Chapter 13

Thomas accepted Lord Ardenridge's invitation only because he hoped that Lady Victoria would also be present. Since deciding to court Lady Victoria, Thomas had reluctantly decided to attend as many of the ton's functions as he feasibly could in the hopes of glimpsing her. Lord Ardenridge had decided that the park was an appropriate place to have the picnic.

It was a beautiful day to have a picnic. The sky was blue and laden with large, white clouds. Grasses swayed gently in the spring breeze, ruffling Thomas' hair as he walked. Soon, he made his way to where the picnic-goers were seated. He drew in a sharp breath of air, his eyes focusing at once on the familiar slender form of Lady Victoria, dressed in a pale lilac gown. She was seated by Lord Ardenridge, who sat beside her, smiling and leaning towards Lady Victoria.

Thomas' jaw clenched. A flare of something sparked inside him. It felt a lot like jealousy, but Thomas quickly dismissed the thought. He had resolved to woo Lady Victoria. There was no surer indication that she loved him than if she had other potential suitors. Then, Thomas would know that her feelings were genuine, and so would she. He forced the tension from his jaw and muscles and instead adopted a gentle smile.

A few of the gentlemen turned and caught sight of them. One was Samuel, and that was excellent. Thomas' two favourite people were present. Samuel rose and strode leisurely to Thomas' side. "McCallister!" he exclaimed. "I can scarcely believe it! You are willingly attending one of these functions? And during the day, no less!"

"Indeed," Thomas said, his eyes darting to Lady Victoria. "Have you seen Lady Norwood?"

"No," Samuel replied. "Why?"

Thomas smiled, scarcely able to believe his good fortune. As his eyes drifted over the members of the ton, Lady Victoria turned her head. Her eyes locked with Thomas', and he could have sworn that he saw her breath hitch even from across the park. "I do not think Lady Norwood is fond of me," he said.

Samuel arched an eyebrow. He seemed to sense that there was more Thomas was not saying, but he did not ask. "That is a rather interesting complication."

"Indeed," Thomas said, "especially given that I have decided to court Lady Victoria. I want her to love me."

Samuel barked in laughter, and Thomas grimaced. He was beginning to feel as though all his friend was doing of late was having a laugh at his expense. "That is unexpected! How wonderful for you! Is she proving to be more interesting than you thought?"

"Very interesting."

"Well, then," Samuel replied. "I suppose that you would like to have a promenade with the young lady."

"That would be ideal."

Thomas and Samuel joined the other members of the ton. Greetings were exchanged, and Thomas seated himself as near to Lady Victoria as he dared. It was not as near as Lord Ardenridge, but that was not an insurmountable obstacle. Food was eaten and drinks consumed, and although Thomas pretended to be interested in Samuel's thoughts on the best pubs in Britain, his thoughts remained on Victoria. She was talking about poetry, her face and voice alighted with infectious joy.

After a suitable period passed, Thomas cleared his throat. "Does anyone fancy a promenade along the water?"

"I would find that amenable," Samuel said, turning to Lady Eleanor, the slight, dark-haired young woman who sat beside him. "Would you like to accompany me?"

"And perhaps you will accompany me?" Thomas asked. "Lady Victoria?"

Lady Victoria's eyes widened. As she stared at him, her lips remained slightly parted. She seemed startled and quickly glanced at Lord Ardenridge, who smiled awkwardly. "I am afraid that I will not join you. I would rather stay here beneath the trees, where the sun is not so harsh."

"My Lady?" Thomas asked.

From the corner of his eye, Thomas saw Samuel rise with Lady Eleanor. They would have a plausible escort. Everything would be perfect if Lady Victoria would only agree. In those fleeting seconds where she did not speak, Thomas' heart hammered against his ribs. He had only just thought that she might not want to join him. What if he had upset her with the kiss? Perhaps she never wished to see him again.

At last, she smiled and gazed shyly at him from beneath her eyelashes. "I would like to join you, My Lord," she said.

Lady Victoria rose elegantly, and Thomas could not help grinning a little rakishly at her. Her gown was plainer than those worn by the other ladies, but to Thomas' eyes, she was still the most exquisite vision of beauty that he had ever beheld. "Shall we, then?" Thomas asked, offering his arm.

