Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(43)

“I suppose so. She would ride with you, my lady?”

“Yes.”

“Can Tricia come too?” Kat asked.

“Of course. I was planning to invite her.”

“Just don’t go too far,” Mrs. Price warned.

“We’ll let Tricia lead the way,” Rose said.

“Perfect,” Kat said.

“Good. Now, what would you like to hear me play first?” Rose sat down at the pianoforte.

“Anything at all,” Kat said. “You play wonderfully.”

“All right. What is this, I wonder?” Rose fingered some parchment sitting on the bench. She put it in order and began to play. It was a ballad. “Did Mr. Price write this?” she asked.

“Yes, my lady,” Tricia said. “Those are some of the notes for the commission he was working on when Kat was in the hospital.”

“Really? These are only drafts?” Her fingers danced over the keys. “It’s lovely isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Tricia said. “He said it was his best work.”

“Right. You told me that, didn’t you?” Rose continued playing.

The music was tender and loving and brought a tear to her eye. The notes evoked images of Cam’s tender lovemaking, of him bringing water for her bath, taking care of her virginal body. Abruptly she stopped playing.

“Is anything wrong?” Tricia asked.

“No. Let’s just have something a little more lively, shall we?”

Rose played some rowdy folk songs, and they all sang together. Even Mrs. Price joined in. After about an hour, Mrs. Price made some tea and they all partook.

“Now, little Kat. What story would you like to hear?” Rose asked.

“Cam gave me a new book when I got home from the hospital. Could you read that one?”

“Of course. Bring it to me.”

Rose read while Kat sat on her lap. The story was not long, and when Rose had spoken the last word, she held Kat on her lap for a few more moments, stroking the little girl’s dark hair. “Are you ready to go riding, my dear?” she asked.

“Yes, let’s.”

“All right. Let’s go get Begonia ready. Tricia, are you coming?”

“Yes, I’ll saddle Mary.”

Rose laughed. “You named your mare Mary?”

“It seemed…appropriate,” Tricia said, giggling.

“It’s adorable, actually. Is she the one you were riding the day that Kat got sick?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, she is a beauty.”

When the horses were ready, and Rose had Kat snuggled against her on her sidesaddle, they took a long ride around the Lybrook land with Tricia leading the way. The trees were lush and green, their newly sprouted leaves swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. Wildflowers were beginning to bloom, and the pinks and yellows decorated the lush vegetation. Squirrels and rabbits abounded. Kat laughed and pointed every time she saw another one running away from them.

“Lady Rose, they’re afraid of us. Why? We wouldn’t hurt them.”

“Yes, but they don’t know that, dear.”

“But I love all animals. I would never hurt one. How can I let them know that?”

“They won’t understand, I’m afraid. They’re from a different world. They’ll never understand that you mean them no harm.”

“That’s so sad,” Kat said. “I want only to be with them.”

“I know exactly what you mean, Kat,” Rose said softly. “Believe me, I know.”



Cameron returned from his errands to find the Lybrook carriage still parked in front of his cottage. “Damn,” he said out loud.

He stabled Apollo. “Damn again.” Mary was gone. He stole quietly into the house.

“Where did they go, Mum?” he asked.

“They’re out riding.” Mrs. Price set down the quilt block she was stitching. “When are you going to tell me what is going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean with you and Lady Rose. The last I heard, you loved her and you were going to marry her, and now you can’t seem to stand the sight of her.”

“She…she doesn’t want me, Mum,” Cameron lied. “Can you blame her?”

“You said she loved you.”

“Evidently I was mistaken.”

“You mean she didn’t say that she loved you?”

“I guess I read too much into her language.” He’d burn in hell for this.

“What exactly did she tell you, Cameron?”

“What does it matter? You were right. She and I have no future together.”

“My poor boy.” His mother patted the sofa. “Did she break your heart?”

No, I broke hers. “No, I’m fine. If you’ll excuse me, I’m…going out. I don’t want to be here when they return.”

Cameron walked out back to the hired man’s cabin. He would hide out there until Rose was safely off the premises. What a mistake. He hadn’t been there since that fateful day when he had made love to Rose and then sent her away. The blankets were still rumpled. His mother hadn’t cleaned the cabin because she hadn’t been here. No one had.