Page 63 of Beauty and the Rake
Graham picked up the bottle of wine and two glasses. “I’ll pour us some wine while you lay everything out.”
“We could eat at that small table,” she said, referring to another small table; this one was in front of windows and overlooked the small and functional gardens.
“Whatever you want is fine by me.”
He joined her and placed two glasses on the table and began to pour the dark red liquid in each. Roxanne placed a plate in front of both chairs and sat. The two of them were famished, having not eaten since the wedding breakfast. Roxanne had been so nervous she barely ate.
“I think the wedding was very nice, don’t you? I’m so glad we had it outside,” Roxanne said.
“Yes, I must agree.”
She picked up a piece of apple Graham had sliced with his knife and bit into it. “I’ve been meaning to ask how your investigation of the man who owns those ships is coming along.”
“Slowly. The man seems to be a chameleon. He can blend into any situation. Trying to find someone he’s actually done business with is proving a daunting task.”
“Well, if I know anything about you and Arthur, you’re both persistent.”
Chapter Seventeen
Hyde Park ona typical sunny summer afternoon was full of what members of the ton had either stayed behind in London or had returned, albeit temporarily. Couples walked together by themselves or with another couple. It was bustling with all who wanted to be seen.
Graham and Roxanne had taken the pram and Mary from her nanny who would walk a discreet distance behind them. Graham set the pace and guided everyone down one of the busier walking paths. This seemed to be where everyone was congregating. The pair leisurely began their walk. They acknowledged people in passing but never stopped to talk. It was too soon to speak to anyone. Roxanne wanted to get a feeling of how people were reacting to seeing the pair pushing a pram, and she wished for one of the ton to come and inspect.
It wasn’t but a few minutes before Roxanne came upon a small uprising in the form of two titled women who had no scruples. Not wanting to not be the first, they scurried up to where she and Graham were stopped as Graham pointed out a hot air balloon being prepared for its short voyage over the park.
“Does the child belong to a friend?” the older of the two women inquired, peeking into the pram’s interior and immediately beginning to make silly noises to Mary.
“No, she’s ours,” she said. She didn’t dare look at Graham as it would ruin their whole plan.
“Yours? I had no idea or heard you were with child.”
“I kept it to myself until I couldn’t.”
“Do you plan on staying here?”
“Yes, either here or in Kent.”
“Well, if you need to talk somewhere, I’ll make myself available. It can’t be easy raising a babe by yourself.”
“I’m not alone. Hawksbury and I are married. I have a nanny, who does a marvelous job.”
The woman flushed at her error. “I apologize. I had no idea.”
“No need to apologize. You had no way of knowing.”
“I don’t mean to be insensitive.”
“Like you said, you had no idea.” She turned to Graham. “I think it might be a good idea to head back to the carriage. The skies seem to be darkening.”
They said their goodbyes and headed back in the direction of the carriages. She didn’t want Mary getting soaked. It certainly wouldn’t help anyone, for that matter.
“Be prepared for the calling cards and invitations to start coming in,” Graham said. “You’re going to be quite popular.”
“Which was not my intention, but this could prove to be interesting.”
She felt drops slowly falling from the darkening sky. Stopping for a moment, Roxanne placed a dry blanket over the pram opening. Maybe this would work until they could get to the carriages.
As soon as they placed Mary in the second carriage with her nanny and the pram secured, the pair rushed into their waiting carriage just as the sky opened up and rain started pouring.
