Caleb was the farmhand my father had demanded we hire after Aunt Cat went on her little farm animal shopping spree. He knew there was no way she was going to clean them out or even keep up with the most basic of chores, so he agreed that she could keep them if she kept them enclosed and hired someone.

Twenty-four-year-old Caleb had once worked for a local restaurant, but his grandfather had been a farmer. He’d always wanted to follow in his footsteps but after his grandfather had sold the farm in hard times, he’d given up his dreams of inheriting it. As far as he was concerned, this was the next best thing.

He also saved my father a lot of work by tending to his horses, and Dad loved him so much I once thought he was going to try and set us up.

If Caleb had a title, he would have done.

And I might have gone for it. Unlike the majority of suitors my father shoved my way, I actually liked Caleb.

Although I did wonder if that was because he didn’t take any of Aunt Cat’s crap.

“Well, if you are done, you should come in and get some tea at the very last. It’s getting chilly.”

Alexander nodded. “You’re right. Miles, will you join us for some tea?”

He glanced at me, then shook his head. “No, thanks. I have to finish cleaning up and go home. The cat needs feeding.”

He had a cat?

He didn’t strike me as a cat person.

Didn’t strike me as an anything kind of person. Except a grumpy one, mind you.

“Are you sure?” I asked, fighting the urge not to shiver as a cloud moved and fully covered the sun. “Arthur is making a pot anyway.”

“I’m sure.” He picked up his tools and nodded at us. “Thanks for the help, Alex. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime, mate.”

Miles walked past me without looking at me, and I frowned, staring after him as he passed through the gate and into the public gardens.

“What’s wrong with you?” Alex put his arm around my shoulders.

I shrugged him off. “Do you see it now? How he’s rude and dismissive of me?”

“Now, Gabriella, I know this is hard for you, but not everybody has to like you.”

“I know that. There are plenty of people who don’t like me, but at least I know why. I’ve never done anything to him for him to not like me.”

“Why are you so bothered? You’ve talked about him for half the day, and now you’ve got your knickers in a twist because he didn’t talk to you.”

I straightened, sniffing indignantly. “I am not bothered, and my knickers are most certainly not in a twist, thank you very much.”

“You are. I know you.”

“Fine, okay.” I stopped and looked around, making sure nobody was near us. “I’ve asked him a few times while he’s been working about care for some specific plants for my schoolwork. I know I can look it up online, but there’s nothing better than getting it from someone who knows. I didn’t think I was bothering him, but obviously I was. I just—until today, Aunt Cat was the only one who knew that I was learning aside from Adelaide and Evangeline. Dad won’t be happy, and I simply want to complete the course so I can do something. Garden design, maybe. I don’t know.”