How could any human being be so positively insufferable?
Will settled back against the seat and gave her what she imagined to be his best lady-killer smile. But Mary knew better than to fall for that ruse.
“What are you most looking forward to at the picnic?” Were not there so many eyes upon her, wondering about the secret romance that had been whispered about, she might have been tempted to give him yet another dismissal. But he wasn’t one for accepting them, and in present company, she was in no mood to argue with him.
Mary hesitated. She had been looking forward to visiting with some of the others. Other than Polly, she didn’t have friends her age, with being so busy caring for her siblings. How was she to make friends with others if Will monopolized her time?
Perhaps, if there was any compassion in the man, he would understand. “I was most looking forward to getting to know the other ladies. We haven’t been here long, and as much as I adore Polly, it would be nice to establish myself in the community.”
His warm smile almost made her think he could be among those she counted as friends. “Then we are of the same purpose. Perhaps we can conquer them together.”
Oh, to be able to trust that easy look. But his connection to Ben made it impossible. What had Ben told him of her? Was he of the same character as Ben?
“You are just as much a stranger to me as they are.” She cast a glance over at Polly, who was chatting with the young lady to her left. “I fear too close an association will only fuel the tale that you are a beau.”
The expression on his face finally seemed to register his understanding of her predicament. “I suppose I should apologize for kissing your hand. I sometimes go too far in my teasing.”
Though he looked chastised enough and possibly even regretful, she didn’t fully believe it. Perhaps it was because she kept too many secrets of her own to trust in the veracity of others. But mostly, it was because his eye still held the same twinkle it did when his lips burned a hole in her hand.
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” she told him with the same kind of severity she usually reserved for the children.
“And here you thought me a stranger.” His wide grin seemed to fill the entire wagon. “You seem to have me already sorted out.”
Being so familiar with this man was dangerous, to be sure, but Mary couldn’t resist teasing him right back. “As I’ve said, I have a great deal of experience with children.”
Her zinger broadened his smile, and before he could send another comment back, Polly interrupted.
“I will not have you ruining our perfectly nice time by speaking any more of the children, Mary Stone. You and I have barely had a break taking care of your siblings and mine, and I intend to enjoy every last moment of it.”
Her indignant glare reminded Mary that this was indeed a rare break from their responsibilities. And while it felt good to get away, even for a moment, part of Mary felt guilty for neglecting her family. It had been neglecting her responsibilities that got her into trouble with Ben in the first place. Oh, had she only not allowed herself to get caught up in the fancy of believing herself to be in love.
Unfortunately, giving her friend a smile was not enough reassurance about their time away.
“Promise me, Mary. No more talk of our responsibilities. We’re here to enjoy ourselves.”
It would have been a simple enough promise to give if only Will’s eyes were not upon her. Why did he care? He seemed to hang on every one of her words.
But maybe that was his intent. To throw her off guard so that she was willing to talk more about Ben. Fine, then.
“Of course I promise,” she told Polly. “What more can I do to show you my desire to have fun?”
Polly grinned. “Just stick with me, my friend.” She turned and indicated the girl sitting on the other side of her.
“This is Beth Williams.”
The freckle-faced girl held out a gloved hand. “So pleased to make your acquaintance. I know your sister-in-law quite well. Annabelle is a dear, and we were all so happy to see her settled with such a fine man as your brother.”
Mary would have been flattered by the compliment to her family except for Polly’s barking laugh and quick retort.
“You mean you were glad that you no longer had to worry about her competing with you for Jasper’s attention.”
Fanning herself furiously, Beth hid behind her fan. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about. Are we almost there? Suddenly it’s grown quite warm out.”
Some of the girls around them giggled. A perky blonde whose name Mary thought might have been Rachel leaned forward.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone’s been infatuated with Jasper at one point or another. Who wouldn’t? His father runs with the high rollers and has even sat in Mr. Tabor’s box at the opera house. Plus, he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
At those words, all the girls sighed and glanced in the general direction of one of the dandies sitting with the driver of the wagon. The glorious Jasper, she presumed.
In Mary’s eyes, he wasn’t so terribly much to behold. Certainly he had a thick glossy head of dark hair, but not so shiny as to give it the heroic description some of the girls were talking about. And his eyes...why, she’d seen much nicer eyes on—
Will.
She stole a glance at him, only to find him staring right at her with an amused look on his face.
“Do you find Jasper as wonderful as the others are saying?”
His eyes held the same twinkle they’d had the entire time, and Mary was forced
