Page 162 of Ironvine

“Brother, what a pleasure to see you.” Georgina jumped from her chair and went to her brother.

“Ah, Georgie.” He hugged his sister.

She whispered in his ear, “Alice is free. The rest is up to you.”

He cleared his throat and squeezed his sister’s hands. She led him to theiren plein airtable filled with sandwiches and sweets and fruits.

Charles lit his pipe. “Good to see you, Thomas.”

“Thank you, Ryvves.” Thomas smoothed down his waistcoat. “Very good to see you.”

“You remember my Aunt Vivian, and her stepdaughter, Miss Dunsmore? Ladies, I believe you are familiar with my wife’s brother, Mr. Thomas Hackleton.”

Thomas beamed at the ladies. “What a pleasure to see you again Mrs. Dunsmore, Miss Dunsmore.”

A smile lit Alice’s features, her posture straightening. A delicate flower under the summer sun that had gotten a splash of water. “Hello, Mr. Hackleton, how lovely to see you again.”

Aunt Vivian glanced at her and smirked. “Mr. Hackleton.” She offered him her hand.

“Madame.”

Two hours later, Aunt Vivian was asleep with her new fluffy white puppy in her lap, who was also asleep, while Thomas and Alice strolled the long gardens up and down, up and down, walking ever so closely side by side without touching.

Charles and Georgina walked hand in hand on the opposite side of the gardens. Charles kissed her hand. “We did things all backward, you and I.”

“How do you mean?”

“These two are courting, are they not? That’s what that is.”

“Indeed they are.” She let out a laugh. “Courting is not something you are familiar with, sir?”

“Personally, no. But as you are a proper young gentlewoman, you deserved to be courted.”

“Well, I’ve had the experience several times over. In fact, once by a gentleman of your acquaintance.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Whatley.”

Charles stilled, a scowl deepening over his face. “Whatley?”

“Yes.”

His eyes narrowed. “Whatley?”

“Mr. Whatley came to see me at least twice, brought many beautiful flowers, and had a torrent of florid words to match.”

“Did he?”

“He did.”

“And?”

“I refused him.” Letting out a laugh, she pulled him along in their stroll. “My mother was very angry with me.”

“You are a willful creature, aren’t you?”

“I suppose I should have accepted him.”

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