Page 14 of The Spring Promise
Will began to roll his eyes, but another dig in his ribs reminded him of his promise. “Thank you. It would be my pleasure.” He turned to Molly. “We could go together, could we not? The two of us.”
Celeste made a choking sound.
Molly smiled. “I would like that, Will.”
CHAPTERNINE
Molly wasn’t sure what to make of this new Will. He wasn’t the polite, reserved young man she grew up with, not in company anyway. He seemed determined to make his presence felt for all the wrong reasons, and people were certainly taking notice.
The music struck up again. Mark was still discussing his grandmother’s afternoon tea date, and they decided upon a morning in two days’ time. Sir Reginald rubbed his hands at the prospect of seeing Hunter’s rare plant, and Celeste eyed Will as if she wasn’t certain she recognised the stolid farmer who had proposed to her. There was a glint of interest in her blue eyes, and Molly wasn’t sure what to make of that. Was Celeste partial to the company of gentlemen with certain reputations like Mark Hunter? Perhaps now that Will was misbehaving, she liked him better?
But Molly preferred the old Will. The man she knew and loved, the man who would sit up at night to bottle feed a young lamb that others might have allowed to die.
The dancing was fun, and Will was still a good dancer, if a little stiff. Molly kept them on the floor as long as possible, but after three dances Mark had grown impatient waiting for a turn and cut in. Will frowned and for a moment, Molly thought he might refuse. She wasn’t sure whether to be amused or horrified by the tension between them.
“Will,” Molly said with a hint of warning.
Will smirked and stepped aside to allow Mark to take Molly in his arms.
Hunter gave her a wicked smile as they moved away from Will’s glowering presence. “It seems our friend is not happy. Am I treading on his toes? Metaphorically speaking, of course.”
Molly made a sound that could have been assent or denial, because she really didn’t know what to say. Although she had wanted Will to believe she was in love with Mark, she did not want Mark to realise she was in love with Will.
“So, you will come to tea at my grandmother’s? I apologise that my private invitation was commandeered by the Mortons.”
Molly looked up into his eyes. They were watchful and curious, but he seemed to be genuine in his wish to see her. “I don’t mind who else comes. I’m sure we will all enjoy ourselves. Your plant sounds interesting.” She smiled brightly.
He snorted a laugh but did not comment on her lie. For a moment, they danced in silence. “I will be returning to London soon,” he said at last.
“You must be looking forward to it.”
He hesitated. “I am, of course. But the thing is, I never expected to enjoy my stay in Barton Lacey so much. It was meant to be a punishment by my father and instead… Well, it has given me so much to think about.”
“Such as a new botanical hobby,” she teased.
He laughed. “Indeed. My friends will think I have run mad. Perhaps I shall not tell them just yet.”
“You shouldn’t let other people’s opinions of you rule your life,” said Molly.
They circled the floor once more. The dance was coming to an end.
“You are very forthright, Miss Lacey,” Mark said and then added quickly when she went to defer, “I like that in a woman. It is an unusual quality in my circles. I like you. If I thought you would welcome my attentions then I might have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal?” Molly’s voice rose an octave.
“Yes. I might offer to marry you. I need a wife. I think my father would be more inclined to loosen his purse strings if I had a wife, and you are just the thing.”
Molly stared. She forgot to move, and he had to do all the work if they were not to run into another couple. Then the music finished and before she could think of a reply, he stepped back and bowed low.
“I have succeeded in making you speechless,” he said with a smile. “That’s a start. You probably do not think me genuine, but I am. I have much to offer, and I want you to think about what I have said. We will meet again at my grandmother’s house, and I hope…” He bit his lip, but his eyes were teasing. “Well, I will be interested to hear what you think.”
He escorted her back to familiar faces. Grace was staring, dying to know why Molly looked like, as she put it, ‘a stuffed fish.’ Celeste was clinging to Will’s arm, chattering away, but he wasn’t paying attention to her. He was staring at Molly.
Molly had never been asked to marry anyone before, but she wasn’t about to accept Mark’s offer. And if she was somehow manoeuvred into such a position and made to marry him, then, well it would be all Will’s fault. Everything was his fault. She would never have embarked on this silliness if it wasn’t for him and his infatuation with Celeste. What a mess!
“You look alarmed,” Sir Reginald said, uncharacteristically observant for once and just when she would have preferred him not to be. “Did our friend say something you did not like?”
They all looked at Mark, who had left for the supper table and was chatting with another group.
