Lily (Flower Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Tables were scattered around the garden, surrounded by chairs for the guests. Sitting with Lady Carrington, Lily’s friend Judith waved in invitation, her golden curls gleaming in the sun. Lily waved back and started over, but Rand stopped at a tiny square table and pulled out one of the two chairs. “Will you do me the honor?”
    “Oh. Yes. Of course.” She seated herself carefully, sending Judith an expressive shrug. Judith winked and waggled her brows, obviously misunderstanding why Lily was with Rand.
    Lily didn’t quite understand that herself. It should be Rose here, she thought as Beatrix leapt onto her lap.
    “This striped cat is yours, is it not?” Rand took the chair opposite. “The one you were holding in the house?
    However did it find its way here from Trentingham?”
    She found herself caught again in that astonishing gray gaze. “From that question, I surmise you don’t know much about cats.”
    “My father raised dogs,” he told her, grabbing two pewter goblets of wine from a maid passing with a tray.
    “Big, mean ones who would eat your cat for breakfast.”
    She laughed. “Surely not.”
    He smiled at both her and the purring cat. “He adores you.”
    “Beatrix is female, actually.” Decidedly unladylike, the feline began hiccuping. “What made you think she was a male?”
    He bit into a strawberry. “You’re a beautiful woman . . . all males would adore you.”
    She looked away, hoping he wouldn’t notice her choking on a bite of the tart. Ford was coming out of the house, leading another little group around to see the pipes to the river.
    Swallowing the cinnamony apples and custard, she turned back to Rand. “Thank you, but being nice is much more important than being attractive. Although Rose is very attractive,” she added as an afterthought. “Do you not think so, my lord?”
    “Rand,” he reminded her. “And yes, Rose is quite attractive and being nice is much more important. But you’re both attractive and nice.”
    What on Earth was she supposed to say to that? He was impossible. Her fingers went to trace the scars on the back of her left hand before she realized and hid it beneath the table.
    Rose would love this sort of attention. The two were definitely suited.
    A sparrow landed on their table, providing a welcome distraction. “Hello, Lady,” she murmured and fed it some crumbs from her plate.
    Watching her, Rand absently rubbed the ends of his magnificent hair between two fingers. “Are you still hoping to build a home for stray animals?”

    After all this time, he remembered her dream. “Yes,”
    she said, both startled and pleased, but also wondering if he thought her goal childish. She’d decided it as a child, after all.
    But he seemed to be taking her seriously. “Have you made plans?”
    “Of sorts. I’ll come into my inheritance next year. I’m planning a simple building so as to have funds left to staff it for a number of years. I’m hoping to obtain donations as well. Eventually enough to keep running it once my money is depleted. And perhaps even build others.”
    “A solid strategy. Have you thought of having the building donated?”
    “I’d prefer it built to our purpose. To convert a house or other building could cost as much as starting from scratch.”
    He nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps an architect would donate his services.” His eyes twinkled, looking silver in the afternoon sun. “I happen to know one—”
    “Uncle Ford!” Jewel came bounding out of the house, her pink skirts flying. “Uncle Ford! Something’s happened with . . .” Her words faded as she disappeared around the corner.
    Rowan flew through the door next and darted after her, pink cheeked to match her skirts, his mouth hanging open in something akin to horror.
    Lily jumped to her feet. “They’ve done something,”
    she exclaimed as Ford appeared at a run and dashed into the house, shouldering his way past guests hurrying out.
    “I knew it!”
    “I swear,