Page 11 of One Jewel-tide Scandal (Singular Sensation #10.5)
Alex peered out the drawing room windows. It was midafternoon and some anemic sunshine was peeking through the thick clouds, which was an unexpected boon.
“We should probably take advantage of the relative break in the weather.”
From somewhere behind him, the countess snorted.
They’d spent the past few hours in congenial silence together with him reading and her either attending to her embroidery or reading as well.
It had the stamp of far too much domesticity, but he’d found he oddly enjoyed that time, for most of the ladies of his previous acquaintance hadn’t given thought to books or the reading of them, either for knowledge or entertainment.
“ You wish to go outside? You, the man who has decried the snow, the cold, and everything winter?” Amusement threaded through her voice.
Heat sneaked up the back of his neck. Of course she would remember he’d said that.
“Well, I’ve been told the land is passable…
if one doesn’t mind walking through occasional drifts or if one rides a horse.
Additionally, some of the footmen have been out with my driver.
They managed to retrieve the remainder of the luggage and haul it to the house on a sled. ”
“That must have been a relief for you. Now you can change your clothes.”
“And dress properly for dinner,” he added with a grin as he turned away from the windows to regard her. “It might not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it had bothered me, especially since you wear such pretty gowns each night.”
A blush stained her cheeks. “Thank you for noticing.”
“How could I not? In many ways, I feel as if I’ve stumbled upon an enchanted castle suspended from time where a beautiful princess lives with a broken heart, keeping herself behind those walls for fear of living again.
” Why he’d decided to wax poetic, he couldn’t say, but there was something about this woman that made him almost giddy.
And he wanted to impress her. Barring that, if she would but smile again, his day would not have been for naught.
“I would ask if you were inebriated, but I haven’t seen you drink anything this afternoon except tea.” One of her finely arched eyebrows rose. “Perhaps you are looking forward to leaving here. I can’t imagine there is enough entertainment or companionship to hold your interest.”
“Fishing for compliments, are you, my lady?” When a faint smile curved her highly kissable lips, he wanted to crow with victory.
“Never think that, though. I am not anxious to return to my travels just yet. Besides, the coach is still very much stuck in the snow on the country road. We should need several days of sun and no snow to even think about going out there to affect repairs or to dismantle it.”
“Then why do you wish to go out in the elements? No doubt it is still quite cold.” She set aside her embroidery. “Will Charlie accompany you?”
“Oh, he will definitely go out. It will knock some of the nonsense out of him. Then perhaps he’ll leave poor Cleo alone.”
The countess chuckled. “Poor Cleo is holding her own. Just a half hour past, she smacked the dog on his nose so hard I heard it.”
Alex couldn’t help but laugh too. “Oh, he deserves everything he gets, but to be fair, Charlie enjoys the snow. He runs through it and eats it until he’s exhausted.”
“Definitely different than his master?”
“Quite.” With a shrug, he crossed the room and held out a hand to her. “Come with me. We can gather some greenery or at least look for mistletoe.”
She eyed him with speculation. “Why? You don’t enjoy the holiday and you detest the snow.”
“Both are true statements, but you want to decorate the manor.” He wriggled his fingers. “How can you celebrate Christmastide without mistletoe? You need more than that pathetic dried bit you showed me.”
“Oh.” With the blush still in her cheeks, the countess set aside her embroidery work then slipped her hand into his. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt…”
“Of course not.” That connection, the tactile feel of her fingers against his, sent heated awareness over his skin.
Damn, he wanted to kiss her again, but not at this time.
He was still gaining her trust, but he could wait.
“Now, be certain to dress warmly. Once we’re out there, we won’t return to the house until the mission for Christmastide greenery has been fulfilled. ”
Perhaps the perfect time to steal a kiss would present itself.
An hour later saw them and a few footmen trudging through the snow in the abundant woods on the east side of the property.
Alex hunched further into his greatcoat, for he hadn’t changed his mind about not liking the cold or the snow.
In some places, the drifts came up to the top of his boots.
When he glanced at Charlotte, the poor thing was doing her best to keep up, but since she was shorter, her knees were covered where the snow had piled.
Her skirting was no doubt damp, and he hoped she’d had the good sense to wear a few petticoats to help keep her warm.
