Chapter 7

Seven

" Y ou will use the mounting block just as Lady Celia did." Charles squinted against the bright rays of the sun. They were being blessed with fair weather, considering Christmastide would soon be upon them. The chill in the air required them all to dress warmer, a coat for him and cloaks for the women, but the sun warmed his uncovered skin all the same.

Julia stepped up onto the block before glancing over her shoulder at him.

"Refrain from grabbing the lower leaping head as you mount." Charles watched as a groom assisted her onto the grey mare. In one sweeping motion, she was properly seated. No small feat for someone unaccustomed to riding. "Well done, Miss Julia."

Charles strode over to his thoroughbred, Ace, and mounted. "Keep a firm hold on the reins. Your mount is trained to follow mine, so you need only focus on staying in the saddle."

Miss Julia adjusted the skirt of her riding habit to cover her ankles. "I am quite certain I can manage."

"Let us be off, then." Celia set her own mare into a gentle canter toward the east end of the estate.

Charles took the lead as they rounded the stables, looking back to ensure Miss Julia fared well. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes glistened with merriment, and her dark curls bounced becomingly with the horse's moments. She was a vision of vitality and beauty, to be sure.

His blood warmed as he traced the contours of her lovely face, down across her shoulders to what her cloak revealed beneath its folds—ample breasts and a slender waist.

"I should like to stop by the river and look for mistletoe while we are out." Celia angled her head toward him. "If I am lucky, Miss Julia and I can make a kissing bough this evening. At the least, we can craft paper flowers and evergreen boughs."

"We've more than a fortnight before Christmastide. Do you not think it a bit early for decorating?"

"As you are well aware, Mother is hosting my come-out ball Christmastide Eve. There will be no time for decorating outside of the ballroom."

Charles sighed. "Very well. We will do as you wish."

"I, for one, think it sounds splendid." Miss Julia smiled at Celia. "And I will be honored to assist you."

"We will have great fun. I do so love the holiday! Let us hurry." Celia grinned, pushing her horse faster.

Charles chuckled at her antics and urged Ace to keep up with his sister. Much to his surprise, Lady Julia came up beside him, and then passed him to join Celia in the lead. Rarely had he witnessed an inexperienced rider take so naturally to the saddle. He brought Ace up beside them, then called to Miss Julia, "You seem to be a natural horsewoman."

She averted her gaze for a moment before meeting his. "I fear I misled your mother. You see, I have been riding since before I started wearing long skirts."

A peal of laughter escaped from Celia. "That is rich. Serves Mama right for assuming you required lessons in all aspects of being a lady."

Miss Julia blushed. "I did not intend to lie, it is only…well, she was so adamant that I learn. She never stopped to consider that I might already know how."

"You have no need to apologize." Celia slowed her mount. "Mama has been pushing you hard in all aspects. Had you told her, she would likely not have believed you." She glanced at him. Is that not right, dear brother?"

Charles and Miss Julia slowed their horses as well, and he offered what he hoped was a conspiratorial grin. "Indeed it is. Let us just keep this to ourselves and allow Mother to believe her a natural."

The little minx! Though he truly did not place any blame on her. Mother could be overwhelming when she was involved in a project, and make no mistake, turning Miss Julia into a lady had become her top priority. What a stellar job of it she'd done, too. Not that he had found Miss Julia lacking in any severe way, but under Mother's tutelage, Miss Julia had blossomed. She would do them all a great credit as Celia's companion.

His chest tightened at the idea of her spending her life as a lady's companion. She should marry and have a life of her own. Over the time she had been with them, he'd witnessed her compassion and drive, not to mention her beauty. Any gentleman would be lucky to take her to wife. But alas, it was not the way of high society.

"Let us stop here." Celia pointed at a nearby thicket of trees. "I'll wager there is mistletoe among those trees."

Dismounting, Charles helped his sister from her horse before offering assistance to Miss Julia. As he placing his hands on her waist, he felt an unexpected rush of heat. It had been a long time since a woman had affected him in such a way.

She smiled, her cheeks flushed from the cool air. "Thank you, Your Grace."

He dismissed his reaction but did not release her. Surely any warm body would result in the same effect, considering how chilled he was. "My pleasure."

