How lovely to meet you both," his cousin cried happily. "Of course, Lady Emilie, we have met before, but it is always a pleasure. And doubly so because you have brought such a flower of beauty with you."
Balan turned wide eyes on Osgoode, sure he'd lost his mind. He'd never heard his cousin sound like such an ass.
"Good morn, Osgoode." Emilie laughed, then glanced from one man to the other. "Murie was hoping for a walk in the gardens, and I was happy to join her, but we cannot find Reginald to accompany us."
"Actually, I believe he is approaching now," Balan said, glancing past her.
"Ah." Much to his surprise, the woman didn't look pleased. She turned to see her tall, fair-haired husband indeed hurrying toward them.
"I am sorry, love," he said, reaching her side and bending to press a kiss to her cheek. "Lord Abernathy wished to discuss something of import, and I lost track of time."
" 'Tis all right, husband," Emilie said, but she appeared vexed.
'Your wife was just informing us that she was hoping for a walk in the gardens with Lady Murie, but she could not find you," Balan announced, hoping to ease any tension.
"Oh." Reginald frowned at his wife. "Er ... well, actually, I was just coming to explain that I have to meet with the king. He sent Robert to fetch me, and I said I would be along at once, but I wished to explain that to you."
"Oh." Rather than appear put out by this news, Emilie brightened, beaming at the man as if he'd just said something terribly clever. All signs of annoyance gone, she assured him,
"Oh, that is all right, husband. I am sure Lord Gaynor and Osgoode would be willing to accompany us on our walk."
"Oh my, yes. We would be honored," Osgoode said quickly. His voice was bluff and deeper than usual. It made Balan glance at him in bewilderment, not having a clue what was wrong with him.
"You see? They will accompany us. All is well," Emilie said, patting her husband's arm.
"Good, good," Reginald replied - but his eyes were narrowed on his wife with something like suspicion. His gaze then moved to Murie, and finally to Balan. When Lord Reynard cocked one eyebrow in question, Balan shrugged. It was becoming obvious that Lady Emilie was trying to help lady Murie spend some time with him. However, he wasn't going to explain that to Reginald. Not now, and not later. He had no desire to explain the debacle of last night.
"Well," Reginald said. "I should be off. Enjoy your walk." He bent to press a kiss by his wife's ear, taking the opportunity to whisper something that made her scowl. He then straightened, nodded to the rest of them and departed.
"Well, shall we, gentlemen?" Lady Emilie asked brightly. Before anyone could respond, she stepped forward to take Osgoode's arm in a firm grip and began to walk.
Murie smiled at him shyly, so Balan offered her his arm. She placed her hand lightly on his forearm, and they began to follow the other couple. They left the castle and made their way into the royal gardens.
Emilie and Osgoode were walking a couple of steps in front of them, but it was a miracle the two didn't trip over anything in their path: Both spent more time glancing anxiously back at Murie and Balan than paying attention to where they were going. Emilie was casting them worried looks, and Osgoode kept raising his eyebrows and giving Balan meaningful glances. Fortunately, Murie didn't appear to notice. Balan had no idea what his cousin's problem was, but he suspected it had to do with him speaking to the woman. Unfortunately, Balan found he couldn't think of a thing to say. Every time he looked Murie's way, his attention got caught on her lips and he remembered the kiss they'd shared last night, and his thoughts went south, not offering the sort of elevated conversation he supposed Osgoode wanted.
Apparently deciding as one that he and Murie were in need of intervention, the pair suddenly broke apart and dropped back to walk on either side of them: Emilie on Murie's side, Osgoode on Balan's. It was no surprise when his cousin jammed his elbow into his side, obviously hoping to jar him into speech, but Osgoode was saved from a good cuff to the head by Emilie's sudden speech.
" 'Tis a lovely sunny day for a change and yet not too hot," she said cheerfully.
"Aye,