“Is that so?”
“Indeed. My brother's favorite color is brown, so his tastes are very plain and simple.” Anne coughed into her hand. “What is your favorite flower?”
“My niece would have more of an opinion on that matter. She is a great lover of all things floral.”
“I like purple gardenias. We have some in our garden... although it isn't as lush as it once was. Oh!” A flash of brown made her gasp. “What was that?”
“I believe it might have been a... dog?” Emily replied. Several feet away, a puppy was dashing back and forth across the lawn, chasing after a tiny white butterfly. “A very filthy dog.”
“Oh, he's absolutely adorable! Puppy!” Anne called to the animal in an attempt to get his attention. “Puppy! Puppy, come!”
The puppy looked in their direction, then rushed toward them with the speed of a scampering rabbit. The mangy creature ran straight for Emily, leaping on her with grimy paws.
“Oh my!” Emily laughed. “He's a friendly fellow!”
“I'm so sorry, Miss Weaver,” Robin apologized. When the dog started chewing on Emily's dirty hem, he stepped forward to rescue her, but his sister dashed in front of him, halting his advance. “This mutt isn't ours. I have no idea where he came from.”
“I don't mind his attention,” she chuckled. “And I'm already covered in filth. What more damage can he do?”
Anne scooped the puppy into her arms, sullying her own dress in the process. “I think he's actually a white dog,” she observed, “A white dog that has been frolicking in the mud.”
“Which is why you shouldn't be holding him,” her brother said.
A pink tongue shot from the animal's mouth and landed on Anne's chin. The little girl squealed with delight, and clutched the puppy a bit tighter. “I'm keeping him, of course.”
Her brother was quick to protest. “No.”
“He's chosen me!” Anne exclaimed. “He's chosen us! I simply must have him!”
“But where did he come from? What if he belongs to someone else? There's a farmer not far from here who--”
“Robbie would be happier with us.”
“Robbie?!”
“I've decided to name him after you,” Anne said, and held the puppy toward her brother. “Robbie, meet Robin.”
“I cannot believe you think this bedraggled cur should share his name with me.” He looked to Emily for support, but she simply looked amused.
“It is revenge for all the times you call me Annie. Besides, you should be happy to share your name with him. He has such an adorable black nose.” Anne learned forward, tapping her nose against the puppy's.
“I... suppose...” Robin could feel himself inching closer to defeat, “if you truly like the foul beast...”
“I do. I love him!” Anne insisted. “I do believe it was love at first sight!”
“Then, if you promise to look after him...” In the corner of his eye, he could see Miss Weaver beaming at him. He couldn't possibly disappoint his sister while she was looking on. Besides, he already had a bad habit of indulging his sister's whims. “You may keep him.”
“Oh, thank you!” Anne exclaimed. Sensing her excitement, Robbie mauled her dress with his filthy paws.
“For goodness sake, get him cleaned up! He's covering you in mud!”
“At least I am no longer alone in my predicament,” Emily noted. “Now that we are both covered in mud, we can turn to each other for comfort.”
“I like you, Emily.” Anne directed the words at her brother, because he was the one who needed to know she approved. “Will you be my friend? I need a new friend... besides Robbie, of course. Please tell me you'll come again!”
“I will. I most definitely will.”
“I really want to...” Anne erupted with a coughing fit, and Robbie nearly slipped from her hands as she heaved. When her lungs settled, she lowered the puppy to the ground, but he stayed at her heels. “There are many more questions I wanted to ask you, Emily. For example, how many--” Another coughing fit racked her body.
“Anne.” Robin gently touched his sister's shoulder. “Perhaps you should go inside and get some rest?”
“But Emily and I were getting along so... cough ...well! I couldn't possibly leave now!” She turned her head away from them and hacked so hard, even the puppy looked concerned.
“I insist,” Robin said, “Take your puppy and go inside. You need to lie down.”
