“I understand. I will find Miss Devon and tell her the news.” The men shook hands, then Gilbert was mounted and off again. Ajax bounded after the horse but came back the instant Christian called. “Come, boy. Your exercise is through for the day.”
The first order of business was to request horses be saddled for he and Rebecca. Then they would wait for nothing but to change clothing.
After seeing to the arrangements regarding the animals, Christian went in search of Rebecca. She hadn’t come down to breakfast yet. A servant would need to be found to carry a message to her room. He stepped into the hall, looking for one of the nearly always present footmen, when he heard his name.
“Christian, good morning. I saw you were out with Ajax.”
He turned to see her approaching, her long hair coiled up in a braided crown. Her eyes sparkled with her usual cheerful expression, her whole countenance bright despite the muted green gown she wore. For the space of two breaths, he completely forgot what it was he needed to tell her.
“Did you finish your walk already?” she asked, her head tilting to one side.
He snapped back to attention. “It was cut short.” Christian took a step closer to her, unknowingly raising his hand, palm up. Rebecca didn’t hesitate to place her hand in his without so much as blinking. “I met your brother-in-law, Mr. Gilbert. He’s invited us to come spend the day at his home.”
Rebecca’s eyebrows raised. “Really? Do you wish to go?”
“More importantly, you will wish to go.” He’d said nothing of the Gilberts’ hopes for the third sister’s visit. Before he spoke of it, he looked about the hallway carefully. Seeing no one, he drew Rebecca closer and bent to speak directly in her ear. The fresh, flowery scent of her nearly made him lose his thoughts again. “Your sister, Mrs. Hastings, has come to visit.”
The soft, swift inhale of her breath made him grin. He leaned back, just enough to take in her wide eyes and softly parted lips.
“Truly?” she asked in a whisper. “Julia is here?”
Christian gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Get dressed for riding. We might be able to slip away without a chaperone if we act quickly.”
Her eyes softened. “You know I’m not supposed to see her?”
Christian lifted one shoulder. “You grow nearer to being a married woman every day. I will not put such constraints upon you. I fail to see why they are necessary at all. But hurry, carina. I have already arranged for the horses to be readied.”
The gratitude in her smile, the excitement in her eyes, made his heart leap. “Go, Rebecca.”
She laughed and dropped a curtsy, then turned and ran so quickly that her skirts fluttered behind her. Christian went in search of the earl, to make their excuses, absenting them from the day’s events. The earl didn’t keep him long, knowing the situation well enough, and before half an hour had passed Christian was seated on King Lud and Rebecca sat primly upon the back of a young mare.
“I cannot believe everyone kept this a secret,” Rebecca exclaimed as soon as they were out of sight of the earl’s lane. “I have missed Julia. The last time we saw each other was after she had her baby, last summer. We had to keep it a secret then, too. I’m only allowed to write her.”
Christian couldn’t understand the severity of the estrangement. What father would completely cut off a child when nothing untoward had been done? And why punish the other children in such a manner? It made him wonder about the wisdom of connecting himself with Mr. Devon, whom he still hadn’t met. Was the man a complete tyrant?
“You will love her, I am certain. Julia is the kindest of the three of us.”
“She must be a saint, then,” he said, admiring Rebecca’s upturned profile. “Because you are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”
Rebecca’s eyebrows raised and her mouth dropped open. “Oh, that doesn’t speak well for other people you know at all. I’ve done nothing but beleaguer you since you’ve arrived.” Her cheeks grew pinker as she spoke. “I have cried, forced my company upon you, argued, and now require you to take part in my subterfuge. I feel certain you must have found me troublesome at least a half dozen times.”
Christian couldn’t resist shaking his head at her, emitting a long-suffering sigh. “I suppose it’s true. There have been inconveniences.” He watched her expression from the corner of his eye, seeing her eyebrows draw down. “But I believe for every situation you’ve described, you’ve had only the kindest of intentions.” Indeed, all she wished to do was come to know him better. Despite his efforts to remain closed to her, Rebecca had managed to chip away at his defenses. When was the last time he’d felt capable of speaking so freely to another?
