The Apothecary's Daughter Part 39

"In fact, I shall bring a hamper," he interrupted. "I am sure it has been far too long since Mrs. Tobias has had the pleasure of preparing a proper picnic. What shall it be? Cold chicken? Roast of beef? Lobster salad?"

"All of the above!" Mary clapped her hands like a delighted child.

Mr. Marlow laughed. "All of the above, it is. How many shall I ask her to prepare for?"

Lilly answered, "We will be a party of seven or eight, I suppose. Mr. Shuttleworth, of course. And Francis Baylor."

"And Dr. Graves, I presume? " he added in exaggerated nonchalance.

She paused. Why did she feel awkward at his mention of Adam Graves? She lifted her chin. "If he is free." Lilly hurried to add, "And you are welcome to bring someone along if you like."

Charlie suddenly appeared in the open coffeehouse window behind them. "Bring Miss Powell, do. She is ever so nice to look at."

"Charlie," Lilly gently scolded. She had not even realized he was near. "She is Lady Marlow now, remember."

Marlow's jaw worked a few seconds and she feared Charlie had angered him. "Perhaps I shall," he said pleasantly enough. "I shall also bring round the landau and the gill for the hampers and lads. Just name the time."

They settled the arrangements, and when he had left them, Mary snorted back a giggle.

"Mary Helen Mimpurse!" Lilly reprimanded.

Mary burst into laughter.

Lilly shook her head, biting back a grin of her own. "You are too bad."

A few minutes later, as Lilly knew he would, Mr. Shuttleworth came along after closing up the surgery for the day. Francis had the afternoon off, but he left the game and jogged over to join them as well, clad in gra.s.s-stained trousers and s.h.i.+rt-sleeves.

"We've invited Mr. Marlow to join us on Sunday," Mary announced.

"Roderick Marlow? " Francis was incredulous. He was still breathing hard from the game, and his damp white s.h.i.+rt outlined a wellformed chest.

"Take heart," Lilly said. "He may bring the new Lady Marlow you are always gaping at."

At the sound of her name, Charlie bounded outside. "I hope so."

Ankles crossed, Mr. Shuttleworth leaned on his walking stick and looked over at Francis. "Graves, and now Marlow as well. I cannot say I like our odds, Mr. Baylor."

"Nor I," Francis said. "What say you we invite another lady to improve our ratio? Miss Robbins would no doubt appreciate a little variety of society."

"Excellent idea, my boy," Mr. Shuttleworth agreed.

Francis gave Lilly a meaningful look. "And an invitation from Miss Haswell would no doubt come as quite an unexpected pleasure. Unless is there some reason you would prefer she not come?"

Lilly felt trapped. Indignant. "What reason could I possibly have? Of course she may j oin us." Francis knew Lilly was now being courted by Dr. Graves. Why should she be surprised he had returned his attentions to Miss Robbins?

Francis nodded his approval, then clapped Charlie on the back. "Come on, Charlie. Come and join the lads."

"Aww. *Em lads don't let me play," Charlie said.

"They do now."

Francis crooked his arm around Charlie's shoulder and led him to the green.

Lilly watched them go with a warmed heart, ready to forgive Francis his irritating habit of foisting unwanted creatures on her. Ali well a she could understand why Francis admired Miss Robbins. She was undeniably a lovely, accomplished girl.

"My, our little party is growing by the minute," Mary said, rising from the bench. "I had better bake another cake."

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.

QUEEN ELIZABETH I.

CHAPTER 34.

I I n Sunday morning, Lilly greeted the vicar outside the church doors after the service.

"Good morning, Mr. Baisley."

"Miss Haswell. How fares your father?"

"A little better, I thank you."

Mr. Baisley nodded and cleared his throat. "You no doubt noticed my blunder this morning." He leaned closer. "I believe it startled you awake."

Lilly felt her neck grow warm. "Forgive me. It was only a slight misquotation. I happen to have learned that Scripture as a girl."

He shook his head in wonder. "What it must be like to remember everything you have ever seen or heard or read a"

Lilly fidgeted. "Not everything, really. Only what I truly attend to.' I "If I had such a gift, what I would store away." He thumped a broad finger against his temple. "Scripture, hymns, my wife's birthday a"

She acknowledged his joke with a polite smile.

He studied her closely. "And what do you store away in that pretty head of yours, Miss Haswell?"

She shrugged dismissively, her discomfort increasing. "Whatever comes my way, I suppose."

A perplexed frown flickered across the kind man's features. "But whatever you take in or, as you say, attend to, it stays with you forever?"

"It seems so."

He shook his head solemnly. "Then, my dear, I hope you will be most careful what you allow in."

Lilly swallowed and attempted another smile, one she feared was quite stiff. Well, she bolstered herself, what is church without a dose of conviction?

At the appointed hour, Lilly, Mary, Charlie, and Francis were waiting before the coffeehouse when Miss Robbins arrived from neighboring Honeystreet in a lovely white-and-pink gown, French bonnet of tulle, and a parasol. Lilly bit her lip. That parasol would not withstand a half minute atop the wind-whipped pitch. She and Mary had settled for simple bonnets tied securely under their chins and long-sleeved spencers for even on a summer day, the windy hills of Wilts.h.i.+re could prove chilly.

