“What are you doing?” she asked, clearly vexed.
“Repairing the roof.”
“I can see that, but what is Alex doing up there with you?”
The same thing, but evidently that wasn’t what she meant. “Helping me.”
“Do you think that’s wise? He’s only eight.”
“He’s quite safe. I wouldn’t have invited him up here otherwise.” It wasn’t as though they were on the steeply pitched roof of the two-story house. They were all of ten feet off the ground on a roof with a minimal pitch. “You could come up and see for yourself if you’d like.”
To his surprise, she nodded. “I think I will.” She covered the few feet separating them in no time.
Henry scooted closer to the edge of the roof, grabbed the ladder to steady it and watched as Lavinia placed a foot on the bottom rung. Was he imagining it, or did her dainty boots match her strawberry-colored dress? If so, that meant she had two pairs of red boots. Most of the women he knew were content with one serviceable black pair. But they weren’t the daughter of a man with more money than most men would earn in several lifetimes.
She climbed slowly, watching her feet as she went. With her full skirt and fancy footwear, he could see why she was being careful. “You’re doing fine.”
“This would be a far easier feat in trousers.”
“I didn’t expect you to accept my invitation.”
She sent a smug smile his way. “You underestimate me.”
He liked seeing this spunky side of her. He’d have to challenge her more often.
Moments later, Lavinia’s shoulders crested the roofline. She stayed at that level and looked around. “The view is nearly the same as the one from my bedroom window, but—” he detected a waver in her voice “—it’s different seeing everything from here.”
“I know just what you mean, Aunt Livy,” Alex said. “Sitting up here makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.”
“Indeed.” She focused her attention on their nephew. “Would you show me what you’re doing?”
“Sure.” Alex positioned a shingle and nailed it into place, talking through the steps as he worked. “That’s how you do it.”
“You explained that quite well. You’d make a fine teacher.” She followed her compliments with one of her cheery smiles that transformed her from merely attractive to outright beautiful.
Alex beamed. “Can I finish the row on my own, Uncle Henry?”
“Certainly.”
Lavinia praised Alex’s work as she watched. And watched. He’d completed the task, and she was still there. “Well done.”
Henry nodded his approval. “Your aunt’s right. You’d make a fine carpenter, too. In fact, I think you could succeed at whatever profession you chose.”
“Why choose just one? Your uncle didn’t.” Although she wasn’t smiling, something shone from her eyes. Was it merriment or something else?
Alex looked from Lavinia to Henry and back again. “Are you teasing?”
Henry eagerly awaited her answer.
“Not at all. Your mama told me in her letters some of the things your uncle’s done. He was a blacksmith when I met him at your parents’ wedding, but he’s been a carpenter, a hotel owner and who knows what else. But I know what he wants to do most of all.”
No! He didn’t want the children to hear about his dream of running a restaurant. They might feel bad if they thought they were keeping him from it. He caught Lavinia’s eye and gave his head a small shake.
She forged ahead as though she hadn’t seen him. “What your uncle Henry wants—” her smile shifted from friendly to calculating “—is to see that you children are happy and well cared for. That’s what I want, too, which is why I have a plan that—”
“That she plans to discuss with me first.” Henry didn’t like cutting her off, but they’d agreed not to subject the children to any heated discussions or disagreements. He had a feeling both were about to take place.
Lavinia angled her head, lifted one side of her mouth and an eyebrow and shot a wordless rebuke at him. Not that he cared. She was the one who’d been on the verge of going back on their agreement, which came as a shock. Although he didn’t know her well, he felt certain she wasn’t the type of person who made promises she didn’t intend to keep.
She cleared her throat. Loudly and pointedly. “As I was saying before I was interrupted, I have a plan that’s one of my best.”
Alex leaned forward, eagerness widening his eyes. “What is it?”
“I can’t tell you yet. I came out to get your uncle’s opinion first.” Her declaration was followed by a toss of her head and a smirk. Rather than looking irritated, as she’d no doubt intended, she looked...cute.
The mass of springy curls piled on her head caught his eye, especially the one that had broken free of her pins. He reached out to sweep it behind her ear, brushing her petal-soft cheek in the process. The shock reflected in her chocolate-brown eyes mirrored the surge of it coursing through him. What had he been thinking? He yanked his wayward hand back. “I’d love to hear your plan.”
Her eyes grew even wider.
What was happening? First his hand had acted of its own accord, and then his mouth had followed suit. “That is, I’d like to hear it.”
“You would?” Her expression softened, but her gaze remained fixed on him. Confused, curious and...captivating.
He scrambled to remember what they’d been talking about. Ah, yes. Her plan. “By all means. Alex is ready to try a few shingles on his own, so we can go down and talk if you’d like.” He sent his nephew an encouraging smile.
Alex’s mouth went slack. “Really, Uncle Henry? You’re going to let me do it all by myself? Do you think I can?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t. Just take your time and remember all I’ve taught you.”
Lavinia’s gaze bounced from Henry to Alex and back again. She scraped her lower lip between her teeth, a most distracting gesture, and then opened her mouth to speak but snapped it shut instead. Thankfully, she’d chosen not to challenge his authority in front of the impressionable boy.
Alex didn’t miss much, though, as evidenced by the keen gaze he’d directed at his aunt. “You don’t have to worry, Aunt Livy. I’ll be careful.”
“I know that. I’m just not used to boys. Your mother and I weren’t allowed to climb on roofs and such. The only things we climbed were stairs.”
Alex’s brow furrowed, and then understanding dawned. He laughed. “You were joking, weren’t you?”
“I suppose I was. Partly.”
“So you’ve never climbed a tree or anything?”
Lavinia’s eyes widened. “I should say not. A lady minds her manners.”
“But you weren’t always a lady. You used to be a girl, like Marcie and Dot.”
“I was, true, but...”
Henry stifled a laugh at the unbidden image of Lavinia up a tree that popped into his head. “Some fathers don’t let their daughters do everything they want to do.” The words were barely out of his mouth when he realized his mistake. “What I meant to say was—”
“I know exactly