Love's First Flames (Banished Saga, 0.5) (12 page)

“You sly ba—” Richard said.

“Happy birthday!” Gabriel yelled, throwing his arms around Jeremy as Richard gave a loud hoot of joy. Jeremy started and looked toward the door, seeing Florence and the other maid holding a small cake with a lit candle in the middle.

“For me?” Jeremy asked, the hesitancy in his voice causing Gabriel to grip Jeremy’s shoulder even tighter.

“Of course. Happy birthday, Jer. It’s not every day a man turns eighteen.” Gabriel released Jeremy so he could lean over the cake and blow out the candle.

“How did you manage?” Jeremy asked.

“I knew Rich wouldn’t turn down a visit to see Miss Butler, and I had hoped they wouldn’t mind us wanting to celebrate with them. We could have celebrated again at the workshop, but, with Mr. Smithers away for the weekend in Concord, it didn’t seem like much of a celebration.”

“That’s why you were up and out so early this morning, and wouldn’t let me come with you,” Richard said.

“Yes, I met Florence at the bakery buying her customary cake. I got a different one for Jer and had her bring it back here.” He winked at Florence. “The only part of the plan I had to convince her of was spilling tea on me. I couldn’t think of another reason to get her to leave the room again after she’d just come in.”

“You are devious, Gabriel,” Mrs. Kruger said with warm affection. “Ah, this is like a real tea party with more than one type of cake and a reason to celebrate. As it’s your birthday, son, you need to cut the first slice.”

Jeremy lifted the knife and held it aloft for a moment as though making a wish and then lowered it, slicing cleanly into the cake. He cut the first slab and gave the knife to Florence so she could serve everyone. “Chocolate, Gabe?”

“I know it’s your favorite. And you should have your favorite on your birthday.”

Florence watched the three brothers with a wistful look in her eyes. She sat on a hard wooden chair that Richard had pulled over from the corner and put next to Mrs. Kruger, and lowered her eyes when the McLeod brothers stopped eating and watched her.

“Florence, are you all right?” Richard asked. He was too far away to reach for her hand, but his foot nudged hers.

“I’m fine. Just memories,” she whispered.

“I hope they’re not distressing, Miss Butler, or you won’t enjoy your cake,” Gabriel teased, although concern lit his blue eyes.

“It’s just . . . watching the three of you made me miss my family. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around family.” She shot an apologetic look toward Mrs. Kruger, but she nodded her agreement.

“There’s no better than a McLeod,” Jeremy said, causing Richard and Gabriel to nod.

“That’s what our da always said, and I have to agree,” Richard said with a broad smile. “Although Aunt would want us to believe differently.”

“I’m sure it’s only because she’s proud of her own family,” Florence said.

“I’ll not argue with you when it’s a day to celebrate.” Gabriel took another sip of tea and played with the crumbs of cake on his plate.

“Eat up, young men,” Mrs. Kruger said. “There’s plenty of cake, and I don’t want it to be said any of you left my home hungry.”

Another slab of cake was placed on each plate, although they picked at it more carefully this time. “Ah, this is good, Gabe. Better than the ones you’d bought before,” Jeremy said as he closed his eyes on a bite.

“What’s Richard’s favorite cake?” Florence asked, then blushed at Jeremy’s and Gabriel’s knowing grins.

“I like pies,” Richard said, nudging Jeremy next to him. “I think it’s ’cause I was born in June. So much fruit is fresh then.”

“Pies,” Florence said with a frown.

“And you, Gabriel?” Mrs. Kruger asked. At his confused look, she asked, “What do you like to eat on your birthday?”

He flushed red. “Oh, nothing in particular. Anything will do. And you, Miss Butler?”

Mrs. Kruger squinted at Gabriel and his easy deflection of the question before turning to watch her maid with fond affection.

“I like anything with chocolate,” Florence said.

Richard nodded as though storing away that piece of information.

“And you, Mrs. Kruger?” Gabriel asked.

“I had a cook many years ago who baked the most delicious spice cake. However, she left me when she married,” Mrs. Kruger said.

