Chapter 25

"I say, old chap!" Giles' voice was raised slightly above normal pitch. "You are a most cunning rogue, I must admit."

Sidney grinned. Giles was sitting in the drawing room, clear-eyed and very much himself. They had been sitting together at tea while Mama and Aunt Harriet went shopping.

"I'm not so cunning," Sidney countered, though his grin stretched from one ear to the other. "A walk in Hyde Park is hardly a scandal in the making."

"Yes. Quite," Giles chuckled. "I wouldn't trust you to set about making a proper scandal, cousin. You're so strait-laced you'd mismanage it horridly. But, not as strait-laced as I thought, eh." His voice was warm and fond.

Sidney chuckled too. "I am just glad I told you." He was, if he was honest, a little tense. He had invited Anastasia for a walk in the park—alone, but chaperoned, as was proper. She had agreed, and it was just half an hour before he ought to depart by coach for the park. He twisted his shirt cuffs in his fingertips, a habit from when he was little more than a boy.

"Well, it's grand news, old chap. Grand news." Giles nodded his head in agreement.

Sidney gazed down at the floor, lost in thought. He kept on recalling Anastasia's face from the previous day. He could not stop thinking of the way her eyes gazed into his, the surprised smile on her face and the warmth that flooded his heart. He thought of the conversation at every spare moment, repeating it to himself in his mind until his cheeks ached from smiling.

"I thought to take a walk later, myself," Giles mused, as he sipped a cup of tea. Sidney raised a brow.

"Oh?" He was interested. "I did not know you were fond of the park, cousin."

"I'm not," Giles replied, raising a brow. "But I will walk nonetheless."

"Oh?" Sidney repeated, a smile growing on his face. "Any reason for going there, cousin?"

Giles leveled his gaze at him. "Not any that I wish to disclose."

Sidney just grinned.

"I heard they have a new section where exotic plants are displayed," Sidney said, tilting his head.

"Interesting," Giles replied.

The talk turned to the park, and plants in general—neither of them were particular enthusiasts, but both had read some articles which discussed new species of plants, and the topic held their interest for a while. Sidney looked up from the tea as the butler appeared in the doorway.

"Your Grace? Your mother and aunt have returned briefly to deliver some parcels and to convey that they shall be at Gunter's until five o'clock."

"Thank you," Sidney replied mildly. Giles poured some tea.

"Are you off walking?" Giles inquired, stirring his tea as if he had no other interest in the world.

"In a moment," Sidney replied. He had changed into the clothing he thought suited him best, but he still wished to check his hair in the looking glass before he departed for the park.

"Oh. Grand," Giles replied, setting down his teacup. "I will depart on my own jaunt shortly, too. Lady Camilla returns from her tea-party at four, and I do not wish to be too late to meet her at the gate."

" What ?" Sidney gaped. He stared up at his cousin, who was making his way to the door. His dark hair was well brushed, and he wore a dark brown velvet jacket that Sidney had not seen him wear before. Giles grinned.

"Lady Camilla. Who do you think told me about Lady Anastasia and when Lord Ridley would be there?"

"Giles!" Sidney exploded, his grin stretching his face so that his cheeks ached. "You didn't tell me. How did you meet Lady Camilla?" He got to his feet, but Giles had already departed briskly, and he did not wish to delay him. He sank back onto the chair with a bemused grin.

At fifteen minutes before five, Sidney stood and hurried to his room. He glanced at his hair in the looking glass, smoothing it carefully with a steady hand. Then he hurried down the stairs and to the coach, which was waiting to take him to the park.

"I shall return at seven, Your Grace," the coachman called out as he hurried away.

"Thank you," Sidney replied under his breath as he shifted his shoulders in the jacket and hurried to the park.

***

Anastasia stood at the gate to Hyde Park. It was exactly five o' clock, and a cool wind blew across the park, making the leaves on the trees shiver and rustling in the grass. She drew her cloak tighter around her.

"I suppose he might be delayed," she murmured to Rachel, who stood waiting in her black uniform. Rachel tilted her head.

"It's only just five, milady," she said lightly.

Anastasia swallowed and nodded. "You're right."

She looked around, wishing she did not feel so nervous. The park was slowly filling up, ladies taking an evening stroll after tea and gentlemen in top-hats and tailcoats trying to ignore admiring stares, all the while seeming also to look for them. She smiled to herself. Thoughts of Sidney were never far. Ever since they had spoken yesterday, he had slipped into her mind whenever she was still even for a second. She smiled often, a grin lifting her lips without her even knowing it.

She gazed around, feeling a little tense. She looked down at her gown. She had chosen one she did not wear often, but which Lily assured her suited her well. It was a white muslin with a tiny pattern of flowers in pale blue. The sleeves were translucent puffs, the waist defined with a pale blue ribbon. She tucked a curl of hair back from her eyes. It was fashionably styled in ringlets in the front, but loosely, the way she preferred, not the tight, formal ringlets of balls and soirees.

She did not ever want to dress that way again. Lord Ridley would have been shocked by anything else, and she wanted more than anything simply to forget him and all about him.

The sound of coach wheels made her look up. A coach was rolling past, sufficiently slowly that it seemed it might stop, and as it did so, delight surged through her.

