Thirty

Caroline looked around frantically, but the cottage was much too far away, and the opposite path looked a thousand paces off. Sebastien‟s brows rose, and his full mouth opened to say something likely either amusing or cutting. 

Footsteps came nearer on the path, and she did the only thing she could think of, she placed her hands on Sebastien‟s chest and shoved him over the bench and into the bushes. He toppled over the stone and disappeared into the brush beneath the overhanging tree.

She smoothed her fingers over her dress, patted her hair into place, and stepped forward with a bright smile as the town matron descended on her cottage garden in all her bright pink glory.

"Mrs. Francis, how lovely to see you." She held out both hands.