“Ohhhh... very well!” Anne hoisted the puppy and heaved a tremendous sigh. “But I think the worst of it has ended. Are you sure I cannot--”
“Inside.”
Her brother was so resolute, she did not protest further. With the puppy in her arms, Anne stomped in the direction of the house. When she was gone, Robin noticed the worry line between Emily's eyes.
“I should apologize yet again,” he said, “We must seem very improper to you.”
“Not in the least. After all, I am the one who showed up at your house looking like Boudicca the warrior queen.” Emily laughed as she recalled his sister's comparison.
“It seems my sister has taken an interest in you.”
“As I have taken an interest in her,” Emily said. “If you don't mind me asking, what is it that ails her?”
In an instant, all the merriment was sucked from Robin's face. He turned his eyes to the ground and pressed his lips together—he didn't want her to see them tremble. “The disease is in her lungs.”
“Oh.” Emily didn't press him for more information, but she hoped he would offer more.
“Ever since she was a child... she's had a weak constitution. Her body cannot recover from ailments that would not debilitate a normal person,” he explained. “The disease is in her lungs, and it's recurring. I'm afraid...”
When she heard his voice crackling, Emily wanted to reach for him, to give him comfort. But an embrace would hardly be proper. “Robin...”
He was so lost in sorrow, he didn't hear her say his name. “The doctors haven't been encouraging,” he said. “She won't live much longer.”
“Oh dear. I-I had no idea.”
“And I am afraid. I'm terrified, really. I'm afraid I'll wake up one morning and realize she's gone. I'm terrified of being alone, of being without her.”
“I'm so sorry.”
When he glanced at up Emily, Robin's lips were turned by a pitiful smile. “You'll come again, I hope? I'm sure Anne would love to see you again.”
“Of course.”
“Anne would love to see you... as would I. My sister confessed to needing a friend, but...” As he studied her face in the sunlight, he was almost undone by how pretty she looked.
Beautiful. His mind corrected him. Emily Weaver is beautiful.
And she was waiting for him to complete his thought.
“No one needs a friend more than I,” he confessed.
“And I am honored to call myself a friend.”
As they studied each other under the warmth of the sun, they exchanged silent smiles to solidify their bond.
Chapter Eight
“I hardly recognized Robbie without his encasement of mud.” Emily glanced down at the little white dog, who pounced and yipped around her heels. “Although... I suppose the same could be said of me.”
“I was rather surprised myself,” Anne agreed. “When the maid finished cleaning him, his coat was practically sparkling!”
The puppy snatched the bottom of Emily's gown in his jaws, allowing himself to be dragged along with her. “He's as feisty as ever, though.”
“I think Robbie likes you.” Over her shoulder, Anne gave her brother a knowing look. “I'm so glad you agreed to join us for a picnic, Miss Weaver. I rarely have anyone other than my brother for company, so your presence is a rare delight.”
“I was happy to get an invitation. I can't remember the last time I was invited to a formal picnic.”
“Well...” Sighing, Anne lifted the small wicker basket she was carrying. “I don't know how formal
it will be with only the three of us, but I do love a nice picnic. I love sitting under the trees, in the breeze, surrounded by flora and fauna. It's such a wonderful way to commune with nature.”
“And I couldn't agree with you more,” Emily said. She watched Robin spread a blanket across the ground, and when he was satisfied, he motioned for the ladies to sit. From her basket, Anne immediately extracted a small dish, which was filled with deviled eggs. “Oh! My favorite! May I?”
“Of course!” Anne nodded enthusiastically, and continued to explore her basket. There were cold roast sandwiches, bread, butter, cheese and grapes. The latter was claimed by her brother, who twisted the fruit from its vine and popped one in his mouth. Robbie was sniffing around the roast, so Anne surreptitiously sneaked him a bite. “Emily?”
Emily glanced up from the deviled egg she was nibbling on. “Hm?”
“You look so pretty.”
“As do you.”
“I wish my hair was as dark as yours.”
