Love Birds of Regent's Park Read Free

bidding? They were people, too, with hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes. They worked and labored and were married and cared for families.
    Ashamed, she swallowed past the sudden dryness in her throat. Perhaps she could be an acquaintance of this man. Would that help make up for her thoughtlessness of the past? She laid her artwork aside and clasped her hands in her lap.
    “ Mr. Barrow, how kind of you to take time from your busy work to join me.”
    With raised eyebrows, he smiled. “It’s no hardship, Miss Ashbrook, I assure you.”
    “ I-I don’t wish for you to be in trouble for… uh, loitering.”
    “ Don’t worry on my account. I’m quite certain no harm will come to me for relaxing on a park bench for a little while.”
    Still uncertain, Lucy shrugged but didn’t reply. She desperately hoped that were true. What if the poor man lost his position because of her?
    He leaned forward, his forearms on his knees. “So I assume you have an interest in birds? Since you’re here at the Sanctuary?”
    A smile tugged at her lips. “ I find them fascinating. Though I will admit to not knowing a great deal about the different ones. It’s enchanting the way they perch on their tiny legs and feet and actually fly through the air. How wonderful to sit and watch them and dream of doing the same.”
    “ Indeed. Birds are fascinating. They’re the joy of my life.”
    “ Have you worked here long, Mr. Barrow?”
    “ Not long.” He chuckled. “It’s just something I… decided to do.”
    What an odd choice of words. Decided to do. What Lucy knew of their workers, they hadn’t a choice but to work. And to work at whatever they could find. That made her even more conscious of her standing and wealth. What must it be like to have to toil day after day, earning one’s keep? While she had the luxury of coming to a place like the Bird Sanctuary to sit the whole of a morning, sketching birds and daydreaming?
    “Oh, well. It seems to suit you.” That didn’t sound the way she’d meant it. How rude he must think her, to suggest that he should work hard and get soiled for a living. “I mean… that you seem to take pleasure in your work.”
    “I ndeed. Quite a bit.” He glanced around and then pointed to a branch above them. “There’s your nuthatch again. He must like you.”
    Lucy looked up as well. “He’s such a handsome fellow. Thank you for telling me what kind of bird he is. I had no idea. Only that his loud, quick call amused me. And I admire his blue and white markings. Almost as if he wears a cutaway coat.”
    Mr . Barrow laughed. “A cutaway coat? I’d never thought of it that way, but you’re right.” He leaned toward her, just a little, just enough for the scent of pine trees and grass to reach Lucy’s nose. “Would you mind if I looked at your drawing once more?”
    “ It’s really not that impressive.” She lowered her head.
    “ From what I observed, it was quite the opposite. May I?”
    She bit her lip and nodded. The edge of her hat caught on the back of the bench as she leaned over to reach for her paper. “Oh dear!” She tried to pull away from the old wood, but her hat did not follow. She grabbed it and gave a tug, but it still held fast. Some of her dark curls came loose from their pins and fell around her face. Was the ribbon caught on a rough edge of the wood?
    “ Here, allow me to help, Miss Ashbrook.”
    Strong hands , one on her shoulder, the other on her hat, gave a pull.
    A s mall chunk of wood gave way, splintering from the bench. “Oh no!” Her white hat, so delicate with lace, flowers, and ribbons, flipped off of her head and sailed over the grass like a wayward kite.
    Mr. Barrow’s eye widened. “I’ll get it!” Jumping up from the bench, he ran toward the hat. As he leaned down, his hand inches from the brim, it skipped away on a strong breeze, hopping and rolling through the grass as if playing hide and seek.
    In h is boots, which were well suited for present