them for a long minute. He saw a dark hat pulled low on a man’s head dart behind a shrub. The man had been watching them.For how long? Good God!He needed to get Lady Bella away from here. He would come back later and check. Instinct told him to let the man think he was unseen. Slade pulled out his silver pocket watch and flipped it open. “Goodness! I had not realized how long I have kept you. We should probably get back to your house or your father may look for me.” He chortled. “My driver can swing by that side and we shall have a look.”
The two of them began packing up the basket. As she folded the blanket, Bella coughed softly and pointed toward the maid who had fallen asleep, still holding her needlework. “It seems our conversation ceased to interest her,” Lady Bella said with a chuckle.
“Yes, it would seem so,” he said, joining Bella in quiet laughter.
He watched Bella walk over and begin talking to the maid as if she had not noticed the woman had not nodded off.
“Yes, your ladyship,” the woman automatically replied.
“So, you do not mind sitting with the goats tonight and making sure that the little ones get plenty of milk?”
The woman sputtered. “M . . . milady . . .”
Lady Bella arched a brow, and Slade fought the impulse to laugh. The maid had not heard Lady Bella’s question.
Mary stood, dusting off her dress. “Milady,” she snickered, “that was most unkind.”
“It was,” Bella acknowledged, “however, it was all in fun. You know ’tis hard for me to resist teasing.”
“Yes, milady,” Mary said, coloring. “I do not know what overcame me.”
“I should get you back to your house, Lady Bella.” Slade held his hand up and signaled the carriage to pick them up. After helping both women into the carriage, he seated himself beside Lady Bella.
As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Lady Bella’s home, he signaled for the footman to assist Mary from the carriage.
As the maid exited the conveyance, Slade turned to Lady Bella. “I would like to see you again.”
“Yes,” she agreed without reservation. “I would like to see you, as well.”
He smiled at her forthrightness. “I will pick you up at half-past eleven tomorrow,” he said, picking up her hand and giving it a soft kiss. Slade liked her refreshing candor and found he looked forward to seeing her. She had a soothing effect on him. His grief was still profound, but she made him think about living.
He waited until she was safely inside before heading back to the picnic site he and Lady Bella had enjoyed earlier.
* * *
Afew minutes later, Bella sat on her lushly-padded pink velvet window seat and watched the coach drive off from her bedroom window. It was her favorite spot to get away from it all. She could pull the curtains and sit in the window cubby and read, using the natural sunshine.
This morning had been marvelous and so unexpected. She had spent the most wonderful morning with Lord Drake—Slade. Ten years ago, if someone had even suggested that the handsome young man might court her, that her brother’sbest friend might court her, she might have thought them ‘daft.’ Slade paid no attention to her,no matter what she did.Even placing a bullfrog in his boots while he swam received no reaction, nor did tying his clothing together while he was swimming in the pond. She and her friend Diana had tried everything. Diana was two years older and fancied herself enamored of Bella’s brother, Percy. Funny how time changes everything.
