Page 36 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

L ia awoke, dread filling her. Tomorrow they would leave Traywick Manor. She was torn, having been taken with Cumberland ever since they arrived, but knowing it would be much easier for her heart to heal if she were home in Kent in familiar surroundings, with those she loved.

And not around the man whose love she could never win.

She rose and went to the window. The gray November day looked bleak. As she opened the window, she could smell rain in the air.

Tia stirred and looked up. “What does the weather look like?”

“Gloomy. The skies look as if they will open any minute now. I fear we are in for a stormy day.”

Her sister sighed. “So much for a final ride about the countryside. Of course, that means the roads will be clogged tomorrow. Do you think Mama might postpone our journey home?”

She chuckled. “Mama has decided tomorrow is the day, so tomorrow is the day. You know how she is. Her mind becomes set upon something, and nothing ever changes it.” Lia sighed. “I am already dreading how long it will take us to return to Millvale.”

The journey to Cumberland had taken about ten days.

This time of year, with inclement weather, it might be two weeks—or longer.

Lia dreaded the long hours spent in the carriage each day, with only her thoughts to keep her entertained.

More than anything, she wished to banish any thoughts of Lord Cressley .

“You are thinking of the viscount, aren’t you?” Tia asked.

Closing the window, she returned to the bed, sitting on the edge. “Yes. I cannot help it. This is the worst pain in the world, Tia. To love someone and not have your love returned. I am miserable.”

Her twin sat up, propping pillows behind her. “Well, he’s a bloody fool for not seeing what a treasure you are.”

Her eyes went wide at her sister’s harsh words, but even Lia felt like muttering a few curse words herself.

“I think he is like most men. Shut off from his emotions. I do believe he has the capability to love. Just witnessing him with Celia lets me know that.” She paused.

“But I think his feelings for her use up anything else left inside him. I adore the child, but I cannot waste my time on Viscount Cressley anymore. Let him do what most every man in Polite Society does. Wed for social status or wealth.”

Taking Tia’s hand, she concluded with, “As for me, I still have hope that I may find love. But what of you, Tia? Do you seek love?”

Her twin shrugged. “I truly have not given it much thought. I was so angry when Papa died and delayed our come-outs. I set aside thinking about the Season or men or my future and have merely been living in the present. I did enjoy watching Val and Eden’s romance unfold and all the work we did on the fete.

I have soaked up our time here at Traywick Manor.

I suppose once the new year comes, I will turn my thoughts to the Season. ”

“What does instinct tell you now?” pressed Lia. “About love.”

“I know it exists. Ariadne and Val have found it. Lucy, too. But you know I want to have a bit of fun, Lia. I am not quite ready to be a wife and mother as you are. I want to wear pretty gowns and dance at balls and eat Venetian breakfasts and go for rides in Hyde Park during the fashionable hour. I want to meet different people, both men and women. You are—and always will be—my closest friend, but I want to get to know other girls. I hope eventually to attract the right gentleman. It would be wonderful if we did grow to love one another, but that will not be a requirement for me when I wed.”

“You sound so practical now. I am usually the practical one.”

Tia laughed. “Here I am telling you that I want to soak up everything about the social swirl of the Season, yet you are calling me practical.” She embraced Lia. “Oh, I do love you dearly, my sweet twin.”

They rang for Esther, and Lia dressed first, with Tia telling her to go down to breakfast.

“I will join you in a few minutes. After all, there is no rush with the inclement weather. We will be housebound all day.”

Lia went to the breakfast room, only finding Aunt Agnes there.

“Good morning, Aunt Agnes. You are up early.”

“I could not sleep,” her aunt replied. “I think I am already missing you, Tia, and my dear Alice.”

“We have been at Traywick Manor for two months, and you and my cousins were at Millvale for several months before that.”

“Yes, and this time together has been lovely, hasn’t it?”

She finished making her plate and sat, a footman pouring tea for her. “Yes, I have enjoyed every minute of it. I must say that I have fallen in love with the Lake District and its raw, rugged beauty.”

Her aunt’s gaze met and held Lia’s. “Anything else you might wish to mention to me?”

Aware of the footman and butler standing only mere feet from them, she said, “I believe I will leave a part of my heart in Cumberland.”

The look Aunt Agnes gave her led Lia to believe that the older woman understood the hidden meaning in her words.

“You know you are always welcome to come and stay at Traywick Manor any time you would like.”

She knew that, but she would never accept an offer to visit again, not with Viscount Cressley living so close by.

Part of her thought that she would cull through her suitors, allowing anyone but those who lived in Cumberland to court her.

Lia did not wish to wed a man who lived in this area because she did not want to take the chance of having to live in close proximity to Lord Cressley.

Who would have thought she would choose a suitor based upon where he lived?

The others joined them, all but Mama, who liked to keep to her rooms for breakfast, and they lamented how they would not be able to ride today. The rain had started in earnest now, and Verina said it showed no sign of letting up.

“I thought you would be unhappy, confined to the house today, so I sent a note to Crestbrook,” Aunt Agnes said. “I asked Viscount Cressley if he would allow Celia to come visit for the day. Keeping the girl entertained will keep you all very busy.”

Lia only hoped she would not have to see anyone but Celia.

Celia arrived an hour later, escorted by her governess, who remained in the carriage. Aunt Agnes greeted the child when she entered the drawing room. Celia made a quick curtsey and went straight to Lia, wrapping her arms about her.

“I’m so glad I get to stay with you today, my lady.”

“I feel likewise,” she replied, her throat thickening with emotion.

Aunt Agnes said, “I invited Lord Cressley to come for tea when he retrieves Miss Celia. You are free to do as you like until teatime.”

