Page 29 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)
E sther was helping Lia and Tia to dress for tonight’s dinner.
Usually, Aunt Agnes kept a relaxed dinner table in the country, and they never changed gowns for dinner.
Tonight, though, with it being a dinner in honor of Tray—as well as one serving as an introduction of Lord Cressley to the neighborhood—they were donning the best gowns they had brought with them.
After Esther finished dressing Tia’s hair and left the bedchamber, Lia said, “I want to talk to you about Lord Cressley,” deliberately keeping her tone neutral.
Her sister, however beamed at her. “Oh, this sounds as if the relationship is progressing. Has the viscount kissed you yet?”
Tia’s eyes held such hope for Lia, and she found her spirits flagging. The mask she had been wearing now slipped, and she finally let her twin see her misery.
“Wait. What is wrong?” Tia asked. “If you need me to knock sense into him, I will.”
“Everything is wrong,” she responded. “Even worse than I imagined.”
Tia took her hand and led her to the bed. They sat huddled together, her twin’s supportive arm around Lia.
“He did kiss me. My feelings for him have been growing, and I thought the kiss enchanting. It caused my body to respond in ways unfamiliar. I cannot explain it. You will simply have to experience a kiss yourself to understand what I am saying.”
She paused, collecting her thoughts a moment. “But he does not love me, Tia. Yes, he is—or was—attracted to me. I think he might have been curious about what a kiss between us would be like. Now he knows, but he has brushed it off.”
“But he kissed you, Lia. Surely, he must offer for you now,” Tia insisted.
“No one witnessed the kiss.” She swallowed painfully. “Lord Cressley knows I seek a love match. He informed me that he plans to go to town next spring and peruse the Marriage Mart for a bride.”
“That blighter!”
“No, really, it is good I know now. I do not think Lord Cressley is capable of love. I think because of the way he was raised and his experiences in the war, he may not have the capacity to love. Or if he does, he is using up all he has on Celia.”
She took Tia’s hands. “I adore that little girl, but I cannot play second fiddle to her. The man I wed must always put me first, even ahead of our children. If we have a strong marriage, full of love, then our children will also be taken care of and be loved by us. But I must be first in my husband’s heart—and Lord Cressley cannot seem to put me in that position. ”
Tears formed in her twin’s eyes. “I am so sorry, Lia. I had such high hopes. I have observed the viscount gaze upon you with tenderness. I thought perhaps he did love you.”
She shrugged. “I think he is like most men in Polite Society. His marriage will be more of a business arrangement. I do think he will be kind to his wife, but I believe I deserve more than kindness. I will not settle for anything less than love.”
Tia hugged her tightly, saying, “I know it hurts now, Lia, but we have the Season to look forward to. We will meet all manner of gentlemen in town during the many social events. With Ariadne and Val already married, they will be able to help guide us to find our soulmates.”
Lia did not know if she believed in the idea of a soulmate anymore.
She wasn’t even certain she believed in love.
Despite being deliberately vague about her feelings for Lord Cressley with her twin, Lia realized she had loved Lord Cressley.
That she still loved him. The only thing that would mend her broken heart would be time and distance.
Fortunately, they would return to Kent, so being in close proximity with him would soon end.
Then it would be another five months after they were home before the Season would begin.
Yes, she would certainly encounter the viscount at social affairs, but she hoped by then her heart would have healed, and she could smile politely and greet him without her heart feeling as if it were being torn in two.
“You are right,” she said, not totally convinced but needing to keep this to herself. “For now, I simply wanted you to know the state of everything.”
“I can help you avoid Lord Cressley this evening,” Tia promised. “Either I will talk with him and keep him busy and away from you, or I will intervene if I see the two of you have been inadvertently thrown together.”
“With so many guests, I believe I can remain away from him, at least before dinner, when everyone will be meeting him. I only worry about after dinner, when the guests will go to the drawing room. You know Aunt Agnes will want us to play for the guests. I do not think I am up to it. If I plead a megrim, though, I am afraid Mama will figure out what is going on. She has already asked me about the viscount and if I had feelings for him. I do not want her to know we have kissed, much less that Lord Cressley has no interest in me.”
