"I didn't intend that."
"I know." I place a hand on his chest, acutely aware of the pounding of his heartbeat.
"Do you have a moment?" he asks.
"You asked me to meet you," I point out. "You know that I do."
"Ah, yes." He rubs the back of his neck. "I'm more nervous than I thought I would be."
A frown pulls at my features. "Have I done something to make you feel that way?"
"No, not at all, but I have something to show you." He offers me his arm.
Surprise flits through me, but I go along with it. "What is it?"
"Telling you would ruin the surprise."
"What if I dislike surprises?" I slide my arm through his and rest my hand against his sleeve, fleetingly enjoying how good the white of my short lace gloves looks against his dark jacket sleeve.
"I hadn't considered that." He leads me through the house, staying on the ground floor and heading to one of the rooms I've never been in before. "I can tell you, if that would be preferred."
"No, it is all right. I trust you."
A smile lights up his face, making me certain that it was the right thing to say.
He leans forward and opens the door, forcing my hand to slip off his arm. I instantly regret the loss of contact between us, but I remind myself that there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for us to touch again.
Philip gestures for me to enter and I step inside the room, my eyes widening as I take in the sideboard covered in boxes, and the ornate drawing table facing the window.
"What is this?" I whisper.
"This is the second drawing room," he says. "Mother doesn't like to use it because it's small, but I think it has an excellent view of the gardens and lake to make up for it."
I hurry over to the window, unsurprised to discover how right he is. I can see most of the lake, as well as several of the neatly arranged flowerbeds, and the copse of trees that is situated at the border of the estate.
"I had the servants rearrange everything for you so that you could use it for yourself," he says. "It's set up at the moment for if you wish to draw, but if you let them know, they can rearrange it so that you can have private tea with your friends."
I turn to face him. "You did this for me?"
"It is nothing, Letitia. I wish for you to be happy here."
"Thank you." Feeling bold, I go up on my toes and press a kiss against his cheek.
He raises his hand to his cheek and touches the spot I kissed, seeming a little taken aback that I chose to do it, but pleased at the same time.
"I didn't know which kind of charcoal you preferred, or which paper," he says. "But if you let me know, I can have more of that one delivered." He gestures to the sideboard.
I frown and head over. "These are all different charcoals?" I ask, unable to keep the awe out of my voice.
"Yes. I got all of the ones I could find, I hope your favourites are among them."
"I don't have a favourite," I respond. "I never had much pin money, so I couldn't spend a great deal on charcoals."
"I did not realise."
"I look forward to discovering which of them is my favourite," I say, pulling the lid off one of the boxes before remembering that I'm wearing pristinely white gloves.
I set the lid down and peel off my gloves, only noticing how intently Philip is watching me as I place them down on the sideboard.