So Lia would have to see the viscount a final time.

The day passed quickly, thanks to Celia.

They went to the music room, and Verina played the piano for them as they sang, teaching the young girl several new songs.

Justina brought out a checkerboard, and they taught Celia the rules of the game.

She caught on quickly, clapping her hands when she won a game.

Tia suggested they make some new clothes for Lally, and so they went to the sewing room, finding scraps of material.

While Lia, Verina, and Justina sewed for the doll, Tia and Celia sat nearby, Tia reading aloud to everyone.

Since the doll was small, it did not take long for three new gowns to be made, one by each of them.

Celia took turns dressing Lally in her new clothes and thanked everyone for contributing to the doll’s wardrobe.

All too soon, it was time for tea, and they went to the drawing room.

The minute Lord Cressley arrived, Celia showed off Lally’s new gowns to him.

Watching him show such enthusiasm for a doll’s clothes only tugged all the harder at Lia’s still-broken heart.

Fortunately, conversation was lively, and she did not have to speak to the viscount directly.

When the time came for Celia and Lord Cressley to depart, Celia hugged everyone goodbye, saving Lia for last.

Her eyes misted with tears as Celia said, “I will miss you, Lady Lia. You’re my very best friend.”

They embraced, and she thought the next time she caught sight of Celia would be a dozen or so years in the future, when Celia came to town to make her debut into Polite Society.

Already, the child was a natural beauty, and Lia could only guess at what Celia might look like by the time she made her come-out.

She wondered if the girl would even recognize her or recall anything about the special bond they had formed during Lia’s visit to Cumberland.

They walked downstairs with Lord Cressley and Celia, with the viscount thanking her aunt for today’s invitation.

He addressed Mama, Tia, and Lia together, saying, “It was delightful to make your acquaintance, Your Grace, and your lovely daughters. I hope to spend time with you again come the Season next spring.”

“You must call on us when you come to town, Lord Cressley,” Mama said. “His Grace will certainly wish to meet you.”

Lia winced, not wanting Viscount Cressley to become a family friend.

She already wanted to escape his presence and try to heal her broken heart.

She did not need him frequenting their London townhouse and stomping on her heart again and again.

Perhaps she would address the issue with Mama and explain how she’d had feelings for the viscount and did not wish to be in his company .

Then he and Celia left, racing out in the rain, climbing into their carriage, and departing. Lia felt the final death knell, knowing nothing would ever come of their relationship.

Moving to Aunt Agnes, she whispered, “I have the beginning of a megrim, Aunt. I will not be down for dinner this evening.”

Her aunt gave her a knowing look. “I shall have Larsen send up a tray to you. Just in case you feel like eating a little something.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you doing so.”

Lia retreated to her bedchamber and saw that Esther had done all the packing for their departure tomorrow morning.

That gave her precious time alone, something she had not had a lot of during their time at Traywick Manor.

She opened the window, seeing the rain had finally come to a halt.

Because of that, she decided to go down to the stables.

She slipped into her spencer for warmth and changed into the boots Esther had left out for traveling, then went down the back staircase used by the servants, cutting through the kitchens, where the staff was busy preparing the evening meal.

Lia grabbed an apple from a stack sitting in a wooden bowl and slipped outside.

The air was quite cool but smelled wonderful after the rains.

Lia inhaled deeply, thinking again how much she would miss this part of England, knowing the only time she would return to it would be when she read Mr. Wordsworth’s poetry.

She would view his poems with new eyes in subsequent readings, having now experienced the beauty of the Lake District firsthand.

In the stables, she greeted a groom and made her way to Orion’s stall. She had ridden only him during her entire visit to Traywick Manor, and she had grown attached.

Orion chuffed, coming to her, his head sticking over the door to the stall. Lia rubbed his nose and then placed her brow against the horse, breathing in the scent of horse and hay.

Then she presented Orion with his treat. “I have brought you a little something. You have been a pleasure to ride, my dark beauty. ”

The horse nibbled on the apple in her palm. When he finished, she kept the core, kissing Orion. “Until we meet again,” she said, tears blurring her vision as she hurried away and back to the house.

Esther waited for her in the bedchamber. “I thought you might feel better if you had a hot bath, my lady. The water will be here shortly.”

“That is very thoughtful of you,” she told the maid. “I believe you are right.”

Lia luxuriated in the bath, knowing it would be a long time before she had another one so unhurried. Esther helped her to wash her hair, and Lia combed it, letting the air dry it. More water was brought when Tia arrived, and her twin also got a bath.

“Oh, this is a luxury I will miss when we are on the road,” Tia said as she stood, and Esther helped rinse the soap from her.

“I agree. But before you know it, we will be at Millvale. And Eden surely will be increasing by now. Oh, it will be such fun to have a babe in the household.”

Lia helped comb Tia’s hair. Her sister had no patience for things such as this, and Lia found the task soothing. Afterward, they climbed into bed.

“Our last night in a comfortable bed, as well,” her twin remarked. “I think inns deliberately have horrible mattresses and useless pillows in order to encourage travelers to continue on and not linger.”

That caused Lia to burst out in laughter. She hugged Tia. “Oh, I am so glad we are still together. I worry about when we both wed. Most likely, we will live far apart and only see one another at the Season.”

“Then we will have to investigate wedding suitors who live near one another,” Tia said. “Ariadne and Lucy are neighbors. Perhaps you and I can find two decent gentlemen who live close to one another. We will wed them and see one another every day.”

“I hope so,” Lia said, knowing that would be next to impossible .

Tia took Lia’s hand. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she echoed, wondering what the upcoming Season would mean to their futures.