chance to talk, have we? I wager you can show me parts of this estate that I haven’t seen yet.” She smiled prettily as Theo buttoned his doublet in an attempt to make himself more presentable.
“It would be an honor to walk with you, Miss Whitfield. ”
“ Please, call me Louisa, and may I call you Theo? Lord Carew is so formal, don’t you think?” The young man just nodded happily, already following Louisa out of the room and down the hall toward the door to the formal garden. It was in shadow at this time of day, so Louisa didn’t have to worry about unattractive perspiration marring her beauty as she charmed her prey. She slid her arm through Theo’s as they walked down the graveled path, surrounded by Grecian urns and manicured hedges. Thankfully, there was no one about, so she had Theo’s undivided attention. She purposely chose the formal garden in an effort to avoid the children, who would cling to her and want to play a game of hide-and-go-seek. Evie was especially fond of the game, always wanting to be the one to hide, but the nurse never took them to the formal garden, leaving it to be enjoyed by the adults.
“So, you grew up in Virginia?” Theo began shyly. “I’ve always longed to visit the New World. It must be so exciting. I’m afraid I’ve never been further than Kent.”
“I think you are the one whose life is exciting ,” Louisa replied, looking up at Theo through her eyelashes. “Jamestown is so primitive compared to London. I believe your aunt called it a “backwater.” Not many would disagree with her.”
“S he enjoys shocking people with her observations. It’s the only way she can get them to pay attention to her; at least, that’s what my mother used to say. She always bid me to be kind to her.”
“Oh, I don’t mind Aunt Maud. She’s amusing if you don’t take her too seriously. It must be nice to have such a large family. Do you see your brothers often?” Louisa gazed up at Theo. He was almost as tall as Kit, with the same black hair and eyes, but he lacked the swagger of her uncle. Kit exuded confidence and decisiveness, whereas Theo seemed shy and reticent, eager to please. Louisa strongly suspected that Theo preferred to observe rather than to be observed.
“I live with my older brother Robin, and his wife, but they’re in the country for the summer. Walter got married a few months ago, and I haven’t seen him since the wedding. He’s enjoying time with his new bride. I must admit that I miss him,” added Theo quietly. “It’s strange when people begin a new chapter in their lives and leave one behind.”
“I miss my brother as well. He was my best friend in the world,” whispered Louisa dramatically.
“I’m sorry, Louisa. I didn’t mean to be callous. I heard what happened to your brother at the hands of the savages. It must have been awful for all of you. The stories of the Indians seem so exciting and romantic, but the reality is quite ugly, isn’t it? You must still be grieving.”
Louisa sto pped walking and turned to face Theo, her eyes full of unshed tears. “It’s as if I lost a part of myself when he died. I’ve been terribly lonely without him. My parents were so torn apart by grief that they couldn’t even bring themselves to put a marker for him in the cemetery. There was no body, you see, so they couldn’t even bury him. At least baby Alex has a grave that I can visit.” She glanced away, wiping a phantom tear.
“I can only imagine your grief,” Theo said, subconsciously drawing her a little closer. “If there’s anything at all I can do to cheer you up, please just say the word. I’m entirely at your disposal.”
Louisa glanced away from Theo as if to hide her emotion. He was so sweet. She could see the compassion in his eyes, and her heart melted. There was something about his expression that reminded her of Finn.
“It would be an honor to walk with you, Miss Whitfield. ”
“ Please, call me Louisa, and may I call you Theo? Lord Carew is so formal, don’t you think?” The young man just nodded happily, already following Louisa out of the room and down the hall toward the door to the formal garden. It was in shadow at this time of day, so Louisa didn’t have to worry about unattractive perspiration marring her beauty as she charmed her prey. She slid her arm through Theo’s as they walked down the graveled path, surrounded by Grecian urns and manicured hedges. Thankfully, there was no one about, so she had Theo’s undivided attention. She purposely chose the formal garden in an effort to avoid the children, who would cling to her and want to play a game of hide-and-go-seek. Evie was especially fond of the game, always wanting to be the one to hide, but the nurse never took them to the formal garden, leaving it to be enjoyed by the adults.
“So, you grew up in Virginia?” Theo began shyly. “I’ve always longed to visit the New World. It must be so exciting. I’m afraid I’ve never been further than Kent.”
“I think you are the one whose life is exciting ,” Louisa replied, looking up at Theo through her eyelashes. “Jamestown is so primitive compared to London. I believe your aunt called it a “backwater.” Not many would disagree with her.”
“S he enjoys shocking people with her observations. It’s the only way she can get them to pay attention to her; at least, that’s what my mother used to say. She always bid me to be kind to her.”
“Oh, I don’t mind Aunt Maud. She’s amusing if you don’t take her too seriously. It must be nice to have such a large family. Do you see your brothers often?” Louisa gazed up at Theo. He was almost as tall as Kit, with the same black hair and eyes, but he lacked the swagger of her uncle. Kit exuded confidence and decisiveness, whereas Theo seemed shy and reticent, eager to please. Louisa strongly suspected that Theo preferred to observe rather than to be observed.
“I live with my older brother Robin, and his wife, but they’re in the country for the summer. Walter got married a few months ago, and I haven’t seen him since the wedding. He’s enjoying time with his new bride. I must admit that I miss him,” added Theo quietly. “It’s strange when people begin a new chapter in their lives and leave one behind.”
“I miss my brother as well. He was my best friend in the world,” whispered Louisa dramatically.
“I’m sorry, Louisa. I didn’t mean to be callous. I heard what happened to your brother at the hands of the savages. It must have been awful for all of you. The stories of the Indians seem so exciting and romantic, but the reality is quite ugly, isn’t it? You must still be grieving.”
Louisa sto pped walking and turned to face Theo, her eyes full of unshed tears. “It’s as if I lost a part of myself when he died. I’ve been terribly lonely without him. My parents were so torn apart by grief that they couldn’t even bring themselves to put a marker for him in the cemetery. There was no body, you see, so they couldn’t even bury him. At least baby Alex has a grave that I can visit.” She glanced away, wiping a phantom tear.
“I can only imagine your grief,” Theo said, subconsciously drawing her a little closer. “If there’s anything at all I can do to cheer you up, please just say the word. I’m entirely at your disposal.”
Louisa glanced away from Theo as if to hide her emotion. He was so sweet. She could see the compassion in his eyes, and her heart melted. There was something about his expression that reminded her of Finn.
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