Page 4 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

Millvale, Kent

L ia Worthington sat at breakfast with her brother and new sister-in-law. She would miss Val and Eden terribly, but she was looking forward to visiting the Lake District with Mama and Tia.

Her come-out—and her twin, Tia’s—had not gone as planned.

Their father had collapsed on the verge of the Season, dying hours later, and it had plunged their family into mourning.

Tia had been vocally resentful, and Lia could not blame her sister.

Their father had never valued his three daughters, only paying attention to his heir apparent.

Even Val had not garnered much attention from their frequently absent father.

She knew Val would make for an excellent Duke of Millbrooke, especially now that he had wed Eden.

The former governess would keep her charming brother in line.

They were a love match, just as her older sister Ariadne had made with the Marquess of Aldridge. The couple now had a six-month-old daughter, Penelope, and Val had shared with them how Julian melted at the sight of his wife and daughter.

A love match was something Lia hoped for, but she knew these were rare within the ton .

Her practical nature would be quite happy with a kind husband who gave her an abundance of children.

She hoped she would grow to love him over time, but that would not be something she needed or expected.

She had been brought up to run a household and bear children, and she eagerly looked forward to both once she and her twin made their come-outs next spring.

They were in for a bit of adventure, though, since they departed today for Cumberland.

Aunt Agnes, a favorite amongst all the cousins, had been her mother’s closest friend for decades, since they had made their own come-outs together.

When Papa had died suddenly, Aunt Agnes had accompanied them back to Millvale.

Knowing she would need to stay a while, she had sent for her daughters.

Having Verina and Justina here the past few months had made mourning bearable.

Now, however, Mama had decided the three of them would accompany Aunt Agnes back to Traywick Manor, where they would stay for a few months.

Lia thought it was because Val and Eden were newlyweds, and Mama was trying to give them time together.

She had overheard Mama talking to Aunt Agnes, saying that it was important that the servants start looking to Eden as the Duchess of Millbrooke and transfer their loyalties to her, instead of keeping them with Mama, who was now the dowager duchess.

No matter the reason, it would be exciting to travel to the northwestern part of England.

Lia had read some of Mr. Wordsworth’s poetry, and he had lived nearby to where Traywick Manor stood.

She had always been fond of poetry and couldn’t wait to see in person the places which had inspired the poet.

It would be nice to pass some time in Cumberland as they awaited their come-outs.

“Try a little of the scrambled eggs,” Val urged his wife, who shook her head.

“You know I do not like to eat before ten o’clock. Let me sip my tea in peace.”

Eden was in the early stages of increasing. So far, she had trouble keeping food down in the mornings, and she retched several times a day.

“I worry about you,” her brother said, taking his wife’s hand and kissing her fingers tenderly.

“Ariadne—and even your mother—told me that this will not last forever. That I will soon regain my appetite. Before you know it, I will be eating you out of house and home,” Eden teased. She looked to Lia. “ Tell him.”

She smiled. “I can tell him all day, but my brother can be stubborn. He will have to see for himself.”

“I will miss your practicality, Lia,” her sister-in-law said. “But I know you will have a wonderful time in Cumberland. It is so scenic. There is such majesty to behold.”

Eden had served as governess to Verina and Justina and had lived at Traywick Manor for five years before coming to Kent and falling in love with the duke.

“Do not tell me you miss it,” Val said.

Eden smiled tenderly at her husband. “How can I miss anything when I only have eyes for you, my darling?”

She decided to slip away, her breakfast finished and leave the two in private. Going up to the bedchamber she shared with Tia, she saw two maids bustling about, adding the last of things to her sister’s trunk. Lia’s trunk had already been packed for two days, which grated on Tia to no end.

“Did you eat?” she asked her twin.

“Bessie brought me some tea and toast points,” Tia said absently, looking about the bedchamber. “I hope I have not forgotten anything.”

“If you have, you may borrow whatever you need from me or our cousins. Or we can stop and purchase it along the way.”

Tia stepped closer to Lia. Throwing her arms around her, she said, “You are right. I need to relax and stop worrying.”

“I am going to see if our cousins are ready,” she said, heading across the hallway and entering the bedchamber since the door was already open.

Everything was neat as a pin, not a trunk in sight. Verina stood gazing out the window, and Lia came to her, slipping her arm about her cousin’s waist.

“Did you enjoy your stay at Millvale?” she asked .

“It was wonderful. It was so good to see you, Tia, and Val after so many years.”

The ten cousins had been brought together in town about a decade ago.

While the Worthingtons lived in Kent, the Alingtons resided in Somerset, and the Fultons in Cumberland.

Because of the great distance between the three families, that had been the only time everyone in the three related families had been together.

Having Aunt Agnes bring Verina and Justina to Millvale had been a terrific treat.

“Well, I cannot wait to see Traywick Manor. And reintroduce myself to Tray.”

Her cousin had become the Earl of Traywick at the tender age of ten when his father and brother had been killed in a carriage accident.

Hadrian, as he had been called from birth, changed his name to reflect his title.

Justina told Lia that Tray had hated his given name.

The ten cousins had all been named for various Roman and Byzantine emperors and empresses.

While some of them, such as Verina and Justina, kept their original names, several of the cousins had opted for a more diminutive form.

