She felt Val physically relax his muscles and exhale a silent, deep breath. Somehow, that only heightened her sense of trouble within him.
“Yes,” he said. His tone had changed back to its normal warmth, but that, too, caused her concern. It was as if he was having to try to behave normally. But what could have happened to cause him such distress?
“Well, I am thrilled about whatever you have planned,” she said, trying to project as much of her excitement as she could. Perhaps, he simply thought that she would not like his surprise. She would show him that, no matter what it was, she loved it.
Val squeezed her hand gently.
“I am glad,” he said. “I have arranged for us to have a picnic together by the lake. We have yet to visit there, and I thought it would be a lovely spot to enjoy the afternoon.”
Cecily brightened once more as she pictured a lakeside picnic.
“Oh, Val,” she said, clinging tightly to his arm. “That is a wonderful surprise, indeed. It has been too long since I heard the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore. I am positively thrilled.”
Val chuckled, but he did not sound relieved that she was happy with the surprise. Perhaps he was, in fact, planning to reveal his feelings to her, and he was nervous. Once more, her hopes rose, and her heart began trying to leap out of her chest. She knew that, either way, they would have the most wonderful day of their marriage so far.
She waited patiently with Greta, who would come in case she needed her assistance, while the Duke went to fetch a footman to carry the picnic makings. Then, the four of them headed down the hall and to the back door.
They made pleasant small talk as they walked through the grounds to the lake. Val described the birds that were flitting about that day and the sun’s position in the bright blue sky. But even though he was doing just as he always did, and though he sounded as kind as ever, something nagged at Cecily. But what was it? She wished, more than ever, that she could see her husband’s face.
The nagging was forgotten as soon as they reached the lake’s edge. Greta, who had been following closely behind the couple alongside the footman, grabbed her arm and gasped softly. Cecily could tell that the scene must be breathtaking.
“Oh, your grace,” Greta breathed. “I have never seen water reflect the sunshine so gently that it does not hurt to look at it. It is the loveliest shade of deep blue, as though it was painted straight from the heavens. And there are berry bushes and wildflowers growing all around the back shore of the lake. It is a most spectacular sight, indeed.”
Cecily closed her eyes and envisioned everything Greta described. The sun’s rays bathed her hair and her face, making her look like an angel. The smell of the lake and the chirping of birds in the tall green oak trees imagined an impending paradise. She could picture it as clearly as though she still had her sight. She sighed with delight, her previous excitement returning.
“Val,” she breathed, gently embracing his arm. “This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful place with me.”
She heard Val sniff, and she tried to imagine him smiling. But for the first time, she could not. She scolded herself for overthinking everything that day. She was determined to stop being silly and enjoy the lovely picnic that her husband had so thoughtfully planned.
When they came to a stop, the footman took his cue and ran ahead of them to set up the picnic. Cecily closed her eyes and listened to the gentle lapping of the water in the soft spring breeze. She thought she heard a coupe of fish splash to the surface and then back below the water, and she grinned with delight.
“It looks like everything is ready, Cecily,” Val said. “Are you ready for our picnic?”
Cecily nodded, still smiling.
“I certainly am,” she said.
Greta helped Cecily seat herself while Val began to serve up the goodies. Cecily could smell a fine, rich cheese and freshly baked bread, as well as roast beef, which she imagined was cut into thin slices. And, of course, there were sweet, fragrant pastries and cookies in the basket, as well. When she heard the clink of glass bottles, she knew that Val had requested champagne, too.
“This is absolutely delightful,” she said, smiling sweetly at the Duke.
She heard him sniff, but it sounded wrong.
“I am glad you like it,” he said.
Cecily wanted to say more to him. She could feel that something was wrong. But before she could, she heard Val pouring champagne as he spoke.
“Here you are,” he said, gently putting the glass in her hand. “Let us toast to such a wonderful day.”
Cecily tried to shake off the feeling as she smiled at him and raised her glass.
“To a wonderful day and an even more wonderful future,” she said.
Val clinked his glass to hers, but he said nothing. They sipped their drinks in strange silence before Val spoke again.
“I will fix your plate,” he said.
Cecily nodded.
