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Immediately she glanced up at me, eyes wide just as we entered the aviary. Her mouth was agape, astounded by me while everyone else was astounded by the trees and the colorful little creatures that flew around them.
She frowned, gripping her own hands. “You have observed me to such an extent?”
“Forgive me, I—”
She turned from me, walking inside farther. I meant to follow, but Henry once more was beside me, letting out a deep sigh.
“I need to see…someone. How long would it take you to forgive me if I were to abandon you with them and go?” he asked, his body already pointed toward the door.
“Several hundred years,” I snapped at him. “Are you mad? Forget me, what of your sister?”
“Can you not watch over her—”
“No. For she is not my sister. Close as you and I are, her reputation could be harmed,” I reminded him. He bit his lip, turning back to his sister, clearly fighting the urge to run off…most likely to this woman of his. “Henry, you have a responsibility to her—”
“Is everything all right?” The marquess turned to us as the rest of the ladies went onward.
“Your lordship, please forgive me; a matter of grave importance has arisen that I must see to. Would your wife kindly watch over my sister till I return?” Henry asked, and I clenched my fist to stop myself from smacking him over the head.
“Yes, of course.” The Marquess nodded to him.
“Thank you, your lordship,” Henry replied, and not a second later he had run off as fast as his feet could carry him, the damn fool.
“And which young lady is of such grave importance to him?” The marquess chuckled as he came to stand beside me.
I stared back at him, shocked, but quickly said, “Your lordship, I doubt—”
“Come now, there is no need to cover for him, it is obvious. What else could be so grave for a gentleman but a lady? He has been rather distracted throughout our short time here,” he replied and then let out a deep breath. “Anyway, I wished to resume our conversation from last night on the works of Descartes.”
I wanted to resume my conversation with Verity but nodded to him instead. “Ah yes, your lordship, on which text? We spoke of both Meditations on First Philosophy and The Passions of the Soul.”
His eyes lit up with joy as he began to ramble off. I listened and responded, following him as he walked, but my mind wandered. I couldn’t help but think this was another one of the great differences between Henry and me.
When his heart told him to run…he ran.
I, on the other hand, hovered like these birds, allowed to fly only so high.
9
Verity
I was lost.
Well, I had purposely chosen to hide. But if anyone was to ask, I would simply say I was lost. I sat behind a bush, far away from where everyone else had gathered. I sought to breathe but my chest was tight.
Was it my corset? No. It was his words.
Could it be you were looking to escape? They reentered my mind. How long had I looked to exit the room that he had noticed? Had everyone else noticed as well? Were they all simply pretending, as they did with my nightmares? Why were all my secrets and flaws spilling out before the world?
Oh, if I could just return to Everely. I wanted to walk the grounds alone once more. Worry for no one and nothing. But it was still much too soon, I couldn’t return now, not without being a bother to my brother and his wife. I did not want that. So, I was stuck here. Stuck hiding. First from the Du Bells, now from this Dr. Darrington.
“I now know for sure: I do not like him, he is quite rude,” I grumbled at the orange-headed yet green-bodied bird that sat before me on the tree branch. “Why would he ask me that? If I am looking to escape what does it matter to him? Do people become so meddlesome when they are infatuated?”
Its head turned to the left and then it flew off, going right by the body of…
“Dr. Darrington?” I sat up quickly, surprised that he had found me, but he did not meet my gaze. Had he heard me?
“Her ladyship will notice your absence soon. You should return quickly; she is on the other side of that tree to the left.” He pointed to it and then made a move to leave.
“I apologize!” I called out quickly.
He turned to me, frowning. “Whatever for?”
“You heard me, did you not?” I glanced down at my gloves, pulling at them.
“It is I who should apologize for being meddlesome. Now you ought to go—”
“You are not meddlesome,” I said before he could leave once more. Taking a deep breath, I glanced up at him. “And I do not dislike you. I am merely embarrassed. I did not think anyone would notice my apprehension.”