Her delicate hand grasped his elbow, and they began their promenade, following Samuel and Lady Eleanor. Thomas kept his distance from his friend, wanting some privacy with Lady Victoria. He glanced at her, admiring the pink flush of colours over her cheeks and the way her hair appeared to have the faintest tinge of red in the sunlight.

His eyes slowly wandered lower, over the curve of her pale throat and down to the swell of her pale breasts, their roundness unconcealed by the bodice of her gown. Even beneath the fabric, he could see the faintest promise of a slight waist and womanly hips. He imagined himself seizing handfuls of that gown and tearing it over Lady Victoria's head.

"It is good to see you again, My Lord," Lady Victoria said.

He smiled at her. "Likewise. I noticed that your stepmother is not here."

Lady Victoria shook her head. "I believe that she had another obligation."

Thomas furrowed his brow. "Are you alone, then?"

"Alone?" She gave him a bemused smile. "Of course, I am not. You are here."

"I mean, did you arrive unchaperoned? Did a lady's maid not accompany you?"

"Ah." Lady Victoria furrowed her brow, and an odd look crossed her face. Thomas could not have said whether she was startled or thoughtful. "I have not had a lady's maid in many years. My stepmother accompanied me here, and I expect that she will arrive to fetch me home."

Thomas grimaced. He did not like the thought of Lady Victoria being left alone at the picnic. Surely, someone ought to have accompanied her. He felt a surge of frustration and protectiveness rise within him.

There ought to have been a lady's companion or a lady's maid if no one else was available. Why was Lady Victoria not being treated as a young lady ought to be? It was almost worse that Lady Victoria did not seem to realize that there was anything strange with how she was being treated.

"I think she had good intentions," Lady Victoria continued, a note of defensiveness creeping into her voice. "She wanted to make certain that I am able to acquaint myself with the ton without—ah—being dissuaded by her presence. She believes that I may want too badly to please her and not behave as I normally might."

"That makes little sense to me."

"She does make me feel a little nervous sometimes," Lady Victoria said. "She means well, but I do feel as if it is difficult to please her sometimes. I do not mind, truly. Everyone has been quite lovely. Lord Ardenridge made me feel welcome here. He is a poet. Did you know?"

"I did." Thomas paused, considering his approach carefully.

He did not want Lady Victoria to believe him a jealous man, but it had just occurred to him that both Lord Ardenridge and Lady Victoria were writers. That seemed like the sort of interest that two people might bond strongly over. He clenched his jaw and forced away the surge of anger that rose within him when he thought about Lord Ardenridge leaning close to Lady Victoria and whispering honeyed words into her ear.

"Did you speak about the theatre with him?"

Lady Victoria shook her head. "I—well, I am not sure why, but it did not occur to me. I suppose there are other gentlemen with whom I prefer to speak about the theatre," she said, a note of mischief creeping into her voice. "I have thought of little else since the kiss we shared. Does that make me a ruined woman?"

"Not yet."

When he glanced at her, she was smiling. Her eyes narrowed at him, full of playful judgement. "Not yet," she echoed. "Are you hoping to accomplish that today?"

Thomas felt as if all the air left his lungs. He had never heard a woman ask him something so brazen before. Why had she done that? Did Lady Victoria not realize what she was asking him?

No, she must know. Lady Victoria is a friend of that actress. I am sure that she knows.

It was a strange thought. He felt as if the world was unsteady beneath his very feet. Lady Victoria was innocent; that much was true. And yet she knew far more than most young ladies of the ton about those delicious, forbidden acts that might occur between lovers. Of course, she did. Perhaps not personally. But she knew of them in concept. Theoretically. Better, she was curious about them. She was not some delicate flower who perceived the acts between lovers as a marital duty but something to be explored and savoured.

"Would you like me to?" he asked.

She hummed and pursed her lips together. "You did not tell anyone about the kiss we shared."

"Never. I am a man of my word."

"I know that," Lady Victoria replied, sweeping a hand towards Samuel and Lady Eleanor. "If you had told anyone, I imagine that the whole ton would know by now. It seems as if they do not."

"Of course not."

Lady Victoria let out a low puff of air and pulled away from him. She placed her back against the trunk of a weeping willow tree that grew at the edge of the lake. The green fronds blew in the wind, brushing against her face and hair. Lady Victoria smiled at him.

"Perhaps," she said, her trembling voice at odds with her sly smile, "we should talk somewhere more private."