by Galen, Shana
Lady Dorsey said it was bad form for betrothed couples to sit beside each other, and he had not been able to sway her on that point. But he could hardly complain when he was across from Holly and could admire her so easily.
She did not speak much at dinner. She was often shy in public, but that shyness no longer extended to him. When she did speak, she usually said something interesting and often witty. If Lady Dorsey had seated them together, they certainly would have been drawn into deeper conversations and ignored the rest of the party. There were so many questions he could ask her and so many points on which he wanted her opinion.
They possessed many mutual acquaintances and shared years of common experiences. That meant when someone used a certain turn of phrase, they smiled at each other because it reminded both of them of her older sister Anne. And when someone brought up celebrations for Wellington’s victory at Waterloo, he glanced at her, remembering how he had ridden out with her family to rejoice with their neighbors as he’d been visiting Rose Abbey when the news arrived.
“Ladies, should we have our tea in the drawing room?” Lady Dorsey asked. The other ladies agreed and followed her dutifully out of the dining room, whereby Dorsey produced port and cigars.
Adam took both and enjoyed neither. He tucked the cigar in his pocket and merely stared at his glass of port. The men talked of this and that, but after so many days spent together, they had exhausted most topics of conversation. Still, Dorsey made a good show of moving the conversation forward, and Adam began to hope it was almost time to rejoin the ladies.
“Ivy, you’re quiet this evening,” Dorsey said, not unkindly.
“I beg your pardon.”
“No need,” Dorsey said.
“Ivy can’t help it if his thoughts keep wandering to the wicked widow,” Haggerston said with a sneer.
Adam gave him a steely glare. “If you mean my betrothed, I’ll thank you to address her properly and not impugn her character with inaccurate adjectives.”
“Inaccurate adjectives!” Haggerston laughed. “A great crime to be sure.”
He was drunk and insulting. Adam knew better than to encourage Haggerston to speak more. He wouldn’t tell secrets but would become gradually more pugnacious. They would have to try again another time or hope that travel to London would soon be possible. “Excuse me, Dorsey.” Adam rose and left the dining room. He lingered just outside, not wanting to go to the drawing room too early, and a moment later Dorsey joined him.
“He’s an arse. I thought he would behave better. I shouldn’t have invited him, even if he is our neighbor.”
“You needn’t apologize.”
“I know we toasted you at dinner,” Dorsey said, “but I wanted to tell you privately how happy Eva and I both are at your engagement. We have both worried about Holly these past few years. She’s been quite alone. My wife does love to play matchmaker, and she hoped that if the two of you were together you would fall in love with Holly. Of course, she’s been in love with you for years.”
Adam felt something akin to a cold wind whip through him.
Dorsey must have seen something in his face because he stepped back. “You didn’t know?”
The other men were filtering out of the dining room and moving toward the drawing room.
“I had no idea.”
“I believe it started as a childhood infatuation, but since she has come out of mourning, she has often spoken of you with high regard. And who could blame her?” He clapped Adam on the shoulder. “Your stables are some of the best in the country and your estate manager is highly coveted. Of course, Mrs. Farthing was probably not sighing over your reported crop yields. She went on about your eyes and that wave in your hair.” Dorsey flicked at Adam’s hair and grinned. “You’ve chosen well, Ivy.” He started away, but Adam couldn’t quite compel his legs to move. “Shall we rejoin the ladies?”
“I’ll be there in a moment,” Adam answered.
The other men had preceded them, and Adam stood quite alone. Holly had been in love with him? He’d suspected she wasn’t altogether indifferent to him, but until the past few days he had assumed her affection primarily of the sisterly sort.
He found his smile growing and his heartbeat galloping. If she loved him, surely it would be no trouble to make their faux engagement real. Except, of course, she didn’t know how he felt. She assumed he had only proposed because of her predicament with Haggerston. That had been the original impetus but never the entire reason. She might hesitate as well after this latest revelation about her previous husband. She might be reluctant to trust another man as it became clear Farthing hadn’t been completely honest with her. Adam doubted most men were transparent with their wives, but if that was what she wanted from him, Adam had no objection.
