Page 17 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
"Do not stop. I like listening to you talk," she said. There was another pause. He was undoubtedly caught up in memories of his mother, and she tried to think of something to say. However, it was he who broke the silence.
Chapter 9
James could barely take his eyes off his bride. She was dressed in a simple white cotton day dress. Even still, she was a model of elegance and grace. She had been wearing a light pink shawl draped around her shoulders when he had first come around the bookshelf to get her.
But now it was slung over the back of her chair, the square cut neckline of her dress showing off her pure ivory throat and chest. She was beautiful in every way he was discovering. And not only physically. She was beautiful inside and out.
“Would you like to join me for a stroll around the garden?” he asked. He hated to see her looking unhappy, and he wanted to show her his favourite haunt.
“I would be most happy,” Caroline responded, the light coming back into her eyes. He led her out of the library and out into the hall. They turned to the left, heading toward the back of the house. They passed walls filled with artwork and ancient tapestries lined with exquisite oriental rugs. He went slow as she seemed to want to take it all in. He would have to take her on a proper tour of the house later. For now, the sunshine was so delicious that he did not want to wait another moment.
“This house is a little overwhelming, I must admit. How do you not get lost?” she asked with a laugh.
“I used to love tearing about this house, hiding from Papa when he was cross with me. You know, there are secret tunnels built into the walls,” he said, lowering his voice. They came to the end of the hall, and he stopped what he was saying for a moment to open the door for her.
He swung the door out, and she stepped into the light ahead of him. His breath caught in his chest. She looked like an angel, floating on rays of sunshine as she headed into the midst of the garden. He straightened his smoking jacket, cleared his throat, and followed her, closing the doors behind him.
He fell into step beside her, motioning toward the fountain at the centre of the garden. She looked up at him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I cannot imagine you doing anything to make your father cross. You seem like such an upright, upstanding young man,” she said sarcastically.
He liked this side of her. She had been so quiet yesterday, barely saying a word throughout the wedding breakfast and into the afternoon. She seemed more at ease today, however. And for that, he was glad. He offered her his arm, and she took it, leaning against him as they walked. He liked the feel of her hand on his bicep, and he flexed subtly.
“I know,” he sighed dramatically. “I cannot think of anything I did that would have made him upset. Perhaps it was the toad in his desk drawer. Or the mud pie covered in a flakey, buttery crust I snatched from the cook.”
Caroline’s brows rose in shock. “Ahh, so you were a bit of a trickster in your younger years? Is that what you are telling me?”
“I was a young lad who had lost his mother very young. And my father tried to drown his sorrows in work. It was the only way I felt I could get his attention, I suppose. He is much better now about that.”
They walked on in silence for a few minutes, circling the gurgling fountain. “Speaking of toads–” she said of a sudden, turning her attention back to him. “I recall you telling me about a Blue Toad Lily when we first met?”
He laughed at this. “TheBlue Wonder?”he corrected. “Aww, well, you are in for a treat if you would still like to see her.”
“I would very much. I remember thinking what an odd name for a flower it was. And I have been intrigued ever since.”
Pride swelled in his chest that she had remembered. They changed course, heading down a path leading to the North side of the estate and toward the greenhouses. He had commissioned an extra one to be built shortly before his trip to Europe and Asia.
He had brought back several specimens of exotic plants from his travels–the Blue Wonder among them. They headed out of the garden and over the green toward the glassed-in structures.
He opened the door and hurried in after her. Humid air greeted them, feeling like a slap in the face after the cool, fresh air outside. She took off her shawl and laid it across a workbench at the front of the greenhouse. He thought again about how beautiful she was.
The back of her dress was cut low, revealing her milky white shoulders and back. He resisted the urge to place his hand there as he led her toward the back of the hothouse where the Blue Wonder waited.
“Right this way,” he mumbled, motioning that she should head down the aisle of wooden tables displaying his kingdom Plantae treasures. She looked around the place in awe, uttering how beautiful the specimens were as they passed by.
“Here she is–the Blue Wonder Toad Lily,” he said. He allowed her to go ahead and heard her slight intake of breath. He smiled as she went even nearer, leaning down to study the delicate white petals spotted by violet and royal blue spots. Five-pointed petals came out from a bright orange centre. The stamen came straight out from the middle, bearing the same colourings as the leaves, spreading out in a tripod formation.
“James, it is exquisite…” she breathed. She turned, looking back at him, and he stepped up beside her. He placed a hand on the small of her back, and she rested her hand against his breast pocket. Tingles spread through him, filling him with warmth at the intimate gesture. “I had no idea.”
“Not too bad for a toad, is she?” he asked with a chuckle. His eyes danced as they looked at the flower together. “I found her in a greenhouse in Italy. My father would faint if he heard the amount I paid, but she was worth it. I want to collect every exotic species of flower I can find and fill this place to the brim,” he said, waving his hand around the hothouse.
“Well, I hope you will allow me to go on these flower-gathering missions with you?” Caroline said.
“I have always longed to travel. It never seemed like that dream would be attainable, though, given my father’s–” she halted, biting her lower lip. He could see that she struggled. “His situation.”
“Well, there is no need to worry about that anymore. You shall have all the travelling you can stand if that is what you wish,” James promised.
She turned toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. His heart began to thunder in his chest, holding her so close in a private space. She looked so beautiful it made his heart hurt to look at her. He dipped his head and was about to brush his lips against hers when the gong sounded from inside the house, the echo drifting out over the yard to them. She stiffened and backed away.
“Oh, the gong. I did not realise it was so late!” she said. She ran a hand lightly over her hair, smoothing it down lest any of her curls had shifted out of place. Her cheeks were flaming red, no doubt embarrassed by the interrupted kiss. He let his hands fall to his sides, disappointed.
