The next morning I awoke as usual with Clara drawing back the curtains, there was still no word from Faith and when I asked how Patience was doing she answered, "Mrs. Woodbridge is feeling more like herself." I noted the expression of Clara's face and took that to mean that she is in fine form.
Since my guardian and my companion were both unavailable, I thought that today I might finally be able to take in some sights, or perhaps visit a few of the shops I spied during the carriage ride back from the gallery. I put on one of my favorite dresses, the cream one with roses . . . the one Patience detests . . . and I transferred my things to one of my new reticules. I happily descended the stairs and made my way towards the dining room where Lord and Lady Edgehill were already enjoying a leisurely brunch, "Good morning," I greeted them as I took my place at the table.
"My, Miss Woodbridge, you look in quite the happy mood," Lord Edgehill bowed to me.
"Yes, I would have to agree," Lady Edgehill smiled, "I am so happy to see some cheer on your face once again."
"Well, with Patience taken to bed and Miss Stanhope away, I thought that today I might venture into town," I smiled as the cook brought me a plate brimming with eggs, ham and fruit.
"Oh but Miss Woodbridge, I was sending for my seamstress today," Lady Edgehill said setting down her tea, "I thought we should start getting you outfitted for your debut." I could feel disappoint rising, but she was our hostess, among other things, and with all of the graciousness she was bestowing on me, the least I could do was be available to her.
"But Mother," came Leah's light voice from behind me, "I was hoping that Miss Woodbridge and I could go to the park today, it is fine out."
Lady Edgehill turned from us towards her husband, "Oh, don't look at me, I am off to see Seamus," he smiled before diving back into his breakfast.
"For all the time you spend there, those dogs must be exquisite," she rolled her eyes and looked back at Leah, "oh, all right. You two may go off strolling for a bit, but I want you home by three o'clock."
I heard Leah hop behind me, "Thank you, Mother!" She ran over to Lady Edgehill and gave her cheek a kiss, "Come on, Miss Woodbridge, let us not waste a moment!" She took my hand and yanked gently, she was very excited.
"Now don't forget, three o'clock you're to be here and we will discuss what gowns you will need," Lady Edgehill called after us.
"I won't forget," Leah called from the hallway. "I was almost sure she was not going to let you go," she whispered as I slipped on my Spencer jacket. "Mrs. Evers will be joining us, but once we're there she will most likely stay on one of the benches."
"I did not realize that the park held such an allure for you," I smiled as I followed her out the front door, "Will you be looking for more flowers to paint?"
Leah gave me a teasing grin, "Something like that . . . " She looked across the street and happily proclaimed, "Oh there is Mrs. Evers, already heading to her favorite bench!" She slipped her arm through mine, "the park awaits, Margaret!"
The park was beginning to draw people already as young ladies arrived in their finery, there for the sole purpose of being seen. I stopped once we saw one particularly well dressed young lady, "Leah," I whispered, "I am not dressed adequately . . . " I said nodding to the group of people now gathering around her.
Leah made sort of a snorting noise, "We aren't here for that," she shook her head like I must be crazy. "Although a different dress might have been better," she said taking in my outfit, "Oh, I doubt it will matter," and she started leading me towards her governess, "Mrs. Evers, I'm taking Miss Woodbridge to see the horses."
"All the way back there?" Mrs. Evers huffed, "Didn't you have enough walking at the gallery?"
"Well," Leah got a thoughtful look, "why don't you stay here and we'll go. We'll keep to the path and stay together . . . "
"You know perfectly well that your mother would have my head, young lady," Mrs. Evers stood up and stretched, "Oh, my poor joints," she said with a quick rub to her back, "and I thought that your brothers would have been the death of me!"
Leah impatiently looked around towards the different entrances, "Why look, Mrs. Evers, isn't that Mrs. Fitzgibbons coming this way?" Leah nodded towards another older woman heading directly towards our little group.
"Why it is indeed," Mrs. Evers said as she nodded her head in greeting towards her friend, "I haven't seen her in several weeks . . . what a delightful coincidence. All right, you two stay on the path and come right back after seeing the horses. I will be right here catching up on all of the gossip from Piccadilly."
