Page 6 of Blackmailed (The Browns of Butcher’s Hill #2)

“No. They were bustling with commerce and people in fancy dress, even in the middle of the day!” Colleen added. “Miss Wiest was invited to a party at one of the homes at Kensington Square. You should have seen her, Sarah. She looked like a princess!”

“A princess? Who is a princess?” Phillip Brown said from the doorway.

Virginia could feel her face turn pink from her cheeks to her chin.

There he was, leaning against the doorframe, looking handsome and rugged and altogether dear.

He smiled at her, and she could not stop her returning smile, as if they were the only two people in the room, maybe in the city or even the world.

She had missed him so. He walked toward her, hands out in front of him, and she stood and took his hands in hers.

They stood there, fingers clenched in each other’s, staring and smiling.

“It is very good to see you, Miss Wiest,” he said finally.

“Likewise, Mr. Brown. I . . . I thought of you when visiting some of the sites we saw on our travels. I think you would have enjoyed them very much.” She’d almost said she missed him, which, while true, was not something she cared to say with others in the room.

Perhaps when they were alone she would share that, although maybe he did not feel the same.

He leaned forward and whispered near her ear. “I’ve missed you, Virginia.”

She nodded, her lip trembling and her eyes suddenly filling with tears. She hurriedly returned to her seat, staring down at her hands until her emotions were under control. My goodness, she thought, I am overcome!

“We’ve been sharing some of our travels with your sister and uncle, Mr. Brown. And enjoying some tea and biscuits,” Colleen said after glancing at Virginia.

“You are home early from the cannery, brother.”

“Had a half day coming and off tomorrow since I worked yesterday.” He glanced at Virginia. “Maybe we could take a walk if the weather is not too chilly tomorrow.”

She smiled up at him. “I would enjoy that, Mr. Brown.”

“Excellent. I’d best get out of these clothes as I’ve got some calls to make,” he said then, nodding at her.

“We will be leaving shortly, Mr. Brown. We’ve eaten every cookie your Miss Eliza sent out to us,” Colleen said.

“Mr. Turnbull will be coming for us in a few minutes. We can drop you off if it would be convenient,” Virginia said.

“I’ve got to stop for a fitting at Dolly’s,” Colleen said.

“Oh yes. I’d forgotten.” She smiled up at him.

“I’m heading there as well. Did Miss Hughes tell you there was some trouble there?” he asked.

“She did. Terrible thing. Right there in the daylight. I hope you can find who did it. It seems from what Colleen said that Dolly knew the fellow too.”

“She did, apparently,” he said. “I’ll take you up on the offer of a ride.”

Phillip was seated, his back to the horses, for the short trip to Dolly’s shop. When they arrived, Colleen stepped out with Mr. Turnbull’s help.

“I’ll just be ten minutes or so if you wish to stay seated, Miss Wiest. It’s been an exciting day.”

“It has,” she said and glanced at him. “I’ll wait, then, if you don’t need my help.”

Miss Hughes smiled and headed into the dress shop. Phillip took the opportunity to move to her seat beside Virginia. He would not give up any chance to spend a moment or two with her. She looked at him and smiled.

“I hope I wasn’t too forward before, Virginia. It’s just that I have missed you. Very much.”

“I missed you too. Very much.”

He picked her hand up and held it. “Then all is right in the world for me.” He leaned toward her and touched his lips to her cheek.

Just a brief kiss that felt like fireworks in his gut.

He took the time to breathe in the scent of lilies she always wore and to enjoy being so close to her.

She took his hand in her trembling one and tightened her grip, as if she had no intention of letting him go.

“I often seem to overstep when in your company,” he whispered.

She glanced at him, her face just inches from his. “I’m the one holding your hand,” she whispered.

He smiled. “I kissed you first.”

“I’m glad you did. It seems like forever since I was able to touch you. Any part of you.”

Phillip was certain Virginia Wiest had no idea how erotic those words sounded to him, and he would not explain it to her. She was an innocent woman, sheltered and precious, not meant for tawdry thoughts such as the ones he was having and dismissing at that very moment.

The shop bell tinkled in the background, and soon Colleen Hughes was at the carriage door, Mr. Turnbull opening it to help her inside. Phillip moved to his original seat in a hurry.

“Mr. Brown, Dolly would like to speak to you, but her store is very busy right now, and she asked me to ask you if you would return this evening.”

“Can we drop you somewhere, Mr. Brown?”Virginia asked.

“Yes. Anywhere near Mott Street, if it is not out of your way,” he said. He’d planned on heading to the Colfax home so he would see what he could find out about Mr. Colfax, but he did not want to reveal that to Miss Wiest.

“It’s not out of the way. Close by where the ladies are calling,” Mr. Turnbull said and closed the carriage door.