by Dawn Brower
“A bath would be nice,” she admitted. “I have a few more things to do in here, and then I’ll head up to my chambers and do that.” Adeline hated leaving anything unfinished. It drove her a bit mad if something was out of place or rearranged. She had to fix it immediately before she left the room.
“I’ll leave you to finish. Guests are starting to arrive and I need to ensure they’re greeted and shown to their rooms.”
Adeline nodded. “If you need help with anything let me know. I’ll be happy to entertain some of the guests.” This was her home, and she wanted everyone to love it as much as she did. Though to be fair she didn’t think that was possible. There were so many memories in the manor that couldn’t be appreciated unless they had been experienced. No one would truly love it as much as she did, except her family. One day it would be long to Jamie, and if she never married she’d be nothing more than a spinster dependent on her brother’s generosity.
“I’m sure it’ll all be fine,” her mother said. “But if I need your assistance, I’ll send a servant to fetch you.” She kissed her cheek. “Be a good girl and take care of yourself first.” With those words, her mother turned and left the room.
“Lady Adeline,” Sally, a maid said. “Is this how you want it hung?”
She turned toward Sally and studied how she was hanging the holly along the wall. “Yes,” she said, “But straighten it a bit. It’s uneven.”
The maid followed her directions, and it was perfect. “Like this?” she asked.
“Yes,” Adeline said. “Like that.”
“Are you certain,” a man asked. His tone was rich and warm, like hot honey and whisky.
Adeline turned to meet his gaze and swallowed hard. He had to be the handsomest man she’d ever laid eyes on. His hair was a rich burnished brown that appeared sun kissed even in the middle of the winter, and his eyes were a stunning gold that mesmerized her. “My apologies,” she began. Her voice cracked a little as she spoke. “Do you not think it looks good?”
“Oh,” he said, and grinned widely. “It looks all right. I wouldn’t know if it was bad or not. I only inquired if you were certain it is how you want it. You were nibbling on your bottom lip as if you wanted to fix it yourself. It was adorable really.”
Gentleman didn’t talk to her. They ignored her, and Adeline didn’t know how to react to this one. Though to be fair she rarely attended balls or interacted in society. She’d had one terrible season and given up. Socializing wasn’t for her, and she always messed up. “I’m sure it is how I wanted it to be.” She somehow kept her voice from cracking as she spoke. That in itself was more of a miracle than she expected. “Are you lost?” That sounded stupid… “I mean, have you been shown to your bedchamber yet?”
“Are you offering to escort me there?” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I could pretend that I’m lost if you want to join me there.”
Adeline opened her mouth and closed it several times. Had he just propositioned her? Her cheeks heated and she must be as red as the ribbons decorating the boughs of holly. “Um…” She couldn’t find words. Her brain had gone completely blank. “Lord…”
“Devon,” he said. “Please call me Devon. I do believe we will be more intimate for formalities.”
He was a rogue… She’d bet her entire inheritance on that. He would take advantage of her and use her in the worst way if she allowed it. Was it bad that his suggestion tempted her? “I’m Addie,” she said. “And I’m all right with using your given name, but that’s as intimate as we’ll ever be.”
“We’ll see.” He winked. “Pretty Addie, my sweet, we’ll see.” He turned on his heels and walked away from her. She blinked several times, thinking she must have imagined the entire encounter. Devon was wicked, and too gorgeous for his own good, and she had a feeling he was right. He’d worm his way into her heart and break it before he was done; however, she had never been excited at losing a piece of herself before. Adeline wanted him, even if it was a mere moment in time, and nothing more. Just once she wanted to feel as if she could be loved, and this might be all the wish she’d thrown out a couple nights garnered her. She would not waste it…