Debra Ullrick by The Unintended Groom

Author:The Unintended Groom
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Two hours later, the small party started to break up and go their separate ways. Staimes had asked if Harrison minded if he went back to the house with everyone else. Harrison smiled. He knew that everyone else had meant Veronique especially. It brought him great joy to see his valet relaxed and enjoying another’s companionship.

Zoé had asked Harrison if she could take his sons with her because she had something she wanted to show them—a bug collection or something like that. Julie had been invited, too, but the little girl wrinkled her nose and shook her head. Harrison agreed with her. Why anyone would want to see bugs was beyond him, but his boys did, so he had let them go, knowing they were dead bugs mounted on boards. It amazed him a woman collected such a thing. Seemed all the women in Abby’s household, including Abby, did things he wasn’t used to seeing. Boston women didn’t do those things. At least not the women in his society. Truth be known, he enjoyed these people’s good society much more.

Harrison lingered behind in hopes of walking Abby back to the house. He hadn’t gotten over how the woman had responded to the news about her chimneys. Nothing about it fazed her and it should have. Therefore, he didn’t think she truly understood the magnitude of just how much more it was going to cost her to fix those chimneys or to hire those extra men. To make sure she did, he wanted to discuss the matter with her, only he didn’t want to do it in front of Fletcher or anyone else.

Minutes later, Fletcher and his daughter left. They were the last ones to leave the picnic area.

Harrison turned toward Abby and froze at the sight. A hummingbird hovered over her, pecking at the flowers in the ribbon around the crown of her hat. Abby sat statue still. They’re eyes connected, then hers drifted upward to where the hummingbird still hovered before returning to his. Her disbelieving, exuberant smile and bright eyes reminded him of a child opening a birthday present.

Caught up in the captivating moment, he watched the fluorescent-orange bird, a rufous, the locals called it, test several more flowers before it flitted off.

“Did you see that? I can’t believe it was that close to me.” Abby clasped her hands in front of her and yanked them to her chest. “Aren’t they the sweetest little things ever? That one was a rufous hummingbird. Odd how they look brown until you see them in the sun. Then the orange on their bodies and the red under their beak turns a brilliant fluorescent color, don’t you think?” Again she gave him no time to answer as she started to rise immediately after her question.

Harrison rushed to help her up. Every time her hand settled in his, the warmth of her touch went straight to his heart and its effect resided there; this time was no different. Not wanting to feel the effects because of its implication, he let go of her hand.

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