Page 9

Later that day

Edward was in an uncommonly uplifted mood as he went outside with a greenery gathering party that afternoon. The fact he had even joined the group was a surprise to him, but since Kitty had casually mentioned in passing that she and Nancy would go as well, that was what had made up his mind.

Since he’d mended fences with the widow that morning, the uncomfortableness on his part had all but vanished, and oddly faint hope had begun to bloom in his chest.

Everyone making up the greenery party piled into a few sleighs that would take them over the snow-covered grounds to the wooded area at the rear of the property while the hardier members of the group decided to walk through the snow.

Kitty and Reggie were among those who’d decided to make the trip on foot.

Edward occupied one of the sleighs, and just as he thought that had been a poor choice on his part, for a few matrimonial-minded ladies had joined him, Nancy climbed into the sleigh.

When the horse became restless and yanked at his harness and the vehicle lurched unexpectedly forward, she was dumped unceremoniously onto the bench beside him.

As she crashed into his side, he settled her with an arm about her shoulders for a fleeting few seconds.

“Steady, there, Lady Havelock,” he murmured, using her title since they weren’t alone. “All right?”

“Yes, I think so.” She nodded but a faint blush stained her cheeks. From his proximity or the cold, he couldn’t say. “I can’t remember the last time I was in a sleigh.” But it had been long enough, for there was excitement and anticipation in her eyes.

“Then it’s a perfect day. Have you ever been in a party to gather Christmastide greenery?”

“I have, actually. One year when my husband insisted we go out to the Kent estate. My son was quite young at the time; I was increasing with my second child.” A tiny catch in her voice was the only outward sign of emotion.

“There wasn’t much snow that year, but two days before Christmas, a storm came through, leaving us with several inches.

It seemed everyone in the country wished to make good use of it, for we met so many people in the lanes and in the woods. ”

“I’ll wager there was a congenial air in the midst.”

“Oh, absolutely.” As the sleigh lurched into motion, she scooted a bit away from him on the bench while the three ladies on the bench across the narrow aisle watched with varying degrees of interest. “Everyone was so happy. There was laughing and joking. Even my husband had been jovial for a time… but he didn’t come back to the manor with us. ”

A muscle in his cheek ticced, for he couldn’t imagine a man treating his wife so shoddily, even if it did happen with regularity with the male members of the beau monde .

More often than not, marriages were made for property and alliances, for social standing and coin, and to a lesser extent, companionship or merely to further a line.

One never heard the stories of two people marrying for love.

His parents had that. Perhaps that was why he was being so picky about taking a bride. Over the years, he’d learned a few things, and he wanted more than the wife, he wanted love.

“Then let us hope that this outing will give you new and happier memories.”

At her other side, a younger man nodded. “I quite agree. This time of year is supposed to be to conjure good cheer. If you would like company or someone who can tell you jokes, Lady Havelock, I would be delighted to keep you company.”

Oddly, a swift stab of jealousy went through Edward’s chest. “How generous of you, Lord Siever, but the viscountess and I have a prior history. No doubt we’ll use this time to visit with each other.”

One of the ladies across from him tittered and made cow eyes at first him and then Lord Siever. “There are plenty of ladies here for you to chat with. Besides, we will need someone to protect us from tripping on hidden roots or falling in the snow.”

And at least one of them would make certain someone saw a compromising position, which would lead to entrapment.

While Nancy tried unsuccessfully to tamp a grin beside him, he shook his head. “Lord Siever will see that none of you injure yourselves. No doubt gathering greenery won’t take all that long, and you’ll be back warming your hands by the fire at the manor.”

Witty banter and joking occupied his time for the remainder of the ride to the wooded area at the southwest corner of his property.

Though he listened with half an ear and only responded every so often, most of his attention was on the woman seated next to him.

She talked politely with the ladies and responded to Lord Siever’s flirting with a firm politeness, but none of them were privy to her smiles or soul-deep admissions as he had been.

It had been quite some time since he’d last visited this portion of the estate.

Perhaps it had been when he’d caught Kitty and Reg in that compromising position early last summer, for when he’d returned to London, there had been much to do, especially as his sister prepared for her wedding.

