“We’ll need a chaperone.”
“I’ll take care of everything.” He breathed rapidly, his eyes still covered. “Don’t have lunch. We’ll eat while we’re out.”
* * *
“Where’s our chaperone?” Lily asked as Daniel helped her into his carriage. “You said you’d take care of everything.”
“I did,” he said. “I decided we didn’t need a chaperone.”
“You decided?”
“Yes, we’re betrothed. It’s an open carriage. Everything is fine.”
Lily couldn’t be too angry. The thought of being alone with him filled her with joy. And sorrow, remembering where he had been the previous day. “If you think best. Where are we going?”
He took her hand and entwined their fingers together. “I’m taking you to the outer vineyards. It’s beautiful, and the vines are beginning to bloom.”
“That sounds lovely,” Lily said. His hand felt perfect in hers. “What did you do in London?”
“Nothing that would interest you.”
“Damn it, Daniel, I am interested.”
“All right, Lily, calm down. I’ll tell you all about it after we eat lunch. In the meantime, what did you do yesterday?”
Lily told him about accompanying Miss Landon to see the tenants. He asked a lot of questions, clearly concerned about the tenants and their needs. Lily smiled as she chatted, glad that her involvement with the tenants pleased him.
“I’m sure you charmed them all to pieces,” he said.
“All but one, I’m afraid. There was a Mr. Cameron Price who seemed to think Rose and I were a couple of uppity snobs.”
“Yes, I know of him. A talented musician actually. You can’t blame him. It’s the luck of the draw, who’s born where and to whom. The poor fellow will have to work his whole life to make ends meet, while you and I live like kings.”
Lily nodded. “Not that I’m complaining, but it doesn’t seem fair.” She continued, “I think he was a bit taken with Rose.”
“I’m not surprised. But he’ll get over it and find a girl of his own station.”
“How old is he, do you suppose?”
“A few years younger than I am,” Daniel said. “I think he’s twenty-seven or twenty-eight. His father died when he was barely out of his teens, so he stayed with his mother to run the farm.”
“But what of his music?”
“He has responsibilities, Lily.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
The carriage jolted to a stop.
“Here we are.” He helped her down. “Come with me.”
They walked through the rows of vineyards, inhaling the sweet fragrance of the grape blossoms. In a small clearing, a blanket and picnic lunch awaited them.
“Come on, let’s have our lunch.” Daniel filled Lily’s plate with cold cuts and cheese, bread and fruit, and poured her a goblet of wine.
“Now are you going to tell me what kept you in London all day yesterday?”
He smiled lazily. “Did you miss me, love?”