Chapter 5 The Courtship #2
Her mother gently seized her by the shoulders, quieting her. Tenderly, she tucked a stray curl behind Lilly’s ear.
“The dress you are wearing is fine.” She paused and then caressed her daughter’s cheek.
“Take deep breaths and slow your heart, my dear.” She held her until she seemed satisfied Lilly was no longer swept up in excitement.
Then, she squeezed Lilly’s shoulders affectionately and turned to pace the room.
Her mother would not send Lilly off without some well-timed maternal advice.
“A curricle only seats two people, so you won’t be able to take your maid along as chaperone.
Therefore, you must be very proper. Not too much smiling and absolutely no giggling.
Everyone will see everything you do once you enter the park.
” She stared at her daughter sternly. “I don’t want anything to taint your reputation.
Do you understand?” Her mother’s lips pinched in concern.
Nodding, Lilly would lessen her mother’s nerves.
“Of course, Mother, I shall be the soul of discretion. No giggling. Sit up straight. Nod at the people I know. Look beyond the people I do not.” Lilly slipped on the pelisse that matched her dress and turned to study herself in the mirror.
“It’s only a drive, Mother. You mustn’t worry so. ”
Her mother met her stare in the mirror and then surprisingly grinned. “He is very charming, isn’t he, Lilly?”
Lilly grinned back. “And handsome!”
Captain Redmond heard a step and turned as Miss Lilly Bishop descended to the foyer.
He wondered if there would ever be a time when he didn’t feel this pull toward her.
He couldn’t help but be mesmerized as she pulled on her gloves and then tied her bonnet under his watchful gaze.
She wore the same dress from earlier but had donned a pelisse to cover her arms and shoulders. Once ready, she glanced up and smiled.
Good God, she lit up the room.
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting for long.” She spoke, oh, so very properly.
He’d been waiting nearly twenty minutes.
“Not at all.” He smiled down at her as they stepped outside.
The curricle he drove belonged to his brother, Edward. It rode high off the ground, was painted shiny black, and had plush maroon-leather seats. Edward was not one to go about in bright colors, as were some of the bachelors that season.
Lilly took one look at the vehicle and then glanced at him with an impish smile.
“Oh, this looks fun! I have seen these high flyers about town before but never thought I would actually ride in one.” And then, as she further examined it, her expression turned into a curious frown. “How does one get in?”
Michael laughed and then showed her where to step. Placing his hands on her waist, he lifted her easily so she could step around the wheel and sit down. He then easily climbed up himself and sat beside her. His groom handed him the reins and jumped on the back, and they were off.
Since so many members of the ton were in town, and it was nearing the fashionable hour for driving, traffic was heavy.
As Michael paid heed to drivers and riders around him, Lilly sat beside him in companionable silence.
He was amused to note she took advantage of the ride by gazing all about at the mansions lining the popular route.
Most of the residences they passed were owned by London’s wealthiest noble families.
Flowers bloomed and trees burst forth with their spring blossoms all along the route.
After a while, Lilly settled back and seemed to relax.
“I looked it up, you know,” she said quietly beside him.
“And…” Michael prompted. He knew exactly what she referred to.
“I rather like the notion.”
Michael glanced over at her. A smug little smile danced on her lips. She was a minx. An innocent one, but a minx nonetheless.
“Very unnerving, you must realize, for a military man, such as myself.”
He felt her stare upon him as he focused on the road ahead. At the same moment, the curricle jostled and one of the wheels hit a rut. She reached and grabbed onto his leg, just above his knee. Before she could remove it, Michael covered her hand with his.
“The question is…” He leaned to the side so his lips barely brushed the top of her ear. “Now that you have me, what do you plan on doing with me?” He waited for her to blush.
She did not disappoint.
Lilly stared down at their hands and then back into his eyes. Another slow smile spread across her lush pink lips. This one, almost seductive. How many different smiles did she have? He anticipated the opportunity to find out. “I have no idea, Captain. What do you suggest?”
Michael raised one eyebrow at her. “As you are a lady and I am a gentleman, I’m afraid I cannot say.”
The blush deepened.
