“It’s just, I’ve never received…”
For a swift moment, his eyebrows lowered but it was soon replaced with a one-sided smile. “Then I’m pleased to have been the first.” He glanced toward Leah and back. “I was hoping you might consider a trip to the Regent’s Park Bird Sanctuary.”
“With you?” She blurted the words before thinking. Of course with him. Who else had made the request? Henry the cat? Well, he certainly would like seeing the birds! An untimely giggle followed her query
His eyes twinkled. “I’ve never found the Bird Sanctuary to be quite so amusing. Perhaps you would be so kind as to show me the particular feature which has tickled you?”
“I wasn’t laughing, well, yes I was laughing but… that is, I was thinking about Henry.”
“Speaking of the Sanctuary brought to mind thoughts of the king?”
“No, thoughts of my cat.”
“And has your cat often visited the Sanctuary?”
“Of course not. Although, I’m sure he’d find it to his liking.”
“Would he perhaps wish to sit on a bench and idly watch the fluttering of avian wings?”
“Not exactly.”
“Or admire their beautiful feathers?”
She shook her head.
“How about listening with rapt attention as they sing lovely tunes?”
“Actually, if he were to attend, I’m certain his focus would be more on whom to invite for dinner.”
“And not as a guest, I surmise.”
“Definitely not.”
“If you’d like to accompany me, I’ll gladly wait for you as you speak with your cousin.”
Conrad. Yes, she’d better not be running off somewhere with a man without letting her brother know. “Thank you. If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” She left the parlor with Leah in her wake.
Leah trotted up the stairs behind her. “How exciting, Cecilia.”
“I’m frightened out of my wits.”
“Why? He seems a kind-hearted man.”
They reached the top of the steps and Cecilia paused. “It isn’t that. I’m just nervous, I suppose.”
Warmth covered her hand as Leah gave it a gentle squeeze. “This is all new for you. But you’ll do fine. I have the highest confidence in you, miss.”
“Miss?”
“That’s what I’ll be calling you when we’re out in public. It wouldn’t do for me to be so familiar with you.”
“But you’re my friend.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “But you are now entering polite society. They wouldn’t understand a friendship such as ours.”
“I suppose.” It was sad to have to treat a friend as such simply to accommodate the whims of society. As much as she was anticipating new experiences as Conrad’s cousin, not everything about it would be positive. With a backward wave, Cecilia rushed to her brother’s library.
She knocked and entered upon his call.
He lifted his gaze. “Back so soon? It’s wonderful to see you again, sister.” He stood and came around the desk to embrace her. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Mr. Radcliff has returned.”
“Oh?”
“He gave me a rose.”
“Did he now?” A smile appeared on Conrad’s lips.
“And…” She toyed with the ribbon tied at the waist of her dress. “He’s asked me to accompany him to the Bird Sanctuary.”
Conrad paled, but only for a second or two. “And do you wish to attend?”
Poor Conrad, past events had made him wary, sometimes even afraid of the birds at the park. “I do wish it. Of course, I wanted your blessing first.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “You have it, my dear. I assume Leah will go as well?”
“Certainly. I wouldn’t… that is I… alone with—”
He laughed. “I know you wouldn’t. Run along then, and have a wonderful time. Thankfully you have no problem with birds and animals as I would.”
“Thank you.” With a smile, she turned and headed out the door.
Leah stood waiting just down the hall, Cecilia’s pelisse and reticule in her hand. But she wasn’t smiling. Odd, since she had seemed so pleased for Cecilia only moments before.
“What’s wrong?” She accepted the items Leah held out to her.
“The trip to the Sanctuary might take a couple of hours or more.”
“True. Would you rather I found someone else to accompany us?”
“Oh no, it’s not that.” She looked both ways as if someone might overhear, although everyone in the house knew of Cecilia’s true identity and that she lived just next door with her parents. “What of your mother?”
“I don’t wish for her to attend.”
Leah bit her lip against a smile. “Nor should you.”
Cecilia giggled.
“How will you explain being absent from her for so long a time?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. Going to the ball was hard enough to explain away. Papa had told Mama that one of the horses was ill and he needed my help with it. My poor father waited in the stables the whole time I was gone last night to facilitate the lie.”
“Perhaps we should consult him again.”
“I can assist with that, Cecilia.” Amelia stepped out of her room, which was two doors down from Conrad’s library. “Let me inform Andrew of your plans so that if anything should occur with your mother, he can say something again happened in the stables that required you to be there.”
“Thank you Amelia. I hate lying to Mama.”
“As do I. But with the way she feels about you not leaving the house, if you desire to spend time with a sweet handsome gentleman such as Mr. Radcliff, it must be done.”
With a smile, Amelia left them.
“Ready?” Leah tilted her head toward the stairs.
Sudden flutters of nervousness attacked her stomach. She was to go on an outing. With him. “Y-yes. Let’s go.”
They descended the steps and returned to the parlor. Mr. Radcliff faced her. “I sincerely hope you’re going to give me the delight of my heart and tell me you accept my invitation?”
Delight of his heart? Her heart pattered in her chest like a bird longing to escape its cage. “I am.”
