Page 56 of To Know Miss May

“Now, since we be friends,” he began, “I’ll let ye know that I expect ye to do what friends do.”

She watched him warily, though that sparkle still lit her eyes. “And what be that, then?”

He shrugged. “Talk to each other. ’Ave fun together. ’Elp and encourage each other to be better. Keep each other’s word. That sort o’ thing.”

She scrunched up her nose. “I think I’d like to stick with bein’ acquaintances, then.”

He laughed. “No, no, Miss May. There be no backin’ out now.”

She pulled in her lips. “Very well. Then can I expect the same from ye?”

“’Course.”

“So I can expect ye to keep your word ’bout readin’ Don Quixote?”

Regret rushed over him, and he groaned. “Ah, I’ve completely forgotten ’bout that, ’aven’t I? I be that sorry. ’Tisn’t what a friend would do at all. I promise I’ll pick it up again tonight.”

To his surprise, a grin split across her pink lips. “There be no need. I gave ye that book on purpose.”

“What do ye mean?”

“I thought it’d be amusin’ to assign the largest, most difficult book for ye to read,” she admitted. Not a hint of remorse shone in her eyes.

“Ye little pisky,” he said, acting appalled, instead of how charmed he was by her playful nature. “Well, now I be more determined to finish it just to prove that I can.”

“I wish ye much luck, then,” she teased. “Ye’ll be needin’ it.”

Footsteps sounded nearby, and August glanced up to see Mr. May headed toward them. Miss May followed his gaze, and the mood around them shifted instantly.

“Ye two be enjoyin’ your conversation?” he asked, glancing between them both, his eyes lingering expectantly on August.

August took a step away, his stomach tight. “’Course, sir. I always enjoy me conversations with your daugh’er.” He gave another smile to Miss May before taking a step back. “But I do ’ave work to see to.”

“’Course, ’course,” Mr. May said. “I be sorry for the delay. The gardens wouldn’t run so well without ye.”

August almost gagged at the forced compliment. He could perfectly see through Mr. May’s actions, these false words no better than the threats from before.

Still, August nodded in response and walked away, stealing another glance at Miss May before leaving the gardens behind.

He would stay in the lower gardens today, if only to avoid any potential conversation with Mr. May when his daughter left.

He didn’t need the added scrutiny.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Unused to the situations in which I find myself, and embarrassed by the slightest difficulties, I seldom discover, till too late, how I ought to act.”

Evelina, Frances Burney

It was midnight, and shockingly enough, Livvy had already undressed for bed.

For most ladies who remained at home all day, being dressed and in bed by midnight was not unheard of. But Livvy, well, she typically became so engrossed in her novels that she wouldn’t even remember to undress until half past two in the morning.

That day, however, she’d had a full morning and afternoon visiting with others—first with her father, then August, then the Otterhams, and finally Mrs. Smith, a boatman’s wife, whom she’d met with on the way down from the Mount.

Socializing always sapped her energy faster than dry sand swallowed water, even if the experiences were positive, like today’s had been.

As such, when she returned home that afternoon, Livvy had locked herself away in her room and allowed herself the comfort that only removing her stays could offer.