“In that case”—she recovered—“I shall devise some special form of torture for you. Hmm…What does a lady do when she wishes to torture a special gentleman?”
Michael chuckled and then glanced over at her. “Make him go—”
Then they both spoke at the same time. “Shopping.”
Her giggle delighted him. Unable to help himself, Michael turned her wrist and raised it to his lips.
He inhaled her scent greedily, wishing she did not wear gloves, before settling her hand back onto his thigh.
They had arrived at the entrance to the park, and he needed to grasp the reins once again with both hands.
Directing the horses onto the well-worn path, Michael forced his attentions back to driving.
All around them were other curricles and phaetons, some fellows on horseback, and a number of very fashionable ladies and gentlemen strolling on foot.
He would have liked to ride out of the city but would not risk Lilly’s reputation. He wanted time alone with her though.
Lilly was impressed as several people seemed to know Captain Redmond.
Some waved, and the captain would stop the curricle to greet them.
He introduced Lilly as a dear friend, the niece of Lady Eleanor Sheffield.
He seemed to be well liked, a respected member of the ton.
But he was also well known for his military prowess.
Gentlemen congratulated him on his exceptional service in the war. He had apparently come home with honors and a promotion. Ladies eyed her jealously.
Not until they reached a clearing and had turned down a less populated path could Lilly have any sort of meaningful conversation with him.
“How old are you, Captain Redmond?” He seemed to have acquired a great deal of respect to be as young as she thought he was.
“I am one-and-twenty,” he answered. “Does that sound so very old? You, I am guessing are barely seventeen.”
“I will be eighteen in September,” she corrected him. Hopefully, he would not consider her too young! The thought of going back to Plymouth, to the baron, hardly bore consideration. “This will be my only season.” She would be certain he knew this.
The captain nodded and pulled the curricle to a halt. Turning to face her, he grasped her hands before speaking.
“Then we must make certain it’s a successful one.
” Even wearing gloves, she felt warmth emanating from him.
For a scandalous second, she thought he was going to lean forward and kiss her right there!
And she would have let him! But he pulled back instead and cleared his throat. “Shall we walk along the water?”
Lilly hadn’t realized where they were until that moment.
She had been intensely aware of his arms rubbing her shoulder whenever he turned the carriage or pulled back on the reins.
Through her petticoat and skirt, his thigh pressed into hers each time they’d turned.
The seat was not overly wide causing such necessary intimacy.
“I’d like that.”
She hadn’t intended to tell him this was to be her only season. The words had escaped of their own accord. But he needed to know.
Captain Redmond jumped off and then came around to assist her. She placed her hands upon his shoulders, and he grasped her waist. Leaning down, she trusted him with her weight. He didn’t lower her to the ground right away, however.
Quite unhurriedly, he slid her close to his body until her feet landed softly upon the grass.
She moved her hands along his collar and then briefly touched the nape of his neck.
She wished she weren’t wearing gloves so she could feel his hair.
She wanted to stay in this position, close to him, touching him, but knew it was quite improper.
Captain Redmond’s groom seemed busy enough with the horses but could see them clearly from where he worked.
Much of society’s worst gossip began belowstairs.
As she pulled her hands down, her fingers dragged a trail along his cravat. Reluctantly, she pressed upon his chest and took a step back.
Holding one another’s gaze with open longing, he seemed as breathless as she was from the encounter. His hair had fallen forward again, giving him that sleepy, sensual look. Liquid warmth pooled in her center, and Lilly thought that perhaps her heart might jump out of her chest.
After what seemed like several minutes—but was, in fact, only a few seconds—Captain Redmond gestured toward the water, and they began their stroll.
At last! They could talk without other eyes and ears about.
“Tell me about your family,” she said. She wanted to know everything about him.
He tugged at his cravat, uncomfortable at first. Apparently, he wasn’t used to discussing personal matters. But he would not disappoint her. “I have not seen my father and brother since before I joined my regiment, two years ago.”
And yet he lingered here, in London.
He was silent as they neared the water’s edge.
“What is the age difference between you and your brother?” Lilly persisted. She was going to have to help him along. His discomfort in talking about himself merely endeared him to her more.