Of course, that was the very reason he’d written his grandfather.
“I am not certain if that is a compliment or an insult,” she said, raising her nose into the air and affecting a lofty manner. “You had better explain yourself, Christian Hundley.”
He actually laughed. Not a full, loud laugh, but the sound which escaped him certainly felt good. “Rebecca, carina, you are a kind soul. No matter what the future brings, never doubt that I see you as anything else.”
Her whole expression softened and she looked down at her hands, twisting her horse’s reins. “Thank you,” she said, her voice nearly too quiet for him to hear.
“You are welcome. But come, we are hardly making any progress. Your family is waiting for you.” It would be an excellent release for the pent-up energy in his chest and would end a conversation which had become far too personal. Though he meant every word he spoke to her, Christian it was best to try to maintain some distance.
Rebecca took up the challenge, her grin back in place. “You wish to race? But I have an unfair advantage, my lord. I actually know where we are going.” She batted her eyes prettily at him, then gave her horse a kick that sent them down the lane at a gallop. Christian followed, King Lud easily keeping up, and they made short work of the rest of the road.
Chapter Seventeen
The Gilbert home was wreathed in bright, colorful grounds. Thomas and Christine Gilbert lived in his family’s home, along with his parents. It was Thomas’s mother who tended to the plants, with the aid of a gardener and his son. Flowers thrived beneath her gentle care. Rebecca had admired the gardens since her childhood.
No sooner had they come in view of the house beyond the front gardens than the door was thrown open. Rebecca released one hand from the reins to wave, leaning forward on her mount.
Christian chuckled. “It seems you are eagerly anticipated, carina.”
“One day, you will have to explain that term of endearment to me,” Rebecca said, regarding his reaction from the corner of her eye. If anything, he looked smug. “I am fairly certain my sister is eager to meet you.” She gave her horse a light nudge and the sweet mare picked up her pace. She heard Christian chuckle behind her.
What had come over him? He’d been smiling, laughing, and generally pleasant since the moment she ran into him in the hall. It was almost as if he were a different man altogether. The change was refreshing but left her uncertain. It would take further study for her to determine what had caused the change and if she could make his good humor last.
For the time being, Rebecca allowed her attention to turn to her sisters. Julia stood on the steps of the Gilbert home, Christine at her side, both waving as though they hadn’t seen her in a decade. For the first time in ages, Rebecca’s mind burst free of worries. She slid off her horse and ran to her sisters, her arms open.
Julia intercepted her first, wrapping Rebecca in a strong, eager embrace. Christine joined them, wrapping her arms around the pair of them. They were all laughing, but Rebecca’s eyes flooded with tears too. Everyone started talking at once.
“I missed you so,” Julia said, at least three times.
“This is marvelous. Oh, thank heavens we’re all here,” said Christine.
“How did you manage to get away from Bath? How long will you be here?” Rebecca a
sked.
“A week, and then we must go back. Nathaniel has found a physician to see to any emergencies—”
“When did you find out I’d invited her?” Christine asked.
“Only this morning, not half an hour ago. Christian kept it a secret—”
“Christian?” repeated both sisters, with wide eyes, and Rebecca immediately blushed.
“Have you two grown so familiar so quickly?” Julia asked, one dark eyebrow raised almost skeptically.
The viscount had dismounted and waited at the bottom of the steps, gloves and hat in hand.
Christine was shaking her head. “Rebecca, he’s—”
“He needs an introduction.” Rebecca went down the steps and slid her hand through the crook of his arm.
His impassive mask had slid back into place. His countenance did not give away any emotion. Rebecca sighed and pulled him forward, up the steps.
“Christian Hundley, Lord Easton, I wish to present Mrs. Hastings to you. Julia, this is Christian.” Rebecca put the emphasis on his name with purpose and accented her words with a grin. It was something of a breach in etiquette, but with her sisters, she didn’t care. “And don’t let him fool you. He challenged me to a race to get us here quicker.”
