Connie Brockway by Bridal Favors

Author:Bridal Favors [Favors, Bridal]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-04-25T17:44:40+00:00

It wasn’t the best day for a picnic. It was cloudy and humid and still. Ernst had picked her up promptly at eleven o’clock, respectfully admiring her tidy brown worsted dress and neatly plaited hair. He’d already picked the picnic site, proclaiming it the prettiest place in East Sussex.

For a while, it appeared that Ernst’s only contribution to the conversation was going to be an occasional mumble, and Evelyn had begun to feel a shade alarmed at the prospect of spending an entire afternoon in monologue. Then she’d asked about his bicycle, and he’d launched into a comprehensive discourse on the benefits versus the practicalities of the new vulcanized tires. From there on, they’d had no troubles.

Soon, Ernst drove the wagon off the road, hopped out, and unhitched the pony. Evelyn descended, waiting while Ernst unloaded his bicycle and two large, cumbersome-looking wicker hampers.

“I will use my machine to transport these one at a time to my little idyllic place,” he said.

Oh. So they weren’t there yet. Well, good. A bit of exercise before a meal always stimulated the appetite and invigorated the spirit. “Mr. Blumfield—” Evelyn began.

“Ernst, please.”

She dimpled. Well, she would have dimpled had she owned them, but she could have sworn she felt little dents developing in her cheeks. “Ernst. You must allow me to carry one of the hampers. I am perfectly capable.”

“As I am well aware,” he answered solemnly.

She picked up one of the hampers and immediately listed forward. Gads! The man must have packed a stove. Still, she smiled valiantly and shifted the weight to her hip, happy to note that he didn’t try to appropriate it from her. He sincerely respected her independence and autonomy. Heavens!

It took twenty minutes to hike to Ernst’s picnic site. Most of it uphill. And through a creek. Clouds of midges swarmed up from the grass as they trudged across a rutted field and up a steep slope toward the edge of the forest. Her boots had not been intended for cross-country meets and soon rubbed blisters on her heels. The brown worsted she’d worn as least likely to show grass stains wasn’t up to camouflaging the dark rings spreading under her arms.

Ernst, on the other hand, looked perfectly at ease. He pushed his new bicycle with the wicker hamper affixed to the handle, chattering gaily about the contraption’s braking system. Finally he stopped. “Here. It is a lovely place, yes?”

“Yes, it’s charming,” Evelyn said. It didn’t look appreciably different to her from any of the other half dozen places they’d passed.

“I think that in the hamper you carry I have packed a nice blanket. If you would be so kind?”

“Gladly.” She gave her heartfelt assent. She could use a spot of respite. She flipped open the hamper and withdrew a heavy wool blanket. She gave it a sharp snap and settled it on the grass beneath a huge oak.

Gratefully, she sank to her knees while Ernst carefully leaned his bicycle against the trunk and returned with the other picnic basket.

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