“Then let us away.” He held out his arm and escorted her to his waiting carriage. The groom handed her up and then assisted Leah. Mr. Radcliff followed, seating himself on the bench across from them.
A sparrow chattered from a nearby tree. Was he perhaps wishing them a pleasant day with his relatives at the Sanctuary?
Cecilia had been to the Sanctuary many times before with her brother and sister-in-law. She couldn’t, however, reveal that fact to Mr. Radcliff, as she was only supposed to have been in London for a fairly short time. It wouldn’t be out of the realm to have been there once before, though. That would make it somewhat easier to explain any previous knowledge of the place.
Cecilia clutched nervously at her reticule. I’m going on an outing with a handsome gentleman! Please don’t let me seem a hoyden in his presence.
The short ride ended at the main Sanctuary gate. The groom stepped forward to assist Cecilia down, but a quick headshake from Mr. Radcliff had the man stepping aside.
“Please allow me.” Mr. Radcliff stepped down and reached up toward Cecilia.
He wishes to assist me himself? I’ll not have a quarrel with that. The instant his hands grasped her about the waist, sparks of heat flashed across her middle. Good heavens! Eyes of the darkest brown peered down into hers. A heavy heartbeat thumped beneath her hand as it rested against his chest. How was it she could feel it when his clothing and her gloves were in between? A sigh floated out from her lips.
“As marvelous as this is, and nothing would please me more than to stay right in this spot for the whole of the day, I suppose we should move so your maid isn’t doomed to spend several hours standing in my carriage.”
She blinked. “Hmm?”
A dimple formed
on his left cheek as a one-sided smile formed. His gaze darted to something just behind her.
Leah! “Oh, of course.” With haste, Cecilia stepped away from the carriage, reluctantly pulling her hands from Mr. Radcliff’s handsome self. Cool air unfortunately rushed to greet her. Had the breeze increased, or was it simply that Mr. Radcliff’s hands at her waist had brought such warmth? Such joy?
Mr. Radcliff stepped beside her and they waited as the groom helped Leah from the carriage.
“Miss Fleming? Ready to take a stroll about the Sanctuary grounds?” Mr. Radcliff offered his arm, which she gladly accepted.
If not for his arm for me to cling, to, I fear I’d collapse in a puddle of pudding right at the man’s feet. “Yes.”
They stepped along the main path. Leah’s boots tapped from behind. But not too close. Thank you, Leah. Perhaps they’d have a small amount of privacy with which to know one another better.
Faint quacking from a distant pond caught Cecilia’s attention. “How I love the ducks.”
He turned with a smile. “You’ve visited here before?”
Be careful how you answer. “Con— er, my cousin was kind enough to bring me.
His smile faded. “Oh. I was hoping to be the one to introduce you to its wonders.”
She squeezed his arm. “Never fear, Mr. Radcliff, I will enjoy today with you immensely.”
Pink tinged his cheeks. “I’m glad for it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Nearby tall grass bent in the breeze, interspersed with lovely pink and yellow wild flowers.
“Aren’t they lovely?” Cecilia pointed to the flowers.
“Indeed.”
“Though not as pretty as a single yellow rose.”
“Or not nearly as beautiful as a certain cousin to Lord Lofton.”
Her lashes brushed her cheeks as she lowered her gaze. “How sweet.”
“Not sweet. Just the truth. Being out in the open as we are, I’d not wish to be struck with lightning after telling a lie. So you understand it’s imperative that I speak of things as they really are.”
She laughed and then covered her mouth. “Pardon.”
“None needed. It’s refreshing to hear a lady’s laughter.” And not merriment simply for the sake of amusement itself, as if that was the only important thing in life as Martha would have done.
Certainly, Martha wouldn’t have politely covered her mouth as if self-conscious. She would have unabashedly looked around in hopes that others had heard her, in order to gain more attention.
While Barrington adored merriment and possessed a keen wit, lately he found himself yearning for something in addition to that. A deeper awareness in life. A stronger attachment to others. In particular, to one other. He longed for a woman to be the light of his life, the beat of his heart, someone who would become a piece of him so he could finally be whole.
Could Miss Fleming be the one?
“Oh, turtledoves.” Cecilia’s face was upturned toward the tree under which they had walked.
A purr-like sound floated down, caressing him, inviting him to live a peaceful existence. To find joy in the love of a very special person. “Indeed.”
“Simply breathtaking.” Her pink lips curved up, as if inordinately pleased.
Soft sunlight filtered through the tree branches, casting a yellow glow on Miss Fleming’s blond tresses. Barrington’s mouth went dry. “Yes, quite.”
Her blue-eyed gaze found his as she angled toward him. Soft-looking cheeks colored up, as she surely grasped that his meaning was not for the doves.
“As much as I wish it, I don’t suppose we should stand in the spot until next Tuesday.”
She smiled and sighed. “No. I don’t suppose we could.”
He tilted his head toward the path. “Shall we?”
Miss Fleming nodded. From the corner of his eye, Barrington saw Leah move to follow them once more, but still from a distance.
Now that’s the kind of chaperone I prefer.
Splashing came from somewhere nearby. They were approaching the goose pond. The closer they got, the louder the splashes and goose honks.
