Page 77 of Hearts of Briarwall

Lydia frowned at the ground. “If he has, do you think he would admit it?”

“Mm, you have a point.”

Lydia stopped, as they’d circled the yard and were back at the gate. “Please come. My persistent desire to never grow up is at war with my suspicion that I already have, and I’m left wondering what to fight for.”

“Take care. You will be kidnapped to Neverland and forget all about us.”

Lydia shook her head. “Never.”

Ruby squeezed her hand. “If anyone understands needing a respite after spending a week with Great-Aunt Margaret, it is Mama.”

Chapter 14

“What do you mean hekissedyou?” Ruby asked, glancing about as if gossiping eavesdroppers might appear at any moment.

After a midday meal, they’d laid out a blanket on the gentle slope of lawn overlooking the lavender field. Wands of soft green waved in the breeze, reaching up to the aqua sky from silver mounds. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, but that did nothing to dampen the ambience. In a month or so, the field would be a dance of purple with the hum of bees to accompany the birdsong.

Lydia kept her eyes on the stem of lavender she’d plucked. She rolled it between her fingers, knowing the scent would linger. “Ikissed him, really. But then he kissed me back.” Heavens, how he had kissed her back. She shivered in delight at the memory, despite the sun warming her gown. “And then he stopped and said it couldn’t happen because I was meant for—I don’t know,something. He wouldn’t say. And then Fallon came in, and I cannot figure out what he meant unless Andrew told him he intended to send me to a convent or the like. And we’re not even Catholic.” She leaned back on her elbows. “Though I doubt that would stop my brother.”

“The Catholics might take pause,” Ruby said with a tiny smile.

“Amen.”

“In any case, have you considered that it’s not somethingSpencer was referring to, but someone? You did say Sir Lawrence’s behavior was rather forward lately. Might Spencer have observed that during his stay here?”

Lydia nodded slowly as she reviewed the events from Friday. The timing of their interactions. The point at which Spencer’s ease with her shifted. “Blast. You may be right. But what would that matter? I’ve certainly not shown any preference for Sir Lawrence.”

“I might be right, or I might not. After all, I haven’t met Mr. Hayes yet.” She looked toward the house.

“Yes, my brother’s usual punctuality is mysteriously absent this afternoon.” Lydia glanced at Ruby to find her chewing her lip, overly focused on a smooth stone she turned over and over in her hands. “What is it?”

That seemed to snap Ruby out of her reverie. “Well, Mrs. Piedmont was a friend of your mother’s, correct?”

“Yes. When Mama and Papa were married, she was the first to welcome my mother to the neighborhood.”

“And she has a son only a few years older than you—”

“He is at least twelve years older than I.”

“Yes, but that hardly mattered to scheming mothers of the nineteenth century.”

“Oh laws. Surely you’re not suggesting—”

“I only wonder if it might have been discussed between friends, and now Andrew, as your guardian—”

Lydia abruptly stood, feeling hollow. “Blast it all to Hades in a skirt. It cannot be!” The air in her lungs turned to stone. “I—I won’t allow it.”

Ruby blinked up at her, shading her eyes with her parasol. “You said Sir Lawrence is likely to make a significant investment in the motor supply shops?”

She glanced from Ruby to the house and back again. “Oh, Ruby.” She put her hand to her stomach, feeling sick. “No wonder Spencer acted as he did. Sir Lawrence, the wealthy investor, has hismisguidedsights set onme, the woman who threw herself at the entrepreneur. And my brother”—she huffed—“endorses it—the wealthy match, not me throwing myself at his friends. Heaven forbid Andrew ever finds out aboutthat.” She closed her eyes and groaned at the mess of things. “How could Andrewdothis to me?” She screwed up her face. “SirLawrence?”

“We don’t know anything for certain,” Ruby offered.

“Is anything ever for certain?”

Ruby remained quiet.

Lydia didn’t know who to be angrier with: Andrew for being antiquated, Sir Lawrence for being a pompous fop, or Spencer for putting money before love. Or what could be love, if given the chance.

---