Page 164 of Snowbound Surrender

“Be careful, Scarlett,” was all her mother said from beside her, as she laid a hand on her arm. “Please, darling … just be careful.”

CHAPTER 21

Mercifully,all of their parents left early on New Year’s Day.

They had stayed at Lavinia’s until well into the first day of 1814. Hunter had found his wife in time for a kiss as the clock chimed midnight, though her kiss didn’t seem quite as urgent as usual. She seemed … distracted, though it was likely due to the many other guests nearby. He had also seen her talking with his parents earlier, which was always a recipe for disaster. He had been eager to take her home and celebrate in a much more private way with just the two of them.

This morning, in the light of day shining in through the window, he closed his eyes to recall her shimmering silver gown, so lovely on Scarlett, though he much preferred when it became a pool of fabric on the floor of his bedchamber. He had appreciated the glow of Scarlett’s pale skin, illuminated by the fire in the grate, even more than the lovely dress that so many at the party had commented on.

He was a lucky man, he had thought as he had fallen asleep the night before. A very lucky man indeed.

And now the house held only the two of them, alone together at last. He grinned as he rose from the bed after Scarlettscurried out of the room through the adjoining door to her own chambers, just as Spicer entered from the corridor.

“Good morning, my lord!” the man boomed, and Hunter brought a hand to his head. He had indulged in a few spirits the night before, and now Spicer seemed altogether too cheery.

“Happy New Year, Spicer,” he murmured, and his valet responded in kind.

“You seem … overly pleased this morning.”

“That I am, my lord, that I am,” Spicer responded. “All of my wishes for this upcoming year came true within the first few hours. I am to be married, my lord — married!”

“What?” Hunter came alert then, his eyes widening. “To the maid?”

“Marion Parker,” Spicer said, his eyes far away as he looked beyond Hunter and out the window. “Although … I suppose I should have spoken with you about it first, my lord. I know she and I are both in service to you and all…”

“It’s fine, Spicer,” Hunter said, shaking his head with a grin as he reached out a hand to his valet. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, my lord. Thank you very much!”

And now all Hunter had to do was convince his wife that the two of them belonged together as much as his valet and her maid.

“Oh,my lady, I wish you could have been there!” Marion was telling Scarlett the same story, though with a bit more detail, just a room away. “Well, not that you would have been to a servant’s gathering, of course, but?—”

Scarlett held up a hand with a slight chuckle. “I understand your meaning, Marion. Continue, please.”

“Well, Lady Rockingham’s maid was there, of course, in what she thought, I’m sure, would be the most brilliant gown of all. But then, when I arrived inyourgown, oh my lady, you should have seen how wide her eyes became! And she was practically hanging off of Rupert’s arm, but the moment I walked in, our eyes met, and I swear to you, that was the last either of us looked elsewhere for the entire night. When the New Year arrived, he kissed me, and then he knelt down in front of me and asked me to be his wife — his wife!” Marion’s eyes were filled with tears as she came over to Scarlett. “Would that be all right with you, my lady? If I were married, and to another of the staff?”

“Of course,” Scarlett assured her, her hands grasping Marion’s. “I only want you to be happy, and it sounds as though your Rupert makes you that way.”

“Oh, he does,” said Marion with a sigh. “He truly does.”

“You must know, however…” Scarlett trailed off, her gaze out the window at the snow-covered trees. “You may have to choose, Marion. I do not want to lose you as my lady’s maid, I truly don’t, but if I remain in the country while Lord Oxford is in London, if you stay with me, you may go months at a time without your husband. I’m sure we can find another position for you if you prefer, so that you can accompany him.”

Marion’s mouth opened slightly in surprise. “But my lady, I thought…”

She trailed off at Scarlett’s expression.

“I will wait for your decision,” she murmured, and Scarlett nodded, turning her head before her maid noticed that tears were beginning to fill her eyes. She wanted to remain with Hunter, truly she did, but she was scared — scared of who she would become if she gave her heart fully to him, if she followedhim to London, where she would witness the ladies of thetondancing and flirting with her husband as Lady Raymond did the previous night.

She should hardly be jealous. Of course, Hunter danced and spoke with other women, as did all men in polite company, but he always came back to her. While her heart swelled with gratitude to him for it, she didn’t want to have to experience the conflicting emotions night in and out, coupled with her hatred of the city. Perhaps it was better to remain here alone, ignorant of all that occurred in London.

She sighed as she dressed in a cheery yellow frock that belied her current mood. For Hunter would be returning shortly, she knew. The question was, would she accompany him or not?

Hunter spokeat length of their London return over breakfast that morning. He could admit that he was being a coward, not asking his wife directly if she deigned to return with him, but he didn’t want to hear her refusal, didn’t want to think of her rejecting his request. And so, he decided he would simply assume that she would be accompanying him, and surely she would follow along. When she didn’t protest any of his ideas, he took that as her agreement.

“Tomorrow morning, then,” he said with a nod. “That should work very well, indeed. Lord Falconer will be able to provide me an audience the following day, and we should get to work at determining the best way to go about arranging your charities before I must return to the House of the Lords. We will also be back at Wintervale in a few weeks as I must find a new steward, of course, but luckily we aren’t far from London.”

Scarlett nodded, and while Hunter could sense her hesitancy, he was sure it was simply some nerves upon returning to London, as it had been some time, he knew, since she had been there.