Page 13 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

L ia decided to wait and share her news when everyone was at tea together. Once they had all gathered and Mama and Aunt Agnes had poured out for them, she cleared her throat.

“I have a bit of news,” she began. “I hope you don’t think it presumptuous of me, Aunt Agnes, but I have invited someone to our picnic tomorrow.”

Her aunt frowned slightly. “Who might that be, dear?”

“I met the new Lord Cressley and his niece while I was taking a walk around the lake earlier today.”

Before she could continue, everyone began peppering her with questions.

“Wait,” Mama said, causing everyone to go silent. “Let Cornelia continue uninterrupted.” Her mother looked expectantly at her. “Please, continue.”

“Aunt Agnes was correct in thinking that he had gone into the military. Lord Cressley attended Cambridge and then entered the army, working his way up to the rank of major. He sold out when he received word of his brother’s grave illness and returned home.

” She paused. “He will be raising his niece, Miss Celia Cummings, as well.”

“Oh, Lord Cressley wed?” Aunt Agnes assumed, and Lia did not correct her. “It does not surprise me, though. He was getting on up in years.

“The niece has recently turned five, and her nursery governess is not qualified to teach her. Viscount Cressley will be looking for a governess for Celia,” Lia explained.

“I asked him to tomorrow’s picnic not only to meet his neighbors but also to talk with Mama and Aunt Agnes about how to go about finding a governess.

I even mentioned to him that Verina and Justina also needed a new governess to take Eden’s place. ”

“That is splendid,” Aun Agnes. “Alice and I will be more than happy to guide Lord Cressley through this process.”

“I am looking forward to meeting a fellow peer,” Tray added. “It will be good to make Cressley’s acquaintance. Thank you for facilitating a meeting between us, Cousin.”

The rest of tea was spent talking about the menu Verina and Justina had created for the picnic.

“We tried to include favorites of Tray’s, along with introducing our cousins to foods peculiar to Cumberland,” Verina shared.

“You are going to love the damson tarts best,” Justina predicted. “They are small and dainty, filled with custard and damson, which is a type of plum.”

“I love anything sweet,” Tia said. “What else might we be having?”

“Cook will include the usual ham and roasted beef sandwiches,” Verina said. “But she will also include Cumberland sausage. It comes from selected parts of pork. The difference is that it is chopped instead of minced, so the texture is different from most sausages.”

“It is also very long,” Tray added. “Thicker than a regular sausage. It comes in a flat, circular coil instead of in links. The seasoning is what makes it shine, though.”

“It sounds delicious,” Lia said. “My mouth is already watering.”

“Cook will also have some cheeses and apples for us,” Justina told the group.

“You mentioned my favorites,” Tray said. “I hope Cumberland Rum Nicky will be found in the baskets.”

“What on earth is that?” Mama asked.

“A bit of heaven, Aunt Alice,” Tray replied.

“It starts with a shortcrust pastry. Cook will fill it with dried dates and other fruits which have been soaked in a blend of rum and spices before she bakes it. Last century, our own port of Whitehaven became part of the sailing route which brought ginger, sugar, spices, and even tobacco to Cumberland. Everyone who lives in this area eats Rum Nicky.”

“Well, I look forward to everything we will have,” Aunt Agnes proclaimed. “I only hope our weather will cooperate.”

Unfortunately, the next morning the heavens opened up, and the rains came pouring down, canceling the picnic.

Lia asked her aunt if she might be the one to write the note to Lord Cressley, telling him that the picnic had been postponed but would hopefully occur the following afternoon.

Her aunt agreed, and she used her best penmanship as she penned the note to the viscount.

She told him they would try again the next day if the weather cleared up.

An hour after a footman was sent to deliver the note, the servant returned with a message for Lia. She opened it, pleased to see that Lord Cressley had replied.

Dear Lady Leah—

I am sorry the weather has run afoul of our plans and postponed the picnic which Celia and I were to attend today with your family. My niece is most disappointed, but I have assured her that the plans are to aim for the next dry day. Hopefully, that will be tomorrow.