The scarlet cloak, though, was a welcome burst of color against the unrelieved white of the snow.
However, when they went deeper into the woods, the accumulation of snow was far less than the lawn, and he breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, at least this is a fat lot better than the trudge over here.”
The countess snorted. “I can honestly say that I’m coming ‘round to your way of thinking regarding the cold and the snow.” She gave into a shiver. The bottom foot of her dove gray dress was already damp and encrusted with snow, as was her cloak. “I think my feet will be cold for days.”
“This shouldn’t take overly long.” With a glance at the area, he pointed toward a copse of evergreen trees.
“Let’s cut some branches for door and window swags.
” On the sled one of the footmen pulled, a couple of axes rested.
“While we work, we can keep an eye out for mistletoe. Give a shout if you spot some.”
When the footmen scattered, Alex walked beneath some of the oak trees in the hopes mistletoe would be evident. Charlotte came with him, and for the moment, he’d temporarily lost sight of his dog. Joking came from the footmen, and he grinned.
“Do you want to try your hand at cutting boughs, my lady?”
“Good heavens, no.” She shook her head, nearly displacing the hood of her cloak. “I agreed to come out here, but I draw the line at manual labor.”
A round of good-natured laughter came from the footmen.
“No matter. I’m sure the fellows will cut enough for all your uses.” He had to remind himself to focus on the trees and not her, for she looked so fresh and beautiful against the wintery backdrop with that scarlet cloak and red color in her cheeks from the cold.
“I trust you will assist my staff in hanging all of the boughs that are cut today?”
“Of course I will. Just point me in the direction of a ladder and a hammer.” It took a handful of minutes until he saw a potential grouping of mistletoe.
“Look there, Lady Charlotte.” When she came close, he pointed upward into the winter bare tree branches.
Some of them still retained dried, brown leaves left over from the autumn.
The faint scent of her perfume wafted to his nose in direct competition with the pungent evergreens. “I do believe that is mistletoe.”
As she tipped back her head, the hood slipped to fall about her shoulders. “It is? That looks like a wad of dried plant life.”
“Yes, but tangled up in that is the mistletoe.” He winked at her.
“That plant is actually a parasite. I have a friend who is a Professor of Botany at Cambridge, went to school with him for a few years. He was always forever going on and on about how mistletoe destroys healthy trees and is nothing but a nuisance. Couldn’t fathom why it ever became a symbol of romance and love. ”
She snorted. “Your friend sounds quite grumpy and dull.”
“Oh, he can be that, but he is quite intelligent in the academic field. Highly respected. In fact, Professor Ridley was married this past summer to a woman he met while in Ireland.” Alex met the countess’ eyes and nodded.
“Spirited but clever and smart enough rival him in all things botany. Together, they discovered a new species of flower. Some sort of glowing thing from what I understand.” He shrugged.
“They seem to be quite shamelessly happy.”
“That is how a good marriage should be.”
“Agreed.” Then he glanced up into the tree once more. “I’m going to climb for the mistletoe.”
“No!” The countess shook her head. “It’s far too dangerous.”
“So, then you’d prefer a footman do it?” Though he enjoyed teasing her, there was slight annoyance in his tone.
“No, of course not. It’s dangerous for anyone.” A frown tugged the corners of her mouth downward. “There must be some other way to retrieve it.”
“Short of throwing rocks at the plant in the hopes that will dislodge it, I rather doubt there is.” He stamped his feet, which grew number by the minute.
“I’m going to climb up there, and the sooner I accomplish that, the sooner we can all return to the warm manor.
” A certain amount of daring twisted up his spine as he met her gaze. “Do I have your permission?”
“To essentially put yourself into harm’s way and potentially break your neck?” She crossed her arms at her chest. “By all means, go ahead.”
“Thank you.” With a cavalier glance at the footmen, who shared grins with him, Alex began the task of climbing the wide trunk of the oak tree.
As soon as he reached the first branch, the task became easier, and in a few seconds, he reached the branches where the mistletoe rested.
“All I need to do is slide over there on this branch.” Not for worlds would he show the fear that pulled muscles in his belly, for he wanted the countess to be impressed by him and his daring.