Smiling at his good fortune, Adam entered the drawing room. Holly’s gaze met his immediately. She had been looking for him. She ducked her head, blushing, and he made his way toward her, taking the seat Lady Dorsey had abruptly vacated on the couch beside her. “May I?” he asked.
“Of course. Would you like tea?”
He waved a hand. “No, thank you.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back, her cheeks pink and her eyes such a pretty shade of blue.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked, voice low so he would not be overheard.
Her cheeks turned to crimson. “I am not beautiful.”
“I beg to differ.”
“It must be the candlelight,” she said.
“There was no candlelight in the conservatory earlier. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than when you took your pleasure amidst all those flowers.”
Her eyes widened, and she gave him a quelling look. He smiled, enjoying teasing her and seeing her blush.
He was obviously not the only one to have noticed her pretty blushings. Too late he saw Haggerston in the chair across from them, slumped and leering. He pointed at Holly. “Does he make you blush?” he slurred. “I can make you blush. You’ll blush in places you didn’t even know could blush when I’m done with you.”
Lady Haggerston, who had been standing nearby, turned away as though pretending she had not heard. And Mrs. Redmond, who was seated in the chair beside Haggerston gasped in mock horror. Adam rose, and Holly grasped his hand, holding him in place.
“He is not worth it, my lord.”
“No, but you are,” Adam said, looking down at her. “Sir, I must ask you to apologize.” Adam moved toward Haggerston. “I won’t have anyone speak so of my intended.
Haggerston stumbled to his feet. “You want me to apologize, Ivy?”
“I do.”
“Fine.” He stumbled forward, at least that was what Adam thought he was doing, but just as Adam attempted to sidestep him, Haggerston raised his fist and crashed it into Adam’s left eye. Pain exploded in his head, and though it was not the worst punch he had ever received, it had taken him off guard, and he reeled backward. Mr. Swinton caught him before he could crash to the floor.
And then everyone was screaming, and Dorsey was ordering Swinton to hold onto him and attempting to forcibly eject Haggerston from the room.
“Let go of me,” Adam said, struggling against Swinton’s firm hold. Haggerston was resisting Dorsey and the other two men ushering him out, and Adam thought he could get in at least one blow before they stopped him. He’d almost freed himself when Lady Dorsey stepped before him. She was petite but imposing, and she looked up at him with those big brown eyes that seemed to say she would be dreadfully disappointed if he caused any upset at her party.
Adam stopped struggling, and the moment he stilled he felt the throbbing in his left eye. Holy hell, it hurt.
“We had better do something about that eye,” Lady Dorsey said. She motioned to one of the footmen. “William, fetch a cloth and ice and bring it to the music room. Mrs. Farthing, please accompany us, if you will.”
Holly and Lady Dorsey led Adam to the adjoining music room, settling him on a couch. He might have
argued that he did not need to lie down, but Holly sat beside him and looked down at him with such concern that he decided to stay where he was.
“Where is William?” Lady Dorsey asked no one in particular. “I will be right back.”
Holly watched her leave, then leaned close to Adam, tenderly touching the skin around his eye. “Does it hurt?”
“Not when you’re beside me.”
She blushed again. “No one is here. You needn’t pretend we are engaged in truth.”
“What if I wasn’t pretending?” he asked. “I’ll admit, I quite forgot our engagement was all for show. What if you don’t cry off?”
Holly stared at him. “You have sustained a serious injury, my lord.”
“Adam, not, my lord.”
“You have sustained a serious injury, Adam. Now is not the time to discuss such matters.”
“My eye is swollen. My reason is still intact.”
She brushed his hair back from his forehead. “And what is your reason telling you?”
“That we should slip out of the music room before Lady Dorsey returns and sneak into my chamber.”
