Page 17 of One Jewel-tide Scandal (Singular Sensation #10.5)
When Charlotte woke that morning to another gray, overcast day, she frowned when she realized it wasn’t in the drawing room as she had assumed.
Instead, she was in her own bed. And what was more, she still wore the silver gown from last night.
When she turned her head to contemplate the carriage-style clock on her bedside table, shock rolled through her to find it was just after ten in the morning.
How had that happened? Ever since meeting Alexander, she’d been sleeping better than she had in her whole life. Last night, she clearly remembered falling asleep in the baron’s arms while he held her on a sofa, and they’d talked about her marriage after he’d led her in an impromptu waltz.
A soft knock at her door preceded her maid’s entrance. “Good morning, Your Ladyship. I trust you slept well?” she asked as she crossed the floor to place a breakfast tray on the bed next to Charlotte. Then she went to open the drapes at the windows.
“I did.” How much did Abby know? Further, how much did all the servants know? As the maid puttered about the room, curiosity got the better of Charlotte. “Not to be too indelicate, but how did I come to be here in my bed?”
To her credit, Abby’s smile wasn’t full blown as she returned to the stand near the bed.
“From what I managed to gather from breakfast in the servants’ hall, you had fallen asleep last night in the drawing room with the baron.
” There was no judgment or censure in her voice, merely excitement.
“It was he who carried you abovestairs and placed you in your bed.” Her eyes sparkled. “The butler said he tucked you in.”
Ah, that would explain why she wasn’t in her customary night clothes.
“I see. How embarrassing to know I fell asleep so hard that I didn’t wake while being transported.
” Yet it had been incredibly satisfying to be held by Alexander.
There had been so much protection and peace found in his embrace, and the opportunity to tell him some of the things that had been uppermost in her mind had left her relieved.
In short, the more she learned about him, the more she was shocked to realize he was everything she had ever dreamed of finding in a man.
“I think it romantic. A handsome stranger is stranded here during a snowstorm. You give him food and shelter. After spending time with him you find yourself tip over tail with him.” A sigh escaped the maid. “It’s a lovely story for Christmastide. A romance every woman would envy.”
Charlotte couldn’t help but scoff. “Do hush, Abby. I am not in love with Sir Alexander.” Was she? But the flutter in her heart and in her belly said that those words might just be a lie.
“It’s all right to deny it, my lady, but don’t discount the possibility. You have been alone for three years,” the maid said as she moved into the adjoining dressing room.
“True.” And even in her marriage, she felt alone more often than not. Not knowing what else to do, Charlotte poured out a cup of tea, added a small lump of sugar, and then stirred the liquid until the lump dissolved.
What am I going to do about the problem of Alexander?
When Abby returned with a dress in a festive cranberry color and a lightweight wool blend, Charlotte frowned.
“I thought this would be pretty, especially since it’s Christmas Eve,” the maid said as she laid the garment on the foot of the bed. Dyed black lace lined the square bodice as well as the lower hem. “And this hue puts color into your cheeks.”
“Do I need to care about that?” She took a sip of tea.
“Yes.” The maid smiled. “I’m told Sir Alexander has managed to take a few footmen outside.
They’ve brought back an evergreen tree. It is being installed in the drawing room as we speak.
” The girl’s excitement was contagious. “Can you imagine a real tree in this house? There are loads of decorations left over, so you can decorate it if you wish.”
“I’d intended to send those down so everyone could decorate the servants’ hall.” They deserved to celebrate the holiday too.
If possible, Abby seemed as if she bubbled over with happiness. “Oh, that will be so fun!” She grinned. “But there are enough for you to make the tree pretty and for us to decorate the hall. I can’t wait for Christmas dinner.”
Charlotte waved the girl away. “Let me finish my breakfast. Then you can come back and help me dress.”
“We also need to choose a gown for dinner tonight. Since the snow drifts are too large and the roads haven’t been cleared, no one will attend church services this evening, so you can dress for effect instead of warmth.”
“Effect?”
“Yes, so you can dazzle Sir Alexander.”
She didn’t answer, for there was no point. The servants had apparently already paired her off with Alexander, and they were all too happy to celebrate the romance during the Christmastide season. Had she been so desperate and lonely before that even they had picked up on those emotions?
