"This is my favorite spot," Jenny announced as she stared out across the garden. "I like to pick lavender and put it under my pillows. Edwin says it helps people sleep."
"You're supposed to dry it first, silly," Samuel cut in with a laugh, "but who cares about flowers when there's food."
Alicia couldn't disagree, so she took the basket from James' hands and laid out the blanket across the grass. It was a lovely, checked pattern of purple and white, matching the lavender around them almost perfectly. Had Elizabeth done that on purpose, or was it simply a nice coincidence?
Soon enough, they were all settled on the blanket. James and Alicia across from each other with the children in between. Alicia flipped back the lid to reveal the food, perfect sandwiches with salmon and cucumber and cured ham. Fresh fruit with cream. Rosy, red apples and peeled oranges. A thick quiche with bacon and cheese, already sliced for easy eating. There were flasks too - orange juice for the children and tea for the adults. Then, for dessert, a stunning collection of little macaroons and delicate little pastries.
"Oh," Jenny gasped, clapping a hand over her lips, "my favorite!"
"Eat a proper meal first, please," Alicia chided, "then sweets."
Jenny grumbled, but she did reach for a cucumber sandwich and took a dainty bite. Her eyes lit up, and before long she was reaching for another one.
"We should join, before Jenny here inhales everything herself," James said with a laugh.
And so they did. There wasmorethan enough to go around; Alicia found little cups and plates so everyone could help themselves, and they were all quick to take a sandwich and pour drinks from the flasks. The tea stayed remarkably hot, and Alicia felt her tongue burn when she took an enthusiastic sip.
"Careful," James warned, gently taking the cup from Alicia's grasp. "Don't hurt my favorite governess."
It was an offhand remark. Silly, really, clearly meant to tease; but Alicia's stomach flipped at his words. She felt her cheeks flush pink and hoped that it was warm enough to blame the weather. "I'm all right," she replied, "I just got a bit too excited, I think."
"I had tea once," Samuel said with a serious look in his eyes. "I burnt my tongue too, and nobody's let me try it again since."
Alicia couldn't help but grin. When she reached to take her cup again, James' hand was still lingering there, and they brushed fingertips. Just for a moment, Alicia froze. His skin was warm, she knew even just from that gentle touch. Warm, strong, and unblemished, softer than she imagined.
James quickly snapped his hand away, and the moment shattered. He smiled, though, and there was a pretty flush of his own dusting his tanned cheeks.
Lifting the cup, Alicia took a long drink and avoided his gaze.
"We used to have picnics with father sometimes," Jenny said after a moment. She had picked another sandwich from the pile, this one salmon and salad, and munched away happily as she spoke. "We always had leftovers though, so we had them the next day, too, while sitting in the drawing room like it was some fancy social gathering."
"I used to do the same with mother," James replied softly, "Of course, that was a long time ago."
"My family and I never really hadpicnics," Alicia said, "Papa was a busy man so it was mostly just Mama and me. There was thiswonderfullittle café that we used to go to, though. It had the most delicious pastries, and I remember this one strawberry tart that was bigger than my entire hand. I wonder if it's still there..." Alicia's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. She could still picture it, the elegant stone exterior, and the bright blue wallpaper inside. It had such a friendly atmosphere, and Alicia had always looked forward to visits.
When she snapped back to attention, she saw the frown on James' face. "Used to go to?" he asked after a beat of silence.
Well, once Mama and Papa fell ill, and she had to look after them, there wasn't much opportunity for going out. Then they passed away, and everything was left to Alicia, and the thought of visiting anywhere alone made her feel physically sick. She didn't say any of that, though, instead simply answering, "My parents died, nearly three years ago now. It's uh, the reason I was so desperate for this governess job; I'm by myself, now."
She saw how his face fell.Feltthe sympathy pouring from him. Even Samuel was looking at her with somber eyes, his lower lip wobbling dangerously.
"It was a long time ago," she cut in with a shrug before anybody could offer condolences. Aliciahatedwhen people said they were sorry or tried to comfort her. It was just something that people said, and they never really meant it anyway.
"Even so," James replied quietly, "losing family is something nobody ever recovers from. Our mother died a long time ago, too, when these two were only young." He gestured to Jenny and Samuel, who were staring up at him with wide eyes. "If it isn't too much to ask... how did they die?"
Alicia stared down at her plate, which contained two sandwiches and a little slice of quiche. "Consumption," she said finally, and just getting the word past her lips made her cringe. She hated to think about it, even now. It was a terrible way to go; slow and agonizing, and Alicia had to witness it all. Swallowing thickly, she added, "They were healthy people. Strong. It just came out of nowhere, none of us saw it coming. At least they died together."
James reached out, slipped his hand into hers. "I'm sorry," he murmured, "you don't deserve that. Nobody does. It must have been so terrible for you."
She only nodded, eyes downcast. She soaked up James' warmth, and the way his hands curled around hers was so comforting. She didn't care that it was inappropriate, or that Jenny was staring at her with a slowly growing smile. All that mattered was that James was here, holding her hand as if they were just two normal people comforting each other. In the moment, it was easy to forget what they really were to each other; just employee and employer.
When he smiled, it was radiant. He had full, rosy lips and perfect white teeth, and for the first time, Alicia noticed that he had little dimples in his cheeks. It made him look youthful and gentle in a way she had never seen before.
"Our mother died of illness too," he said softly, "pneumonia, we think, although it was never confirmed. She died in the middle of the night when we were all in bed." A pause, in which James' eyes flickered to Samuel, then Jenny. "I suppose there are worse ways to go than in your sleep."
Alicia offered a gentle smile, using her free hand to rest atop his. "Tell me about her. Your mother."
"She was the kindest woman I've ever known, although she kept to herself so not many people knew it." James smiled fondly at whatever memory had surfaced, and Alicia's heart melted. "She loved the woods, rode the horses through the trail almost every day. This old mare, Josephine, was always her favorite and she was heartbroken when Josephine got too old to ride."