It was Sidney.

"Anastasia."

He stepped out of the coach, a broad grin on his face. His green eyes were bright, burning with an emerald fire that made her heart race. His fine-chiseled face was pale but seemed lit from within. His dark hair was brushed neatly, and he wore black trousers and a dark blue jacket she did not think she had ever seen him wear before. His shirt collar was high, as was the fashion, tied with a simple but tasteful cravat.

"Sidney!"

She felt a grin lift her lips in the corners as he walked over.

"My lady." He bowed low and took her hand, pressing it to his lips. Her heart soared and she giggled, unashamed of the girlish joy that glowed like warm candle light in her veins.

"Sidney," she said, grinning. "We did say we would not be so formal."

"Yes. But you are, now, my lady. And I want to say it often, for I will never tire of it."

Anastasia beamed. "And may I say also that you are my gentleman?" Her cheeks were burning with heat, and she looked away, amazed at her own audacity.

He grinned. His eyes were bright with warmth and joy.

"Most assuredly, you may. You may call me your gentleman as often as you wish. I am glad to hear that too."

Anastasia giggled.

"Shall we walk this way?" Sidney asked, gesturing to a leafy avenue. Anastasia nodded.

"I think that way would be delightful. But then, so would the other, or any other, in your company." She smiled, her soul soaring with delight. Walking with him, speaking thus to him—it was bliss, something that she would, indeed, never tire of.

He laughed. It was a lovely sound. Warm, rich, and gentle. His eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled. She glowed, seeing it and hearing his rich chuckle.

"I agree."

They walked down the path together.

Rachel followed them, hanging back a little to give them the sense that they were not being overheard. Anastasia smiled at her. She would not have worried, however, if everyone in the park was gawping and staring. Some heads did turn as they passed, but she barely noticed. Her world was full of sunshine, and their stares were like paper arrows fired at a stone—insignificant and not able to do harm at all.

"What think you of the rose garden?" Sidney asked as they approached an area of the park that was planted mostly with roses.

"I am fond of it." Anastasia beamed.

"Good." Sidney chuckled. "Because we are headed that way."

Anastasia laughed warmly.

"I am glad you like this place," Sidney told her as they settled on a bench that was situated close to a lovely flowerbed of roses. Rachel sat on another bench across from them. "Because I would prefer to linger here."

"You would rather be here than further along the path?" Anastasia asked, feeling curious. He was sitting beside her on the bench, a distance of perhaps five inches between them. It was close enough for her to feel, almost, the warmth of his arm through his sleeve. Her heart was thudding fit to burst and it was hard to concentrate on what he said.

"Yes," Sidney answered with a smile. "Because I believe my cousin, Giles, is over there, showing a lady the exotic plant collection." He gestured towards where a hothouse stood across from a fountain.

"He is?" Anastasia frowned. She barely recalled having met Sidney's cousin, though she was sure that she had seen him once before, at a ball or party where she had spoken with Sidney himself.

"Yes." Sidney grinned.

"How strange," Anastasia replied. "My friend Camilla likewise had to meet someone in the gardens." She felt a frown crease her brow. "It seems we each know somebody here."

"Yes. Stranger still is that they are here to meet each other." Sidney grinned.

"What?" Anastasia giggled, lifting her hand to her lips. "No! Truly?"

"Yes." Sidney smiled; his expression warm. "Giles mentioned to me that he was coming here to escort Lady Camilla on a walk about the gardens."

"No!" Anastasia giggled, heart soaring with delight. "How remarkable."

Sidney smiled. "It is."

They sat silently, and Anastasia breathed in the fragrance of the roses and shut her eyes for a moment. She felt blissfully happy, sitting beside Sidney. She had always longed to be free to talk with him, to spend time with him. And all her prayers had been answered.

"I am happy here, with you," Sidney murmured.

"As am I, with you," Anastasia told him, turning to face him with a big grin on her face.

Sidney smiled. He reached up and tenderly tucked a ringlet behind her ear.

"I want to do this forever," he told her slowly. "I want you to marry me."

Anastasia gaped at him. She had known that she loved him, that she wanted that more than anything on Earth, but she had, somehow, not expected him to say it. At least not so soon.

"Sidney." She gaped at him, her eyes wide, her jaw falling open. Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked, a grin tugging her lips. "I think I would like that more than anything on earth."

She swallowed hard; her throat too filled with emotion to say anything else.

His eyes widened, a look of utter astonishment crossing his face. Then, slowly, a grin moved across his countenance, beginning at his lips and then spreading to his eyes so that he gazed at her, joy and delight shining from him.

"I...you...you said yes."

Anastasia giggled. "Indeed, I did. You are most dear, delightful, and wonderfully foolish! I hold a profound affection for you. My love for you surpasses all else upon this earth. I love you for all eternity."

Sidney blinked, and she realized that he, like herself, was close to tears, though a grin bloomed on his face for all to see.

"Dearest Anastasia," he murmured, his voice laden with emotion. "I too hold you in my affection. My love for you is boundless, enduring through all time. With every beat of my heart, I am yours, now and always."

He leaned towards her, and she shut her eyes as his lips pressed to her own.

In the soft, damp, scented silence of the garden, they shared a sweet kiss.