Page 48 of Forget Me Not

“You are mad, Lucas Jonquil.”

Lucas set to unloading his pack, preserved foods, mostly, and a few tools he’d needed on occasion over the years.

“Do you think you will need all these things for your hike with Julia?”

Lucas shook his head. “I’m restocking the place. Before leaving for Europe, I closed it up and mostly emptied it.”

Kes eyed the hut. “It reminds me in a way of your round sitting room. Not as refined, obviously, but cozy and designed for comfort.”

Lucas knew what he was getting at. “Elegance has its limits. I’d rather a place feel inviting than impressive.”

Kes raised an eyebrow. “And is the lovely Lady Jonquil invited into this particular place?”

An odd question. “I suppose.”

“No ‘I suppose’ on this, Lucas. Your first row at Brier Hill was over that round room, and she still avoids it as if it were a flea-infested cloak. You had best sort out your position onthisspot before you drag her up the mountain.”

“We won’t even be stopping here. I’m bringing our meal up with us, and it will be a very leisurely stroll.”

Kes held his hands up in a show of innocence. “Do what you will, but bear in mind your edicts on the round room have been taken as law by your skittish wife. Home is where her heart resides. Keep robbing her of that feeling of home and her heart will soon be out of reach.”

“We’re going to walk up to the summit. We’re going to enjoy a meal. We’re going to return home.” Lucas grabbed the door handle. “It will be a simple, pleasant afternoon, building on the simple, pleasant picnic we had.”

“For her sake,” Kes said, “I hope you’re correct.”

“Forhersake?”

“As she very rightly pointed out, of the two of you, she has the most to lose.”

***

Lucas hadn’t undertaken any mountaineering with a lady before. To his delight, Julia looked truly pleased. Her gaze eagerly took in their surroundings, the plants, and trees. She perked up at every bird call and paused now and then to look more closely at something along the trail. He would wager his entire year’s income from his father’s estate that she was enjoying herself. Thank the heavens.

“The air is growing cooler the higher we climb,” Julia said an hour into their excursion.

“That is true of every mountain I’ve been on,” he said.

“And the taller the mountain, the colder the air?” she asked.

“For the most part, yes.”

She lifted the hem of her dress a little as she stepped over a clump of rocks. “Is there anything else you’ve noticed that remains constant from one mountain to the next?”

“The air grows a little difficult to breathe if the mountain is tall enough.”

She appeared entirely intrigued. “Really?”

He held out his hand to help her over a tricky part of the trail. She accepted without hesitation.

“Something must be different about the air besides the temperature.” Her brow twisted a bit in contemplation. “Is this mountain high enough for the air to be difficult to breathe?”

“No, this one is too small.”

She met his eye, not pulling her hand from his. “Are you terribly bored being required to undertake a small climb, owing to the inexperience of your companion?”

“Not at all.” He squeezed her fingers. “This mountain is among my favorites, and you are proving yourself a fine mountaineer.”

She looked out over their surroundings once more. “It is beautiful. Not many trees, I’ve noticed.”

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