“We often want the opposite of what we have, or so it seems,” Emily said. “I've always thought golden hair was the most beautiful of all.”
“Like my brother's?”
“I... suppose.” Emily could feel Robin's eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look in his direction. “Your hair is quite the same color as his.”
“But I happen to prefer darker hair. It makes you look exotic.” Anne gobbled a slice of cheese, and slipped another sliver of roast to the puppy. Robbie was so overjoyed by his treat, he rolled on his back and kicked his legs in the air. He looked so adorable, Anne was compelled to scratch his stomach, which made him yelp with delight. “I like to write.”
“Do you?”
“I do.” Anne nodded proudly.
“What do you write?”
“Plays, mostly. It was always my dream to be as famous as Shakespeare, but I suppose that will never happen... unless it happens posthumously. And, of course, I am hindered by my sex. The literary works of women are rarely taken seriously.”
“I would love to read one of your plays.” Emily consumed a second deviled egg as the conversation continued.
“Oh, I would absolutely love that! Do you think you could read it aloud? Perhaps...” Anne thoughtfully rubbed her chin. “Perhaps you and my brother might perform it for me?”
Robin spoke up. “I am sure Miss Weaver would not want to be subjected to--”
“I would be delighted,” Emily answered before he could complete the thought.
Robin realized he wasn't going to have a choice in the matter. More often than not, his opinion wasn't taken into consideration, which is why he was surprised when, halfway through the picnic, his sister asked, “May I go into the garden and play with Robbie?”
“Hmm.” He looked down at the puppy, whose glassy black eyes seemed to be pleading with him. Rollicking Robbie had enough energy to deplete a healthy person, let alone, someone in Anne's condition. “I don't know.”
“Please?” Anne begged him. “I am feeling quite well today!”
“Very well,” he capsized, “but take care not to overexert yourself!”
Anne scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the rosebushes with Robbie. Emily watched her for several seconds before she flashed an awkward smile at Robin.
If only I was Harriet's age, she thought. Then I would not feel guilty for admiring you as I do.
“Your sister is adorable.”
“An adorable hellion,” he added with a chuckle.
Anne leaned close to a hedge and emerged with a caterpillar on her finger. When she extended the caterpillar toward Robbie, he responded with a yip.
“There are times when she acts so precocious, I almost think of her as an adult, as my superior,” Robin admitted. “Then I see her playing with bugs, and I am reminded that she's still a child.”
“I think it's a wonderful thing. I long for the enthusiasm I had as a child.”
“Annie has been robbed of a normal childhood. It tears my heart out.” Robin's jaw was twitching as he spoke. “She deserves a long, full life. I would trade places with her, if I could.”
“It sounds as though you've resigned yourself to the idea of her death. Perhaps you should remain optimistic?”
They watched Anne extend her finger toward the hedge, returning the caterpillar to its home.
“There is a point when optimism turns into false hope.” Robin turned his gaze away from the sunlight, hiding the tears in his eyes. “But... enough with the doom and gloom. I am sure there are more uplifting things we could discuss.”
“Such as?”
Such as, the fact that I wonder what it would be like to hold you in my arms. His unspoken thought brought a chill to his spine. And the fact that I will most likely never get to do so.
“At times, I still feel like a child myself. A boy. Not a man,” Robin confessed. “Do you know I have never been with a woman?”
His honesty rattled her, even thrilled her, but she tried not to show it. “I would never have guessed.”
“Is it really such a surprise?” he chuckled. “When it comes to attracting women, I have obvious difficulties! I've never found a woman who liked me well enough to look beyond my flaws.”
“What flaws?” There was a twinkle in her eye as she studied him. “I see no flaws. None whatsoever.”
“I have many flaws. Innumerable flaws. If we were to count them, we would waste the better part of an afternoon.”
“You've really never been with a woman?” She was stuck on that fact—he was still as chaste as she was. His eyes were full of innocence and naivete. She should have seen it all along.
