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“I believe your notion of presentable may be rather different from that of most people in Society.”

“I have no idea why you would think so,” he teased, tucking his handkerchief back into his pocket. “Don’t all the most sophisticated ladies and gentlemen of the ton spend time digging in the dirt?”

“No.” She frowned at the earthworm in her hand. “I am quite sure they do not. Indeed, this may need to be something that no one else knows about but Aunt Millward.”

“We are garnering rather a lot of secrets, aren’t we?”

“I’m afraid we are,” she said ruefully.

He rose and extended his hand. She placed her free hand in his, and he helped her to her feet.

“Well then, since you and I now qualify as true confidants, I wonder if you would consider calling me Henry?”

Her smile was hesitant, but it was there. “Yes, so long as you call me Emily.”

His heart lifted. “Gladly,” he said, releasing her hand and plucking the squirming worm from her other palm. “I shall return as soon as I’ve gifted this to the boy, and then we will wrap up the plant and check on Aunt Millward before we look for anything more.”

She nodded, and this time, her smile was more confident. “Thank you, Henry.”

He smiled in return. “My pleasure, Emily.”

Chapter 14

The carriage wheels turned, and with a spit of gravel and creak of leather, the vehicle rolled away from Clapham Common. Inside, Aunt Millward leaned back in her seat and gave a satisfied sigh. “Well done, Henry,” she said. “That was a splendid way to spend the afternoon.”

Henry. Up until half an hour ago, Emily had only ever thought of the gentleman as Mr. Buckland, but at Aunt Millward’s use of his Christian name, Emily’s heart warmed. He was to be Henry to her now too.

The gentleman in question eyed the mud caked on his boots and knees and gave a rueful smile. “I’m not sure that my valet will agree with you, Aunt, but I am very glad you enjoyed the excursion.”

Emily made a mental note to personally apologize to Hannah for the state of her current wardrobe. Thankfully, she had taken Henry’s earlier suggestion seriously and had worn her oldest gown and most serviceable boots. The fact that Aunt Millward had managed the walk from the carriage to the log by the pond and back without so much as a fleck of mud on her hem was certainly worth celebrating. Then again, the older lady’s enthusiasm was more likely due to her relief that the cows and sheep had maintained their distance the whole time.

“Your valet must be used to such things by now,” Aunt Millward said. “It seems to me that you make rather a habit of getting dirty.”

Henry grinned. “Thankfully, he’s a remarkably long-suffering chap. I’d be lost without him.”

“Then, I certainly hope you are paying him well.”

“He has yet to complain,” Henry said.

“The good ones rarely do.” Aunt Millward gave him a stern look. “You are not without means, Henry. Make sure those who are important to you recognize it in word and deed.”

Henry’s gaze flitted to Emily, and she felt the beginnings of another surge of warmth in her cheeks.

“That is wise counsel,” he said, returning his attention to Aunt Millward.

“Yes.” His aunt’s stern look had yet to fade. “It is.”

Emily took an unsteady breath. What was wrong with her? Digging in the mud had taken her from enjoying Henry’s company above any of the other gentlemen at the Tilsons’ ball to blushing whenever he so much as glanced her way. Sitting opposite him was not helping. Especially since he looked no less handsome with dirt on his clothes than he did when dressed in his finery.

Perhaps Aunt Millward’s train of thought was similar to hers because with seemingly no forewarning, the older lady changed the subject to the next event on her social calendar.

“I assume you are attending Lord and Lady Southbeck’s much-anticipated gathering on Saturday, Henry.”

His grimace was so fleeting, Emily wondered if she’d imagined it.

“Lord Southbeck is a member of the museum’s board of trustees,” he said. “He holds these grand events as a means of fostering an appreciation for the arts and raising funds for the museum. Even though I oversee the natural history collection, as one of the museum’s curators, I am expected to be there.”

“So I imagine, but you have not told me whether you will be.”