Page 97 of A Well-Trained Lady

Ruth leaned back and pulled a pillow over her chest, squeezing it with a ridiculous smile on her face. “Very well.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The servants buzzed around us, attempting to keep our plates brimming and our cups full as we reclined on the blankets that had been laid out for us.

Lady Thorton shooed away a young servant attempting to place another sandwich on her plate. “Would anyone care for a game of bouts-rimés or perhaps charades?” She glanced around at the idle members of our group, who were now too full and too hot for any sort of exertion. “There is also rowing on the lake. And there are wild blackberry hedges nearby if anyone cares to see if they are ripe.”

Ruth tapped my arm. “Blackberries sound delightful. Would you care to go with me?”

Before I had a chance to convince her against the idea of venturing out in this heat, Mr. Green stood up and reached out a hand for her. “I will accompany you, Miss Seton.”

I suppressed a groan, watching her stand. “As will I.”

“Well, I cannot let you eat all the berries without me.” Lord Thorton rose and extended a hand to aid me in standing. “Does anyone else care to join us?”

A few others nodded their agreement and stood.

Ruth faced Augustus. “Do you wish to join us, Augi?”

I followed her gaze to find Augustus leaning back on his elbows watching us. Every interaction with him tore at my heart, so when he shifted forward, I knew I could not allow for him to come along. “Ruth,” I said, my voice loud enough to carry, “your cousin looks the picture of leisure. Perhaps if I assure him that I will be most vigilant in my care of you, he need not be troubled to move from where he is.”

Augustus’s eyes narrowed.

“Unless you do not trust me, Mr. Brundage?”

The collective regard of the group shifted to Augustus. “I’ve seldom had reason not to.”

His declaration stung, but I offered him a tight smile.

“Let’s be off then.” Lord Thorton extended his elbow to me, and I took hold of it.

We walked along the shore of the lake for a while before coming to the end of a grove of trees. A large area opened up that was overgrown with countless blackberry bushes as tall as Lord Thorton.

“What a sight,” Ruth exclaimed from Mr. Green’s arm. “There are so many bushes, it would take all of us days to pick the berries from them. Too bad I did not think to bring a basket for collecting.”

Mr. Green looked down at her. “And yet, the delight of eating blackberries straight off the bush is one of those pleasures best seized in the moment.”

Ruth smiled up at him innocently. “I believe you must be right. We have blackberries at Fairhaven, and also bilberries, though they usually aren’t ripe until the end of July.” Ruth examined the blackberry bush they had just stopped in front of, her shoulders falling. “Oh, these are not yet ripe either.”

“There are some,” Mr. Green said, plucking one and holding it out to Ruth. “We simply must search a little harder for them.”

Ruth bit into the berry, her face alight. “Oh, that is delicious!”

Lord Thorton searched the bush, located one, and popped it in his mouth. “It seems the most logical plan is to all spread out and search,” he said, glancing at the others. “And, just so everyone is aware, there are wild strawberries that should be ripe, if you look for them.”

The small party dispersed, and I led Lord Thorton to the bush where Ruth and Mr. Green were now searching.

“Here’s a patch.” Lord Thorton stopped to grab a couple from the top of the bush. “It seems the ones with the most sun ripen first.”

I pulled off my gloves, and he placed three berries in my palm. The warmth of them tantalized me, but I resisted the urge to eat them all at once. The sweet juice of the first teased my tongue, and I ate another. “These are delightful.”

Lord Thorton continued searching the higher areas of the bush, alternating between eating them and handing them to me to partake. I glanced over at Ruth a few bushes away, laughing as she tossed a berry at Mr. Green. Though Ruth was a tad excessive in her flirtations, she also managed an air of innocence that seemed to balance it. She tossed another berry and started into a fit of giggles.

Lord Thorton followed my gaze. “Would it not be a pleasing arrangement if friends were to marry friends?”

“It would have its benefits. Though we must not be too hasty in our hope as Mr. Green and Ruth have only just met.” I summoned all my courage, knowing I was running out of time to secure Lord Thorton. “And I have not yet received an offer myself.”

Lord Thorton took hold of my hand and led me through a gap in the hedge. My heart pounded in my chest, but not in a way that made me feel alight and giddy. “You have not yet received an offer because I have not spoken to your father. But I intend to do so first thing when he arrives tomorrow.”