Page 24 of A Curse of Hope and Shadows: Part I
“Go on.”
“No. It’s dangerously like a compliment and I’ve given you more than enough of those.”
Adeline beamed, but he did not meet her eyes. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“What?”
“Just through the grounds. We can stick to the shaded parts and you can wear a hat to guard yourself from the sun—”
“People will see me.”
“Only the servants. This isyourhouse, Dimitri. You shouldn’t have to hide in it.”
His face quivered slightly with something she couldn’t quite discern. Fear, maybe, but she wasn’t sure. He really was hard to read.
“We don’t have to,” she said. “I mean, of course we don’t have to. It was just a suggestion.”
“All right,” he said tightly.
“What?”
“I said all right.”
“But—”
“Just find me a damned hat before I change my mind!”
Despite his tone, Adeline found herself biting her lip to stop herself from smiling. There was nothing suitable inside his wardrobe, so she went to find Mrs Minton to see if she could source a “wide-brimmed straw hat.”
“Whatever for?”
“I’ve convinced the Young Lord to take a turn about the gardens.”
Mrs Minton stared at her.
“What is it?”
“I’m just wondering if I should increase your salary.” She shook her head before Adeline could ask her to explain. “I’ll find you a hat, dear. And have Mrs Harper make you up a little picnic lunch.”
Lunch was prepared quickly and wrapped in a basket while Mrs Minton procured a hat. “Would it be all right to alter it?” Adeline asked. “You know, to fit him?”
“Help yourself, dear.”
Adeline tucked a pair of scissors into the basket and headed upstairs.
“You took your time,” Dimitri snapped.
“I’ve packed us a lunch.”
She put the basket down and held the hat over his head, trying to judge the right place to snip to let his ear through. A bit of cutting and tearing later, there was a hole big enough. It was like the ear of a dog, and flicked impatiently as she poked it. She bit back a smile.
“What?” he demanded.
“You look… amusing.”
“I’m certain I look ridiculous.”
“I thought I was the ridiculous one?”