Cecilia giggled. “My poor cousin.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s nearly frightened to death of them. All birds in fact.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, his mother had always kept him from experiencing the out-of-doors and caused him to be afraid.”
“What a pity.”
“I agree. But when he met Amelia, that all changed.”
“Truly?”
“Something about her gave him the courage to try new things. To experience life even though it scared him. I suppose there is that one person for everyone who gives them that strength. To help them feel as if they could conquer the world.”
“I believe that as well.”
“You do?”
“Although I’ve never found that… that person. Yet…”
She coughed politely. “I… um…”
Loud honks greeted them as they stepped closer to the pond. The moment had been interrupted between them, but Barrington was determined that there would be more moments like it. Moments with long gazes and hidden meanings. Something that only they would share.
Laughter bubbled up from Barrington as he watched the antics of the geese. Wings flapped and bills nipped at each other if one came too close. Cecilia joined him, her laugh a sweet melody that warmed his soul.
He patted her hand on his arm. “Care to continue our walk?”
“Delighted.”
They detoured through tall meadow grass and headed toward a grove of trees. “There’s a bird I’m rather fond of that I’d like to show you if that’s acceptable.”
“Of course. What’s it called?”
“A willow warbler.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
When they reached the grove, they stepped around a large tree with a thick trunk in order to see the rest of the trees better.
“Oh no.”
“What’s the matter, Mr. Radcliff?”
“There’s someone else here.”
“I don’t mind. Surely it’s a large enough space for several.”
“But it happens to be someone who I—”
“Barrington?” Martha and her current beau, Mr. Pemberley, stood just ahead.
Why now? Why today? Wasn’t finding them together at the ball enough torture? He fought against clenching his hands into fists. “Good day, Miss Lymington, Mr. Pemberley.”
The other man stepped closer. “Say, you’re that fellow, aren’t you?”
“I am indeed a fellow, if that’s the term you feel you must use. I however prefer gentleman.”
“You’re no gentleman.”
Miss Fleming’s hand tightened on his arm and she emitted a tiny gasp.
“Now see here, Pemberley.”
“That’s Mr. Pemberley, to you.”
“Mr. Pemberley, please refrain from defaming my character in the future, especially when I am with a—” His gaze darted to Miss Fleming and back. “—friend.”
Martha stepped up to stand beside Mr. Pemberley. “Humph. The way she’s pawing at your arm, I’d say it’s more than friends.”
“I beg your pardon?” Miss Fleming rose on her tiptoes. Was she hoping to make up for the fact that she was the smallest person in the group?
“I believe you heard me, Miss… Sorry, didn’t catch your name.”
“Miss Fleming.”
“Well, Miss Fleming, perhaps you need to learn the proper way to accompany a man.” Martha lightly tapped Mr. Pemberley’s arm.
“Well!”
Barrington held up his hand. “Really, Miss Lymington—”
“Come now, Barrington. How long have we known each other? You used to call me Martha.”
“That was before…”
“Before what?” Miss Fleming’s eyes widened as if just realizing who had uttered the question. She slapped her hand over her mouth.<
br />
“Impudent little thing, isn’t she?” Martha’s glare raked over Miss Fleming from hair to boots.
A huff came from Miss Fleming, but she remained quiet otherwise.
“I can’t say I quite like where all this is headed.” Mr. Pemberley frowned, which puckered his already furrowed brow.
Barrington used Miss Fleming’s tactic and rose on his toes, even though he already towered over the other man. Every advantage helps. “I fail to understand, Mr. Pemberley, how any of this concerns you.”
“Now see here—”
A brown and yellow bird, small in size, swooped down and landed on Martha’s hat. “Oh good heavens! Mr. Pemberley, remove it at once!”
“Me? You expect me to touch that vile creature?”
“Yes! Do it now!”
Mr. Pemberley grimaced but took a half-hearted swipe at the bird with his own hat, never actually making contact.
The bird, calling with a descending whistle, pecked at the man’s hand.
He shrieked. “It’s attacking my hand!”
“What about my hat? Do something,” Martha wailed.
Barrington grumbled and stepped forward. He reached up, intent on rescuing his former love from the creature but the bird had other ideas. It rose in the air and dove down again, this time landing on Mr. Pemberley’s bare, balding head.
“It’s going to peck the life out of me!” Mr. Pemberley gritted his teeth together and closed his eyes. Did he think if he couldn’t see the bird that the bird couldn’t see him?
“Of all the—” Barrington switched his efforts to helping the other man, though it was the last thing he wished to do at the moment. Why would he want to do anything to help the man who Martha had chosen in his place?
But he was, above all, an honest, forthright man. Time to put aside petty differences and help the strange little man. Barrington shooed the bird away and watched it fly to a low branch three feet above them.
“That vile little feathered thing made off with some of my hair.”
Barrington bit his lip against a smile. Indeed, there was a small patch of it missing from the very top of his head. Such a pity since the man had very little hair to begin with.
The bird, its beak full of wispy strands of the hair, attempted a whistle, but it came out sounding like a muffled hiccough.
Love Birds: The Complete Collection Page 45