Julia, though the oldest, was the shortest of the sisters. Her delicate build gave her already sophisticated air an added hint of refinement. When she curtsied to Christian, it was with every bit of respect afforded to a viscount. But when she straightened after accepting his bow, Julia spoke playfully.
“You ought to know something about my sister, my lord. She is a terrible cheat at nearly every game she plays. Take that as warning, should you wish to challenge her at any other sport.”
“Julia,” Rebecca said, aghast. “One time. I cheated at cards one time. And I was thirteen.” She looked up at Christian, whose eyes were glittering with humor though his expression remained undisturbed. “She is exaggerating terribly, Christian.”
“Is she?” he asked, the gleam in his eye a speculative one. “And why would your sister have reason to mislead me?”
He was teasing her, and Rebecca couldn’t help but bounce lightly on her toes at the very idea of such a thing. What had come over him?
“Come, everyone inside.” Christine gestured to the door, shaking her head at them, and the other three followed her. A maid waited to take their hats and gloves, and Rebecca kept a steady stream of questions for Julia flowing.
“Did you bring little William? And you said Nathaniel came! Was the journey difficult with a baby? Has William grown a great deal? Virginia’s sweet Emma is attempting to learn how to walk.” Julia laughed, but kept up with the questions well enough as they followed Christine into the parlor.
When they entered the room, Doctor Nathaniel Hastings and Thomas Gilbert both rose. After Rebecca introduced Christian properly to Nathaniel, no further ceremony came between the family. Nathaniel crossed the room to give Rebecca a brotherly embrace, then he extended his hand to Christian as though they were old friends.
Rebecca couldn’t help grinning her approval when Christian accepted Nathaniel’s hand with only the slightest of hesitation. Nathaniel Hastings had swiftly won Rebecca’s loyalty and kind regard when she met him. He loved Julia completely, and had an easy and friendly manner about him.
Between Thomas and Nathaniel, she had great hope Christian would find himself among friends. They were the best men she knew.
“Lord Easton, it is a pleasure to meet you and welcome you to the family. Finally, we have the ladies outnumbered,” Nathaniel said, waving his arm to indicate the three sisters.
“Outnumbered?” Christine asked with a click of her tongue. “You cannot count Harry in your favor. He is a child.”
“Harry is fourteen,” Thomas said, putting his arm around his wife. “And we claim him in our brotherhood. The poor lad had to contend with the three of you on his own nearly his whole life. We’re not abandoning him.”
Watching Christian carefully, to make certain he remained at ease, Rebecca noticed a different sort of look to his eyes. The slightest of smiles curled his lips upward and that was when she recognized his expression. It was wistful.
Did he actually enjoy their ridiculous familial display?
“Have you any brothers or sisters, Lord Easton?” Nathaniel asked, a crooked smile on his face. “I am afraid I know very little about you, for all that I have just inducted you into the family.”
“You’ve done that, have you?” Julia asked with a sparkling smile. “I’m fairly certain it’s his betrothal to Rebecca that did that deed.”
“Not at all,” Thomas quipped. “That merely united him with Rebecca. But from all I can tell, he’s a fine addition to the family, and I’ve made it known to Nathaniel. We decided—”
“How is it that the in-laws are permitted to decide anything?” Christine asked, raising her voice to be heard over her husband. “And we are being rude. Nathaniel asked Lord Easton a question.”
All eyes turned to Christian and Rebecca held her breath. The subject of family had been painful for him to discuss before. Would they offend him now, by asking—?
His calm, forthright answer nearly shocked her. “I have no siblings, I’m afraid. I lost my mother when I was young. I grew up as part of a horde of cousins, though.” That tiny smile stayed on his lips, too.
Perhaps he was wistful. Could her family’s strange, chaotic manner remind him of his mother’s family? Studying him closely, Rebecca stepped back to his side and put her hand on his arm. “Then you are not offended by the wildness you’ve encountered here today?”
