They gracefully made their way across the downs in high-waisted frocks, Juliana and Corinna in white and Alexandra in pale blue. From the fragments of chatter that drifted back, he surmised they were discussing their evening gown selections yet again. Although she'd always dressed and groomed herself beautifully, he'd never known Alexandra to be so obsessed with clothing.
In fact, he was certain she wasn't. A competent female like Alexandra had more important things to occupy her mind.
"The men have nearly finished testing all the stations that will water the different areas," Griffin said, tearing Tristan's attention from the renegade curls on the back of Alexandra's neck. "Everything seems to be working perfectly."
"You're not surprised, are you?"
"That it would work? No. You always did a thorough job of it, even back in our schooldays. But I am surprised it came together so quickly. I didn't believe you when you said you could do it in a week. I owe you my apologies—and my thanks."
"You had a cooperative foundry."
"Regardless, I appreciate your attention to the matter. And your…shall we say lack of attention to my sister."
Tristan's gaze went to Alexandra's slender form. Her laughter floated to him. "I made a promise," he said.
A promise to keep his hands off. But he hadn't promised to abandon their friendship, and he was determined to renew it.
By the banks of the River Caine, all five of them gathered around the square pit Griffin's men had dug, gazing down through the grille at the noisy gray metal pump. Rhythmic hissing sounds shimmied up through the air.
"I told you there's not much to see," Tristan said. "The workings are all hidden inside. I hope you're not too disappointed."
"It's very impressive," Juliana disagreed tactfully. "How does it work?"
"That pipe there runs from the river down to the pump." Everyone stepped back while he opened the hinged grating. "It provides the water, and the downwards motion of that water flowing into the pump creates the energy that the pump uses to send it back up." He descended a ladder into the pit and stood there looking up at the rest of them. "This slender valve took me longest to adjust," he said, indicating a shank that moved up and down with rapid precision. "It pulsates fifty to seventy times per minute—roughly once per second. Each of those pulsations provides half a pint of water."
With each pulsation, a bit of water squirted out. "It's losing water," Corinna said.
"Not much, and that's part of the design, not a leak. The vast majority of the water is sent into the main chamber here." He laid a possessive hand on the vibrating machine. "Inside, there's a flap to keep the water that goes up from coming back down, and air in the top forces it through the outlet and into the pipe that runs uphill to the vineyard."
Although Tris kept talking, Alexandra wasn't really listening anymore. She was thinking about how the pump looked exactly like the pictures he'd drawn in the library. He'd created this, and it worked to get a job done even when no one was there watching it.
Awed, she gazed down at him in the pit and thought about how he was so very intelligent. Intelligent and handsome and hardworking. And honorable, too—never mind that he'd kissed her.
She wanted him to kiss her again.
It was a good thing he was leaving tonight.
"Your lordship?" When a gravelly voice interrupted her thoughts, she looked up to see a man addressing her brother.
"Yes?" Griffin replied.
"The caps on one of the stations aren't working properly."
Griffin looked inquiringly at Tris.
"Go on," Tris said, climbing back up the ladder. "I won't be here to solve any problems tomorrow."
Griffin nodded. "I'll meet you all back at the blanket."
Alexandra watched her brother head for the vineyard with the man. "Griffin can handle it," she said when their voices had faded away.
"I have no doubt." Tris hopped out of the pit and turned to lower the grille. "Your brother is a very competent man. He led troops all over the Peninsula."
"Sometimes I forget that," Juliana said as they started back at a leisurely pace. "Sometimes he makes me furious."
"Sometimes you make him furious, too, I'd wager." Tris softened that with a smile. "Did you ladies finally choose your dress designs?"
"Oh, yes." Corinna gave a little skip. "Mine will be covered with embroidery and pearls."
Juliana hugged herself. "Mine will be off the shoulder, with puffed sleeves and silk flowers tacked along the hem."
"And yours?" he asked Alexandra.
"Oh, it will be very pretty."
She didn't feel like discussing her dress. A dress Tris would never see.
Other men would see it. Wearing it, she would smile and flirt and dance, and one of the other men would end up her husband. She knew she should be excited about that, but at the moment she could hardly think straight with Tris walking beside her.
It was a good thing he was leaving tonight.
Juliana met her gaze, her eyes sympathetic. Alexandra looked away. To the north across the hedgerows, fields were planted, but the rolling land beneath their feet was covered only by untamed grass. The air smelled fresh. A kestrel hovered overhead in search of prey.
"Will there be a famous Chase sweet to finish my last dinner?" Tris asked.
"Perhaps." Corinna looked to be considering.
"Strawberry tarts." Suddenly enthusiastic, Juliana turned to him. "Do you fancy strawberry tarts?"
"Very much so—"
"François rarely keeps strawberries in the larder," Alexandra pointed out.
"No matter," Juliana said cheerfully. "There's a patch of them over there."
Corinna looked to where she indicated. "Wild strawberries!" Perhaps she had little talent for making sweets, but she certainly enjoyed eating them. "And this late in June, they ought to be perfectly ripe." She sighed, looking down at her white garden dress. "A pity we have nothing to put them in." Their skirts would surely stain should they use them to carry fresh fruit.
"We have the empty picnic basket."
