Page 12 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

Not all men would take to having inherited, along with a new title, a small child. Though she knew little of the new Lord Cressley, her opinion of him was already high.

“It seems you and your niece are quite close. She looks most comfortable in your lap.”

He kissed the top of Celia’s head again. “We have only known each other a few days, but it as if we have always been together,” he revealed. “Celia has been living at Crestbrook since shortly after her birth, while I only arrived a week ago.”

“Then you must be quite good with children, my lord. Your niece appears happy in your company.”

Celia gasped. “Did you feel that, Uncle Rupert? I think it’s a fish.”

Lia looked and saw the fishing line move.

“Yes. I feel a fish tugging on the line. He is taking our bait,” the viscount declared gleefully .

Over the next couple of minutes, she observed the pair as they reeled in the wriggling fish.

Obviously, Celia was too young to do this by herself, but her uncle assisted her, making her feel as if she did everything on her own.

Again, she was touched by the effort he put into this and the care he had for his niece.

“Lady Lia, if you might open the basket sitting next to you, we will place our fish inside it.”

She opened it, finding it empty.

The viscount slipped the fish off the hook and dropped it into the basket, while Celia clapped, her smile wide. Lia closed the basket’s lid, securing the flopping fish.

“You have brough good fortune to us, my lady. Do you have time to stay with us a bit longer and see if we might land a few more fish?”

“Certainly, my lord. I was merely out for a walk when I saw the two of you. I have nowhere I need to be at the moment.”

Suddenly, Celia scrambled from her uncle’s lap and climbed into Lia’s. It surprised her, but she slipped her arms about the young child.

“You will have to see if my lap is more comfortable than that of your uncle Rupert’s,” she said playfully, Celia snuggling closer to her, giggling.

They talked for another hour, Lord Cressley catching four more fish during that time.

He told her some about his army experiences and something of Crestbrook, which he mentioned he had not visited since his early days in university.

Lia, on the other hand, told him about life at Millvale with her siblings and described the fete recently held on the estate.

“Although Eden was charged to plan the fete, she included my sister and me, along with our two cousins, in the planning.”

She elaborated on the types of stalls in which merchants had sold their wares, along with food and drink, explaining how they had contacted each person and convinced them to partake in the fete.

Lia gave him details about the games they had held for the children and how they had sought volunteers to oversee these contests.

“There were even competitions for the adults to enter. Eden suggested both archery and riding, but there may be more next year. I helped in designing the obstacle course.”

“What is that?” he asked, clearly interested.

She described how they had set fences of varying height into place, along with digging ditches and filling them with water, which competitors then had to jump.

“It was challenging but quite fun. And then, the best part of the day came. Val, my brother, wed Eden in front of everyone at the fete. He had been off visiting his other estates and had stopped in town to purchase a special license so they could wed immediately upon his return.”

“I am not clear as to who Eden is,” Viscount Cressley said.

Dread filled Lia, and she hoped this man would not judge Eden harshly.

“Eden was Miss Snow before, governess to my cousins Verina and Justina. She had lived here at Traywick Manor, teaching them for five years, and accompanied Aunt Agnes and the girls to Millvale on their visit to us.”

Lia carefully watched his reaction, hoping she would not see disdain upon his face. Instead, the viscount smiled, a warm, sunny smile that made her tingle.

“Then it sounds as if His Grace made a love match.”

“He most certainly did, my lord. All of us adore Eden. I cannot imagine my brother with anyone else. And my sister Ariadne also made a love match a couple of years ago during her come-out Season. She wed the Marquess of Aldridge, and they have a daughter, my niece Penelope.”

The viscount grew thoughtful. “I have heard love matches within the ton are rare, my lady. It seems as if your family is destined to find one each time someone weds. ”

“I will be frank with you. My parents’ marriage was an arranged one, and they led very separate lives. Val says our generation can be different, though, than that of Mama and Papa’s.”

“So, you will make your come-out next spring with your sister?”

“Yes, that is what is planned. We were not close to Papa, but we had to abide by the rules of Polite Society. The ton would have been scandalized if Tia and I had ignored our mourning period in order to make our come-outs.”

“I know that was not easy for you, delaying something which you had looked forward to your entire life.”

“I have been more accepting of it. Tia, my twin, is still angry we had to do so, however.” She paused. “Since you now hold a title yourself, my lord, will you consider going to the Season next spring?”

“I will have no choice. I must wed in order to get an heir off my wife. Also, Celia needs the tender care of a loving aunt to help me in raising her.”

He smiled at the girl, and Lia looked down, seeing that Celia had fallen asleep in her lap.

Her gaze met his and he told her, “I do not mean to overshare, my lady, but my niece has had no love or attention during her five years of existence. She is my brother’s by-blow.