“That’s not reason, that’s lust. Lust is not a good basis for a marriage.”
“Then what is?” he asked. “Friendship? Mutual interests? A shared history? Affection?” He took her hand. “We have all of that and lust.”
She simply looked at him for a long moment. “Are you asking—”
“Here is William with the ice,” Lady Dorsey said, leading the footman into the room.
Adam grimaced at the interruption then winced at the pain the gesture caused. He winced again when a cloth filled with ice landed on his eye and was held there until his brain was all but frozen.
It was not the ending to the day he had envisioned, but then he hadn’t even been engaged this morning, so who knew what the morrow held?
“I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR you!” Eva announced at breakfast. Holly looked away from Adam, who made a pitiful sight with his swollen, bruised eye.
“Oh, how exciting!” Mrs. Redmond exclaimed.
“The snow has ceased,” Eva said, “and though it is too high for anyone to depart in carriages this morning, there is no reason we cannot all enjoy Christmas morning with a sleigh ride.”
Some of the other ladies exclaimed happily over the idea of sleigh rides while a few said they would not brave the cold.
In the end, six of the party divided into three sleighs. Adam and Holly were in one, and after Holly had been settled beneath blankets with a hot brick at her feet, Adam urged the horse to a trot. The sleigh all but flew over the snow, and Holly enjoyed the sun on her face and the wind whipping through her hair. It would be a fright when they returned, but for the moment, she did not care.
“Where do you think Lady Dorsey managed to acquire three sleighs?” Adam asked, after they’d slowed a bit to admire the trees crowned in white and the sparkle of the untrod snow as they looked ahead.
“I have no idea. I am sure I never knew she had even one sleigh.”
“The snow will melt quickly if the sun continues to shine. We might all be able to depart tomorrow. Lady Dorsey is an excellent hostess, but I am sure these extra days have strained her resources.”
Holly shook her head. “She would have us all stay indefinitely if she could.” She glanced at Adam’s eye. “Perhaps not all of us. How is your eye this morning?”
“It looks worse than it feels. I only wish I had managed to land my own blow. Haggerston more than deserves it.”
Holly wasn’t certain what Eva had said to the Haggerstons this morning, but they had not been at breakfast. She was also glad the altercation had ended when it did. Some women might find it romantic to have men fight over her, but Holly did not like the attention.
Adam’s injury had given them another excuse to be alone. Holly had considered his words a great deal before she’d fallen asleep the night before. The only conclusion she could come to was that Adam might really be coming to care for her. He was correct that they already had friendship and affection between them. She’d known that before. What they had been missing was lust—at least on his side. But now there was little question that he wanted her in his bed. And Holly wanted him right back. She’d always enjoyed the pleasures of the marriage bed, but she felt more than desire for Adam. She was falling in love with him.
And yet...
Were they being hasty? He had not proposed because he wanted her for a wife. He had proposed because he wanted to save her from Haggerston. And why did he need to save her from Haggerston? Because James had been careless and lost a great sum of money and then had not even told her.
The other sleighs raced past them, their occupants laughing and waving, but Adam did not urge the horse to catch up. Instead, he kept a steady pace until the others were far ahead. Holly looked up at him, and he was looking down at her. Goodness, but he was handsome. The look in his eyes was inviting, and her heart sped up. His lips curled in a slow smile that sent shivers of anticipation all the way to her toes. Unable to resist, she reached over and pulled his head down to hers, meeting his mouth with her own.
His lips were soft and eager, sliding over hers with an urgency that made her own tingle. His mouth was warm, such a sharp contrast to the bitter cold outside. She wanted to curl into him and wrap her body around him. His mouth moved to her neck, and he murmured against her skin, making her shiver with pleasure.
“You have no idea what you do to me, Holly.”
