Page 130 of Lords, Ladies and Love

Both brows rose. “Wildflowers?”

She nodded. “Mrs. Groves and I have been known to put together quite a display with wildflowers. Do not fear, it will not look anything less than beautiful, I promise.”

He shook his head and smiled. “I have no such fears. I know that anything you turn your hand to will be perfect. It is just…well, there are not many women who would be content with mere wildflowers.”

“Your wife.” Lucy did not mean it, but the words came out a little hollow.

“Forgive me, I did not mean to draw any comparisons between the two of you. Unfortunately for Julia, she was entirely unequal to you.”

“Poor Julia,” Lucy muttered.

Theo narrowed his gaze for a moment. “Yes…you are right. Poor Julia. Perhaps if we had had a better relationship, I could have helped cease the spending and the…erratic behavior.”

“I have no doubt you tried. You were a good husband. Even though I was young, I could see that much.”

He leaned over and squeezed her hand. “I cannot claim not to have regrets about the past. Most of them involve abandoning you. I will do my best to make up for that. “

“You already are.” She grinned and jumped from the table, keeping a grip of his hand and tugging him to his feet. “But if you really wish to make it up to me, you will accompany me right now.”

Theo brushed a strand of hair from her face, and his gaze delved into hers, making her stomach do a twisting dance. “You are a demanding little minx, are you not?”

“The fresh air will do you some good.”

“And the time alone…”

She bit down on her lip and nodded. They had been careful not to give themselves away to any of the servants or staff. Her lady’s maid was aware of what was happening—after all, Lizzie knew everything about her life, she could keep no secrets from her. A ward and her guardian together? There would be many who would think it scandalous.

But how could such a thing be wrong? She had never felt happier in her life.

He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “I am sure I can spare a few hours. Though I cannot claim to know much about flowers.”

“Perfect.” Lucy clapped her hands together. “You never know, you might learn something, Theo.”

He stilled halfway through putting on his jacket. “Say that again.”

She scowled. “Say what?”

“My name.”

“It is not the first time I have said it.”

“And yet I shall never get fed up with hearing it on your lips.” He cupped her chin briefly and gave her another kiss, a little firmer this time.

She doubted she would ever tire of saying it or receiving kisses for such a trivial thing. She sighed inwardly. Somehow, she would have to broach the subject of their future. For surely, they were leading somewhere? Even though they had spent time apart, there was no chance Theo was the philandering sort. Everyone knew the Marquis of Eastbrook to be a highly moral man.

However, they could not spend the rest of their lives sneaking around and stealing kisses. As much as she was enjoying herself, she needed to know where this was leading.

Especially if this was leading to London or taking her away from the house.

They strolled away from the house, and Theo gingerly linked his fingers with hers once they were out of the view of anyone. She could not deny that all the hiding and secretiveness had been exciting, but how much longer could they keep up this ruse?

She curled her fingers around his, relishing the warmth of his large hands. The summer sun lingered high in the sky and bathed them in warmth. She tilted her head briefly upward to absorb the heat on her face then stole a glance at Theo. She found him looking at her as though she were some kind of puzzle—it was an expression she saw quite frequently from him. What was puzzling about her, she did not know. She always thought of herself as a fairly open sort of person, though perhaps he too was puzzling over what they were to do about this.

“There’s a rather lovely field of wildflowers just ahead.” She pointed over the brow of the next hill.

He nodded. “I remember.”

She gave a sheepish look. “Sometimes, I’m guilty of forgetting this is your childhood home. No doubt you explored every inch of it when you were younger.”

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