Chapter 10

Lilly blushedas Mrs. Osprey crossed the room, eyeing the disaster Giles had created about her feet. “I take it the master was searching after something in particular.”

“He wanted to dress me,” Lilly blurted, still confused by Giles’ abrupt departure.

The housekeeper’s eyebrows shot up, and then she smoothed her expression to show nothing but mild interest. “Well, let’s see what he has laid out for you.”

Lilly stood and handed the shift and stockings to the housekeeper. With Mrs. Osprey’s help, Lilly donned the unfamiliar clothing, skin itching as the layers covered her body.

When the last button slipped closed, Mrs. Osprey let her look at her reflection in a tall mirror. A tiny woman gazed back, hair a tangled mess about her face. While she bit her lip, Mrs. Osprey gathered her hair and smoothed the strands back behind her head in a tight knot.

“I look like my mother.”

No sooner had the words passed her lips than Lilly wanted to call them back. She resembled her mother very closely, and the tight hairstyle only heightened the similarities.

Mrs. Osprey let her hair fall. “I think a softer style would suit you better, and be more comfortable. Come sit at the dresser and let me see what I can do.”

Lilly sat gingerly on the low stool but couldn’t watch Mrs. Osprey. While the housekeeper tugged and pinned, Lilly thought of Giles. Would he still be pleased to see her if she resembled her mother?

Lady Winter was very beautiful, starkly elegant and a sought-after companion. She also boasted a loyal band of male admirers who enjoyed her tart tongue as she flailed at the less-admired ladies of the ton.

Laughing at some poor creature’s expense had never appealed to Lilly. But her mother managed to get away with her slights, and all because of her beauty. Lilly didn’t ever want to be like her.

Mrs. Osprey placed a hand upon her shoulder. “There now. The master couldn’t help but be pleased.”

Lilly looked up at a stylish young woman, wispy hair allowed to escape the twisted knot on the back of her head and softening the sharp ridges of cheek and chin. Lilly smiled. Mrs. Osprey had managed to mute her resemblance to her mother, giving her softness where her mother had none.

Just to be sure that she wasn’t imagining her improved appearance, Lilly pinched her own skin. “I…”

Lilly couldn’t find the words to express her gratitude at first and the housekeeper turned away, collecting Lilly’s nightgown until she might have a chance to control her emotions. “Thank you, Mrs. Osprey. I don’t believe I’ve ever looked so well.”

Mrs. Osprey beamed. “Nonsense. You were a very pretty girl. Your mama just never let anyone see you.”

Lilly smiled, but then a flash of a memory burst into her mind. A younger Mrs. Osprey, twining ribbons through her hair, chuckling at Lilly’s insistence she be her personal maid. The image contained the sharp pain of emotion.

Lilly had been as happy then as she was now. The young girl had been excited to be at her future home, whereas Lilly, at her present age, looked forward to nothing, because that future would never be.

* * *

Women always seemed to take some time dressing, so Giles was not surprised that, after all he had done outside, he still had to wait a few minutes more for Lilly. The time gave him a chance to consider if he had been at all excessive in his dealings with the woman.

He did not want her to think he was courting her, but was unable to bear seeing her unhappy, disappointed face. An altogether startling revelation, and one he would take great pains to hide.

Giles dragged his mind away from Lilly, toying with the idea of adding another garden to the north of the house, until the door opened behind his back.

Lilly was stunning. Lemon muslin suited her perfectly. The dress was just a little long and trailed on the ground at her feet, but the bodice molded over her breasts like a glove. If he could just have his hands inside those gloves, he would be a perfectly happy man for the rest of his life.

She smiled shyly at him and Giles walked forward to better view Mrs. Osprey’s handiwork. Disappointment flashed through him as he saw that her hair had been pinned and pulled back into an elegant knot, with dark tortoiseshell combs attempting to hold back most of the stray wisps.

He let his gaze dip to the creamy expanse of shoulder and chest that was now exposed to his gaze and could not hold back the devilish thoughts that occurred to him. It was a shame that those same thoughts must have flowed straight across his face.

Mrs. Osprey scowled at him and slipped a soft shawl around Lilly’s shoulders that reduced, but did not completely hide, his view. He was glad he had not chosen a sturdier, and consequently more prudish, gown. The view was spectacular. His sister would never look as well in it.

Giles held out his arm, quite prepared to escort Lilly anywhere. After a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand on him.

A muffled sob escaped Mrs. Osprey. When Giles flicked his eyes in her direction, he found the housekeeper’s face tear-stained but smiling. Happy tears were the one thing about women he had never completely understood. Why cry when something nice happens?

He led Lilly to the top of the stairs, swept her up into his arms, and carried her down, feeling her skirts tangle between his legs in an innocent provocation.

He was hardening by the time he reached the bottom step. To hide his reaction from any gawking servants, Giles carried Lilly through the drawing room and exited out into the sunshine.

Just as he had arranged, the chaise lounge was well-stocked with pillows for Lilly’s comfort and a tea tray, filled to overflowing, had been set beside it.

He lowered Lilly, shifted pillows behind her back, and handed her a plate of food. Then he poured a cup of tea and sat himself in an adjacent chair, sprawling out to relax and enjoy the view with her. This was more like it—peace, contentment, and a pretty woman by his side.