"Oh thank you, Mrs. Evers!" Leah gave her a wide smile and quickly pulled me along, "Come along, Miss Woodbridge, we want to get there before the riders arrive," she said deftly obvious as she watched her governess resume sitting on the bench. Once we reached the trees she smiled easily, "Thank goodness Mrs. Fitzgibbons reconsidered! Otherwise Mrs. Evers might have actually come with us."
"Leah, what are you planning?" I asked realizing that poor Mrs. Evers has been masterfully manipulated by her fourteen year old charge.
"Me?" she tried to look both surprised and appalled, "I have planned nothing," she said leaving the path and heading towards one of the gardens beyond the tree lined path.
"Yet we are not headed towards the horses," I called after her trying to catch up to her stride.
"How can you be sure?" she countered, "perhaps we are taking the scenic route?"
"Because I can read, Leah," I laughed as I caught up to her, "and you did say we would stick to the path . . . "
Leah stopped beside a large tree, "And I will stick to the path, I will be right over there."
"And where will I be?" I asked. Leah gave me an exasperated look and led me around the tree.
"Miss Woodbridge," Thomas grinned happily tipping his hat and offering me another small bunch of violets, "It is so good to see you again." I took the flowers and tried to hide my smile as he turned to his sister, "I assume it worked, Leah?"
"It did, Mrs. Evers is contently installed on the bench with Mrs. Fitzgibbons. I expect at least two hours before they run out of gossip," she smiled up at him, "I will stick to the path and actually go see the stables, but we must be home by three o'clock."
"Of course," he sighed, "in time for tea," Thomas smirked looking at me.
"For the seamstress," Leah corrected, "Mother has sent for her favorite."
"That means someone will be the envy of all the young ladies at Court," he took my hand and wrapped it around his arm, I felt my cheeks grow warm as he looked at me. "Miss Woodbridge, would you do me the honor of touring the garden with me?"
I felt the familiar blush burning in my cheeks and when I turned to Leah, I saw that she was already back on the path towards the stables, "I would be happy to, if you would tell me which of you came up with this deceit?"
"Deceit?" he said in mock horror as he clutched his chest with his free hand, "You wound me, Miss!" His act would have made me believe his innocence more if he had not glanced my way and begin to laugh. That sweet sounding laugh that begs me to join. "Is it so bad to be lured here thusly?"
"You have not answered my question, Mr. Edgehill," I replied raising an eyebrow. He continued to smile and walk, not saying a word, "Well if you will not tell me," I began to slip my arm from his when he caught my hand.
"We both planned our fair share, Miss Woodbridge," his smile faded but he still looked content as he held my hand in both of his. I cannot explain the look in his eyes, but the sentiment was very much like a caress to my cheek. "Please, don't go . . . " he asked in a low beseeching tone. I tried to answer but I had to first swallow the lump in my throat. After that all I could muster was a slight nod and he again put my arm around his. "Now will you do me the courtesy of answering my question . . . is it so bad to be lured here?"
"Said the spider to the fly?" I heard the teasing in my voice even before he turned to me with that smile and a look of surprise in his eyes. "It is not," I smiled looking at the budding flowers, "although I do not understand why you go to all the trouble when it's perfectly clear that your mother hopes we . . . " when I turned back to him he was still gazing at me and again I lost my words, " . . . well, you know."
"Has she finally gotten something right," he whispered to himself.
"I'm sorry?" I asked, not sure if I heard him correctly.
"It is nothing," he smiled and began to lead us to another bed of flowers.
"Why do you stay away so much?" I asked when we stopped, "I have seen you more away from your home . . . "
"It is better this way," he breathed taking in the air, "we do not have to pretend or impress here." I watched him as he looked towards the sun, the light playing against his cheeks and lighting up his brilliant eyes. "I would rather you know me as I really am," he said quietly.
"You did not answer my question," I coyly smiled pressing the violets to my lips, enjoying our tete-a-tete.