Thank you for notifying us. If I do not hear from you again, I will assume the picnic will happen tomorrow as planned.

My best to Lady Traywick, as well as Lord Traywick and the rest of your family. Celia and I look forward to making everyone’s acquaintance .

By the way, my niece cannot stop talking of you. You made quite the impression upon her.

Sincerely,

Rupert Cummings, Viscount Cressley

Lia could not help but smile to herself, thinking how much she was looking forward to seeing Celia again.

And Lord Cressley.

She would also have to share the correct spelling of her name with the viscount and perhaps even tell him the origin of her name and that of her siblings and cousins.

He would probably find it amusing. Something inside her wanted to make him smile.

She believed he had lived a lonely life, perhaps not as lonely as that of his niece’s, but a difficult one, all the same.

He’d had no mother and never saw his father.

His brother was years older, and she understood they had never been close.

From the stories he had shared with her about the army, he seemed to have found a home amongst his fellow officers and soldiers, but even that had been taken from him once he’d received word to return home.

She hoped he would settle into the neighborhood and make some good friends.

With the Season now over, his peers and their wives would have returned from town.

Lia also hoped Aunt Agnes might help smooth the way for Lord Cressley.

She decided to broach that topic with her aunt now.

She found Mama and Aunt Agnes in a small parlor. Both women had needlework in their laps, but Lia didn’t think much embroidery had taken place. Even after all these years, the longtime friends could talk the day away.

“Am I interrupting anything?” she asked, standing in the doorway.

“Not at all, Lia, dear,” Aunt Agnes said. “Do come in.”

She took a seat and said, “I received word back from Lord Cressley, so he knows the picnic for today has been cancelled. He said Celia was disappointed, but he was trying to keep her in good spirts.”

“It is good he replied to your note,” Mama said. “That is the mark of a gentleman.”

“Lord Cressley and I talked for over an hour yesterday while he and his niece were fishing,” she told the pair. “I think he is sad to have left his army days behind.”

“What, with all that killing and marching about?” Mama said. “He should be grateful he now has a title and that it gave him the opportunity to leave.”

“He has not been in the area for many years,” Lia said.

Looking hopefully at her aunt, she added, “While it is good that the viscount and Tray meet before he returns to university, Lord Cressley will also need to get to know others. You had mentioned having him to dinner, Aunt Agnes. I hope you would still do so. You could even invite a few others from the surrounding area.”

“That is an excellent idea, Lia,” Aunt Agnes said. “I will set a date for next week, before Traywick leaves, and host a dinner party. Lord Cressley does need to get to know others. I hope he wants to be a more active part of the neighborhood than his brother ever was.”

“From what he indicated yesterday during our conversation, he will reside at Crestbrook and only go to town for the Season.”

“Good,” her aunt said. “He can find a bride and become more of a leader here in our community. I look forward to making his acquaintance.” She paused. “Of course, he will need to be careful when selecting his viscountess.”

“Why is that, Aunt?” she asked.

“Because of the child,” Mama said. “Not every young lady would wish to have an instant family. Cressley is the guardian of his niece now. The girl will be a part of the viscount’s life and that of his chosen bride. The girl might not be accepted well by the new wife.”

“You think the viscountess would draw a distinction between her children and Celia?” Lia asked, upset by that thought. “She is a lovely child.”

“Be that as it may, most women would differentiate between children they gave birth to and other ones in the household.”

“Well, that is simply wrong,” she declared. “I would never do such a thing.”

Aunt Agnes said, “Of course, you wouldn’t, Lia, dear. You are such a thoughtful young lady.”

She felt Mama’s eyes upon her and met her gaze.

“Are you interested in the viscount, Cornelia?”

Her face flamed. “No, Mama. I barely know him. This is most embarrassing.”

“You are a duke’s daughter. While I am certain Lord Cressley is a lovely man, you might wish to set your sights... higher.”

“Mama!” she objected. “How can you say that?”

“Ariadne wed a marquess. You are just as beautiful as your older sister.”

“But Ariadne was in love with Julian,” she pointed out.

Mama frowned. “Do you seek a love match, Cornelia?”

