Page 101 of Hearts of Briarwall

Cyril looked down at the posy now pinned to his coat and, somewhat pink-cheeked, narrowed his eyes at Violet.

Violet shrugged innocently. “Votes for Women.”

Florrie leaned forward. “Hard to resist, isn’t she?”

Oscar leaned into his brother and laughed. “You know, ladies,I’mthe one who told Andrew to get his head out of his—” He ducked as Cyril knocked his derby to the ground.

“Hold on, that’s a new hat.” Oscar went to fetch it before it was stepped on in the crowds.

Cyril smoothed his fingers over the rim of his own derby. “I’ll be at the lemonade stand, showing off my posy, should anybody need me.” He strode away.

“Well,” Violet said, putting an arm around Florrie’s waist, “I guess I’m notthathard to resist.”

“Sweetie,” Florrie said, “that man just turned four shades of red in your honor.”

Violet watched after him thoughtfully. “Shall we go make ourselves crowns?”

“An excellent idea we ought not to waste.” She took Violet’s arm, and they headed to one of the nearby flower stands.

Lydia glanced at Ruby, who remained quiet, watching her friends with a smile. It was Ruby who’d suggested love was in play. Actual love. Love worth fighting for.

Oscar returned, dusting off his hat. Nodding to Lydia and Spencer, he offered his arm to his sister. “Miss Burke, would you care to leave these lovebirds to themselves and join me for some lemonade with our surly older brother?”

She took his arm. “I should like nothing better.” She grinned at Lydia and Spencer, who removed his hat and bowed to her as Oscar led her away.

“Ruby is a dear,” Lydia said.

“Yes. Astounding, actually.”

“Because she’s grown up in the middle of all those brothers?”

“That, and because she still manages to fit in so well with you, Florrie, and Violet.”

Her mouth flew open as he laughed, and she reached for his hat.

He stepped back in time, but she pursued.

“You’ll pay for that,” she said, laughing.

He took her basket from her. “I have an idea,” he said, still evading her reach. “Why don’t you pin one of these on me, and I’ll turn four shades of red?”

She paused, then her mouth quirked. “Very well.” They’d stopped at the edge of the park, near the road. “Hold still, you big brute.”

He laughed and stepped close to her, holding very still. She pulled a posy out of the basket and, with her heart pounding, took her time pinning it to his lapel, enjoying the chance to be so near him. Would she ever tire of it? She couldn’t imagine. And they were just beginning.

She looked up to find him watching her.

“There is only one thing keeping me from kissing you right now,” he said.

“Do you like kissing me, Mr. Hayes?”

His eyes flashed. “Fully, wholly, and completely.”

She would be the one turning four shades of red. “What is stopping you, then? Propriety?”

He shook his head. “It takes something much stronger than that to resist you, my lovely Lydia.”

She smiled at the way he saidlovely. “What is it?”

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