Celia waved her hands through the air, indicating the thicket of trees. "Come along." She took off running toward the grove, a gleeful laugh trailing behind her.

"I suppose we had better follow." Charles held Miss Julia's gaze as if under a spell, his words lost.

"Indeed." Miss Julia took a step away from him, breaking his hold on her.

The moment his hands left her sides, he longed for the feel of her. Charles proffered his arm, pleased when she accepted it. He led her after Celia, but at a much slower pace. "Tell me, how are you faring here at Huntington Park?"

"Very well, thank you. Your sister is charming, I am pleased and grateful to be her companion."

"It seems you have excelled in Mother's lessons, as well." He glanced at her, smiling at the look of achievement in her green eyes.

Her cheeks colored a deeper pink. "Indeed. I am working hard to please Her Grace, and ensure that I do not embarrass you. I owe you a great deal." His chest tightened at her declaration. This was a woman who had been through hell, yet she retained compassion. "I am quite certain nothing you could do would result in my embarrassment."

She pulled her cloak closed with her free hand. "Be that as it may, I intend to become a proper lady. I owe it to you and your family for the great kindness you have shown me."

"Nonsense. I did nothing more than any other decent gentleman would have done." He patted her gloved hand where it rested on his coat sleeve.

A chill trickled through him, but not from the crisp winter air; rather, it came from the understanding that most men were not as decent as he let on. He himself had done many a thing he was not proud of. Whoring, excessive gaming and drinking—he'd earned his reputation as a rakehell. Still, he never would have turned away a person in need—not in the past, and not now.

"All the same, I am grateful to you and your family. I like to think that we have become friends of sorts." She angled her chin, smiling.

Friends. He churned the word over in his mind. "Yes, Miss Julia, I believe we are."

She released his arm as they approached the large oak under which Celia stood. She held a branch, bending it this way and that, a look of determination upon her face. Charles stepped up beside her and took hold of the limb. "Allow me."

"It is about time you helped," Celia said, a teasing grin on her lips.

He snapped an evergreen branch free, then tossed it to the ground. "Keep it up, minx, and that shall be the only one you receive."

Ignoring him, Celia turned to Julia. "Let us go search for mistletoe while Charles gathers more branches for the boughs." Celia moved off toward a leafless oak tree, Julia following behind her.

Charles shook his head, then turned his attention back to the task at hand. After breaking off several more branches, he went in search of the women. Where the hell had they gotten to? The thicket was not overly dense, yet he saw them nowhere. "Celia! Miss Julia! Where are you?"

"Up here." Celia's voice came from somewhere above.

Heart pounding, Charles looked up into the trees. Both women sat perched on the branches of a nearby oak, plucking mistletoe. He rushed over, irritation heating his blood. The foolishness! They could fall and break their bloody necks. "What the devil are you thinking?"

Miss Julia's eyes rounded, while Celia only giggled. "We are picking mistletoe, of course." Celia plucked a berry and tossed it down at him.

He swatted the offensive thing away, still peering up into the tree. "Come down at once."

Miss Julia tucked a cluster of mistletoe into her cloak and started down.

"Do not be so stern," Celia said, reaching for another clump.

Charles kept his attention trained on Miss Julia, who slowly made her way toward the ground. Once she was safe, he would deal with his sister. As Miss Julia descended to the lower branches, he reached out and plucked her from the tree.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I failed to consider the danger, else I never would have permitted Lady Celia to climb up there."

The shame in her gaze pricked at him. He'd not meant to chastise her or make her feel bad. "My concern is for you as well."

She nodded, stepping away from the tree, and he returned his attention to his mischievous sister, who still perched on the branch above. "Do not force me to come up after you."

"And if I do?" She dropped another berry on him.

He grabbed hold of a low branch and began climbing. "You are going to regret this."

"Oh, stop being so stuffy. I'm coming." Celia started toward the ground.

Charles dropped from the tree to wait, then assisted her when she reached the lower branches. Once everyone stood on firm ground, he gathered up the boughs he'd collected and led the women back to their horses.

Only then did he consider the cold fear that had coursed through him at the sight of them up in the tree. Concern that had been equal for both women. Heaven help him, he'd come to care a great deal about Miss Julia.

More worrying still…he desired her.