Page 82 of If Not for the Duke

“What do you mean?” Sterling asked, though he already knew.

“I won’t leave Aunt Edith’s side,” his sister promised, an amused look on her face. “Go be with Lena.”

“Are you certain?” He glanced around to make certain no threats lurked nearby. How ridiculous.

“Positive.” She nudged him with her elbow. “I’ll catch up with you both in a while.”

He gave into her urging and left her in Aunt Edith’s care. After handing his glass to a passing footman, he moved toward Lena, easing his way along the busy pathways until he reached her.

“Lena.” He drank in her beauty. “You are so lovely.”

Her eyes widened, and she glanced toward Lady Havenby, but the lady was already speaking with someone else. “Thank you. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

He didn’t want to speak about the weather or the garden. He just wanted to—

To what?

He tried to sift through the unfamiliar emotions that churned inside him. He had yet to determine exactly what he wanted. How he should proceed.

“Sterling?” Questions lingered in her beautiful blue eyes. “Is something amiss?”

“No. All is well.” He drew a breath and offered his arm, not caring who saw them. “Shall we enjoy the garden together?” Now wasn’t the time to act or say something he might regret. For now, he would enjoy his time with her. There was no rush to move forward on his feelings. With a deep breath, he pushed back the sense of urgency filling him that said otherwise.

“I’d like that very much.” She took his arm, and they joined the other guests who meandered slowly along the path.

“Oh, what beautiful roses.” Lena leaned forward to smell the deep pink blooms, and he couldn’t help but note what a pretty picture it made.

The moment etched into his mind as the truth took hold—he loved her. The realization made his mouth dry, his palms damp. But there was no other explanation for how he felt. They didn’t have to talk or do anything special when they were together. He just wanted to be with her. The world settled into place when she was at his side.

Admitting the truth to himself was one thing. But he wasn’t prepared to admit it to anyone else. Not even her. Not until he worked through the idea and had time to become accustomed to it. As a person who had always planned out his days, he needed to carefully consider the future. To weigh the advantages and disadvantages of his actions. This situation was no different. He should proceed with caution, not reckless abandon.

But when Lena looked up at him and smiled, his heart did a somersault, and it was all he could do to keep a declaration from spilling out.

Lena raised a brow as if somehow sensing his unease. He shook his head, denying anything was wrong, so she continued along the path. She stopped to admire a bright purple hyacinth along with a whimsical fountain that featured frogs in ridiculous poses.

“I think you should consider adding something similar in your garden,” she teased, making him smile, something she frequently did.

To think she used to call him His Grumpiness. The moment made him realize that he was already a better person for having her in his life. It also made him wonder what else might happen if they shared a future together.

“I will certainly consider it.” He would if it made her happy.

As they continued, he began to relax. Seeing the garden through her eyes was a completely different experience. The flowers were brighter. The elaborately trimmed hedges more interesting. Perhaps there were advantages to garden parties he hadn’t seen before.

A passing footman offered glasses of lemonade, and they found themselves speaking with a few others while they enjoyed the cool beverage.

“Is Bernie here?” Lena asked as she perused the crowd.

“Yes.” He tipped his head toward where Bernie and Aunt Edith stood.

After they finished their drinks, he offered his arm again, ignoring the interested looks of some guests, and led the way along a different path that happened to lead to a small copse of trees.

“It’s difficult to believe we’re still in London,” Lena said as she looked about. “This reminds me of the garden at my grandfather’s country estate.”

“Do you go there often?”

“Not often enough. It’s so peaceful there. The skies are bluer and the air clearer.”

“More like you experienced in your childhood.” He realized his mistake too late and silently muttered a curse. He’d meant to avoid the topic of Oak Island, not wanting it to interfere with what was turning out to be an idyllic afternoon.

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