When Abby went back into the dressing room, presumably to choose the gown for dinner tonight, Charlotte sighed.
If she did let herself fall for the baron, what then?
Was he even of a mind for marriage? Is that what she wanted as well?
She certainly wasn’t the sort to have an affair with a man and then send him off into the night once that passion and desire—assuming that’s what was between them—had run its course.
Perhaps there was no answer. At least not right now.
Sometime after dinner, Charlotte stood in the drawing room admiring her handiwork regarding the evergreen tree.
It was perhaps four feet in height, and it rested in a large wooden bucket filled with earth to give it some stability.
The whole display had been placed on a low table.
She’d fashioned bows from lengths of red velvet ribbon as well as pieces of gold lamé.
Once she’d placed them amidst the dark green boughs, the effect was both sweet and dazzling.
To that décor, she had included tin bells, blown glass balls, and a handful of tin toy soldiers that had been unearthed from the attics.
Strings of cranberries and seed pearls as well as dried orange peels shot with whole cloves, sprigs of holly and berries provided the finishing touches.
There were even slim candles tied to random branches by wires beneath tiny silver holders to catch the wax.
“This is an amazing feat of artistry,” Alexander said as he came into the room. He hadn’t immediately followed her into the room after dinner. “You have done a wonderful job with this. Anyone in Bavaria would be impressed.”
The praise tugged a smile from her. “Thank you. It was quite fun to undertake.” Then she glanced at him, and her heart skipped a beat.
How had he grown more handsome since she saw him at dinner, not an hour past?
Perhaps it was his maroon satin waistcoat with black velvet swirls, or perhaps it was the twinkle of need and something else she couldn’t quite read in those dark brown eyes, or perhaps it was merely the Christmastide season had managed to put just enough excitement in her being to make her giddy.
Reckless, even. She’d even found the time to embroider his initials on a corner of a man’s handkerchief, that was even now wrapped in tissue paper and resting beneath the boughs of tree.
After all, everyone deserved a gift.
“Should we light the candles?”
She frowned. “Not just yet. Perhaps closer to midnight if we haven’t retired by then.
” Being in his company, standing so close to him, felt all very domestic and she craved that closeness with a man.
Deep in her heart of hearts, she hoped the snow would continue and that it would keep the roads too dangerous for travel so that he would stay here for an extended period.
“Though I’ll wager it will look stunning with dancing candlelight. ”
“Just as you do right now.”
“What?” As she turned toward him, he grinned, and the dimple in his cheek flashed. There was nothing she wanted more than to burrow into his arms like she’d spent part of the night yesterday.
“You are beautiful tonight, Charlotte. That wine-colored gown is stunning on you. In fact, you glow in deeper colors.”
“Oh!” Heat went through her cheeks as she smoothed a hand down the front of her gown.
“On a whim last year, I ordered a handful of gowns in the hopes I might ease myself back into society.” Then she drew her fingertips along the silver glass beads that lined the simple scooped bodice.
They also lined the hem of the short, puffed sleeves.
“But then I decided I was too much of a coward and continued to stay here.”
“One is never cowardly, Countess. You are merely biding your time until your courage rises to the top, like fine cream,” he whispered as he snaked a hand around her waist to the small of her back.
Closer and closer he urged her to his body, and just before their lips met, excited barking from Charlie echoed in the air.
Then the beagle came hurtling into the drawing room in a flurry of barking and prancing.
Immediately, Alexander released her in favor of looking at his dog. “What’s wrong, Charlie?”
The beagle howled. Then he pawed at the carpeting and gave a yelp as if demanding their attention.
“I’m afraid I have no idea what he means,” the baron said with a frown. “He’s never acted like this before.”
Charlotte bent down, but when she attempted to pet the dog’s head, he veered away with another demanding bark.
“What is it? And where is Cleo?” Knots of worry pulled in her belly as she stood and glanced at the baron.
“I haven’t seen her for a while. Perhaps she’s in trouble and Charlie is trying to tell us that. ”
His eyebrows went up in surprise. “That’s an idea. Is she prone to mischief?”
“She’s a cat. It’s more like mischief follows her.”
“Agreed.” With a nod, he looked at the beagle again. “What is it? Where’s Cleo? Show us where the cat is.”