Page 13

Later that night

Nancy glanced at Kitty as she came into her room.

“Well, you are quite lovely tonight. Your husband will be hard-pressed to keep from staring at you,” she said with a smile as her maid put the finishing touches on her hair.

The other woman did a bit of simpering before flouncing onto the end of the bed while Nancy sat at a vanity. “I adore pretty clothes, but don’t tell Reginald. In his mind, I’ve made myself out to be a hoyden who’d rather don breeches and go riding.”

“But you like doing that as well,” she said with a smile, for she’d known Kitty long enough that she’d heard of many of her escapades.

“I do.” A faint blush went through her cheeks. “Yet I also love putting on pretty gowns, for sometimes, it’s easier to catch a man’s attention with a décolletage on display and the swish of taffeta skirting.”

She would have no argument from Nancy. Kitty’s gown of white taffeta had white rabbit fur lining the bodice as well as the bottom hem. A sash of crimson satin emphasized her waist and fell into a large bow in the back. A sprig of holly had been placed in her upswept hair.

“The gown is lovely. I’m a tad jealous.”

“You are more than welcome to borrow it.”

Nancy snorted. “I’ll wager my hips are wider than yours, and I know my bosom is fuller due to pregnancies.”

A soft smile curved Kitty’s lips. “Well, your gown is nothing to sneeze at, and the dark green suits you.”

“Thank you.” Nancy drew her fingertips along the bodice where clear glass beads had been sewn. They were sprinkled over the skirting as well. Red satin ribbons had been fashioned into rosettes and sewn onto the waist. “I wasn’t certain if it would be lavish enough.”

“It’s perfect.”

Her maid nodded as well as she wove red ribbons into Nancy’s updo. “Do you have a necklace in mind for tonight, Lady Havelock?”

“No. I’ll go without.” The fact of the matter was she didn’t have many pieces, for her husband hadn’t given her gifts. He saved the coin to spend on his mistress.

“Then you are finished. I’ll carry down your bonnet and muff to the butler so you can don them for caroling.”

“Thank you.” Once the maid exited the room, Nancy sighed as she glanced at Kitty. “Will you come with us tonight for wassail?”

“I would rather not. My stomach hasn’t been quite right since breakfast, so I don’t want to chance being away from the manor.”

“Ah.” She’d eaten the same foods that Kitty had, but Nancy suspected that wasn’t the cause of her friend’s upset. However, she kept her own counsel. “Well, I promised to make up part of the party.”

“I know. Edward mentioned in passing to me that he’s going too.” Speculation reflected in Kitty’s eyes. “Which is odd because he very rarely sings.”

“Does he not enjoy it?”

“I would have no idea, but he is quite good at it.” Kitty smiled again. “Sometimes at Christmastide, my sisters and I cajole him into singing carols with us on Christmas Eve before we all head to midnight services at the church in the village.”

“That sounds lovely.” What else didn’t she know about the earl. With a frown, she turned on the vanity stool to face her friend. “Do you think he’ll select a bride from this house party?”

“I’m not sure. He has been surprisingly absent from many of the activities; he didn’t even help decorate the drawing room or ballroom, and he does like things just so.

” For a few moments, Kitty remained silent.

“For the past couple of years, he’s debated on whether or not he should find a bride and marry, but I rather doubt any of these ladies will catch his eye or captivate his mind. ”

“Why? Aside from my roommate Miss Thompson, there are some pleasant, clever women here.”

“In the simplest terms? They aren’t you.”

Shock went through Nancy’s chest. “What does that mean?”

One of Kitty’s eyebrows went up. “I think he’s still carrying a tendre for you but…”

“But what?”

“Edward hasn’t talked about it, but I think you broke his heart all those years ago when you refused his suit.”

“Oh.” That was what she had feared after spending time with him since her arrival at Armestead Hall. “I didn’t mean to. And how could I have made such an impression on him years ago? We’d barely known each other. I mean, sharing two sets and a kiss didn’t equate to love.”

Did it? If she were to ask her body and her mind, they would both prepare an argument for her.

“Who knows how the male mind works. All I know is that my brother has guarded his heart quite strenuously since that time. As far as I know, he hasn’t let a woman close… except for you this week.”

Nancy frowned. “That’s sad.” And somewhat telling, for she knew beyond any doubt she had never been as comfortable with any man than she was when she was with Edward.

