Font Size:

"Will there be scones?" Jenny asked brightly, "and cakes and fresh fruit cut into little bite-sized pieces?"

Alicia couldn't help but grin. "There will be. Now, all I need you two to do is convince Lord Arvill to join us."

Jenny's lips curled, "Edwin too?"

As far as Alicia knew, Edwin was busy. Since he arrived, she had barely seen him at all; either he was avoiding her specifically, or the man was simply elusive by nature. "Not today," she answered, "it will be just the four of us."

"I know exactly how to get James to join us," Samuel piped up, his smile cheeky. He folded his arms and puffed out his chest. "If I tell him how much effort you've put into this, Miss Alicia, he won't be able to say no."

A flush covered her cheeks, and she looked away, trying to bite back a laugh. "That's kind of you to say. Now, please go find him, while I start preparing."

They were happy to dart off downstairs, calling for James as they ran. Alicia watched them go until they faded from sight, putting the last book back on its shelf, before following down after them.

The kitchen was an enormous space, counters lining every wall. There was a huge table right in the center, where the head cook stood kneading dough. There were two other cooks as well, both of whom were in the far corner packing a huge picnic basket with various goods.

"Ah," the cook, Elizabeth, exclaimed, "good of you to come. Just in time, too - the picnic is almost ready."

Alicia smiled. "Thank you, it was kind of you to do this so last minute."

Elizabeth was an older woman, perhaps forty or so, but despite the wrinkles beneath her eyes and the graying tint to her hair, there was a youthfulness about her in the way she smiled. "Any time, girl. Lord Arvill could do with a break. He works himself too hard sometimes, although it's not my place to say."

Alicia couldn't agree more. Hopefully, this was exactly what he needed to relax for a day. "Do you think he'll appreciate it?" she asked, nerves bubbling in her chest, "or will he find me a nuisance?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She even paused her kneading to fix her gaze on Alicia with a soft smile. "I don't think Lord Arvill is capable of finding you a nuisance," she said, "he thinks the world of you, you know."

Alicia's heart stuttered. She could only gape, lips parted even though no words left her throat. She doubted that he really thought that much of her; after all, she was just a governess, and he was a lord.

"Now," Elizabeth announced, and she shooed the other two cooks away so she could grab the basket from their hands. "Everything is in here - I made sure to include everyone's favorites. Even yours. Enjoy yourself, do you hear me?"

Alicia only laughed as she took the basket, although it weighed so much that she had to strain to carry it properly. Slinging it over one shoulder, she had to grip the handle with her free hand to keep it from digging in. "Thank you. I mean it," she said softly.

"Just don't expect this to be a regular thing, mind you."

"I wouldn't dream of it." With a smile, Alicia turned to dart back into the foyer, basket in hand.

Samuel and Jenny were already there, hovering by the open door as they both hopped eagerly from foot to foot. Samuel had his hands clasped in front of him, practically vibrating with unshed energy. Jenny, meanwhile, simply bounced up and down and grinned when she caught sight of Alicia.

There was no James in sight, though, and Alicia's heart sank.

As if sensing her disappointment, Samuel pointed towards the study at the far end of the foyer. "He's just finishing up a letter, and then he'll be done," he announced proudly, "I told him you'd besodisappointed if he couldn't go, and Jenny said she wouldn't talk to him for a week."

Muffling a startled laugh behind her palm, she only stared. "I think that might have been a bit much, Jenny, love."

She only shrugged, then spun to dart out of the door and into the sunshine. "Maybe, but it worked!"

Alicia might have given them a scolding, had she not felt her chest flutter with joy. However, a moment later the door creaked open, and there stood none other than James Arvill himself. "Good afternoon," he said with a smile as he meandered over, "am I to believe that there's a picnic on the cards for today?"

"Indeed."

He seemed so genuinely happy to see her, and it made her chest giddy. He linked his arm through hers as they walked, basking in the sunshine, and even insisted on taking the heavy basket from her arms. For a while, they walked in peaceful silence as the two children darted off ahead.

Before she knew it, they were at the lavender gardens again, the beautiful scent filling Alicia's senses. James led her to a little alcove between the wall of the manor and a collection of beautiful, young evergreen trees.

"Why not sit here?" he offered, "It's a beautiful view."

He was right, of course. From here, the entire lavender garden was visible; the flowerbeds were bursting with life, every shade of purple imaginable spread out across every available inch of space. Seats and various other greenery dotted through the gardens, but here was the only spot with any true privacy, the trees keeping them from sight.

"It's beautiful."