return to Newcastle after her lying-in?” she asked.
Now she raised her head, and I was looking straight into her eyes. They expressed more than a polite regard for my family’s welfare. As she leaned toward me, her mouth opened enough to expose her sharp little teeth. I couldn’t help thinking she had a rather vulpine countenance. She took an eager interest in Lydia and Wickham’s affairs. Too eager. She wanted to gossip about them to her friends, I concluded. Some women took pleasure from talking about the misfortunes of others. It would not do.
“Pardon me, ma’am,” I said, jumping to my feet. “I think I shall rescue Mr. Walsh.”
My vow floated off into the breeze.
I t was the first time I had approached him of my own accord. He watched me walking toward him and smiled. “Mr. Walsh, let me take David. Wouldn’t you like to finish your meal?”
“Thank you, but I’ve eaten more than enough.” He tucked David into my arms. “I believe he’s growing sleepy. Perhaps he’s ready for a nap?” We strolled in Jane’s direction, David burying his head against my breast.
Jane saw us coming and rose. “Thank you, Mr. Walsh, for entertaining him. You seem to have a way with children.”
His eyes gleamed with good humor. “I’m an experienced uncle. My three sisters have five—no, six—children among them.”
Jane laughed. “I guess with so many, it is understandable you’ve lost track.”
“And it’s no wonder you are so accomplished,” I said as I handed David over to Jane. “I hope to become more proficient with children one day.” I winced. What an embarrassing comment, as though I’m hinting at marriage and a child—with him.
“You will, with practice,” he said, not appearing to have misconstrued my words. “Miss Bennet, I was thinking of climbing to the top of that peak.” He pointed in the general direction of High Tor. “Would you care to accompany me?”
I glanced at Jane for guidance. She laughed. “Go ahead, Mary. You’ll be in full view of us, if you’re worried about a chaperone.”
I was more concerned about my resolve. What had happened to it? Only a few hours past, I’d vowed to keep my distance from the man, and now, as soon as I heard “climbing,” “peak,” and the most significant words of all, “accompany me,” I was persuaded to do the opposite. So long did I pause, both he and Jane stared at me in puzzlement. “Thank you. I would like that,” I said at last.
As we started off, I swiveled around to see what Kitty was doing. In conversation with the Ashtons, she didn’t appear to notice me walking away with the man she wished to court her. I wondered if Amanda Ashton had been attempting to pry information out of her as well as me, and prayed if that were the case, she would be circumspect.
We walked at a leisurely pace. Hands clasped behind his back, Mr. Walsh seemed content with silence. I liked that about him, that he did not have to fill every empty space with the sound of his own voice. There was no bravado in him.
“What is your favorite season, Miss Bennet?”
I thought for a moment. “Autumn.”
“And I prefer spring above every other. After the drudgery of a long winter, I am impatient to get out of doors again. Tell me what you like about autumn.”
“I suppose I love the colors best of all, and the leaves underfoot. And there is something about the air on an autumn day. It shimmers.”
“Does it?” His eyes held that little gleam of merriment I’d noticed the other night. “I shall have to take note of it this year.”
We’d come to the base of the peak, where boulders and loose stone made the walking difficult. I slipped, nearly losing purchase, before Mr. Walsh took hold of my shoulders to steady me. When afterward he offered his hand, I hesitated. I felt his eyes watching me but could not look at him.
“Miss Bennet, if you will not take my hand, I fear we shall be forced to turn back. The way is too rough for you to
Now she raised her head, and I was looking straight into her eyes. They expressed more than a polite regard for my family’s welfare. As she leaned toward me, her mouth opened enough to expose her sharp little teeth. I couldn’t help thinking she had a rather vulpine countenance. She took an eager interest in Lydia and Wickham’s affairs. Too eager. She wanted to gossip about them to her friends, I concluded. Some women took pleasure from talking about the misfortunes of others. It would not do.
“Pardon me, ma’am,” I said, jumping to my feet. “I think I shall rescue Mr. Walsh.”
My vow floated off into the breeze.
I t was the first time I had approached him of my own accord. He watched me walking toward him and smiled. “Mr. Walsh, let me take David. Wouldn’t you like to finish your meal?”
“Thank you, but I’ve eaten more than enough.” He tucked David into my arms. “I believe he’s growing sleepy. Perhaps he’s ready for a nap?” We strolled in Jane’s direction, David burying his head against my breast.
Jane saw us coming and rose. “Thank you, Mr. Walsh, for entertaining him. You seem to have a way with children.”
His eyes gleamed with good humor. “I’m an experienced uncle. My three sisters have five—no, six—children among them.”
Jane laughed. “I guess with so many, it is understandable you’ve lost track.”
“And it’s no wonder you are so accomplished,” I said as I handed David over to Jane. “I hope to become more proficient with children one day.” I winced. What an embarrassing comment, as though I’m hinting at marriage and a child—with him.
“You will, with practice,” he said, not appearing to have misconstrued my words. “Miss Bennet, I was thinking of climbing to the top of that peak.” He pointed in the general direction of High Tor. “Would you care to accompany me?”
I glanced at Jane for guidance. She laughed. “Go ahead, Mary. You’ll be in full view of us, if you’re worried about a chaperone.”
I was more concerned about my resolve. What had happened to it? Only a few hours past, I’d vowed to keep my distance from the man, and now, as soon as I heard “climbing,” “peak,” and the most significant words of all, “accompany me,” I was persuaded to do the opposite. So long did I pause, both he and Jane stared at me in puzzlement. “Thank you. I would like that,” I said at last.
As we started off, I swiveled around to see what Kitty was doing. In conversation with the Ashtons, she didn’t appear to notice me walking away with the man she wished to court her. I wondered if Amanda Ashton had been attempting to pry information out of her as well as me, and prayed if that were the case, she would be circumspect.
We walked at a leisurely pace. Hands clasped behind his back, Mr. Walsh seemed content with silence. I liked that about him, that he did not have to fill every empty space with the sound of his own voice. There was no bravado in him.
“What is your favorite season, Miss Bennet?”
I thought for a moment. “Autumn.”
“And I prefer spring above every other. After the drudgery of a long winter, I am impatient to get out of doors again. Tell me what you like about autumn.”
“I suppose I love the colors best of all, and the leaves underfoot. And there is something about the air on an autumn day. It shimmers.”
“Does it?” His eyes held that little gleam of merriment I’d noticed the other night. “I shall have to take note of it this year.”
We’d come to the base of the peak, where boulders and loose stone made the walking difficult. I slipped, nearly losing purchase, before Mr. Walsh took hold of my shoulders to steady me. When afterward he offered his hand, I hesitated. I felt his eyes watching me but could not look at him.
“Miss Bennet, if you will not take my hand, I fear we shall be forced to turn back. The way is too rough for you to
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