Perceval sent her to Crestbrook when she was less than a week old.

Her mother died giving birth to her, and the woman my brother engaged to care for Celia did a poor job. ”

The viscount confided the condition he had found his niece in when he arrived the previous week, her hair and clothes a mess, her manners abominable.

“Yet in just a few short days, you can see the difference in her,” he declared.

“She has thrived with the attention I have given her. Celia was taught nothing of her letters or numbers by this woman. Celia even had few toys to play with and no books to look at. I will need to engage a governess for her. My niece is quite bright. She will learn rapidly when given the chance. I have already started teaching her myself these past few days, and I am amazed at her progress.”

“My aunt also needs to find a new governess for my cousins. She has mentioned writing to an employment agency in London. Perhaps the two of you could discuss this matter. I know Aunt Agnes would have some wonderful advice for you. She is very easy to get to know. You would quickly warm to her.”

“I would be grateful for an introduction to Lady Traywick. I know nothing about children and am learning every day with Celia. Still, I cannot keep her with me every waking minute of the day. She needs supervision and to be taught under the hand of a loving, gentle governess.”

An idea came to Lia.

“We are to have a picnic here tomorrow. At the lake. Traywick will be returning to Cambridge for his last year of studies, and we thought to give him a send-off. Why don’t you and Celia come?

It would allow you time to talk things over with Aunt Agnes—and even Mama—and you could meet the rest of my family.

I am certain you are eager to make the acquaintance of others in the neighborhood.

Perhaps there are even young children close to Celia’s age whom she might play with. ”

His smile made her insides do odd things, as her belly seemed to flip in succession several times.

“That is a lovely idea, Lady Lia. Celia and I are most grateful for your invitation. If you do not feel we are putting out your aunt or Traywick, we would be delighted to come to this picnic.”

Lia said, “We will come down to the water about one o’clock tomorrow afternoon. It will be on the opposite side of the lake from where we are now. You will find a boathouse nearby where we will set up. I believe we are to take out some of the rowboats on the lake.”

“Oh, Celia might like that.” He paused. “Only if you would come out with us, my lady. It seems my niece has taken to you.”

Glancing down, she placed a soft kiss upon the girl’s head, a tenderness welling within her. Lia had always known she wanted a husband and children. This moment told her she had listened to her heart and found she wanted what it did.

“I should return to the house,” she said. “I have been gone a good while now, and they will be looking for me.” She paused. “One bit of advice before I go, my lord. You are free to take it or ignore it.”

“Now, I am curious to hear it, Lady Lia.”

“I will hold in confidence what you shared with me about Celia’s birth. You seem to already love her a great deal. I see no point in telling anyone that her parents were not wed and that she is illegitimate. It serves no purpose, and she might be judged harshly for it.”

“I had not thought of that,” the viscount admitted. “I would never wish to do anything to harm Celia.”

“Since she is a girl, naturally, you were your brother’s heir. You already claim her as your niece. I would keep quiet about the circumstances of her birth.”

He sighed. “I cannot keep my servants from gossiping. They may have already told others in the neighborhood of her origins.”

“Ignore that. You can introduce her as Miss Celia while she is young. She will then become Miss Cummings when she is older.”

“Not Lady Celia?” he asked, perplexed.

“No, a viscount’s daughter is always addressed as a miss. It is only an earl’s daughter or a higher rank who receive the title of lady before their Christian name.”

He nodded in understanding. “I see. As you can tell, I am not familiar with all the workings of Polite Society. I do believe, though, that you have offered me excellent advice, my lady. I plan to treat Celia as my niece, and I will expect the world to do the same.”

Lord Cressley rose and, leaning down, clasped her elbows, bringing her to her feet.

Lia held Celia close to her, and the girl mumbled in her sleep.

Handing her over to her uncle, he brought Celia close, her head resting on his shoulder.

Lia picked up the basket containing the fish and handed it to him, then reached for the rod.

“Oh, dear. Should I keep this for you? You do not have a free hand.”

“I can take it.” He opened his right hand, and she placed the fishing rod into it. “Thank you for stopping and chatting with us, Lady Lia. You are the first person I have met in the neighborhood, beyond my tenants and staff. I look forward to meeting Traywick and the others tomorrow.”

“Until then,” Lia said, waving as he turned and headed toward Crestbrook.

She watched until he turned at a curve on the path and was lost to her sight.

Only then did Lia head for the house. She knew her aunt would not mind that she had asked their neighbor to come to the picnic.

It would be good for Tray to meet the new viscount, as well, especially since their estates were in such close proximity to each other.

Lia began to sing softly to herself as she made her way home, eager for tomorrow to hurry and come so that she might see Lord Cressley and Celia again.