Garden of May - Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Even those few lines seemed to conjure the warm, gentle air around it. A rounded forehead, a dainty nose, full lips… A strange sense of familiarity washed over her.
If she could just cover those vaguely rendered eyes, she felt she might recognize it completely. It was in that moment, as she cautiously reached out, that River Ross covered her hand, the one holding the sketchbook, with his own.
“It’s late, Vanessa.”
“Oh?”
“I believe the servants mentioned a dinner party this evening.”
At his words, Vanessa finally checked the timepiece. River Ross was right; only thirty minutes remained before the arrival of their ‘guest.’ How could she have forgotten?
“Goodness!”
Vanessa scrambled to her feet, her hands flitting to smooth her disheveled hair and clothing. He stopped her as she rushed to leave, still in disarray.
“Wait.”
Deftly, he smoothed the wrinkles from her dress and untangled her hair. Until now, he had left it in its natural state, finding beauty in its wildness.
But if she returned to the manor like this, whispers would undoubtedly spread. Anyone could see they’d been enjoying a secret rendezvous.
He gathered her tousled locks and began to braid them. Handling her long hair was similar to weaving ship ropes. It required a much lighter touch and greater delicacy, but the result was presentable enough.
Theodore finished by retying the ribbon she’d worn dangling from her ponytail all day, shaping it into a neat bow.
“How did you…?”
Her fingers fidgeted as she touched her now-orderly hair. He shrugged and opened the shed door. The still-cool air of early summer brushed against her damp neck.
At the doorway, he gracefully took her small hand in his. She blushed involuntarily. He could be the perfect gentleman, yet there was an undeniable rakishness about him.
Perhaps it was the way he looked at her, his deep blue eyes like the ocean depths, threatening to pull her in and swallow her whole. The corner of his mouth, which moments before had been teasingly biting her fingertip, curved into an alluringly red smile.
“I’ll tell you next time.”
***
“Goodness gracious, my lady!” Mary shrieked, spotting Vanessa slipping through the back door. The young maid’s pale face quickly filled with relief, but only for a moment. She then set her jaw and hurried down the stairs.
“Where have you been? I was so worried!”
She gripped Vanessa’s shoulders, her touch fierce.
“The guest is about to arrive, no one has seen you since luncheon, and Mr. Ross returned to the manor ages ago!”
“I’m sorry.”
“This is not a laughing matter, my lady! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Her sharp tone drew the attention of a couple of passing servants.
Mary, realizing her outburst, took a deep breath. Mr. Wyatt, though usually indifferent and even languid, became a fiery inferno of anger towards the staff if even the smallest detail went awry when they had a ‘guest.’
And Vanessa, the most important person, had vanished just before the dinner party. For Mary, whose duty was to watch over her, nothing could be more dreadful.
Vanessa, her face flushed with embarrassment, apologized.
“I truly am sorry. I fell asleep while reading in the…garden.”
Her heart pounded as she quickly fabricated the excuse. It wasn’t entirely a lie, but neither was it the complete truth.
Mary’s narrowed eyes scanned her from head to toe, as if searching for traces of a tryst in her wrinkled clothes, hair, or the flush on her cheeks.
Despite feigning composure, Vanessa felt uneasy under Mary’s scrutinizing gaze. Even with River Ross’s efforts, she hadn’t properly checked her appearance in a mirror. Mary abruptly grabbed her wrist and pulled her along.
