Enoch smiled at her. “I’m only too glad that I was able to help. The rest will be up to you, but I know you will make it a success. Come. Let’s finish our tea and take a stroll about Green Park.”
Chapter Five
Enoch took Audrey by the elbow and escorted her out of the hansom cab. He tipped the driver and walked alongside her. It was still a little bit before noon. Several couples passed by, and he nodded to them politely.
“This is quite nice,” Audrey murmured. “To be able to take in the air and stroll in the middle of this metropolitan city.”
“I agree, but that’s because you and I are country folk,” he commented.
“That’s true for me. I was never so happy a
s when I can wander about and be lost in the country with a good book.”
“Ah! Here’s the Queen’s Walk. Shall we, my dear?” He gestured to the bit of walk that had been laid out for Queen Caroline, the consort of King George II.
She allowed herself to be escorted along the path and smiled at the breeze in the air and the feeling of things taking a better turn for her. She had taken several quick steps when her veil got caught in her hair and she stumbled. She tried to right herself, but she lost her balance until two quick hands caught her about the waist. Her hands went instinctively to the doctor’s chest to steady herself.
She looked up, about to thank Dr. Thomson, when she saw the man who held her was a complete stranger. He was a handsome man with wavy brown hair and brown eyes. Her heart thudded inside her chest when she realized he still held her. Without thinking, she pushed at his chest and took a step back.
“Sir,” she said, meeting his brown eyes.
“Madame,” he said politely.
Henry looked down at the young woman, mesmerized by her sweet oval face and deep blue eyes. Her hair was pulled back, and the black dress she wore emphasized her small frame and waist. She was a beauty, and his gaze wandered to her full lips.
“I’m glad I was able to help assist you, madame. You appeared to be unstable,” he said quietly.
“Unstable?” Audrey repeated indignantly, her cheeks flushed. “I understand London may have different ways about them, but I’m not used to having men put their hands on me.”
He smiled then. “I was only trying to help. And I’m not from London.”
Dr. Thomson suddenly appeared between them and cleared his throat while he bit back a smile. “Ummm. I believe an introduction is—should be—” he began awkwardly. “Henry Ryland, allow me to introduce you to Miss Audrey Wakefield. Audrey Wakefield, Mr. Henry Ryland.”
Blushing, Audrey put out her gloved hand to meet his. “Mr. Ryland.”
Henry was taken aback at the beauty before him but caught himself and clasped her hand in his. “Miss Wakefield. A pleasure,” he said, his deep voice smooth and cultured.
Enoch wisely took a step back as Henry gestured to Audrey that they should continue walking. Enoch swooped down to catch her veil in his hand as he followed the couple at a distance.
“I was to meet you both in an hour and thought a walk would do wonders to clear my head,” Henry explained. “I had no idea you would be here as well.”
“We just had tea at Brown’s. Then came here for the same reason as you.” Audrey explained.
He swallowed. “I’m sorry if I offended you just now. That was not my intention. I saw your veil fall and then you appeared to stumble. I acted rashly.”
“There’s no reason to apologize, Mr. Ryland. Obviously, your intentions were respectful. And of course, my stumbling, how else would you assist me but to do as you did…” Her words trailed off. “I overreacted.”
Henry cast a look back at Enoch Thomson behind them and then glanced at Audrey Wakefield. He grinned inwardly. She was not at all what he expected. He had thought to meet the schoolmarm of his imagination with a tight bun, spectacles, and a simple face.
Instead, he had come face to face with the real Audrey Wakefield. He was surprised at how lovely she was, a fact Enoch had never mentioned. Her brown hair was pinned at the nape of her neck, and her blue eyes were filled with intelligence and flashed with wit. Her black gown emphasized her trim figure, but it was her lips that he felt drawn to. The bottom lip was plump and kissable. It was unseemly to think such things about an unmarried young woman, but he couldn’t help himself.
He cleared his throat and brought his mind back to safer topics. “So, Miss Wakefield, Enoch tells me that you and your family have fallen on some difficult times.”
Audrey bit her lip, and that didn’t help his appreciation of her. “Yes.”
As they turned a corner, he saw a bench before them. “Would you like to stop here? We can chat.”
“That’s fine,” she said in agreement.