Page 54 of Reforming Lord Neil

By the time Teresa had seen to her things, and tidied herself up, her agitation had only grown. A walk was most necessary, given that there were no weeds to pull to work out her anxieties. Strange, she had never thought how grateful she was to have something to do with her hands when agitated. If she even attempted one of her old pursuits, such as sewing a sampler, she might well stab herself with the needle in her vigor.

Descending the stairs, Teresa saw Neil sitting upon a chair in the foyer, a news sheet in his hands. When her foot landed upon the ground floor tile, he looked up. Instantly upon his feet, he dropped the paper upon the chair and came to her side.

“I thought I might escort you on your walk.” He bowed deeply, and she stood a moment to take him in. Cravat. Shirt. Waistcoat. Coat. Everything was spotless, well-pressed, and made him appear more a gentleman than he had thus far. He was clean-shaven again, too. His hair even appeared to have been trimmed, and a golden lock of it had fallen artfully across his forehead.

“I would enjoy that.” She took his arm. “Perhaps we could wander in the direction of some of the shops. I would like to find a gift for Caroline.”

Neil accepted his hat from the footman near the door, then the two of them went out onto the walkway. Neil instantly put himself between her and the street, his eyes alert and taking in the people passing by.

“Are you looking for someone?” Teresa asked.

He glanced at her, then resumed his visual sweep of the road. “Your brother-in-law, actually. He did not strike me as an honorable man, and now that we have evidence to support my initial assessment of his character, I fear he might attempt to dissuade you from appearing in court tomorrow.”

A stab of worry struck her heart. “I cannot imagine Frederick doing more than trying to talk me out of the whole thing. But it sounds as though you are concerned for my physical well-being.”

“I am.” Neil drew her a little closer to guide her around a puddle, but he kept her there. “Even though I think him a coward, given our interactions, he stands to lose a great deal tomorrow. The money he stole, of course, and his reputation. Though his house, lands, and everything wrapped up in the entailment will still be his, no one will ever look at him the same again. If he is already in Ipswich, he and that solicitor are likely trying to determine how to save themselves.”

They fell silent until they turned a corner that brought them to a street full of shops. They passed a bookseller, a stationary printer, glove maker, and then a shop of sundries for ladies. There, Teresa went inside. Neil followed her but remained near the door while she spoke to the young woman behind the counter.

In a few minutes, Teresa left with a brown packet of buttons and ribbons, new needles, and thimbles. While not the most decadent of purchases, Caroline would love the opportunity to sew a new dress and embellish the older ones with new embroidery.

Even if Teresa won the judge’s approval, and what remained of her money, she did not think it would be enough to take them from their life at the farm. She would not count upon it, as that seemed the wisest course.

Neil did not take her down the street very far before pointing out a jeweler’s shop. “Would you mind terribly stepping inside with me for a moment?” he asked.

“What business do you have in there?” Teresa gave him a crooked smile. “Have you a pressing need for a stickpin to go with your cravat?”

“Of course,” he said smoothly. “An emerald, as large as your thumbnail, to bring out the color of my eyes.”

She laughed and followed him inside, grateful for the moment of levity. This time, she remained by the door to give him privacy. From where she stood, looking about at the glass cases full of sparkling gems, the shop was a fine one. A very large man stood near her, ostensibly ignoring her, but she would wager he did a fine job of keeping would-be thieves from wandering in.

When Neil rejoined her, he was tucking a piece of paper into his coat. “There we are. I am to return in two hours.”

“Are you?” Teresa searched his face for any clues as to why, but he only gave her a mysterious smile and lift of his eyebrows. “Is it a very great secret that brings you here?”

“A very great one, indeed.” He took her hand and tucked it through his arm again. “Where else would you like to go, my dear?”

The endearment made her heart skip. “I have nothing else pressing to attend to. There is a park, I think, near the house where we are staying. Perhaps we can take a turn through there before we return home.”

They crossed the street, so as to look through the shop windows there on their return. Neil stopped to show her a curiously worked mantel clock in one window, and she paused before a very elaborate display of hats.

“I would never wear anything that large.” She pointed to a hat which appeared to have a miniature boat upon it.

“Perhaps you would, if you were the wife of an admiral,” Neil said. Then he made a show of looking from her to the hat and back again. He shook his head. “No, you are right. Even the admiralty could not justify such a thing. Your features are too delicate to be overwhelmed by such extravagance. You would need a topper that did not draw attention away from your lovely face.”

Teresa laughed at his flattery and continued walking. “Really, Neil. Now your compliments grow extravagant.”

“Do they? I cannot think that I have said anything I did not mean.” He grinned at her, then cleared his throat. “But I will desist, as it seems to make you uncomfortable. Ah. The park.”

They went down the path lined with stone pavers. The park was not even so large as her vegetable garden, but it had a few trees and flowers, and it was a pleasant enough patch of greenery. As they walked, Teresa felt the tension leave her shoulders and neck. She relaxed and held her packet loosely to her chest.

“This is all happening so quickly.”

Neil nodded at her side. “Yesterday morning, you milked your cow. I repaired a broken slat in the wagon. There was a whole list of things to do before dinner.”

“And none of the things on that list included a visit from nobility or a trip to Ipswich.” Teresa paused beneath a large chestnut tree and pointed to the bench beneath it. “Might we sit a moment?”

“As you wish.” Neil walked to the bench and sat down beside her, stretching his long legs out before himself. He crossed his arms over his chest and kept his eyes upon the path.