“Perhaps, but that is often how life is.” Kitty’s gaze was bright as she leveled it on Nancy.

“Here’s the question I wish to have answered.

Do you fancy him now? Both times when you and he have returned to the manor after outings these past two days, the pair of you have seemed happier and more animated than I’ve ever seen you, but it’s been more than that. Dare I say content?”

“Oh.” Heat sneaked into Nancy’s cheeks. She suddenly found something interesting in one of the beads on her skirting. “I don’t know about that, but I might perhaps fancy him if the circumstances were right.”

“Ah.” A wide grin took possession of Kitty’s lips. Delight twinkled in her eyes. “Has he kissed you?”

“A few times.” There was no harm in admitting to that.

Kitty clasped her hands in her lap. “And?”

The heat in her cheeks intensified. “They were lovely.”

“Clearly the nodcock isn’t doing it right.” After a giggle, Kitty cleared her throat. “Has Edward done other… things to you?”

“Kitty!” Her whole body was on fire now merely thinking of what he might do if they let kisses carry them away.

“Well, has he?” The other woman was clearly not repentant. “When the kisses are good, hands get to wandering, and—”

Nancy held up a hand. “No, he has not.”

“That’s too bad. When Reginald and I first coupled, everything changed for our relationship.

I was still very opposed to marriage, but somehow with him, it didn’t seem so terrifying.

” Her grin softened as she no doubt dipped into memories.

“That didn’t mean I fought against it or that he didn’t have to try quite steadily to convince me, but sometimes it takes the mind a bit to match what the body knows. ”

A sigh escaped her. It had been a long time indeed since she’d been touched intimately by a man let alone bedded by one. “Well, I don’t think there will be an opportunity for that sort of thing tonight while caroling.”

Their laughter blended together in the room.

“Don’t wait too long, Nancy.” Kitty slipped off the bed.

She shook the wrinkles from her skirting.

“Love is wonderful with the right man. So is the other stuff, but love makes it even more wonderful and right.” Then she winked.

“And if Edward proves stubborn, give him a gentle push. It’s not scandalous for the woman to tell her man exactly what she wants from him. Some men simply need the guidance.”

Oh, dear heavens. Her cheeks blazed. Did she dare to give him a hint that she might be willing to take him to bed? Were they not still strangers? “I’ll bear that in mind.”

Kitty nodded. “I am hoping for the best. It would be such fun to have you in the family and married to my brother.”

“Don’t tempt fate, Kitty. All of this is just speculation, and I want love in my life.

If he’s not capable of that…” As apparently her husband hadn’t been .

“Well, I want something more than I have already been given. I won’t marry again for less, and I don’t know if your brother is even thinking along those lines.

” Regardless of what he’d told her he wanted for his future.

“Remember, darling, it is the season of miracles,” Kitty said with a wink then she left Nancy’s bedchamber.

They were at the third cottage on the outskirts of the village when the cold began to seep into her bones. Edward had started the evening in the front of the eight-person group, but now he stood next to her in the back row.

Of course, his voice was lovely. That deep baritone sent shivers of need down her spine and awoke butterflies in her lower belly until she was almost drunk on the sound.

A couple of times, she’d been so engrossed in listening to him that she’d stopped her own singing and had to be nudged back into it.

Her husband never did anything like that.

He hated doing anything at his country estate, was very rarely there as she’d told Edward earlier.

And over the years, she had assumed the earl was just like him, but that was anything but the truth.

Unexpectedly, feelings for him rose within her that both confused and excited her.

Why him and why now? When he’d kissed her thirteen years ago, that had been her first ever kiss, and though it had been magical, the kisses he’d given her over the past couple of days had made her feel equally so.

Did that mean she was falling in love with him for little more than attention and kisses? Or was it due to the fact he wasn’t the same man she’d known all those years ago? That he’d changed and that she rather liked the man he’d become?

It was too difficult to ascertain.

“Nancy?”

The barely audible whisper yanked her from those thoughts. “Hmm?” She glanced upward into his face, accidentally tumbled into his dark brown eyes.

“We are moving to the next cottage.” Then he took her hand, grasped her fingers, and led her through the snowy field after the rest of the group.

“Oh!” Yet she grinned as she clutched his gloved hand, for he didn’t have to touch her at all, especially in the presence of the others in the group, but he had. “Sorry. I was woolgathering, I suppose.”