Christian’s chuckled, genuine humor and warmth in the rich sound. “Not at all. It is refreshingly familiar.”
Nathaniel reached out to clasp Christian’s shoulder, his smile tempered by the kind look in his eyes. “I am glad to hear it, Easton. It strengthens my decision to make you one of us.”
“Oh, is there a ceremony of some kind?” Christine asked, arching her eyebrows and pursing her lips.
Julia laughed. “Besides the wedding, you mean?”
To Rebecca’s everlasting delight, spots of pink appeared on her betrothed’s cheeks at the mention of the wedding. Was she finally getting through to him? If she could make him see their union as more than a business arrangement, as something important and personal, as something to look forward to, perhaps he could be persuaded to feel more deeply about her, too.
“There is a ceremony. Unfortunately,” Thomas said, lowering his voice, “it is secret in nature.” He raised and lowered his eyebrows theatrically. Christine playfully slapped his shoulder to make him stop.
“My darling brothers-in-law,” Rebecca said sternly, folding her arms and affecting a commanding air. “If you are going to take Christian into your ‘brotherhood,’ perhaps you should also take yourselves away. We sisters have a great deal of catching up to do and your silly antics are distracting us.”
“Quite right,” Nathaniel agreed. “Come, Easton. Let us discuss your entrance into our antics—I mean, our most haughty society.” He raised his chin high in the air and led the way from the room, Thomas following with a chuckle.
Christian’s lips twitched and he met Rebecca’s eyes, a question clearly in his expression.
“Please, go enjoy yourself. If you can. They are behaving rather foolishly.” Rebecca waved to the door, reassuring him with a playful grin. “If they are too ridiculous, come back at once.”
Christian bowed. “Enjoy your visit, carina.” He spoke the endearment softly but added a wink to punctuate his sentence. The silliness of the other men must’ve inspired his own light-hearted behavior.
A wink is certainly new. Heat raced up Rebecca’s neck and flowed into her cheeks as he took himself off after Nathaniel and Thomas. After the door clicked shut behind the men Rebecca realized her sisters were silent. The blush grew warmer and she turned to see them staring at her with completely different expressions.
Julia’s eyebrows had arched
nearly into her hairline, and she bit her lip in an obvious attempt to quell a large smile. Christine, on the other hand, had her brows furrowed so harshly that fine wrinkles had appeared on her forehead.
“Carina?” Julia asked, her smile escaping fully at last.
“Indeed,” Christine said, sounding disapproving. “That is excessively familiar.”
Julia dismissed Christine’s comment with a wave of her hand. “They are to be married in a matter of weeks. Would you prefer he call her Miss Devon and nothing more?” She turned back to take Rebecca’s arm and pulled her along to a comfortable couch. “Sit and tell us everything about him.”
“Everything?” Rebecca squeaked. Her immediate thought was of their time in the tree house just the day before. The intimacy of that moment made her entire body burst into an embarrassed flame. What would her sisters think of that interlude? “Hasn’t Christine told you about him? She met Christian—”
“Yes, but she made him sound rather severe and somber,” Julia answered, casting Christine a puzzled glance. “I was quite worried for you, actually. But he appears to be easy enough in company.”
“That was not at all how he behaved at the card party,” Christine said, still standing. She started to pace, as was her habit when she had things to think over. “Was it, Rebecca?”
Rebecca sat further back into the cushion, clasping her hands together in her lap. “Not precisely. I believe I have come to know him better since then.”
“It’s only been a matter of days.” Christine closed her eyes in a show of long-suffering but kept pacing.
“People cannot always be at ease, dear,” Julia said, watching Christine’s progress from one end of the room to the other with amusement.
“I am always at ease.” Christine sniffed.
Julia’s eyebrows raised. “Are you? I am certain I saw evidence to the contrary this very morning. You were most uncomfortable when you asked to speak to Nathaniel as a doctor. I do not think I’ve ever seen you blush so much.”
Miss Devon's Choice: A Sweet Regency Romance (Branches of Love Book 5) Page 16