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“They are native to the lands south of the Sahara Desert and to Madagascar.”
I frowned as I sat back down. “So these are the lucky ones.”
“What do you mean?” He turned to face me, confused.
“Either they were already mated or began their courtship here,” I explained. “Imagine the birds that were separated from their mates or the ones that shall now never find them. Those ones will grieve as you explained, will they not?”
He stared at me and I sat rather uncomfortably under the intensity of his eyes. “You are correct. These are the lucky ones.”
I nodded. “Well, at least there is some bright spot in this whole exhibit.”
“You are quite compassionate, Lady Verity,” he said to me suddenly.
“Me? How so?” I asked.
“You came to London for the sake of your brother, attempting to help him earn the hand of his now wife.”
“How did you know?”
He smiled. “How was one not to know when all the young ladies of the ton complained that whenever they sought to engage your brother in a dance, you would interrupt either by engaging their company or demanding your brother dance with you…despite etiquette.”
I opened my mouth to speak then closed it. I was guilty of what he said. I had done my best to keep the other ladies and mamas away from my brother as a way to ensure no misunderstandings or obstacles arose. Which often meant dancing with Evander, which was not altogether proper, but who would say anything to us on the matter?
“Yes, I did do that, and the young ladies of the ton would hardly say that was an act of compassion,” I finally managed to say.
“True, but your brother would say otherwise.”
“He is my brother, so it is not so odd to be kind to him.”
“And to Lady Clementina?” he mused. “Did you not seek to help her in her time of distress?”
“The greater credit lies with Hathor, for she was the one who not only noticed but threw herself upon the floor.” I chuckled thinking about how dramatic she was.
He glanced at me. “Why do you seek to avoid praise, my lady?”
“I merely believe myself undeserving of it.”
“What do you believe yourself deserving of?” he asked, then smiled, adding, “Other than a grand confession of love.”
“I am not!” I tried not to smile back. “And how can you say such things with ease? Are you not embarrassed?”
“I am greatly embarrassed, however, words said can never be unsaid, and thus I must go forward undeterred.”
“You are stubborn and strange, Dr. Darrington.”
“Yes, forgive me.”
I laughed but before I could say more I heard Hathor calling out, “Verity? Verity?”
Quickly I rose at the same time that Dr. Darrington stepped behind the bush beside me. His eyes looked around, but his body was so close to mine I could take in the scent of him: warm honey and apples. Once more I felt his heat upon my skin even through my clothes.
“Verity?” Amity called as well but her voice was rather far off.
Dr. Darrington glanced around. “You ought to go quickly, Verity, before a scene is caused.”
“Verity?” I repeated, looking up at him. His eyes, however, were still focused elsewhere. “Does that mean I may call you Theodore?”
His whole neck snapped as he looked back at me, his face full of shock. I grinned.
“I shall go now, Theodore, thank you,” I whispered to him, and ran behind him back toward the main path.
“There you are!” Hathor said as she rushed to me, Amity alongside her. “Mama was nearly in a panic when she realized you must have gotten separated from us. We all began to search. Where on earth did you vanish to?”
“Forgive me, I was mesmerized by the lovebirds,” I lied with a smile.
“What? Are those truly birds?” Amity’s eyebrows rose.
“Later. We ought to return to my mother before she calls for the London guard,” Hathor replied, linking arms with me. “I swear, Verity, sometimes it feels like you are seconds from drifting away.”
“I am not sure I know what you mean,” I replied, glancing back over my shoulder to the bushes Theodore was surely still hiding behind.
All of a sudden, my day was much brighter.
And just like that, I realized I liked him…Now what was I supposed to do next?
Theodore
The smile on my face, the joy that coursed through me…came with a sense of dread and frustration.
What purpose did I have for doing this? For speaking to her this way? I told myself confessing my feelings would put an end to them. But it did not. I assured myself that the only reason I had come to her now was that I did not wish for her to be lost or for the marchioness to worry for her. However, I knew it was not true. As the marquess and I spoke I could not help but glance at her, watching her every step as if she were the wonder brought from across the far ends of the globe. When her strides purposely slowed and she moved farther and farther away…I took the chance myself. I lied to the marquess, saying there were patients in need of my care, just so I could go to her, so I could speak to her.