“Why don’t you buy it rather than fruitcake?” Jeremy asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

“I’ve never found a spice cake like hers, whereas fruitcakes are consistently good. She gave my new cook her recipe, but it never resulted in as delicious a cake, and, after a few attempts, I advised the new cook to forego making any more.” She smiled. “Until you boys started calling for tea, I had very little reason to wish my old cook had returned to me.”

“Our aunt had a wonderful cook when we first moved in,” Richard said. “Mrs. Thynne. She kept us well fed, even against Aunt’s orders. Mrs. Thynne somehow managed to keep to the essence of what Aunt wanted, which was to withhold our food as punishment—”

“On a daily basis,” Jeremy muttered.

“And still feed us.” Richard smiled with fondness. “Her food was simple, but delicious.”

“She always snuck away little treats for us. Cookies in our laundered clothes. Cinnamon toast in the warming oven when we arrived from school,” Gabriel added.

“Is she still with your aunt?” Florence asked.

Richard shook his head. “We arrived home from school one day, a few years after arriving at our aunt’s, to find a thin, hook-nosed woman standing over the stove. She swatted me so hard with the wooden spoon I had a welt for a few days on my leg. She was Mrs. Thynne’s replacement.”

“But why replace the woman if she was such a good cook?” Mrs. Kruger asked.

“She died. She hadn’t been feeling well and was given a few days off. While she was away, she died,” Gabriel said. All three McLeod boys lowered their heads unconsciously for a moment as they remembered her loss.

“You poor boys. You lost the one person in that house that brought comfort.” Mrs. Kruger’s eyes were mournful.

“We’ll be in our own place soon enough, ma’am,” Gabriel said, determination glinting his azure eyes. “Within a year.”

Mrs. Kruger studied Gabriel with a deep sadness. “Just because you leave her house, doesn’t mean she leaves your life, young Gabriel.”

Gabriel frowned at her words before laughing at a tale Richard and Jeremy had begun to tell Florence, lightening the mood.

CHAPTER TWELVE

FLORENCE STEPPED DOWN from the trolley and glanced around, a habit now as her gaze searched for any sign of Richard. Although she would have liked to have seen him every evening she had class, his visits were more sporadic. When she saw no sign of him, she firmed her shoulders and continued her walk across Chester Square.

As she approached Mrs. Kruger’s home, a hand reached forward and grasped her arm. “I beg your pardon,” Florence snapped, pulling away her arm and holding herself rigidly.

“Flo?” Richard asked as he released her and backed up a step.

“Richard,” Florence said in a sigh and relaxed, leaning toward him as though she were awaiting an embrace. She caught herself at the last moment and stood tall again.

“Are you worried about your safety? For, if you are, I’ll ensure you arrive home without incident every night.” He frowned at that. “Well, I couldn’t always be here. But either Gabriel or I could ensure your safety.”

Florence raised a gloved hand and traced away his frown. “No, you startled me is all.” She glanced behind her at Mrs. Kruger’s stately mansion. “I need to go in.”

“Be daring. Walk around the block with me. I know she likes me, and she wouldn’t begrudge you that,” Richard coaxed.

“She’s begun to believe you are inconstant in your interest in me. You haven’t called for tea in a few weeks, and she doesn’t know about you walking me home from the trolley stop. She thinks I should focus solely on my studies for now until I can find a more genuine man.”

Richard growled at that, his hand tightening over the one looped through his arm. “I didn’t wish to cause any gossip or you any trouble with your employer.”

“It’s almost Christmas, Richard, and you’ve only called for tea twice since Jeremy’s birthday in early November,” Florence said.

“Where you’ve charmed Gabriel both times,” Richard said interrupting her. “He’s begun to treat you like one of us, which is the highest praise Gabriel can give a person.”

Florence barreled on with what she wanted to say. “It wouldn’t cause trouble for Mrs. Kruger to know an eligible young man is interested in me. She’s even begun to suggest that I should consider Gabriel as he appears to be the more serious of the brothers.”

“Gabriel? You’ve barely spoken to Gabriel. You don’t go on walks with Gabriel and discuss your day, your dreams, your fears.” Richard glared at her, his blue eyes reminding her of ice chips.

