Page 21 of The Gentlewoman Farmer

“You miss him,” Philip said as both he and Sophia focused on watching the water.

Sophia didn’t want to talk to Philip about her father. It brought to mind the sorrow of his loss, things she had expressed to Philip in letters but was not ready to talk about with him. Speaking of her father also reminded her of the farm and all the work she wasn’t doing right now. Even before her father had become ill, he had taken Sophia’s advice. He’d brought her with him to tenants’ houses so she could recommend improvements. She used to sit in the library and pretend to read while the bailiff or steward visited. She’d learned a lot, and her father had known it.

Philip nudged her, waiting for a response.

“I miss him. He trusted me.” Sophia shifted away from Philip.

“Hmm.”

Sophia felt Philip’s eyes on her, but she kept busy with her fishing line. When they were younger, Philip could sense her mood and wouldn’t push if she wasn’t ready. If he wanted to talk about her father, he’d wait until she was ready.

“Perhaps you are not to be trusted,” Philip teased. “Here you are alone with an eligible bachelor, and a dashing one at that.”

She snorted. “Mr. Burns understands you are like a brother to me.”

Sophia leaned toward Philip, and he met her halfway until their bodies touched from shoulder to hip. A flutter started in her heart and rolled deep inside her, warning that she, an engaged woman, should not be sitting with a man who awakened sympathies that were not entirely filial. And if it were merely a sensual thrill, she would have pulled away. However, there was a deep sense of well-being in his nearness that she could not resist. The warmth and strength of his arm against her shoulder felt so good and right and easy. It kept her where she was. And she excused her behavior.

We are good friends.

Philip wrapped his arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Very true. We are like brother and sister,” he said agreeably and kissed the top of her head.

“I am glad you have come, Philip.”

“I enjoy being close to you, Sophia.” They were both quiet for a long moment before Philip said, “You have changed.”

Sophia sat up and turned toward him, Philip’s arm slipping back to his side. “Am I? How?” Sophia was curious to know how Philip viewed her. She thought Philip was almost exactly the same.

“You seem more serious now.”

Sophia relaxed back into Philip’s side. “I always have been. Remember when we were gathering insects for my collection? I was very dedicated to that cause. You were the one always turning it into a game.”

His arm went back around her shoulders. “Clearly, I’ve been gone too long. How do you entertain yourself without me?”

It took a few minutes of thinking before Sophia answered. “I go to the sheep market?”

Philip laughed. “Looking at livestock? That is a diversion?”

“You haven’t been and cannot judge. It’s very entertaining. There is a dance and everything. It’s really more a fair than a market.”

“Hm. And you stay for the dance?”

“I have not yet. But maybe I will. There is a market in early May. I’ll take you, and you will discover a new favorite pastime. Far better than a horse race or cockfight.”

“Undoubtedly. I will go with you, then.”

After catching several fish, Sophia stood to stretch her legs. She walked around Philip where a pail held the fish they’d caught. “How many fish are there?” Sophia asked, checking the bucket. “Philip, they are swimming around in here. You are too soft-hearted. It seems you still depend on the cook to dirty her hands for you!”

Philip shrugged, clearly unashamed. “I like fishing, but I have not learned to enjoy smashing their heads.”

“You shoot things. What’s the difference?”

“It is too close. Too much like wringing the neck of a helpless chicken.”

“Take your sensitivities and go draw me a picture in the sand while I do the deed, else the fish will jump out on our journey home.”

After Sophia had taken care of the fish, she wandered over to Philip, ready to tease him again. He had drawn two figures in the sand, leaning against each other with the ocean all around them. Her desire to mock him left her, and Sophia was simultaneously warmed and cautioned.

She needed to tread carefully. Her heart stopped, and she could barely breathe each time she looked at him. They were good friends and must remain that way.