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He frowned. Nate thought himself subtle in his question, but he would not fall for it. The answer was cowslip, but he would never tell Nate that. How was he to find cowslip in November? Perhaps a different flower, one that could be found in hothouses.

“Wearespeaking in generalities, Nate. What sort of flowers do women likein general?”

His friend smirked. “Of course, because there is no lady inparticularthat you have in mind.”

He stood, trying to escape his friend’s probing gaze. Crossing to the window, he said, “Perhaps they are for your wife.”

“You want to get Melior flowers?”

“No, but if it will get you to leave off teasing me, we will go with that assumption.”

Nate barked out a laugh. “All right.” He drummed his fingers on his desk. “How about roses? They seem to be popular.”

He shook his head. “That is what lovers give to one another.”

“Is that not what you wish to be?”

“Nate, just tell me what small token one might start with.”

The smile slipped from Nate’s face and he steepled his fingers, bringing them to his lips in contemplation. “Forget-me-nots. They are given after most dances in London, something you would know if you danced much.”

“I dance.”

“Twice a season is not much. You do realize you will be forced to the floor more if you ever wish to take a wife.”

He did and it terrified him. Not that he was a bad dancer, only that making conversation with beautiful women he hardly knew seemed worse than having the blacksmith pull an aching tooth.

“Iwilldance, but perhaps not as much as you wish.”

“As long as you lead Miss Wayland to the floor whenever you are both present I will be appeased. We would not want her to be a wallflower all season.”

The idea that any man would allow Susannah to take up a spot along the wall for any amount of time was ludicrous. No man that saw her beauty and witnessed her sweet, cheerful disposition would ever leave her to herself.

“I shall do my best. Now if you will excuse me, I need to ride into Maidstone to get… ah… s-some new cravats.” That sounded reasonable enough, didn’t it?

Nate’s eyebrows inched up. “Cravats?”

“Yes, so I might have plenty for the season.” The season? Was that the best he could come up with? Whatever the case, there was no way he would admit his intent to get said flowers right away. If he wanted to change Susannah’s view of him, he needed to start now.

“You have several weeks until we leave.”

“I know, but it never hurts to be prepared.”

Nate sighed. “Well, good luck obtaining yourcravatsthen.”

The laughter in his eyes indicated he was not fooled, but Johnathan refused to discuss it. “Please convey my well wishes to Melior.” He gave a short bow.

“That I will.”

Riding a horse while holding a paper-wrapped bouquet of forget-me-nots proved difficult, especially with the wind that had chosen that moment to whip down through the trees and right at Johnathan’s hand.

He tucked the flowers close to his chest, but the breeze still pelted them, ripping off several petals. By the time he reached the door of Wayland Lodge the flowers looked sad indeed. After plucking off a few bare stocks to improve their appearance, he approached the two-story home.

The housekeeper answered the door, a cheery smile on her face when her gaze lit upon him.

“Come in, Lord Newhurst. Master Michael has been asking if you might come again today.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Stone, but I wonder if Miss Wayland might be about?”