Always a Maiden (The Belles of Beak Street #5)(23)

“He wouldn’t begrudge a beautiful woman an orange.” He pushed through the leaves and plucked the orange from the tree, returned, and handed it to her.

“Thank you.” She pulled it to her chest as if it were something precious. Which seemed an odd reaction for an orange. Then again he supposed she was trying to show enthusiasm. He’d all but given her a treasure map, and she was determined to follow it.

“There is a table that should be set for us with food if you want to wait.”

“A picnic?” She turned toward him and smiled—really smiled. Her eyes even crinkled. “I am so hungry, how did you know?”

He didn’t know, but somehow he wanted to take credit that he’d pleased her. Yet, this seemed like an incredible leap from her normal platitudes. Or was he fooled by the darkness? He lifted the lantern to shine it on her face. “Would you like to eat first and then explore?”

She nodded. “I would, thank you.”

He hadn’t actually planned a full meal and had just asked for a bottle of wine and some cheeses and wafers.

“Are you fond of food?”

Her hand stiffened for a second where she held his arm. “Not particularly. I mean there are foods I like better than other foods, but I suspect that is true for most people.”

“Let me guess. It wouldn’t be proper to indulge in your favorite foods,” he said.

“I don’t know that propriety is the issue, so much as I shouldn’t want to become plump. Although, I have been told I might be more attractive if I were a little rounder.”

“I don’t think so.” He knew the correct answer, but in Lady’s Susanah’s case, it wasn’t a fib. “Your figure is perfect.”

“Thank you,” she said as if she couldn’t not. After a second, she glanced out of the corner of her eye and said, “I would wager that you say that to all women.”

“Only to ones I desire, but in your case it is true.”

Her hand fluttered on his arm as if he’d surprised her. Or shocked her. But then she’d chosen him to educate her because of his history with women, so his past wasn’t a secret.

“It does smell wonderful in here,” she said.

Were they back to banalities? Or did she just want to change the subject? Her clumsy attempt to avoid talking about male and female relations after her dogged insistence that she was ready to explore such things struck him as endearing. More and more he was battling with an urge to protect her. “Smells green and earthy.”

“Do you think it smells this way in jungles?” she said almost wistfully.

He was almost surprised that she didn’t point out that colors didn’t have scents, but she was trying. “I don’t know. Can’t say that I’ve ever been to a jungle. Just good English forests.”

He almost said that they should visit Sherwood Forest one day, but that would never happen. That gave him pause. Why was he thinking about anything beyond the next few meetings with her? He shouldn’t consider anything after the two extra weeks he’d told his uncle he’d need to wrap up his affairs.

In the center of the conservatory stood a little, wrought iron table and chairs. It was set for two, complete with generous wine goblets. He put the lantern on the table, set his overcoat and her bonnet on an empty chair, and seated Lady Susanah. He reached for the wine bottle and began to work at the cork. Once the cork was free, he poured wine into both their glasses. Then he removed the napkins covering the cheese and wafers. He peeled the wax from the chunks of hard cheeses and then sliced them. There was a small loaf of bread and a jar of preserves, too. She sat her orange on the table next to her small plate.

“This is lovely,” she said and gave him one of her mouth-only smiles.

A pang of regret settled under his breastbone. She was disappointed. He wasn’t certain when he’d started to see the subtle changes in her expression. She took a long draught of her wine and her glass was nearly empty so he refilled it and topped off his.

“If I had known you were hungry, I would have asked for more food.” He should have asked for ham or sliced beef. Perhaps, some salad. “Do eat as much as you want. I had a hearty supper earlier.”

“You couldn’t have known that I have only had bread and water at home. I was hoping for a full supper at the Lievens’ ball the other night, but I only managed to snare one small pastry.” She placed several wafers and slices of the hard cheese on her plate. “And of course the refreshments at Almack’s are rather plain.”

“Bread and water?” he repeated.

She pulled her hands back into her lap and lowered her eyes.

“Susanah?” he prompted.

“I shouldn’t have said anything, but I was rude to Lord Hull when he was questioning me about being at the masquerade.” Her voice was low. “Mother was disappointed in me.” She looked up then. Her forehead was crinkled. “I was so afraid he would expose our rendezvous. I just wanted him to stop talking about seeing shoes so very similar to mine, but I couldn’t explain that to my mother.”

Odd that Hull hadn’t mentioned anything about her being rude. Or even her denials. Or calling on her, before he’d confronted Evan. “So you have been on bread and water since then?”

“At home. Of course, I eat whatever is served if we are out.” Her eyes dipped. “Mother wouldn’t want anyone to know anything is amiss.”