“Did Gabriel tell you that he visited me once?” She felt Richard turn rigid and stroked her hand down his arm. “He came to the house one morning and asked to speak with me. I’d yet to go to the bakery, and he escorted me.”

“Gabe did this?” Richard asked, hurt and incredulousness in his voice.

“Yes. I believe it’s why Mrs. Kruger thinks he could also be interested in me. But he’s not. He wanted to apologize for being rude to me and to say that he’d try not to interfere with our friendship.”

“Why would Gabe say that?” Richard asked, facing Florence with confusion.

She bit her lip, her gaze distant as she thought back over their conversation. “Gabriel said something about an old friend advising him that he’d become used to just the three of you, but that he knew that it wasn’t right to expect it would always be just the three of you.” She shook her head. “Something like that.”

“And this is why Mrs. Kruger believes you are interested in Gabriel?”

“Yes. Although I will always admire him for all he’s done for you and your brothers, and I truly appreciate how he’s begun to make me feel accepted, I would never want Gabriel.”

“Mrs. Kruger’s a sly old bat, stirring up trouble,” Richard grumbled as he relaxed.

“I think she just wants to see me happy. She also doesn’t like taking her tea alone and relishes any visitors who deign to call.”

“Gabriel and I will call on Sunday when we have the afternoon off. Then she can see how little you and Gabe suit.”

Florence beamed. “Good. I can show off the fancy skills I’ve been perfecting. I know you wouldn’t believe it after I spilled tea all over Gabriel, but I’ve become quite proficient in the ways of serving tea like a lady.”

Richard paused, raising one hand to trace her eyebrow and then cup her cheek. “When will you accept I don’t care about any fancy skills? I just want the woman you are.”

Florence gasped, her eyes wide and bright. She leaned into his hand’s caress and inched toward him as Richard bent forward, placing a soft, chaste kiss to her lips.

“Let me court you, Flo,” Richard whispered, his forehead resting against hers, his eyes closed as though in deep prayer. “Don’t tease me anymore about other suitors or Gabriel. Trust me when I say you’re the one I want. No other.”

“Richard, look at me.” She leaned away, caressing his cheek, running her hand through his hair and letting it come to rest on his broad shoulder. “I’ve only ever dreamed a man such as you would be interested in me.”

“Hush, don’t say such things. I’m the fortunate one to have realized how remarkable you are before some other lucky man came along and stole you from me. I’m just thankful you haven’t been courted by anyone else before now.” He smiled at Florence’s blush. “On Sunday, shall we tell Gabe and Mrs. Kruger we are courting?”

“Yes, Richard,” Florence said, standing on her toes and kissing him again. “Yes.”

Richard sighed with contentment and continued their slow perambulation around the block until he stopped with reluctance in front of Mrs. Kruger’s house again. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Florence darling.”

Florence smiled and blew him a kiss. He stood for a few moments with his eyes closed, remembering her sweet kiss. When he heard the church bell toll the hour, he was jerked out of his pleasant reminiscing and back into the present. He glanced once more at Mrs. Kruger’s house, imagining Florence inside, and raced toward the closest trolley stop for his aunt’s house.

***

“GABE! JER! HOLD UP!” Richard called as he sprinted toward them.

“We couldn’t have walked much slower, Rich,” Gabriel said, his discerning gaze taking in Richard’s exultant mood. “I can see you enjoyed your early evening stroll.”

Richard nudged him in the side, but they all laughed as they turned toward their aunt’s house. “I couldn’t handle missing another dinner. We don’t have much left in our goodies box.”

“We’ll have to see about replenishing our stock if you’re going to continue your rendezvous with your friend,” Jeremy said.

“Look who’s got such fancy words!” Richard said, grabbing Jeremy by the shoulders with one hand and rubbing his hair with the other. Jeremy laughed, punching him in the stomach and was released.

Gabriel smiled, watching their antics and led them down the back steps into the dreary hallway. “I wonder what’s for dinner tonight.” He jerked to a halt as he was about to lead his brothers into their room. Richard and Jeremy slammed into each other and then into Gabriel, causing them to cant forward before Gabriel pushed backward.