She swallowed. “I have thought of it. But I know they are not very common amongst the members of Polite Society. I do want a man who will be kind and respectful to me.” She hesitated and then spoke her mind.

“You have taken to Eden, Mama. She is a viscount’s daughter. A former governess who wed a duke.”

Mama looked offended. “I do like Eden. You know that. She is beautiful and intelligent and will do well as Valentinian’s duchess. Besides, a woman always tries to marry up—not down. I respect the fact Eden did so.”

“But you do not wish for me to even think of wedding a viscount,” she argued.

“ Are you interested in Lord Cressley, Cornelia?” her mother pressed.

“I like him,” she admitted. “He was very attentive and thoughtful to his niece. I do not really know much of him, though.”

But she did. He had been open with his affection for Celia, and he had only met his niece the previous week. Already, Lord Cressley was loving and protective toward Celia. It would be a privilege if a man such as the viscount was interested in her.

“You may be polite to Cressley,” Mama said.

“Even a bit friendly. But remember that you are to make your come-out next April. If I were you, I would rid myself of these romantic notions of love. You will meet many gentlemen next Season. They will court you. Millbrooke and I will assist you in making the decision as to which one should become your husband.”

Her mother’s answer irritated Lia to no end. Not that she was daydreaming about Viscount Cressley, but if something developed between them, Lia would certainly be open to it. A friendship.

Or even more . . .

She rose. “I will leave the two of you to your needlework. I only wished to inform Aunt Agnes that Lord Cressley had sent word. I will see you both at tea.”

Lia left the parlor, closing the door behind her. Then she did something awful. Something Tia would do without a second thought.

She left the door slightly open. Just enough so she could hear what her mother and aunt might say. It was wrong to eavesdrop—but she was curious as to what their conversation might be after she left. Would they discuss Lord Cressley? Or her? Might they totally change the subject?

Standing next to the door, holding her breath, she listened.

“She is becoming almost as willful as Thermantia,” Mama remarked.

“And what is wrong with that, Alice? Where do you think Tia—and perhaps Lia—got such stubbornness from?”

“You are saying that I am the stubborn one?”

“All I am saying is that your daughters are grown women, Alice. They are thoughtful young ladies and have minds of their own. If Millvale had not passed so suddenly, both of them might already be wed and increasing, ready to become mothers of their own. My advice to you?”

“Do I have to listen to it?” Mama asked drolly.

“Let them be. You should let your daughters decide whom they are interested in without paying attention to rank. Let them make their own mistakes. Only if you see they are headed for disaster or disappointment should you intervene. Lia is a sensitive thing. She has always been wise beyond her years. She may—or may not—be interested in Viscount Cressley. You badgering her will only push her into his arms. Give her a chance to sort out her own feelings.”

Mama snorted. “Just because you caught one look at George and fell madly in love does not mean my Cornelia will do the same.”

“No, but the possibility is there. She has already spent time in Viscount Cressley’s company, chaperoned by a five-year-old. Lia has always had a tender heart when it comes to children.”

“I do not want my daughter to wed simply because she likes a man’s niece.”

“She would not do so. Lia is discerning. She would have to like—if not love—the man himself. She is far too wise simply to wed Cressley because of his niece. The child might be a small, but significant, detail that merely enhances the situation.”

Her mother sighed. “You are right, Agnes. As always. The more I protest, the more I will push Cornelia toward this viscount.”

“He might be a lovely person, Alice.”

“True,” her mother agreed begrudgingly. “I will keep quiet and keep the peace. Either my daughter will have a passing fancy for Cressley, which will soon be over, or she might be on the verge of falling in love with him. It is her life. Not mine.”

Lia quietly closed the door completely and slowly walked away.

Was she interested in Lord Cressley as a man? A potential suitor? Or was she merely taken by the sweetness he had shown toward his niece ?

She decided that she would let things unfold between them. Perhaps they would form a friendship. It might possibly even become something more, an attachment which could even lead to a betrothal.

But whatever came to pass between her and the viscount, Lia knew it would be on her terms—and no one else’s.