CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
“Ifound one!” Phoebe shouted excitedly, running toward an old cedar tree. It stood in the very center of one of the gardens’ walled sections, wide boughs spreading out like welcoming arms.
Daniel followed behind, holding the basket where they were supposed to put the red stars. So far, they had five, all of which Phoebe had found. He had a feeling she was using the game as a reason not to talk to him—either that, or she really was so invested in the treasure hunt that it held the entirety of her concentration.
“Careful!” he yelled suddenly as Phoebe began to climb the cedar like a monkey, effortlessly swinging herself up into the higher boughs.
He sprinted toward her, standing under the bough where the red star hung. To reach it, she had to either sit down and shuffle along the bough or use the bough above to balance herself as she moved down the bough like a tightrope walker. To his dismay, she chose the latter option, but without using the bough above. She was fearless, at that moment, her arms out wide for balance, her gaze focused on the red star.
“Get down at once!” Daniel urged. “I should be climbing the trees, not you. Indeed, whoever put this blasted star in the tree will be receiving a stern scolding.”
Phoebe laughed. “Am I making you nervous?”
“Yes, you are. If you fall and break your neck, I shall be at fault,” he replied, his heart hammering in his chest. He set down the basket and followed beneath her, ready to catch her if she stumbled, ready to use himself to break her fall if it came to it.
“Did no one ever tell you it is unseemly to look up at a lady while she is climbing trees?” she teased, a feverish heat rushing into his cheeks.
“No one ever felt it necessary, I suppose, for ladies should not be climbing trees,” he retorted, feeling very uncomfortable. “Caro has never climbed a tree in her life.”
Phoebe laughed, steadying herself. “Nonsense. Every girl has climbed a tree. Perhaps it isyouwho has never climbed a tree. You do not seem like the kind.”
“I have climbed plenty of trees,” he replied, insulted.
She shrugged. “I do not believe you.”
“I am not going to prove it. I do not need to. But Iwouldlike you to come down at once,” he demanded.
She smiled, ignoring him. “Cedars and oaks are the best for climbing. We have a beautiful cedar in the grounds of Woodholme. On summer evenings, I often used to sit in the crook of one of the boughs to watch the sunset in the last of the day’s heat.” She paused, her brow furrowing. “Goodness, I have not done that in years.”
“You see, you are out of practice!” Daniel urged. “Please, come down before you hurt yourself.”
But she ignored him once more, gracefully edging her way to the end of the high bough, where the red star fluttered. She kneeled on the gnarled wood, stretching her arm out, while Daniel watched on with his heart in his throat.
She is going to fall, she is going to fall, she is going to fall,his mind repeated relentlessly, panic churning in his stomach, his hands so clammy that he worried she might slip from his grasp if he did have to catch her.
She plucked the star free and held it aloft, beaming from ear to ear. “I did it!”
“Yes, you did,” he said curtly, but his temper softened a second later, seeing such a rare, open smile on her face.
It was a smile of absolute triumph, but it was more than that. It was the pride of someone who had not been sure if theycoulddo it, and had done it anyway. This, he realized, was a moment for her. A moment of proving something to herself.
Phoebe grinned down at him. “You see, there was nothing to fear.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” he replied gently.
She waved the remark away. “I had no doubt in my mind. When I was a girl, I was as surefooted as a cat. Once, when I was… eight or so, I climbed up onto the laundry roof and bathed in the sunshine all afternoon. No one could find me, until I was spotted from one of the upper windows.” A charming laugh rippled from her lips, her face shedding whatever strain she had been carrying, transforming her into a creature of pure joy and radiance. “I had burned in the sun, I was covered in freckles, and everyone held their breath when I clambered back down. Oh, My Lord, you should have seen the scolding I received!”
“I am also holding my breath,” he told her as she retraced her steps with ease, reaching the ground with no trouble at all.
Landing on the grass, she dusted off her hands and smiled at him. “You may exhale now.” She dropped the red star in the basket. “In truth, I would have expected you to be more encouraging of adventure, considering you must have traveled half of the world, by now.”
“I do not normally have anyone other than myself to worry about when I am traveling,” he replied. “Though, that is not to say that I have not experienced my fair share of perils.”
She picked up the basket, slipping it across her slender arm to the crook of her elbow. “Such as?”
“Pardon?”
“What perils have you faced? I should like to hear some of your stories,” she replied, and his heart jumped involuntarily.
