when he saw the veiled lady approach again. It was
unusual to find a veiled woman in such a place, especially one
wearing such dark clothing. There hadn’t been masquerades here in
years and she stuck out among other visitors to the gardens.
Perhaps she had recently come out of mourning and was still
uncomfortable with outings, though she appeared to be in full
mourning. If that were the case, she shouldn’t even be out of her
house. When she returned he watched her graceful walk, straight
posture, and realized that she was now with a different group.
Perhaps she had come alone, which would have been foolish. Or maybe
she was with a large party. No one ever knew what to expect here.
Yet, the situation seemed odd, as none of the people she followed
so closely seemed to talk to her, or even acknowledge her
presence.
Perhaps she was alone after all. For a
fleeting moment he considered approaching her, then shook his head,
dismissing the idea. Then again, if she was recently from mourning,
perhaps she was a widow. He set the thought aside. He didn’t even
know who she was. The idea was idiotic, and yet he couldn’t take
his eyes from her.
She approached the supper boxes and
skirted to the opposite side of the group as if she was
intentionally trying not to come too close to him, which was
ridiculous, of course. He strained for a closer looked and tried to
see an image behind the veil, but was only rewarded a profile,
barely discernable. Something was very familiar about the lady, but
he couldn’t place it. He continued to watch her when she passed and
studied her carefully, hoping to find a clue to her identity. Had
she been a friend, or wife of a friend? He didn’t know. It wasn’t
until he watched her from behind, noting the gentle sway of her
hips, that recognition settled in his stomach. Groaning, he denied
that it was possible. His eyes trailed up from her hips searching
for the color of her hair. Black, shiny and curly. Darker than the
night. Darker than the clothes she wore, or the veil.
“ Bloody hell.” He slammed
his glass down on the table and left his friends without a single
explanation.
Taylor trailed her, studying her walk
and the black hair slipping from its pins, beginning to fall down
her back. The more he watched her, the more he hoped the woman
would do something to prove he was mistaken. Unfortunately, the
more he followed and watched, the more certain he
became.
Indisposed, was she? He
knew her mother had forbidden her to come here at night. Noah
hadn’t gone against Lady Felding’s wishes but, apparently, the
daughter had. Did she have any idea the chance she was taking? What
could happen to her? Good Lord, she would have had to travel here
alone, and enter the gardens alone. How long had she been walking
about, alone ?
Obviously, she hadn’t been listening
to him or anyone else and this was by far the most reckless pursuit
she had undertaken. It was now time to teach her a lesson.
Increasing his stride he brought himself even with her.
“ I couldn’t help noticing
that you appear to be alone this evening. May I offer my
escort?”
She quickly shook her head.
“ Come now, what kind of
gentleman would I be if I let you walk about alone?”
If he hadn’t been sure before, he was
sure now. It was her scent. The light fragrance of lilacs. So light
it was hardly noticeable. Grabbing her hand he put it in the crook
of his arm. When she tried to pull it away, he held tight. She
trembled. “I would never forgive myself if I allowed you to walk
about unescorted and something happened.” He didn’t expect a
response, yet. “Why do you wear a veil and dress so
darkly?”
No answer.
“ Are you just coming out
of mourning?”
Her head nodded in the
affirmative.
“ My condolences then. A
husband per chance?”
Lady Phoebe started to shake her head
no but stopped.
“ Is this your first outing
then?”
Another affirmative.
“ I can see why you chose
the Gardens. It is a lovely
unusual to find a veiled woman in such a place, especially one
wearing such dark clothing. There hadn’t been masquerades here in
years and she stuck out among other visitors to the gardens.
Perhaps she had recently come out of mourning and was still
uncomfortable with outings, though she appeared to be in full
mourning. If that were the case, she shouldn’t even be out of her
house. When she returned he watched her graceful walk, straight
posture, and realized that she was now with a different group.
Perhaps she had come alone, which would have been foolish. Or maybe
she was with a large party. No one ever knew what to expect here.
Yet, the situation seemed odd, as none of the people she followed
so closely seemed to talk to her, or even acknowledge her
presence.
Perhaps she was alone after all. For a
fleeting moment he considered approaching her, then shook his head,
dismissing the idea. Then again, if she was recently from mourning,
perhaps she was a widow. He set the thought aside. He didn’t even
know who she was. The idea was idiotic, and yet he couldn’t take
his eyes from her.
She approached the supper boxes and
skirted to the opposite side of the group as if she was
intentionally trying not to come too close to him, which was
ridiculous, of course. He strained for a closer looked and tried to
see an image behind the veil, but was only rewarded a profile,
barely discernable. Something was very familiar about the lady, but
he couldn’t place it. He continued to watch her when she passed and
studied her carefully, hoping to find a clue to her identity. Had
she been a friend, or wife of a friend? He didn’t know. It wasn’t
until he watched her from behind, noting the gentle sway of her
hips, that recognition settled in his stomach. Groaning, he denied
that it was possible. His eyes trailed up from her hips searching
for the color of her hair. Black, shiny and curly. Darker than the
night. Darker than the clothes she wore, or the veil.
“ Bloody hell.” He slammed
his glass down on the table and left his friends without a single
explanation.
Taylor trailed her, studying her walk
and the black hair slipping from its pins, beginning to fall down
her back. The more he watched her, the more he hoped the woman
would do something to prove he was mistaken. Unfortunately, the
more he followed and watched, the more certain he
became.
Indisposed, was she? He
knew her mother had forbidden her to come here at night. Noah
hadn’t gone against Lady Felding’s wishes but, apparently, the
daughter had. Did she have any idea the chance she was taking? What
could happen to her? Good Lord, she would have had to travel here
alone, and enter the gardens alone. How long had she been walking
about, alone ?
Obviously, she hadn’t been listening
to him or anyone else and this was by far the most reckless pursuit
she had undertaken. It was now time to teach her a lesson.
Increasing his stride he brought himself even with her.
“ I couldn’t help noticing
that you appear to be alone this evening. May I offer my
escort?”
She quickly shook her head.
“ Come now, what kind of
gentleman would I be if I let you walk about alone?”
If he hadn’t been sure before, he was
sure now. It was her scent. The light fragrance of lilacs. So light
it was hardly noticeable. Grabbing her hand he put it in the crook
of his arm. When she tried to pull it away, he held tight. She
trembled. “I would never forgive myself if I allowed you to walk
about unescorted and something happened.” He didn’t expect a
response, yet. “Why do you wear a veil and dress so
darkly?”
No answer.
“ Are you just coming out
of mourning?”
Her head nodded in the
affirmative.
“ My condolences then. A
husband per chance?”
Lady Phoebe started to shake her head
no but stopped.
“ Is this your first outing
then?”
Another affirmative.
“ I can see why you chose
the Gardens. It is a lovely
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