“Four and twenty, and I haven't even kissed a woman! How pitiful is that?” Robin could feel his cheeks getting warm as his confession deepened. “A man who's never known a woman's love can hardly call himself a man.”
“It isn't as if being a rake would make you more of a man. In fact, I think it would make you less of a man! I like you as you are, Robin Cockburn.”
“Can you imagine that? Me? As a rake?” He watched his sister lift Robbie from the ground and spin in a circle. The poor puppy. “I would be the world's worst rake. Women would go to great lengths to hide from my advances.”
“And why would you think that?” She crossed her arms. “You're a very handsome man, Mr. Cockburn. I've always thought you had the most beautiful eyes, and a delightful smile.”
“Are you complimenting me, Miss Weaver?”
Her smile turned a bit mischievous. “Perhaps.”
“Well then... don't let me interrupt you. Do proceed.”
She indulged him. “You have lovely long eyelashes. You're very tall, and you have a wonderful figure.”
“Careful,” he playfully cautioned her. “If you continue on like this, you'll give me license to dream.”
She tried to think of the perfect response, something that was a bit flirty, but not too obvious. But her thoughts were interrupted by Robin's sister.
“Emily!” Anne waved her arms as she called to her. “Emily, will you come here a moment?”
“Of course.” She rose from the blanket and went to Anne, who was standing between a row of hedges. “You sounded urgent. Is something troubling you?”
“I simply needed to ask you a question.” Anne peered over Emily's shoulder, making sure her brother had not followed. He remained on the picnic blanket, eating a second sandwich. “Do you like my brother?”
“Indeed I do. I have been very fortunate, in the last few days, to be given the opportunity to expand our friendship.”
“But do you really like him?” Anne asked, hoping her meaning would not be mistaken. “Because I'm quite certain he likes you very much. When he watches you, his eyes are practically dripping with adoration.”
Emily's tongue was tied. “I... I don't... I... I wouldn't say...”
“I've never really considered myself a matchmaker, but I have to be honest.” She leaned closer to Emily's ear and whispered, “I think y
ou would be a perfect match for him.”
“I am too old for him.”
Anne's nose wrinkled at the idea. “Are you? I hadn't noticed.”
“I am. He is four and twenty, and I am nearly a decade older.”
Robbie returned with a stick in his mouth, but his mistress ignored him. “I think he needs to be with someone who's a bit older. He needs someone who will take care of him. He needs someone who will look after him when I'm... when I'm...” Anne took a deep breath and forced the word out of her mouth. “Gone.”
Emily's brow was creased with worry. “Oh, darling...” She wished she could cradle the girl against her chest, to shower her with affection. At that moment, she longed to be the mother figure the child sorely lacked.
“You know I'm dying, don't you?” Anne looked down at her slippers as they sheepishly scuffed the ground. “This isn't a cruel attempt to use guilt as a means to force you into my brother's arms. I simply... I only hope you recognize he has qualities that make him worthy. I know he can be clumsy... and ridiculous... and a bit dense... and maybe even a bit childlike. But he is always sincere and kind, and I know he could love someone without restraint. If you let him, he would love you with all his heart! I know he would!”
“I will... consider what you've said.”
“You aren't angry with me, are you?”
“Never!”
“Will you really read and perform my play?”
“Of course! I would be delighted. For now, I should return to the picnic.” Emily cupped the child's cheek in her hand, but only for a moment.
Robbie stayed close to Emily's heels, desperate for her attention. Anne smiled as she watched her puppy follow Emily. Robbie was aptly named, because Robbie and Robin were smitten with Miss Weaver.
If only she could make Emily love her brother too!
If only...
Was there really nothing she could do?
When the epiphany struck her, Anne couldn't return to her bedchamber quickly enough. She sat at her desk, grabbed her quill, and wrote for the rest of the day. She wrote until the sun went down, until her candlelight waned, until she was completely satisfied with the words on the page.
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