Page 42 of A Flaming Lady's Secret Valentine
“I had no idea. Does she… I mean to say, how is she–”
“She is in service, yes, in the employ of Reverend Charmichael and his wife.”
“They have a fine house, from what I can recall.” Cecilia moved her lamb around her plate, clearly hungry for things other than dinner. “Do you visit her often?”
“Not as often as I should.”
“Cecilia,” her mother admonished. “Mr Travers is not to be interrogated. You will forgive my daughter for her boundless curiosity.”
It was not that Raphael disliked that Cecilia had taken an interest in him. If anything, he was flattered. But with every sliver of information she teased from him, she risked uncovering something that would put her off him for good.
“Perhaps Mr Travers might barrage me with questions to even the scales.”
“All right,” Raphael agreed. He turned to look at Cecilia fully, breathless at the sight of her sweet countenance. She had painted her lips red that evening, perhaps for his benefit, perhaps not. They matched the crimson-coloured frills along the neckline of her gown, drawing his eyes up and down and back again.
“I am waiting, Mr Travers,” she said knowingly.
“Did you enjoy the flowers that were left for you, my lady?”
“The flowers…” Her breath hitched. “You knew of the flowers?”
“It was hard to miss a bouquet of that size. Whoever sent them to you must admire you a great deal...”
The duchess cooed. “Come now, Cecilia, Mr Travers. It is obvious who purchased the bouquet. Why, Lord Radcliff is nothing if not a generous soul!”
“Lord Radcliff,” Raphael repeated. “Yes, that must be it.”
They said nothing for a while, separately digesting Raphael’s revelation. Nothing needed to be said aloud, Cecilia proved as much. Raphael noticed her hand slide from the table to her side, hidden next beneath the tablecloth.
He dropped his own hand, making sure to continue drinking with the other, keeping the family distracted. His fingers found hers first, and he laced them through his own.
“I did not answer your question,” Cecilia murmured before long. “So to answer it, yes, I enjoyed the flowers immensely.”
He ran his thumb in circles over the back of her hand.
“Good,” he breathed. “I am glad your valentine knows you well.”
Chapter 15
Cecilia stood before the window in the drawing room, watching through the curtains as a light snowfall turned into a blizzard. It had been decided that the family and their guest would retire after their meal together, rather than separating the men from the women.
Edward had tried and failed to convince Daphne to play something for them on the pianoforte, but it seemed the Griffin heiress was determined to punish him for some crime of which Cecilia was still ignorant. They settled on cards instead, a friendly game ofvingt-unbefore the hearth. They had somehow managed to rope Cecilia’s father and Raphael into their game too.
Good. If Papa spends enough time with Raphael, perhaps he will understand why I admire him as much as I do.
The thought sent a ripple of nervous energy down Cecilia’s spine. The night in Raphael’s company had passed like a dream, almost too idyllic to be real. She had not spent nearly enough time contemplating the dangerous reality of their tryst, acting only on pure desire.
The reality was, she was beginning to understand, that she liked Mr Raphael Travers more than was sensible, that she would, in a heartbeat, accept to be courted by him. No one would accept the match. The divide was too great between them.
Her mother would argue that Mr Travers would never be able to support her on his income; her father would make sure to cut off said income anyway, after he had convinced himself that Raphael had abused his position and tricked his only daughter into marrying him.
The truth was much simpler, yet no one would hear it.
Cecilia had developed a tendresse for Raphael simply because he was good.
There was so much goodness in him that she could fool herself into thinking that things might work out between them. If only for a night.
The card players burst out into laughter as they ended their game. Edward grappled for Raphael, initiating some sort of mock duel, which her mother was quick to put an end to.
