room, his sturdy figure reminded her of a well-dressed, upside-down pile of coal: a dark figure wider on top and narrower in the hips. But here with his sleeves rolled up, forcibly shouting instructions, he resembled a man who took charge of his world. Her heartbeat raced again, and she enjoyed watching him.
Only when he looked up at the crowd, holding his hand up to shield his eyes from the sun and glancing in her direction, did she realize he must have seen her. The expression on his face was unreadable; however, he neither smiled nor waved. He said something to the man next to him and then started for the pit’s staircase.
Deciding his lack of acknowledgment meant he was displeased with her presence and not desiring a full dressing-down in public because she interrupted his work, she fled from the approaching bear and started back to her carriage. She’d postpone her request to a more suitable time and give him fair warning of her arrival. The second she turned the corner on Lilypond Street, she heard her name called. She ignored it and quickened her pace.
“Mrs. Russell!”
She heard the tone of the angry bear. Should she turn to face him or run away?
“Madam, please stop.”
Any lady of good manners could not resist the power of the word “please.” She stopped and steeled herself for a possible confrontation.
He reached her in several long strides, then glared down at her.
Luckily, she wore her largest poke bonnet. She tilted the angle of her head slightly downward, so she could respond without catching sight of the bear’s snarl on his lips. “I am so sorry—I didn’t mean to interrupt your work. I mean, you are always busy. Please excuse me, I…” She held her breath.
He laughed. “Bear got your tongue?”
She glanced up to his face and found him grinning broadly, his dark eyes gleaming.
He extended his arm. “Come, come, I want to show you the tunnel.”
She exhaled and relaxed. If she did have any fears about her reception, she certainly was not going to reveal them now. She took a deep breath, focused on the compliment of his desire to show her the tunnel, and took his offered arm.
He bent down sideways to catch her eye, winked, and gave her a smile.
She couldn’t help but smile in return.
Together they headed back to the edge of the pit and the tunnel entrance.
Thankfully, he carried on the conversation with nothing more from her than a general comment offered now and then. He spoke with more eloquence than she expected. With patience, he described every feature in great detail, but only after she conceded an interest in the subject. So she did not become bored with a long recital of features that failed to interest her, like engines and power. He explained the carriage entrance and pathways where people would enter the tunnel in a manner that she could easily imagine. Without doubt he believed this tunnel would spur England on to a glorious future.
After the first ten minutes of his tour, her nerves were fully restored, and she realized her error in fearing a dressing-down. In fact, he was so amiable, she might bring up the subject of paying a call on James after all.
“Providential, madam, that you have visited the site today, since it spares me a journey to Broadsham House.” By then they had reached a storage area behind the brick engine house in front of a pile of bricks. Since the bricks were the only place available to sit, he removed a handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and carefully placed it on the pile.
She recognized the well-practiced gallant and supposed any successful seducer must possess that quality in abundance, as well as natural charm. Her cheeks began to warm, so she looked up at the sun, planning to use that as an excuse if he noticed her blush.
“Your brother, Fitzy—a great gun you have there. The young man reminds me of myself when younger, a fresh and eager learner, anxious for success just around the corner in five years or so.”
Pleased by the
Only when he looked up at the crowd, holding his hand up to shield his eyes from the sun and glancing in her direction, did she realize he must have seen her. The expression on his face was unreadable; however, he neither smiled nor waved. He said something to the man next to him and then started for the pit’s staircase.
Deciding his lack of acknowledgment meant he was displeased with her presence and not desiring a full dressing-down in public because she interrupted his work, she fled from the approaching bear and started back to her carriage. She’d postpone her request to a more suitable time and give him fair warning of her arrival. The second she turned the corner on Lilypond Street, she heard her name called. She ignored it and quickened her pace.
“Mrs. Russell!”
She heard the tone of the angry bear. Should she turn to face him or run away?
“Madam, please stop.”
Any lady of good manners could not resist the power of the word “please.” She stopped and steeled herself for a possible confrontation.
He reached her in several long strides, then glared down at her.
Luckily, she wore her largest poke bonnet. She tilted the angle of her head slightly downward, so she could respond without catching sight of the bear’s snarl on his lips. “I am so sorry—I didn’t mean to interrupt your work. I mean, you are always busy. Please excuse me, I…” She held her breath.
He laughed. “Bear got your tongue?”
She glanced up to his face and found him grinning broadly, his dark eyes gleaming.
He extended his arm. “Come, come, I want to show you the tunnel.”
She exhaled and relaxed. If she did have any fears about her reception, she certainly was not going to reveal them now. She took a deep breath, focused on the compliment of his desire to show her the tunnel, and took his offered arm.
He bent down sideways to catch her eye, winked, and gave her a smile.
She couldn’t help but smile in return.
Together they headed back to the edge of the pit and the tunnel entrance.
Thankfully, he carried on the conversation with nothing more from her than a general comment offered now and then. He spoke with more eloquence than she expected. With patience, he described every feature in great detail, but only after she conceded an interest in the subject. So she did not become bored with a long recital of features that failed to interest her, like engines and power. He explained the carriage entrance and pathways where people would enter the tunnel in a manner that she could easily imagine. Without doubt he believed this tunnel would spur England on to a glorious future.
After the first ten minutes of his tour, her nerves were fully restored, and she realized her error in fearing a dressing-down. In fact, he was so amiable, she might bring up the subject of paying a call on James after all.
“Providential, madam, that you have visited the site today, since it spares me a journey to Broadsham House.” By then they had reached a storage area behind the brick engine house in front of a pile of bricks. Since the bricks were the only place available to sit, he removed a handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and carefully placed it on the pile.
She recognized the well-practiced gallant and supposed any successful seducer must possess that quality in abundance, as well as natural charm. Her cheeks began to warm, so she looked up at the sun, planning to use that as an excuse if he noticed her blush.
“Your brother, Fitzy—a great gun you have there. The young man reminds me of myself when younger, a fresh and eager learner, anxious for success just around the corner in five years or so.”
Pleased by the
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