She was Cornelia and Tia was Thermantia, but Val had trouble saying their names, being so young.

He was the one who had given them their nicknames, and they had stuck.

“Since I see no baggage, I assume everything has been taken downstairs by our footmen.”

“Yes,” Verina said. “Justina went to supervise them. Not that they needed it, but she likes to assert herself.”

“Come, let us go downstairs. The time to depart grows near.”

They walked, arm-in-arm, down to the foyer. Justina was already there, and Val and Eden joined them. Tia came bounding down the stairs.

“I haven’t missed anything, have I?” her twin asked anxiously.

“We have gossiped about you incessantly,” Eden teased.

Laughing, Tia said, “Then I suppose it will help prepare me for next year’s Season.

Mama has warned us that there are vipers within Polite Society who like nothing better than to tear others down, especially attractive young ladies making their come-outs.

Lia and I will not let them bother us. Our behavior will be impeccable. ”

Justina laughed. “I think you will have trouble behaving yourself, Tia. And I should know. We are too much alike.”

Her cousin was right. Where Lia and Verina were more soft-spoken and unassuming, Tia and Justina were curious and outgoing.

She was glad that she and her twin had such different temperaments.

Although they favored one another in the face, she was a few inches shorter than her sister.

Tia also had strawberry blond hair, while Lia’s was auburn.

Despite being so different from one another, she loved her twin more than anyone in the world.

Finally, Mama and Aunt Agnes made their appearances. Mama, ever dignified, glided down the stairs without effort. Aunt Agnes, who was still girlish at her age, smiled widely at everyone.

“Are we ready to head for Cumberland?” Aunt Agnes asked.

“Yes!” cried all four girls.

Then Eden began weeping. She gathered Justina and Verina to her. “I know these tears are because I am increasing. Everything seems to make me cry these days, but I will miss the two of you so much.”

“We will miss you, too, Miss Snow,” Verina said. “I mean, Your Grace.”

Eden wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It was not that long ago that I was your Miss Snow.”

Val slipped an arm about his wife’s waist. “She is now my Miss Snow. An utter tyrant who orders me about all day long.” He kissed Eden softly. “And I would not have it any other way.”

Eden embraced Aunt Agnes. “I would say I am sorry for abandoning my post, but Val was simply too hard to resist.”

“I am happy for you, my dear. You were an excellent governess, but you will be an even better duchess and mother.”

The dowager duchess hugged her daughter-in-law. “Take good care of Millbrooke, Eden. He is not far removed from being one of London’s rakes.”

Eden smiled. “They do say reformed rakes make for the best husbands.”

Val beamed. “Then I will be the best husband in all of England,” he declared.

The duke and duchess walked them outside.

While Val had pressed his mother to take the ducal carriage, she refused, saying it should be for his and his duchess’ use.

They were taking the family’s second carriage, which was almost as grand and nearly as large.

It was a good thing because there would be six of them inside it.

Another carriage would follow with the rest of their trunks and a couple of maids.

A footman opened the coach’s door, and Val handed up each of them. Lia went last.

“Take care of everyone,” her brother urged. “You are the one I trust the most because you have the best head on your shoulders. Enjoy the Lake District and your time away from Millvale.”

“We will be home long before Christmas,” she assured him. “Mama said we will leave in mid-November. I know the roads might not be the best then, but we can take our time.” She looked to Eden. “And I plan to start a journal of my own on this trip. I will record my impressions and everything I see.”

As a governess, Eden had her charges write in a journal.

Lia had read some of the entries in both Verina’s and Justina’s and thought it an excellent idea.

She would be seeing so many new things and gathering new experiences, both on the journey to and from Cumberland and at Traywick Manor itself.

It would be a good way to reflect upon them and have a record of her thoughts and impressions in lasting form.

She settled herself inside the carriage as Val closed the door. He signaled the coachman, and the vehicle began rolling .

Eden ran alongside the coach briefly, shouting, “Write to us! Have fun!”

Then the carriage picked up speed, and she stopped, waving madly at them, Val by her side.

“It is good to know we are leaving Millbrooke in such good hands,” Aunt Agnes said. “Eden is perfect for him.”

She looked at Mama, whose eyes were misted with tears. “I will miss the both of them. Millbrooke is already becoming a better duke than his father ever was. With Eden by his side, he will be a great one.” She smiled. “And I cannot wait to be a grandmother again when they have children.”

Mama’s words surprised Lia. She, like Papa, had not spent much time with her daughters.

Polite Society’s view was that first sons were to be exalted and other sons and all daughters, for the most part, ignored.

Yet Mama had grown closer to Ariadne during her come-out Season.

Perhaps the same would be true when she and Tia made their come-outs.

Her mother was usually so stern. If having grandchildren softened her a bit, Lia thought that would be a good thing.

It took almost ten days to reach Traywick Manor.

By the time they arrived, Lia was tired of riding in the bumpy carriage, but she had thoroughly enjoyed the scenery during their entire journey.

It was fascinating seeing the beauty of different parts of England, and she looked forward to the time they would spend in the Lake District over the next two months, as well as seeing her cousin Tray again.

As she disembarked from the carriage and the housekeeper showed her and Tia to their shared bedchamber, Lia was excited for whatever experiences lay ahead.