Page 54 of Love Abandoned

“Oh, good,” Elizabeth said. “I thought he might have abandoned us. I feared we would have to sing for entertainment.”

“That would be a terrible thing, no? We sound like two magpies in the garden,” Sophia said, making a face.

“You both are as delightful to listen to as these songbirds,” Richard said, although he absolutely agreed with her comparison.

“Oh, you do have a gilded tongue, my lord,” Elizabeth said, tucking her arm in his. “Let me show you around the room now that we can see it much better.”

Her reference to last night both worried him and titillated him, as did his convenient view of her décolletage. The sweet mounds of pale flesh he’d dreamed about last night. He cleared his throat and tried to focus on her tour.

“On this floor we have games for both children and adults to enjoy. Bilbocatch, spillikin, taw, and your inspired idea of fishing. After the children have had a turn, they’ll go to the nursery floor to enjoy blindman’s bluff and have their own picnic. William doesn’t know it, but we’ve set up a teeter-totter as well. I do hope they don’t hurt themselves. The floor is unforgiving if one falls off.”

Richard was having the damnedest of a time focusing on anything Elizabeth said. Sophia wandered about directing multitudes of servants, and the harpist shrilled orders six feet from them, and even with that racket, all Richard could do was lust after his wife. He must stop this obsession. It could come to no good end.

“Do you not agree? Is that not a coup?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’m sorry, my love…” He silently cursed himself for letting the endearment slip out. He’d worked so hard these last two years to create distance. But her eyes lit as though the sun was shining directly on her, and he found he could not truly regret it. Tomorrow would be time enough to rebuild the safety of a wall between them. He would let her have this day.

“Shuttlecock,” she said, poking his forearm. “I’ll try not to take offense that I must repeat myself.” She smiled, the joy in her eyes belying her rebuke. “The anteroom off the drawing room has been cleared for shuttlecock. For the ladies only, of course.” She leaned against his arm playfully. “You men are brutes and would probably do damage.”

“My ladies, my lord, the first coaches are arriving,” Clarkson announced, then disappeared quickly back down the stairs.

Richard walked to the landing with Elizabeth. “Please join us,” he called to Sophia.

“Sì, signore.” Sophia sailed across the room to stand with them and greet their guests. “Incoming money,” Sophia said with a grin. “Time to put on a grand show.”

Sophia had no idea how close to the mark those last words were. Richard took a steadying breath. This day. He could give her this day.

*

Elizabeth was havingdifficulty concentrating on her role as hostess.My love. When was the last time she’d heard him say those words? She couldn’t remember, but she knew she wanted to hear them again. The turnout was spectacular, and the room was bursting at its seams. The ticket to the picnic wasn’t the only opportunity to raise funds. Large bowls sat by each game for voluntary donations, and they were filling surprisingly quickly. She commented on it to Richard, who had returned to her side after joining the gentlemen for a drink.

“You can thank Bentley.”

“Bentley?” Elizabeth asked, looking up at Richard as she slipped her hand through his proffered arm.

“Bentley,” he repeated. “He has encouraged wagers between the men on the games and insisted the victor donate his winnings to the orphanage.”

“Gambling, Richard? Here at my picnic with ladies and children?” She wasn’t sure whether to reprimand for such a breach of etiquette or laugh at the audacity of it all.

“All for a good cause, my love, all for a good cause,” he said, patting her hand.

And there it was again.My love. She beamed at him, hoping he could see how much his words meant to her. He cleared his throat and steered her toward the fishing barrel. The children had recently retreated to the nursery, leaving the games for the adults. Bentley was teaching Lady Adsworth’s daughter—which one Elizabeth didn’t know, as they looked alike to her—how to cast the line successfully.

“He does realize she is not yet out, doesn’t he?” Elizabeth quietly asked Richard.

“I would imagine that is precisely why he is giving her his attention. He’s avoiding the mamas who have eligible daughters. His parents are pushing him toward a decision, and he is resistant.”

“Ah, I see. I wonder how we will feel about it when the time comes for William and Sebastian,” she said, a slight melancholy sifting through her happiness as she imagined the boys full-grown.

Richard leaned in and quickly kissed the top of her head. “Let us get through today before we marry them off, shall we?”

She smiled at him. “You are correct, of course. I must get the baskets out now.”

He bowed, and she left, certain his eyes were upon her. A shiver of excitement ran through her, and she wished she could empty the room and pick up where they’d left off last evening. She could still taste him, still feel the urgency in his kiss.

She paused in front of the parrot, tempted to stick her tongue out at it. It had cut short her triumph. It squawked, and she scrunched her nose and narrowed her eyes, hoping it could see her frustration with it. The bird shifted on its perch. When she walked away, it felt like the bird was also staring at her. She glanced over her shoulder. Richard had disappeared. It seemed it was only the bird watching her.

She directed Hastings to distribute the picnic baskets, and she strolled around the room, encouraging people to leave the games and enjoy a repast. Sophia joined her, linking her arm in Elizabeth’s.

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