A Study In Seduction(55)

“Ah, glad you could join us, Miss Kellaway,” Castleford boomed. “You’re certain to keep Northwood from lying about the size of his catch.”

Lydia laughed at the thought of Northwood lying about anything. Least of all the size of his catch. He flashed her a grin, the warmth of which caused a lovely glow to fill her chest.

The three men began walking toward the river, chatting about the wind, the weather, the possibility of trout. A sense of cheer and good humor surrounded them. Northwood’s shoulders were relaxed, his stride long and easy. Sunlight glinted off his dark hair.

Something loosened inside Lydia at the sight of him. Her headache melted away, and her heart lightened. She liked seeing him cheerful, smiling, hearing his laughter rustling through the tree leaves. She liked it a great deal. Perhaps too much.

“They’ve been friends for ages.” Talia fell into step beside Lydia, adjusting her hat against the sun as she nodded toward the three men. “They were in school together, though of course Sebastian was two years behind. After they graduated, Castleford went off to travel and expand his father’s company. He’s got enormous energy. He’s rarely been in London the past five years.”

A faint wistfulness in the younger woman’s voice made Lydia glance at her. Talia gazed into the distance at the curling ribbon of the stream.

“He did come back after… what happened, though,” she continued. “Lent his support to our family both in private and very publicly. Made things easier, actually. We’re indebted to him for that.”

It had been only two years, Lydia realized, since Talia’s mother had run off to parts unknown.

“It’s not easy, is it?” she asked before she could think.

Talia looked at her. “What?”

“Losing your mother.”

Talia stared at her for a moment, her green eyes wide. Lydia swallowed, color rising to her cheeks as she realized she had deeply insulted the other woman.

“I’m sorry, I—”

“No.” Talia reached out to squeeze Lydia’s arm. “No, don’t apologize. You’re right. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s one of the most horrid things I can imagine. The worst part is that even though I’m so terribly angry with her, I still miss her.” She laughed, a hollow sound. “Silly, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. I miss my mother every day.”

“What happened to her?”

Lydia told her about Theodora Kellaway’s illness and subsequent death. Sympathy darkened Talia’s eyes.

“It’s been nearly a decade,” Lydia said, “but I don’t imagine I’ll ever stop missing her. Thankfully I have Jane, though, and my grandmother.”

“That helps, doesn’t it?” Talia said. “I’ve been fortunate to have a few good friends. They’ve made things easier for me as well. Now if only my brother would leave me be, I think I might actually get through this.”

She gave Lydia a wan smile. Castleford shouted a distance in front of them, waving at them to hurry. Talia grasped Lydia’s hand as they quickened their pace to the river.

“All right, now. This is yours.” Northwood handed Lydia a pole and tied something furry onto it.

“It’s a Royal Trude,” he said.

“A royal prude?”

“Trude. It’s meant to imitate a stone-fly.”

Talia took her pole from Castleford and began fixing the line with an expert touch. She grinned when she saw Lydia staring at her.

“Don’t forget I grew up with four brothers,” she said. “I could tie a fly before I could walk.”

“Not to mention roll a hoop, ride a horse, and climb a tree,” Sebastian added.

“And she was often the fastest,” Northwood said. He held a lure out to Lydia. “Now, watch, because you’re going to learn how to make a proper backcast.”

He moved with deft precision as he showed her how to strip line and whip the fly backward and forward until he had it just where he wanted. Although Lydia became a bit breathless from his proximity, she was able to focus enough to get a handle on it.

Northwood stood behind her and grasped her wrist to show her how to cast, his fingers warm and strong. She knew he could feel her rapid pulse. His hips brushed hers. Her knees went a bit wobbly.

“Concentrate,” he ordered, his breath caressing her temple.

He spoke to her with that husky voice and expected her to concentrate?