A Rose for Laura by Callie Hutton

9

Laura's heart skipped a few beats as Keniel gazed into her eyes, his own eyes full of anticipation as she considered his offer to stay for a light supper. She was indeed hungry, but she truly looked a mess. As if her mother were still alive, she could hear her voice in her head: Laura, dearest, do not present yourself at anyone's table as a guest without assuring that you look your absolute best.

But her beloved mama was not alive, and while a tad messy from her work all day, Laura had the desire to stay a little longer with Keniel. Just the two of them, enjoying a relaxing meal and conversation after such a long and busy day. On an impulse she said, "If you don't mind a messy guest at your table, I will be pleased to accept your offer."

A grin split his face. "I'll be right back. I need to speak with Mrs. Evans. I hope you don't mind a last-minute sort of menu?"

"Not at all. However, if I may make use of your bathing room, I would like to freshen up."

"Of course. I believe you know where it is on the bedchamber floor?"

"I do." She made her way upstairs and, after admiring the lovely room she'd visited earlier after one of the committee members mentioned the smudge of dirt on her face, she quickly washed and re-arranged her hair as best she could.

As she righted herself, she thought about the day. Still amazed and somewhat uncomfortable moving ten babies into a bachelor's home, she couldn't help but feel grateful for Keniel's generosity.

She could hear the noise of the little ones and their caretakers getting them settled for the night. It had been a disruptive day for them as well.

Hunt's offer of sponsorship would allow them to look for a larger place. He'd said he would send for her in a couple of days to go over what he had planned in the way of sponsorship.

Finding a new place for the babies would be easier if she could increase their budget. She must mention that to Keniel, because he was the one continuing the task of finding suitable quarters. Perhaps even in a better neighborhood.

They could take in more babies and hire another caretaker. Yes, having Hunt as a sponsor would make things better. Hopefully, one or two of the men she'd met at the dinner who promised to get back to her would also join them.

Keniel was already back from speaking with Mrs. Evans when she returned to the library.

"Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes."

"That sounds wonderful." She took a seat and sipped the sherry.

He settled across from her in another comfortable-looking chair. "Of course, I have no idea how things would ordinarily go in moving a group of orphans, their belongings and caretakers from one residence to another, but it did appear to me that things went smoothly.”

Laura smiled at his comments. "Ah, that was because you were far, far away from all the arguing, crying, and frustration."

He held up his glass in a toast. "I commend you all for your work."

She returned the salute. "And I commend you for allowing us to use your residence as an orphans home."

They chatted for a while, sipping their drinks. He related stories from his childhood. As he talked, she pictured in her mind a small, lithe, barefooted boy running free over the beach, climbing the sand dunes, exploring what could be found in the soft sand and lush greenery.

"Your life as a youth sounds idealistic."

Keniel swirled his drink and looked down at the glass. "It was and it wasn't. Muma was busy with her art, and I ran free, which was good, but I also got into trouble with some of the other boys." He looked up and shrugged. "Eventually, word got back to my mother from the local vicar that I needed some discipline. I was sent off to the best private boys' school on the island, and that was the end of my freedom."

"I assume that is where you learned to speak the Queen's English?"

He laughed. "Indeed. No Jamaican slang for the pupils of Potsdam School."

"Ah. So civilization caught up with you."

"Precisely. But even though at the time I hated it, I am grateful for the education and yes, the discipline I received at the headmaster's hands. And switch."

"Ouch," Laura replied.

He shrugged as if receiving a whipping at school was not an unusual occurrence. But then, she had only attended finishing school once she'd outgrown her governess, and she could imagine parents' outrage if one of their little darlings received a discipline of that sort.

Keniel interrupted her thoughts. "What of your childhood? You are an only child as well?"

"I am now. I had a brother who died in infancy, and another brother who died at ten years of pneumonia after nearly drowning."

"I am sorry."

"Thank you." She shrugged. "I was quite young when both happened, and I think after that my parents gave up on having another son."

"And your mother? How old were you when you lost her?"

She tilted her head and studied him. "How do you know my mother is deceased?"

"It was easy. I met your father and I know if there were a mother around she would have sought me out by now."

Laura laughed. "Absolutely. Mothers are notorious for investigating the least amount of attention directed at their daughters." She looked out the window to the left of her. "To answer your question, my mother died when I was already two years into the Beau Monde social whirl. Of course, I went into mourning and managed to escape a full year of the marriage mart."

"Ah, yes. I have heard of such. It's been mentioned among the men in the club. I also know Hunt was an active part of it, but Driscoll and Dante declined to engage."

"Hmm." She wagged her finger. "Not quite true. Dante did manage to escape the marriage minded mamas, but he had enough contacts and female friends among the ton to be quite well-known.

"In fact, I remember when he began to attend events again when he was courting Lydia and how he attracted a number of women on each occasion." She laughed. "To my recollection, Lydia had not seemed too happy with that."

Mrs. Evans appeared at the door to the library. "Mr. Singh, dinner is ready if you and Miss Benson care to move to the dining room."

Keniel stood and offered his hand to Laura. "Thank you, Mrs. Evans. I appreciate your flexibility." He turned to Laura. "I told her only a couple of hours ago that I would be eating elsewhere."

"Oh, dear. I hope I haven't interfered with your plans."

"Not at all." He patted her hand where it rested in the crook of his arm. "I had hoped to entice you to join me at my favorite restaurant, but when you were concerned with your appearance, I thought a meal at home would suit better."

Mrs. Evans followed them into the dining room. "I apologize for the simple meal, but I thought you would be too hungry after all your hard work to wait for something more elaborate."

