Angelica sat on a blanket spread out on the grass. The sun was warm on her face, and everything smelled fresh and green. No one mentioned her episode from earlier in the day—it was as if it never happened. Not even Mary Rose bit on that one. Perhaps Captain Neill had told them all to leave her be. To them, it was only a spilled glass of wine and a little chaos. To Angelica, it was something slightly more sinister.
The sound of Mr. Lawton’s voice, as he cavalierly ate smoked salmon sandwiches and flirted with both Cynthia Cartwright and Mary Rose, grated on her nerves. Once, when he’d addressed a question to her, she flinched at her name on his lips. Thankfully, Captain Neill didn’t notice her discomfort. He sat beside her on the blanket, letting their shoulders touch, and their hands occasionally brush like two shy lovers at a church picnic.
It was chaste, and sweet, and—in some small way—helped to wash the bad taste of luncheon out of her mouth. Captain Neill was a good man, and, beneath his corroded exterior, he had a pure heart. Moments when he laughed with her, or brushed a wild lock of hair from her cheek, letting his fingertips linger on her pinkening skin, made her forget there was cruelty, war, and addiction in the world. Troubles seemed a million miles away. Surely, not even a villain like Peter Lawton could ruin the day.
“How exactly did you two meet?” Mr. Lawton asked between bites of sandwich.
“Remember when I crashed my car?” Captain Neill replied. “Angelica gave me shelter until I could go for help.”
“You must be very brave, Miss Grey. Do you often take in strangers from the rain?”
Angelica didn’t care for his tone, or what he insinuated. “Never.”
“Well, fortunately for you, it was Brody. I shudder to think what could befall such a helpless young beauty if the stranger in question was not a gentleman…”
Clearly, he was remembering how easily he’d taken advantage of her during luncheon. Angelica shuddered. Instinctively, she leaned against Captain Neill’s shoulder, searching for his strength in the darkness. She wasn’t looking for protection, but for support. Knowing he was there gave her the courage to face Peter Lawton.
“I am not helpless.”
This time, the man laughed. “I hope not. I admire girls with a bit of…fight…in them.”
After that, he turned his focus back to Cynthia and Mary Rose. Peter Lawton knew he could have either of those girls—or both, if he wanted—but Angelica was something more sporting. Men like him wanted to chase, to capture. To possess. As long as women ran from him, he would pursue. He would never be a faithful husband, and would likely squander his wife’s precious dowry on whores and drink.
Would Captain Neill have been faithful? Angelica liked to think so. Despite his love for her, as his mistress, she held no claim to him. A man could have a dozen lovers spread all over Britain. Yet, if he had married her, she felt certain he would be a tender, faithful, devoted husband. She would have been a tender, faithful, devoted wife. Now that marriage was out of the question—he’d said so many times—Angelica could only hope that his love for her would keep him steadfast and true.
As if he could sense her thoughts, Captain Neill softly touched her arm. “Another sandwich, Angelica?”
“No, thank you. Between two salmons and a Victoria sponge, I’ve had plenty.”
He leaned in close, his voice tickling her ear. “I like to watch you eat.”
“Why?” She laughed.
“I don’t know. You were thin and starved when I first met you. Perhaps I like the idea of fattening you up.”
“Am I…fattening up?” Truthfully, Angelica wasn’t sure she could fit in her old, threadbare frocks, even if she wanted to. Too many more cakes, puddings, or trifles, and she might not be able to fit in her new frocks either. But, she was eating better than she had since before the war. She was having meats and sugar with every meal. Her stomach hardly ever grumbled now.
“To me, you’ve never been more beautiful.” Captain Neill laughed. “And, if we’re both honest, I’ve put on a bit of girth myself—eating, sleeping, and being happy can do that to a chap.”
“We are both happy, aren’t we?”
He ran his thumb down the length of her forearm, murmuring more to himself than to her, “For the very first time.”
“I thought you looked fat, Brody!” Mr. Lawton must have been eavesdropping. He wanted them to know it. “Come up to the room later. I have something that can help.”
Captain Neill squeezed her hand as he said, “You know I don’t go in for that sort of thing.”