And since she was his baby sister and last remaining sibling to marry, he’d more or less spoiled her… when she let him.

“Lord Armestead?”

A light touch to his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts. With a startled blink, he focused on Nancy. “Yes?”

“We’ve arrived. Everyone else has left the sleigh.”

“Oh.” He nodded. “Sorry. I was woolgathering, apparently.” After clambering out of the vehicle, Edward assisted her down. “Where is everyone?”

“They left to hunt for greenery.” One of her blonde eyebrows rose in question. “Are you quite well? You seem a bit confused.”

“Perhaps that might be it. I haven’t been to this section of my estate in quite a while, had forgotten about it, honestly.” Then he fell into step beside her as they entered the woods.

Here, the snow hadn’t accumulated as deep as over the lawn and meadows, but it was still a charming wintertime scene with the bare branches of the trees dark against the stark whiteness of the snow.

A few footmen who’d come out with the party were setting up ladders against some of the oak trees while a group of younger guests waited for others to climb for mistletoe while another group went off in search of spruce and pine as well as holly. They took hand saws with them.

“Should we cut some evergreen boughs?”

Briefly, she held her bottom lip between her teeth, and he couldn’t help dropping his gaze to her mouth.

Would a kiss with her feel as lovely as it had thirteen years ago?

When she released it, a sigh of relief shuddered from him.

“Do I have your permission to walk about and explore? It’s so wonderful here in the trees, where everything is quiet and hushed from the snow. ”

“Of course.” He waved a hand to indicate the area around them.

“You needn’t ask for my permission. Do whatever makes you happy.

” Then when she immediately left to go further into the woods, he could do nothing except follow.

Most of the party was busy, in any event, so his absence wouldn’t go immediately noticed.

Not that he cared.

“Oh, heavens, it’s like a fairy land back here. So pretty!”

The awe in her voice made him grin. “There is a folly nearby. My sisters used to play in it and have tea parties when they were younger. Just this past summer, Kitty used it as a love nest, which led to her engagement and eventual marriage.”

Nancy laughed and that bit of tinkling mirth did indeed sound like fairy magic. “I can’t say that I blame her. Imagine how tucked away and unbothered someone could be back here. I hope the sun comes out at some point while I’m here. I want to come back and see it sparkle on the snow.”

“I’ll make a point to escort you out should that happen.” It was England in December, so it was anyone’s guess as to whether the sun would make an appearance.

“Thank you.” Amusement danced in her eyes, that were more green than brown. “Might we see the folly? My father had a folly once, but since it was old and in disrepair, it had fallen at some point early in my childhood.”

“Certainly. Come with me.” At the last second, he refrained from taking her hand, but there was an uncommon pull between them… unless it was his imagination.

*****

Nancy pulled the folds of her cloak more tightly around her as they went deeper into the woods.

In the distance, laughter and calls from the greenery party rang on the frozen air, but they were quickly forgotten as she swept her gaze over the breadth of Edward’s shoulders and the red muffler he wore above the collar of his greatcoat.

His beaver felt top hat lay slightly tilted at a rakish angle, but that made him even more intriguing.

Perhaps fifty yards into the trees, they came upon a weed-choked clearing where a single castle tower stood as if it had fallen from a large edifice centuries ago.

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “In my grandparents’ time, it was quite popular to put follies such as this into gardens as a feature of interest, for they serve no practical purpose.”

“Are there rooms inside?”

“A couple. I thought about using this as a guest house of sorts, but since it’s too removed from the manor, I decided against it.”

“Ah.” She gazed up at the structure. The tower soared only three stories into the air. A couple of windows looked out onto the world, and a wooden door lay hidden behind ivy and vines. “It’s quite charming.” And conjured up storybook fantasies of knights and maidens and evil queens.

“You are in luck, for I do have a key with me,” he said with a hush in his voice as they approached.

She snorted. “Do you use this as a rendezvous place with your lovers?”

“Hardly. In fact, there has been precious little bed sport with me for months.”

How interesting. “Then by all means, show me in.”