She certainly wasn’t expecting to spend time with him this afternoon.
CHAPTER 14
It was almost funny that Philip had come for a ride in Hyde Park to escape all of his problems for a while, just to find himself staring at the woman who had started this intense stirring within him. Who had him overthinking absolutely everything. Of course he was drawn to her picnic party.
It was almost as if he could not control himself around her. If Verity was close by, then he was pulled towards her, like a magnet had complete control of him. It was a sensation unlike anything else that he had ever felt before.
He brought Midnight to a stop and, carefully dismounting, greeted everyone with a charming smile. Unfortunately, he found it impossible to drag his eyes off of Verity. His gaze lingered on her far too long, in a way that he was sure would be deemed scandalous. But he could not help himself.
“It’s so good to see you, Philip,” James declared, speaking to him warmly. It had been a while since their paths had crossed, but an acquaintance from the House of Lords was someone he would always have time for. “You must join us for a picnic on this lovely day.”
“Oh, I would not want to impose…”
“Don’t be silly,” James boomed with laughter. “You would not be imposing at all. We would love to have you here with us. We have plenty to eat and drink. You would be most welcome. Plus, we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Philip glanced around at the group, who all appeared to agree with James.
As he settled onto the picnic blanket, listening to the lively conversation around him, which eventually drew him in, Philip was surprised by how content he felt. There was a true senseof camaraderie here, giving him a sense of belonging that had evaded him for far too long. This was how he used to feel when he was married. In Julianna he had a family, he had friendship, he had everything that he needed, which only made it that much more challenging to lose her.
“So, Philip, tell me,” James began, leaning forward slightly, “how have things been at the House of Lords? Any interesting debates recently?”
Philip smiled, appreciating James’s genuine interest. “It has been as lively as ever, James. There was a particularly heated debate last week about the new trade regulations. Lord Danforth nearly lost his temper.”
James chuckled. “Danforth? That is not surprising. He always has strong opinions. What is your take on the matter?”
Philip took a moment to gather his thoughts. “I believe the new regulations could benefit our economy in the long run, but there are certainly some short-term challenges we need to address. The opposition is quite vocal about the potential negative impacts on smaller merchants.”
James nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, balancing progress with the needs of all sectors is always a challenge. I must say, I don’t envy you the task of navigating those waters.”
“It’s a challenge, but it’s also rewarding,” Philip admitted. “There is a sense of purpose in trying to shape the future, even if it’s a small part.”
James’s eyes twinkled with admiration. “I always knew you had a knack for this, Philip. You have a way of seeing the bigger picture and finding common ground.”
Philip laughed lightly. “You give me too much credit, James. It’s a collective effort. Besides, I am sure that you have been keeping busy with your own ventures.”
“Oh, absolutely,” James agreed, his enthusiasm bubbling to the surface. “Faye and I have been working on expandingour estate. We have recently acquired some land, and we are planning to turn it in to a vineyard. It has been a dream of ours for a while.”
Philip’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “A vineyard? That sounds wonderful. I had no idea you were interested in wine making.”
James grinned. “It’s a new interest, I admit. But Faye is quite passionate about it, and her enthusiasm is contagious. We have already started planting the first vines.”
Philip could not help but be impressed. “That sounds like quite an undertaking. I wish you both the best of luck with it. I am sure it will be a success.”
All of a sudden, he felt Verity’s eyes burning through him and he turned to catch her looking at him across the picnic blanket. Philip felt so captivated by her grace and the way that her smile absolutely illuminated her face, he allowed himself to forget about the pressure that his mother was putting on him. He even pushed away the burden of his responsibilities for a short while.
As the conversation carried on despite his lapse in attention, he was able to sidle subtly towards Verity and speak to her in an undertone.
“I owe you an apology,” he told her quietly, grateful to get this weight off his chest. “For the gossip that has spread through the scandal sheets following our dance at the soiree.”
Verity offered him a graceful shrug. “The fault does not lie with you. The ton will latch on to any morsel of speculation.”
Philip smiled. “Yes, you are right about that. It’s hard to make any moves in society without someone having an opinion on it.”
“Or everyone,” she chuckled back. “It seems like everyone has to have an opinion on everything. I do hope it has not caused you too much trouble.”
Philip shook his head. As he stared at Verity, it was hard to recall any issues that he had faced at all. His heart ached at the unfairness that held women to such impossibly high standards in society. “Nothing that I cannot handle.”
Verity nodded resolutely. “I am sure the ton will find someone else to talk about soon enough. There is always someone getting themselves into trouble. Then we shall be all but forgotten.”