“If it’s the same thing you do to me, I have some notion,” she said, kissing him again. Although Holly would have liked the kiss to go on, gradually Adam drew away and gave his attention to the horse who had begun to go his own way. He guided the animal back to the path the other sleighs had made, keeping his eyes on the ground ahead and taking slow, deep breaths. Holly smiled, pleased that she could affect him so.
She wrapped her arms about one of his and put her head on his shoulder, happy to be near him. He pointed out a robin, whose red breast painted a stark contrast in the newly white world. She admired the icicles dangling like necklaces from tree limbs. They both marveled at a sparrow hawk circling above.
Finally, they caught up to the others, whereupon the gentlemen proposed a race back to Dorsey House, and then Holly had to hold on to her cap as they seemed to fly over the frozen ground.
Dorsey won the race, of course, but Adam made good time, coming in just behind him. Laughing with pleasure, Holly and Adam followed the other couples into the grand house where their maids and manservants waited, ready to be laden with blankets and coats and offering warm mugs of spiced wine in exchange.
The wine and the exhilarating morning left Holly tired but happy. Covering a yawn, she excused herself to go to her chamber. The other ladies followed suit, but Adam caught her arm before she could follow Eva up the stairs.
“Happy Christmas, Holly,” he said, kissing her sweetly on the cheek.
She smiled at him and went to her room. But when she opened the door, she gasped in surprise. On her dressing table was an enormous vase filled with colorful lupines. Their sweet scent drew her close, and she inhaled from their delicate petals deeply.
“Aren’t they lovely?” Eva asked, smiling from Holly’s doorway.
“Yes!” She looked at her friend and narrowed her eyes. “Did you know these waited for me?”
“Of course, goose! Lord Ivy asked my permission to cut them, and he arranged them himself.”
“He did?” Holly was surprised as it was such a lovely arrangement, the flowers falling in a graceful arc to one side of the vase.
“He did. I offered to have my maid put them in your room while we were out. Did you read the card?”
“No.”
Eva moved forward and lifted the stiff piece of vellum from the dressing table. It had been folded to make a small tent. She held it out to Holly, but Holly said, “You read it.” Her eyes were brimming with tears, and she feared the words would blur.
It says
, “Happy Christmas, Holly. I hope this is the first of many. Yours, Ivy.” Eva sighed. “Isn’t that lovely? Oh, but why are you weeping?”
“It is lovely,” Holly said. Eva gathered her into an embrace. “I feel as though I must be dreaming.”
“You are not dreaming. He must love you a great deal.”
Did he or was this part of the ruse? But why would he go to all the trouble of sending her a gift just to further their faux engagement? No one doubted it, and after what Haggerston had done the night before, she need not worry about seeing him again today. Considering that he lived only a few miles away, he and Lady Haggerston might even be able to depart later that day or early on Boxing Day.
Eva finally drew back. “I should go. I wanted to see your face when you discovered your gift, but John is waiting for me.”
“I thought you wanted to lie down.”
“Oh, we’ll be lying down—some of the time.” She winked and then hurried away.
Holly closed the door and curled up on her bed, facing her dressing table so she might admire the lupines again. She awoke in the afternoon when Bell brought her a tray of tea and sandwiches. She nibbled at them but found herself feeling restless. Her maid told her some of the guests played games in the parlor, but Holly did not think she could concentrate on any games. Instead, she made her way to the conservatory, wandering amongst the flowers and fruit trees and imagining Adam there picking and choosing flowers for her gift.
He was certainly a thoughtful man. He had been a thoughtful boy as well. She remembered that as a girl, she’d had a spaniel named Fancy. She’d liked to dress the dog in bows and ribbons. One day the dog had come in from running outside limping. Holly had tried to tell everyone she feared something was wrong with Fancy, but no one paid her any attention. Anne’s friend Mary had been visiting and Edward had been smitten with her. Her parents had been distracted by some news in the papers. Only Adam had listened, and he’d gone to the dog, and with the same gentleness he showed horses, had examined Fancy’s paw, found a thorn, extracted it, and then cleaned and bandaged the wound.