Page 15 of One Jewel-tide Scandal (Singular Sensation #10.5)

Though the howling winds from the storm had gone, it had snowed on and off throughout the day. Alex and Charlotte had been keen to stay indoors where it was warm, and where they could be entertained by the antics of their pets.

At some point during the afternoon, he’d discovered the countess knew how to play chess, so they’d gone against each other in the game with him winning two and her winning one.

Matching wits with her had been a delightful departure from the usual.

After that, they’d played whist and then had tea, where they’d talked of Christmases they’d spent in their youth.

By the time dinner had arrived, he’d felt the day had been full even if it seemed they hadn’t done much at all.

News around the servants’ hall held that some of the more traveled roads beyond the manor would no doubt be passable if one had strong horseflesh pulling their vehicles, but what they truly needed was a week of clear weather and anemic winter sunlight to help with the clearing process.

Until they had that, the task of hauling his coach to the stable yard to even think about being repairs might as well be Herculean.

It wasn’t the hardship that he’d assumed it was a few days ago.

Following dinner, they’d chosen the drawing room to settle in over the library, for earlier in the day the footmen and maids had hung evergreen swags over the windows and laid them with artistic elegance on the fireplace mantle.

Charlotte had placed tin bells and glass balls within the greenery then she’d added bows she’d fashioned from red velvet ribbon.

“You did a marvelous job adding a touch of Christmas to this room,” he mentioned to her after setting aside his book. “With the candlelight, everything sparkles.”

“Thank you.” The smile she bestowed on him had his world slightly tilting. “I wouldn’t mind having an evergreen tree as they do in the Bavarian region, but the effect that we do have is quite lovely.”

“I’m certain we can arrange that for you.” In fact, he would speak with the butler immediately. If the weather was fair tomorrow, perhaps he could take a party of the footmen out with him to secure a tree.

“Pish posh, Alexandar. You spoil me with what you have already done.” She continued to work at the embroidery project in her lap. “This is more than I could have dreamed of having.”

He nodded. On a nearby chair, Charlie flicked an ear.

Clearly, he didn’t enjoy the conversation that was prohibiting his deep sleep.

But there were more secrets regarding Charlotte that Alex wanted to delve into, and there was no better time than now.

“What is something from your past that you miss now? Perhaps it’s something you didn’t do much while married or just didn’t fit in with your new lifestyle as a countess. ”

“Oh, what an interesting question.” For the space of a few heartbeats, she drew her needle through the fabric and made a handful of stitches while Cleo slept in a curled ball on the cushion of the sofa beside her. “I think perhaps the activity I miss the most is dancing.”

“What?” A frown tugged at the corners of his lips. “When was the last time you danced?”

She shrugged. “I couldn’t begin to tell you.

” With a sigh, she laid her embroidery aside.

“Stuart, while he enjoyed being in society for matters like discussing political subjects or popular topics of the day, wasn’t much for dancing or mingling.

Usually, when we attended an event, he made his initial rounds then retired to the card rooms.”

“That is so sad. Did you tell him how much you enjoyed the exercise?”

“I did in the beginning of our union, but when it became apparent he wouldn’t indulge, I stopped talking about it.” Sadness reflected in her eyes. “I danced with a few men who offered to partner me, yet sometimes that wasn’t the same as being with my husband.”

“Of course not.” Then an idea came upon him, and he grinned. “And since you haven’t entertained since his death, I’ll wager you haven’t danced for more years than you care to admit.” As he spoke, Alex slid off his sofa and then prowled over the floor toward her.

“You already know that is true.” She watched him with a mixture of wariness and amusement in her expression. “What are you about?”

He extended a hand to her. “Will you share a waltz with me?”

“Here?”

“Yes. Why not?”

“This isn’t a ballroom and there is no music.” When she glanced about the room, a giggle escaped her. “Unless you count Charlie’s snoring.”

“The dog does have a problem, but the lack of music doesn’t matter.” When he wriggled his fingers, he grinned. “The simple fact that it’s dancing is quite the point.”

For long moments, she looked at him, then she nodded and put her fingers into his palm. “By all means, let us dance. I could use the exercise.”