The ladies exchanged polite greetings, and Lilly warmed to Miss Robbins when she saw how nervous the girl was.

A man on horseback rode up, and Lilly was surprised to recognize Mr. Marlow. Had he not said he would bring a carriage? It would be a long walk. And what of Mary's hamper?

Beside her, Miss Robbins sucked in her breath and squeaked, "Mr. Marlow!" She turned to Lilly, face stricken, and whispered tersely, "No one told me he was coming."

Was everyone afraid of this man?

Marlow dismounted. Seeing the girl, he hesitated, clearly surprised. "Miss Robbins?"

"I a I did not know you were coming," she said defensively.

"Nor I you." He paused, then seemed to recover. "But that doesn't mean it cannot be a pleasant surprise, does it?"

Her mouth hung loosely. "Oh. Noa"

Francis stepped beside Miss Robbins and a.s.sumed a protective, proprietary posture, shoulders back, hands fisted at his sides. For a moment, Marlow regarded the younger man with cynical amus.e.m.e.nt, then turned at the sound of a carriage approaching.

Lilly heard Francis whisper to the girl, "Do not be uneasy. You shan't be alone."

Her attention was pulled away as a landau, driven by Marlow's coachman and with a footman in the rear, pulled up and halted in the street. The young footman hopped down and jogged over to open the door and lower the step.

But Lilly's eyes were fastened on the landau's sole occupant.

Beside her, Charlie breathed, "Miss Powell a" And from the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Francis elbowing him lightly in the ribs.

Lady Marlow was like a print from a ladies' magazine in a promenade dress with ribboned sleeves and a long green vest laced across her ample bosom. A hat of satin straw trimmed with feathers sat at a smart angle upon her head, showing a wealth of red ringlets at one temple.

Francis leaned close and whispered in Lilly's ear. "Now who is gaping?"

Mr. Shuttleworth drove up in his curricle, Dr. Graves beside him. At their arrival, Mr. Marlow made the introductions with practiced ease, as though he had socialized with them all many times before. "Well, now that we are all acquainteda"

As if on cue, Cecil Briggs drove up in the low four-wheel gill, hampers stacked in back.

"If the gentlemen would be so kind as to ride in the gill," Marlow said with a sweep of his arm, "the ladies may enjoy the comfort of fine springs and leather seats."

Francis and Charlie climbed in the back of the low wagon, but Mr. Shuttleworth said he and Dr. Graves would take his curricle.

Marlow nodded, then offered his hand to Lilly. "Miss Haswell."

Self-conscious at being singled out first, Lilly stole a sideways glance at the other two ladies. Mary looked as though she'd just sold a Rich Bride Cake Miss Robbins as though she had a goosegog stuck in her throat.

As he helped her up into the landau, Marlow said quietly to Lilly, "What a diverting outing this is proving to be."

They quickly left the village behind, pa.s.sing nearby Alton as well. The wild roses were all gone from the hedgerows, Lilly noticed, and the elderberry blossoms had given way to cl.u.s.ters of ripening fruit, which they would pick come October.

A few miles to the north, the carriages halted along the roadside at the foot of Walker's Hill. Mr. Marlow rode back to speak to his servants while the other men alighted. Dr. Graves offered Lilly his hand. Francis, she noticed, hurried over to help Miss Robbins down. She did not miss his rea.s.suring smile nor the lingering press of hands.

Marlow directed the coachman to stay with his horse, the landau, and Mr. Shuttleworth's curricle. Cecil Briggs and the young footman would drive the wagon up the hill as far as they could, then haul the hampers and picnic blankets to the top from there.

While Mr. Shuttleworth transferred his telescope to the gill, the others stood cl.u.s.tered about, staring up at the summit.

" *At's a gurt big hill," Charlie breathed.

Lilly s.h.i.+elded her eyes with a gloved hand. "A fair pitch indeed."

Miss Robbins eyed the wagon with longing.

"You may ride up if you like, Miss Robbins," Lilly offered kindly.

"All of you mean to walk? " she asked timidly, her parasol already wavering in the breeze.

Lilly nodded. "I believe so."

"Walk?" Francis said as though scandalized. He turned to Mr. Marlow. "What say you, Marlow. Shall we peg it? Have a friendly race?"

"Race?" Marlow's lip curled distastefully.

"What afraid you'll muss your cravat?"

Lilly winced. Careful, Francis.

But Marlow retaliated only with words. "No, afraid you will foul the air."

Francis said easily, "I do not plan on perspiring. Do you?"

Mr. Marlow held his gaze and loosened his cravat.

Francis turned to his employer. "What about you, Mr. Shuttleworth. Are you in?"

"Good heavens." He rubbed his palms together. "Sitting about the surgery all day as I do, I haven't a chance. But why not? I shall be a buck about it." He smiled shamelessly at Mary. "Am I not a jolly buck, Miss Mary?"