Page 42 of The Scholar (Emerson Pass Historicals 3)

“I’ve never snorted in my life.” Louisa dabbed at her eyes with the back of one hand. “What are you doing to me?”

“My apologies.” I leaned closer and pressed my handkerchief against one of her cheeks and then the other. “I promise, no more laughter.”

She caught my hand and held it against her cheek. “Never in my life have I laughed that hard. There was a time I didn’t think I’d ever laugh again. Thank you.”

She removed her hand from mine and I drew back slightly, tingling from her touch. “If I did nothing more with my life than you make you laugh, then I will have lived well.”

“Bold and a golden tongue,” Louisa said. “I had no idea you’d charm me so easily.”

“Just you wait.” I grinned at her before reaching into the basket to take out a bowl of raspberries. “Would you like some? There’s chicken in here too.”

“Yes, please.”

We ate and chatted. I told her more about my time at university, including the fine fellowship I’d shared with several of my classmates. She asked me questions about my schooling, and I answered as best as I could. Being this close to her, catching whiffs of her sweet perfume and mesmerized by her pretty eyes, it was all I could do to form sentences.

We were just finishing up our dinner when I noticed Cymbeline and Poppy walking toward us. I raised my hand in greeting. My sisters had all known I was bringing Louisa on a picnic. Had Cym come out to check on how things were going? The ladies in my family worried a little too much about me. We both stood to greet them.

“What are you two doing here?” I asked with a pointed look at my sister.

“We’re not checking up on you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Cymbeline said. “We’re meeting friends out here for a fire and stargazing.”

“You’re not disturbing us,” Louisa said. “Are y

ou hungry? We have plenty.”

“No, no, we ate at the house,” Cymbeline said. “And we don’t want to interrupt you. We just came to say hello and now we’re off.”

“What friends are you meeting?” I asked.

“Isak and Viktor.” Poppy gestured toward them. “And Nora. A few others too. Would you want to join us?”

I glanced at Louisa. She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Whatever you want,” Louisa said.

“We’ll see,” I said.

Cymbeline squinted as she gazed over at Isak and Viktor. “Who is that girl with them? Not Nora but the other one.”

“Emma and Neil Hartman,” Poppy said.

“Husband and wife?” Cymbeline asked, a little too hopefully.

I hid a smile behind my hand. Nothing like a little competition to get Cymbeline’s attention.

“Brother and sister,” Poppy said. “He’s handsome, don’t you think?”

Surprised, I glanced over at Poppy. “I’ve never known you to notice a man.”

Poppy raised one dark brow. “I have eyes. And what I see is a nice-looking man that I didn’t grow up with like the rest of you.”

“Have you met them yet?” I asked. “With your eyes and the rest of you.”

Poppy gave me a sisterly shove. “You’re not funny. But yes, I’ve met them. They have a border collie they’re in love with. She just had a litter of pups.”

“He’s an animal lover as well as being handsome,” I said to Poppy. “Neil Hartman sounds just right for you.”

“I don’t know,” Poppy said. “I’m old. Your sister said she was going to be a spinster, but it’s turned out to be me.”

“Well, you’re beautiful,” I said. “No reason for you to feel anything to the contrary.”