“Good.” When he folded his fingers around hers, he slowly brought her to a standing position.

Immediately, the scent of lilies-of-the-valley teased his nose, then he led her away from the grouping of furniture and into a fairly open space of floor.

“Do you prefer the Viennese style or the Continental?”

Confusion shadowed her eyes. “I don’t know that I’ve ever danced the Continental style.”

Alex slipped his free hand to the small of her back. The satin of her silver gown slipped beneath his fingers like water. “I suppose it doesn’t matter since we don’t have the floor space for either. Instead, we will indulge in a modified sort of waltz.”

“All right.” Gingerly, she rested her free hand on his shoulder.

As she held his gaze, there was the brief sensation of falling, but he ignored it the best he could as he set them into motion.

“That gown is lovely on you.” Though he wouldn’t mind seeing it pooled about her feet as he kissed her senseless.

However, he didn’t wish to spook her, so he would go slowly.

“You should move out of mourning colors or those that hearken back to it. I have a feeling vibrant hues suit you best.”

“Perhaps, but I haven’t felt like wearing anything that might be seen as exuberant.

” A faint grin curved her lips as they turned in tight circles.

“Stuart didn’t care for it when I wore such tones.

He said I was too young and perhaps would be seen as a tart, that I should always dress in pastels and feminine styles with lace and flounces, so I wore them to indulge him. ”

What an interesting insight into her life. “I’ll wager a man like Spencerford was generous in gifts bestowed on his wife.”

She missed a step, but he pulled her closer, kept a hand on the small of her back in order to steady her.

“He was, indeed. Clothes, jewelry, fripperies. I have so many things my maid uses a separate room to keep them all stored. Stuart also let me decorate some of the rooms in his manor. Of course, I couldn’t change anything in the townhouse, especially now that his brother has the title, but doing so here makes the place seem more like mine. ”

“I can just imagine.” Turn after turn, he liked the feel of her in his arms. When the shawl slipped from her shoulder, he was given a glimpse of her décolletage, and his pulse quickened. “I don’t begrudge the man his title or riches—much—but I am jealous of the time he had with you.”

“Why?”

“Because he had days and nights in your company. He was given the chance to hear your voice whenever he wanted, he could let your laughter wrap around him.” As he spoke, Alex pulled her closer until their chests brushed with each movement and their thighs bumped with every turn.

“Because he had the honor of sharing breakfast every day with you, taking dinner with you each night. Whenever he was out and about in Town, he had the comfort of knowing you would be waiting for him.”

“Oh.” Her chin trembled as she stared up at him. “That is a lovely way of looking at it. I wish I could glean some comfort from those words.”

“Why should you need to? Your husband has been gone three years. Surely you have had time to accustom yourself to his loss?”

“There is that, but I don’t know how much Stuart thought of me when he was away.

” When she tried to pull out of Alex’s arms, he brought them to a halt and held her.

“He went to his club almost every night. Then there were the hunting trips that kept him away for weeks at a time.” She shrugged.

“But he was older than me and had a life of his own before I’d been born, so I couldn’t fault him for that. ”

“Ah, Charlotte, I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but your husband was a nodcock.

” And because he couldn’t help himself, he cupped her cheek, brushed the pad of his thumb along her bottom lip, and when her eyes darkened, changed to reflect more of a green color than brown, he lowered his head, pressed his lips to hers where his thumb had just been.

This kiss was much like the others, for that deep sense of connection between them flared.

It took all his willpower not to bend her over his arm and bring her to wild passion, so instead he continued to move over her lips, waiting, hoping, wishing she would give him a sign that she wanted him in the same way.

Despite those thoughts, Charlotte rested both hands on his chest, slipped them upward to clutch at his shoulders then she applied herself to returning his overture with building desire until it was him who was breathless and him ready to burn up from within.

And suddenly, he didn’t know what to do, so he pulled away to stare at her with shock. How was it that this woman made him feel as if he were the most amazing man when he knew he was the direct opposite?

It was Charlotte who broke the tension first with a smile and a nervous spate of laughter. “Well, Tattingham, you certainly are quite potent when you communicate with kisses.”