"I am afraid this time you will have to pardon my aversion," he looked down at me and his eyes flickered from serious back to the lighthearted optimism before he continued, "I hope that does not cause you to leave."
I looked towards the path and then back at him, "Will you promise to tell me one day?"
"I promise," he nodded, "One day I will tell you everything you want to know."
I could see the heartfelt honesty in his eyes, "Including why you give me violets," I held the delicate flowers up towards him.
"That's no secret," he replied, "but you will have to wait until next time for my answer."
"Why?" I asked, trying terribly not to pout.
"Because I want you to try to figure it out," he patted my hand, "you have to do a little work here too." He winked at me and continued our stroll. He passed two more flower beds before he asked, "No comment on the assumption that there will be a next time?"
"No," I answered as I pulled away and pretended to enamored by a budding flower.
"Margaret?" he whispered leaning towards me, "That is a weed." My face flushed and I turned to him and swatted his jacket. "Would you prefer if I did not tell you?" he laughed taking a step back.
"I would prefer . . . " I sighed.
"Yes?" he asked hanging on the words.
"If I did not blush so much in your company."
"Don't say that," he whispered down towards my ear as more couples were arriving in the gardens, "I think it's precisely that which keeps the flowers from blooming in your company." We stood there in silence, the faint pink burning into a deeper red in my cheeks and he was just smiling that maddening smile that made me forget to think.
"Thomas!" Leah's light voice was barely audible but I caught it even as he was telling me about local flora of the park. "Thomas!" she called again as she left the path and made her way towards us, yet he paid her no notice. "Thomas!" she finally got to us and she tugged on his jacket.
"Yes, Leah, what?" he asked as if she had interrupted something terribly important.
"It would be good for us to go home," she explained as she looked up at him, her eyebrows raised.
"But it's just barely two o'clock," he said checking his pocket watch.
"Yes," she breathed, "but it's a good time for us to return."
He took a deep breath as he looked at her, "Of course, Leah," he smiled and nudged her cheek as he did at the gallery, "Shall I escort you?"
"Really?" she asked, trying to hide her surprise.
"I think I can handle Mother for a bit," he smiled at me, "It would be worth it. That is if you don't mind, Miss Woodbridge?"
"Not at all, Mr. Edgehill," I could feel my face beaming as he held out an arm for me as well as one for Leah and we made our way to the path that would take us back to the entrance.
"Oh, Mr. Edgehill!" Mrs. Evers waved as we neared, "I did not know you would be joining us!"
"Neither did I," he bowed, "Mrs. Evers, Mrs. Fitzgibbons, I trust you're having a pleasant afternoon?"
"We are indeed," Mrs. Evers nodded to her friend.
"Well then why don't I escort the young ladies home, and you can stay and keep company with the other lovely flowers?" he raised an eyebrow with his grin, that caused both women to laugh quite girlishly.
"That would be very good of you, Mr. Edgehill," Mrs. Fitzgibbons replied, "We still have much to discuss."
"Then we bid you a good afternoon," he bowed again, "Come along ladies, let's get you home." Leah and I tried to curtsey as he began to walk.
"Really, you're practically as bad as . . . " Leah began.
"Father was known for his silver tongue, Leah, I must have inherited it a bit," he turned from her and looked at me, "I don't think you mind too much, do you?"
"I prefer if you speak honestly to me," I said, "but to give those women such a compliment . . . no, I do not mind." I imagined Leah rolling her eyes at the both of us.
We left the park and crossed the street to the Edgehill home. Something looked different but I could not put my finger on it. Perhaps it was just my frame of mind from a most pleasant afternoon. "Allow me," Thomas said as he opened the door for us. As we were hanging up our outerwear we heard footsteps nearing.
"Back already?" Lady Edgehill glowed, "Wonderful, we can get to work planning immediately!" She encouraged us towards the parlor, "Leah, you look flushed, are you all right?"
"It is my fault, Mother," Thomas said joining us, "I surprised them at the park."
"Did you really?" she asked glancing from him to me and back again, "Tell me, did you enjoy the park?"
"Not as much as the company," he smiled and I found myself blushing to the point that I looked away.