“Aunt Agnes and Mama will expect us to play,” her twin agreed. She thought a moment. “What if I were the one to come down with a megrim? Naturally, you would be the one to care for me. Mama could not object to that. And Verina and Justina can entertain the guests.”
They agreed that Tia would be her usual self until the final course and then become withdrawn.
While the gentlemen stayed at the table for their port and after dinner cigars and the ladies adjourned to the drawing room, Tia would tell Mama of the megrim, asking for Lia to come with her to their bedchamber.
Their plan settled now, they went downstairs.
Mama and Aunt Agnes were talking about who would be in attendance this evening.
Verina and Justina stood talking with their brother.
Lia thought now would be the perfect time to address Ariadne’s proposal with their cousins, especially since Tray would be gone early tomorrow.
They joined their cousins, and Lia asked, “Did it ever feel odd to you when your parents left for the Season and were gone for months?”
“I never really thought much about it,” Justina said. “Miss Snow—Eden—usually made things fun for Verina and me. I did not mind staying behind at Traywick Manor.”
“It was hard on me,” Tray said. “I have always felt something was missing in my life. I chalked it up to losing Lucius and Papa at such a young age. I will admit that I was terrified those first few years when Mama left for the Season. I feared we would get word that she, too, had been taken from us in a carriage accident.”
Verina touched her brother’s sleeve. “You should have said something to us, Tray.”
“I did not think I should confide in you,” her brother admitted. “I was the man of the family. I wanted to be strong for my sisters.”
“Tia and I, along with Val and Ariadne, came to resent Mama and Papa leaving,” Lia continued. “Not that we were ever as close to them as you were to your parents, but we felt neglected being left in the country.” She paused. “Ariadne wishes to change that.”
She explained how her older sister had taken Penelope with her to town this past Season.
“Not simply because she was only a few weeks old, but because Ariadne wanted to have her daughter with her. It is something she and Julian have agreed to. They always intend to bring their children to town for the Season, unless they are away at school. They intend to spend more time with their children, and they also would like it if their siblings and cousins also brought their children to town each year.”
“Why, it would be like when the ten of us came together in London all those years ago,” Verina said, excitement in her voice. “Not only could we cousins see one another, but our children could also see each other frequently.”
“Exactly,” Tia seconded. “Ariadne has spoken of how the bonds between siblings and cousins would grow under these circumstances.”
“Ariadne has discussed this arrangement with Val, Con, and Lucy. They have all agreed to this plan.”
“Count me in,” Tray said. “Not that I will have children for many years, but once I finish my studies, I will be attending the Season each year. I will need to help my sisters find their husbands before I consider taking on a bride myself, but I think it would be wonderful to bring all our children together and let them get to know one another.”
“Verina and I agree,” Justina said for herself and her sister. “I think it a marvelous idea.”
“Then it is only Dru who will need to agree to Ariadne’s proposal.
She went to visit Lucy and Judson, so I am certain Lucy has already told her sister about it,” Lia shared.
“Oh, this will be so much fun. It will make the Season even more special. It will be about family, as well as our social obligations.”
Larsen announced the first guests, and Tia stayed by Lia’s side as they were introduced to various neighbors from in and around Kidsgrove.
She was actually enjoying herself until she felt someone’s gaze upon her.
Turning, she saw Lord Cressley had entered the drawing room, and he looked as if he were headed straight for her.
Thankfully, Tray caught his arm, greeting him and keeping Lord Cressley by his side, moving about the room to introduce him to all those present whom he had not met. That kept the viscount busy until the butler came in and announced that dinner was served .
As they began moving toward the dining room, Tia caught up with her.
“Where did you go?” Lia asked as her sister slipped an arm through hers.
“With Tray keeping Lord Cressley occupied, I went to the dining room and changed a few of the seating cards,” Tia replied.
“You were to sit next to Lord Cressley. I switched our name cards, and now I will be the one who will sit next to him. You will be on the opposite side of the table, about eight spots away from him, too far for him to engage you in conversation.”
“Won’t Aunt Agnes notice?”