Free Stolen Love by Carolyn Jewel Page B

of course, upside down in relation to where she sat, and it was just far enough away that she could not quite make out the legend at the head of the pages. She shifted so she was sitting at the very edge of her chair. Nicholas stopped midsentence to watch her. Biting her lower lip and squinting, she craned her neck, leaned forward one last inch, and almost toppled over.
    "Beth! What in heaven's name are you doing?" Amelia's voice was sharp. "Do go on, Mr. Villines," she said when Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap and said nothing. "What you were saying was fascinating."
    "I believe I was saying that if you enjoy the opera, you would like Paris a great deal. The opera there is superlative."
    He reached for the book and, after replacing his bookmark, closed it. Certainly there had been no need for Amelia to snap at Elizabeth.
    "Which city do you prefer, Mr. Villines, Paris or London?" Mrs. Willard asked.
    "Next to London at the moment, Paris is my favorite city." With his forefinger, he pushed the book along the tabletop until it was within Elizabeth's reach.
    "I should like to travel to Paris one day," Amelia said.
    "I rather think Paris should love it if you did," he said.
    "How very gallant of you, Mr. Villines." Amelia's smile made him think he could forgive her for continually calling Elizabeth "Beth" when she had to know full well Elizabeth hated the diminutive.
    He waited until he saw that Elizabeth had put down the book before he rose to his feet. "Shall we go to the conservatory?" A few minutes later he was leading the three women to the back of the house. He held the door to the conservatory open for them, but as soon as he closed it, Amelia took his arm again.
    "Goodness!" she exclaimed when the moist air closed in on them.
    They walked down one of the aisles just ahead of Mrs. Willard, with Elizabeth bringing up the rear. Nicholas had spared no expense in fitting out his conservatory. It sported the very latest innovations for the cultivation of exotic plants. The ceilings were high, and panes of glass served as roof and walls so there was a profusion of light from all directions. The conservatory was not large; there were two aisles just wide enough to admit two persons walking side by side. Ferns planted in abundance softened the light to a gentle green, and water falling from heated pipes projecting over rough stonework was directed into a system of rills that made the air heavy with moisture and the scent of flowers. Most of the orchids were blooming, and there was silence while they looked around.
    "Why, this is simply too lovely!" Amelia said. She halted before a brilliant pink flower.
    "
Cattelya skinneri
, "Nicholas said. "This particular plant is doing so well, I have become quite fond of it."
    "
I
have a dress exactly this color."
    He smiled. "If you tell me when you will next wear the dress, Miss Willard, I'll send some for your hair. They would look splendid."
    "I would not dream of wearing a flower such as this in my hair," she replied, flashing him a brilliant smile. "I should wear it next to my heart."
    "Mrs. Willard?" Nicholas asked, turning around. "Is there a flower you admire?"
    "I believe this one." Mrs. Willard indicated a flower similar in color to the one Amelia had admired.
    "Like mother, like daughter. Shall I cut some for you now?"
    "Oh, yes!"
    Nicholas returned after retrieving his clippers, and after cutting several blossoms for Mrs. Willard and Amelia and handing them over with a small bow, he looked around for Elizabeth. He was anxious to know what she thought of his gentleman's habit. She had wandered farther down the aisle while he was busy with Amelia and Mrs. Willard and was examining the plants.
    "Shall I cut you something?" he asked quietly when he reached the spot where she stood.
    "I don't believe I could choose, Nicholas." She looked around. "I would want to take them all!" She was wearing the green silk again, and he could not take his eyes off the point where she had