Chapter 25: The Usual Spot
Clara’s POV
It was a beautiful day.
The air was fresh, clean, and smelled sharply of the late spring flowers blooming in the gardens behind the Manor. The gardeners were busy with their work, and the smell of freshly cut grass and trimmings from the hedges filled the space around us as we walked slowly through the lower courtyard.
Randall was swinging a wicker picnic basket in one hand and had a bottle of wine in the other, which seemed awfully forward and romantic for what he had described as a casual picnic.
“I believe I’m underdressed,” I said as I motioned towards the bottle. He looked down at me, a sideways smile touching one side of his mouth.
“I prefer you like this, instead of in those frilly gowns.”
“I don’t wear frills,” I argued, smoothing the soft yellow fabric of my dress.
“And you don’t wear black anymore, I’ve noticed.”