A few minutes later, Giles heard a muffled sniff and he lazily turned his eyes to Lilly. Tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked.

Lilly’s teacup rattled and he quickly took it from her fingers. He reached into his inner jacket pocket for a handkerchief and brushed her tears away. The way she gazed at him with such profound trust made his heartbeat quicken.

Giles cleared his throat. “You look beautiful sitting there like that. If I could paint, I don’t believe I could capture just how radiant you look today, Lilly. I doubt that anyone could.”

“Thank you, you are very kind to say such outrageous things.”

“Nonsense, merely stating the truth you were denied your whole life.”

Once she seemed calmer, he returned her tea. With his hands braced on his knees, he let his gaze trail over her shining silver-white hair, over blushing cheeks. Even teary-eyed, she was a vision of soft, feminine beauty and, to his considerable alarm, he wanted to keep her all to himself.

Friends would laugh him all the way out of London if word ever leaked out how he was behaving. But honestly, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Giles had never met a woman who intruded on his thoughts the way Lilly did. Her smile was addictive which meant he’d have to do something about her soon.

On the desk in his study, a large bundle of correspondence awaited his reply. Invitations to parties, letters of information on investment opportunities, and a growing pile of heavily scented letters from past and hopeful lovers. They all clamored for his attention, but he hadn’t the slightest desire to answer any of them.

What he wanted, more than anything was to bask in this strange private world where he and Lilly could be friends and companions. With no rules or expectations.

Dithers hurried out onto the patio with a silver salver and a single letter on the top. Giles glanced at it and recognized Lord Ettington’s personal seal. As he tore it open, he noticed that Lilly basked in the sun’s light, her face turned up and a gentle smile playing over her enticingly kissable lips.

Giles shifted in his chair to make room in his trousers, and then scanned the note. “The Marquess of Ettington and his wife are expecting a child, Lilly. Jack is beside himself, and is holding a house party at his estate over Christmas. According to this, I’m to attend without argument. Anyone would think Ettington was the first man to find himself in this position. I wonder how Pixie bears him.”

An unconscious shudder shook him at the domesticated tone of Jack’s letter. Marriage had changed the coldest man in London into nothing more than a lap dog.

“Pixie? Oh, do you mean Lady Ettington? She’s a tiny, dark-haired woman, isn’t she?” At Giles’ nod, Lilly smiled. “I believe I saw her in London. Lord Ettington was hardly able to keep his eyes away from her. I could see him watching from across the ballroom floor. He seemed very intense.”

Lilly might have limited experience in society, but she clearly had been about on the most important evenings. And he enjoyed hearing her talk. “When was this?”

Lilly’s face scrunched as she concentrated, but after a moment, she shook her head. “I can’t remember, exactly. You were there, I think, beside Lady Ettington. Some memories are very confused.”

She looked away suddenly, her face blushing furiously. The unspoken sentiment behind the blush hinted that some memories weren’t quite so forgettable. Instead of being ashamed, he was glad she remembered him so clearly.

“Was Lady Ettington on my arm?”

Lilly nodded. The past was a tricky business to discuss between them. In all of the times that Lilly had seen him, he had been wrapped around a woman. How exactly did a woman of Lilly’s inexperience deal with that kind of memory?

“That might have been the occasion when I tricked my stuffy friend into acting with a bit of uncharacteristic wickedness. And my first attempt at matchmaking, by the way. Given that everyone else paired them together, it was inevitable the marriage had happened so quickly. The announcement the night after they married was the most enjoyment I have had in Town for quite some time.”

“Surely not the most enjoyment, Giles?” she retorted, and then clamped her hand over her mouth.

He would guess that Lilly had just attempted to tease him about his habit of public dalliance. He laughed. “No, not the most enjoyment, naturally. There were all the times I was able to see you.”

Giles watched her skin blush fiery red, and called a halt to their flirting. It would not do to tire her too greatly, and he was truly trying very hard to remain her friend. Discussing his behavior in London was bound to touch on his wicked behavior here. He didn’t need the slightest encouragement. Despite spending considerable time on the subject, he hadn’t managed to come up with a valid excuse for ignoring every rule of society. “Why have you been wandering the upper halls of Lord Huntley’s home all alone?”

Lilly shrugged and a shy smile tugged her lips. “I couldn’t sleep and I was lonely. That night I had no pain at all and I knew you had accepted their invitation so...” She shrugged. “I wanted to see you but of course papa would never allow me to go.”

He frowned. “Did your maids not try to stop you?”

She blushed again. “I sent them away to watch the dancing. It is very dull work watching me sleep.”

“Not from where I’ve been sitting,” Giles protested, and then grinned. “I find it quite fascinating that you make almost no sound.”

“While you snore?” Her eyes danced with mirth.

He winked. “Keep that one to yourself. Along with everything else you know about me.”

Once the tea had grown too cold to be pleasant, he picked Lilly up, blanket and all. Tucked securely against his chest, arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Lilly sighed, and he had to stop himself from backing her into the nearest wall and stealing a kiss.

Kissing would be very bad because one kiss always led to another.