Part 25 (1/2)
”Oh, really?” Petunia gave her a look.
”And possibly some are for that a.n.a.lousian duke Jacques invited,” Jonquil said with a sparkle in her eyes. ”But none are for you.”
Then she flipped one to Oliver.
”You can have one, my lord earl,” she said, and twirled away.
”These are excellent,” Oliver said, eating half of it in one bite. He fed Petunia the other half so that she wouldn't get cream on her knitting. Oliver was just leaning in to steal a kiss- ”I hope this means you're planning on marrying her, boy,” barked King Gregor.
Oliver leaped to his feet. ”Sire! Yes! I mean ... I ... sire!”
”I didn't pardon you and restore your earldom so that you could loll around in my gardens flirting with my daughters,” King Gregor said. Then he bent down and gave Petunia a kiss on the cheek. ”I like him,” he whispered loudly in her ear.
”Me too,” she whispered back, blus.h.i.+ng.
”What are you knitting? Something for Lily's baby?” King Gregor beamed down at the white wool in Petunia's hands.
”Er, actually, it's a m.u.f.f,” Petunia said. ”For me, but ...”
”I can see your point,” Dr. Kelling said, while Oliver continued to stand awkwardly next to the bench, turning red and white in turns. ”The weather continues to be cool.” The doctor gave Oliver a sympathetic look from beneath his bushy brows.
”Go over and speak to Galen, would you?” King Gregor pleaded. ”He and Rose are being coy about something and I don't like it.”
”Sire,” Oliver said as he helped Petunia to her feet, ”I'd like to marry Petunia.”
”Of course you would,” retorted King Gregor. ”But not right now! We just got those two taken care of.” He pointed to the twins who were still trying to play Christian's odd game. ”And weddings are expensive!”
He and Dr. Kelling walked off, leaving Oliver standing, stunned, beside Petunia.
”You'll have to get used to Papa,” she told him, dropping her knitting on the bench and taking his arm.
”Indeed I will,” he said faintly as they crossed the lawn.
”Does this mean I can finally go see how Lady Emily has redecorated the manor?” Petunia asked.
”I suppose so,” Oliver said.
”Perhaps we can go when my sisters aren't around ... just the two of us?”
”Yes, we should,” Oliver said with more enthusiasm this time.
”You should what?” Rose looked up at them from the dish of hothouse strawberries she was eating.
”Ask Galen what he's knitting,” Petunia said.
”It's a baby blanket,” Rose said.
”It's round.” Petunia squinted at the thing her brother-in-law was holding. ”It looks like a mushroom.”
”Wait and see,” Galen said.
”Is it for Lily's baby?” Petunia asked.
”No,” Rose said, looking up from her strawberries with a broad smile. ”It's for mine.”
Petunia's Fingerless Gloves.
Materials:.