"Not at all, Mrs. Evans. I appreciate whatever you offer." Laura looked at the table, with a tureen of delicious smelling stew, warm bread with butter and three different plates of cheese and vegetables sitting upon it.

"You have truly outdone yourself," Keniel said. He pulled out Laura's chair and then joined her. The footman in the room poured them both a glass of wine, then proceeded to ladle stew into their bowls while Keniel passed the plates of cheese and vegetables to her.

"This is truly an honor for me," Keniel said. "You are the first guest to grace my new table in my new dining room, in my new house."

Laura dipped her head and laughed. "I am truly flattered."

* * *

Keniel wantedto mention that she was also the prettiest guest he'd ever had at his dinner table anywhere before, but he was afraid of embarrassing her. He knew she was still a tad uncomfortable with being unable to change her clothes, but he truly believed she was beautiful just the way she was. Even when she'd had the smudge on her cheek earlier.

Truth be told, he was still amazed that she had accepted his invitation to dine at all. Was he overstepping himself? She was the daughter of a wealthy businessman. She was an accepted member of the ton and attended all the fancy and glamorous events. He, on the other hand, was an island man, raised so very different from her.

On second thought, considering what he'd dealt with at school, perhaps not so differently after all. He'd heard some of the men talking in the gaming club and at the gentlemen's clubs where his brother took him, and it seemed years at Eton and Harrow were no more fun than his school had been.

But there was still the issue of the difference in their heritages and skin color. As a member of the Upper Crust, it was expected that she would marry someone of her class. Certainly not him.

Not that he was thinking along those lines, but just as a way to remind himself this was friendship at most.

Laura delicately wiped her mouth with her napkin and took a sip of wine. "Your housekeeper is amazing. So few that I know of can cook well, never mind put together such a delicious meal with such little notice."

"I agree, she is truly a gem." He smirked at her. "We stole her from Lord Granger who had not given her a raise in ten years."

She covered her mouth with her napkin and laughed. "If that is how he treated her, then he deserved to have her stolen from him."

The footman cleared the plates and returned with a tray of sweets and a pot of tea. "Do you prefer coffee?" Keniel asked.

"No. I love a good cup of tea after dinner. Shall I pour?"

"Yes. If you don’t mind."

What scared him to the very core was how normal this seemed. He and Laura sitting at a dinner table, enjoying a fine, if humble meal, her pouring his tea and placing it in front of him with a smile. He reminded himself once again that there seemed to be no point in even considering that a situation such as this with a woman like Miss Laura Benson was even possible for him.

But a man could dream.

"What are your deep thoughts?" she asked as she stirred her tea. "All of a sudden your demeanor became quite somber."

He shook it off, almost afraid she could read his mind. "Was it? I'm sorry, there is nothing so deep in my brain. I can assure you."

Once their tea had been enjoyed, along with delicious lemon tarts, Laura leaned back in her chair and placed her hands on her stomach. "My goodness, I am full. I never should have eaten that entire tart."

"Why not? You enjoyed it."

"Yes, but now I need concern myself with tight clothing."

How to tell her that tight clothes, a bit more weight, a smudged cheek and wrinkled shirtwaist would never change his opinion of her. She was perfect in every way.

"As much as I enjoyed this lovely meal, I do need to depart. I am quite tired and I'm sure you would want more than anything to gain your bed." She stopped abruptly and a slight blush rose to her smooth cheeks.

Apparently mentioning a bed was not the thing a young lady should do to a gentleman. He found it quite amusing that it bothered her and tried hard not to admit it more than bothered him. But assuredly not in the same way.

He stood and pulled out her chair. "I had my carriage at the ready for when you wanted to depart, so I will escort you home."

"There is no need for that. I can ride by myself."

He touched her lightly on her lower back to move her forward toward the entrance hall. "My mother would be absolutely appalled if she knew I allowed a young lady to see herself home."

She turned so he could place her cape around her shoulders. "I wish I could have met her."

His stomach muscles clenched. "She would have loved you." Indeed, she would have loved Laura. An unpretentious woman who worked for the good of orphaned children.

If only.

Since it had begun to rain while they had dinner, Keniel held a large umbrella over them both as they descended the steps to the waiting carriage. He helped Laura into the vehicle and called the direction to his driver before climbing in himself and sitting across from her. "A tad wet out there."

She glanced out the window as the light rain turned to a downpour. "I always feel sorry for the drivers in this weather."

"I agree." Keniel leaned back and rested his foot on his knee. "I plan to be somewhat more active in finding a place for your orphans."

Laura laughed softly. "Ah, I think moving them into your house might have something to do with that."

He grinned. "Perhaps." He paused and held up his hand when she opened her mouth to speak. "However, do not apologize again. It was my decision to move them into my house and it is not a decision I regret. Truly."

She dipped her head. "Thank you."

"There were several leads I can follow up on. As soon as I have something worthy to show you, I will send around a note."

He drummed his fingertips on his leg. He really did not want to wait for a suitable house to surface before seeing her again, but how would she view any attempt on his part to make more of this relationship?

"Do you enjoy the theater?"

She smiled warmly, her action already answering his question. "Indeed I do."

"I understand Mr. Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan at the James Street theater is enjoying wonderful reviews. Have you seen it?"

She shook her head. "No. I haven't gone to the theater in quite a while. Another reason why I detest having more than enough social events I must attend."

He cleared his throat, waiting for the rejection. "Would you care to join me at the theater? Perhaps one day next week? Or whenever I am able to secure tickets?"

She clapped her hands in glee. "I would love that!"

He relaxed. "I would love that, too." Could he foolishly believe there could be more to their relationship?

Or did she merely want to see the play?