The morning sunshine made her smile positively radiant, and Cecelia couldn't help but return it.
“Oh, Cecelia, yesterday was absolutely magical. Thank you for forcing me to go!”
Cecelia chuckled as her sister threw herself down onto the bed, a dreamy expression upon her face.
Rising from her stool, Cecelia dropped down beside her sister, for once, feeling the same excitement that she felt.
The trauma notwithstanding, Cecelia too had had an excellent time at Lady Ashmore's garden party. It had been quite a surprising turn of events. Though she still felt quite shaken whenever she thought of Blackburn, the thoughts were quickly overshadowed by all else.
When she rolled onto her side and propped herself up on an elbow, her sister did the same.
“I had no idea that a garden party could be so much fun,” Mary said, her smile broadening.
“Nor did I,” Cecelia admitted, and her sister's eyes widened.
“It wasn't just me then?”
Cecelia laughed and shook her head a little awkwardly.
“I had an excellent time. In fact, I would have loved it to last longer.”
Having returned to the party, Cecelia had been careful not to get herself into any more mishaps, and every time she had glanced over her shoulder, there his grace had been, watching her as if his very life depended on it.
Previously, that might have annoyed her, but yesterday it had given her stomach she never anticipated. It had thrilled her to see him watching her, to feel his gaze upon her, no matter where she went or who she spoke to.
She sighed with relief, perhaps with a little longing also.
As if she sensed it, Mary said, “George did a wonderful job yesterday. I didn't see the two of you arguing even once!”
Cecelia giggled at that. If she had seen them in the maze, she might have thought differently. She blushed a little, imagining what anyone might think were they to have witnessed what transpired.
“He kept his promise,” Cecelia said plainly, hoping to keep her emotions in check. She might be able to trust him a little more, but she wasn't about to give in to him entirely.
“What about you?” she asked quickly, to change the subject. “I couldn't help noticing that you spent a great deal of time with Lord Rosemont.”
“Walter?” Mary corrected her, her cheeks growing pink. “We have been friends for a long time.”
Cecelia cocked her brow.
“Friends, is it?”
The pink turned red.
“Whatever else would it be?”
Cecelia straightened a little and looked her sister in the eye. “I saw the way the two of you looked at each other.”
Mary pulled away a little. “It was nothing untoward.”
Cecelia shook her head. “Of course not. Walter is the perfect gentleman. He is the perfect gentleman for you.”
She reached over and nudged her sister.
“I am happy for you.”
Mary pursed her lips, looked uncomfortable, and lowered her gaze as if she could not bring herself to admit the truth.
“I would not go so far as to say that,” she said, playing with the embroidery on the bedsheets. “He is simply easy to talk to.”
