Chapter 1

Chapter One

M isunderstandings had a way of turning lovers into acquaintances. Eleanor Dove had had the misfortune of learning the truth of that statement on a beautiful snowy night two years previously when all her hopes and dreams had crashed down around her, leaving her befuddled and brokenhearted. The harshness of James Bailey’s chocolate-brown eyes, eyes that had once danced with a love she’d considered equal to that of King Arthur for his Lady Guinevere, had turned to pain and then melted into anger within seconds. The engagement their families and local Society had expected had been forgotten. Everyone had gone back to their own lives, and the courtship she and James had enjoyed for a beautiful six months had ended in a fiery death.

“Oh, Eleanor, I cannot abide knowing you must go back to Emerald Falls before you leave for Italy. That village is at the edge of the world,” Sally crooned as she ran her hand along the top of the dressing table. Eleanor sat before the mirror as her maid brushed through her long ash-brown hair. “Have your parents no compassion for your situation?”

The decision had been made without consideration for her wishes. If it were up to her, she’d leave England without a backward glance—at least not a glance toward a certain estate in Emerald Falls. But her father had decided if she were to marry an Italian and leave England forever, then she must introduce him to her family in their ancestral home.

She wished her parents and brother would travel to London to meet her intended, but with the holiday season upon them, her parents refused to leave the celebration behind. It was their duty as one of the prominent families in the county to host at least one function during Christmastide. This year their responsibility was to fill and deliver the Christmas boxes on the twenty-sixth of December. Her mother claimed it would be unconscionable for them to pass the duty to another family when it involved charity, which Eleanor understood and with which she fully agreed. Therefore, she had no other choice. If she were to see her family one more time before moving to Italy, she would have to make one last trip home.

“Emerald Falls is known for their elaborate celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas. I cannot ask my parents to leave their plans because the count offered marriage.”

Sally twirled around, her shiny silk night clothes puffing out like an elaborate ballgown. “A Christmas engagement is so romantic. I only wish he had asked me to dance at the Michaelmas ball.”

Eleanor laughed at the foolishness of her cousin. “Our decision to wed had nothing to do with the first time we danced. In fact, I cared very little for Lord Montefeltro after that night.”

“I remember, all too well. But he was not one to give up and now you will be a contessa. It is every lady’s dream. But for you, it will be a beautiful reality.”

Eleanor watched her reflection in the looking glass as her maid finished rolling her hair around the wrappers. The nightly routine was necessary if she didn’t want flattened, unshaped hair in the morning, and so she tolerated the time it took to plait and wrap each strand. Responding to her cousin, she sighed as she considered the life she would have as a titled woman. “To be sure, it is a role I never expected.”

Sally sat on the edge of the bed, her excitement of moments before now quelled as she took in the reserve of her cousin. “Honestly, Eleanor. You seem so melancholy. If I were not certain of your affection for the count, I would think you were not excited about your upcoming nuptials. ”

“I am quite content with my decision.”

“Content?” Sally groaned as she flopped upon the bed. “You cannot continue to measure every man to Mr. Bailey.”

Eleanor pushed away from the vanity to pace the room. Her poor maid trailed along after her, attempting to finish plaiting the bulk of Eleanor’s hair. “We have an agreement, Sally. Neither of us is ever to speak his name in this room.”

Her bedchamber was to be a haven from all thoughts of James Bailey. Errant thoughts were to be instantly dashed away so as not to torture her sensibilities. The walls she’d built up around her heart would not be torn down so easily, and she was determined not to allow any emotion regarding Mr. Bailey into her near perfect life. Not now that she was engaged to be married. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself of the agreement she and James had decided upon, when last they’d spoken. She would be the one who would marry and stay away from Emerald Falls, allowing them both to find love once more.

Of course, the agreement had been for her to find a husband with an estate in the south of England, not Italy. But if her original plans had been to live on the other side of the country, away from her family, why not put an ocean between them? That ocean would be the only way she could safely marry a man she did not love.

“I apologize, Eleanor. His name shall never cross my lips again.” Sally made a cross over her chest. “Promise, with all my heart.”

“Thank you.” Eleanor ran her hands along her night dress, smoothing down the already flat cotton material.

“You must stop pacing, elsewise, poor Cora will never finish plaiting your hair.”

Eleanor bit her bottom lip as she whipped around to see her frazzled maid. “I am sorry, Cora. Do forgive me.” She hurried across the room and sat once more upon the cushioned chair.

Carefully, Sally approached the unwanted subject again, not allowing the dust to settle. “You mustn’t allow your memories of him to mar your future.”

“I have no intention of doing anything of the sort.” Her tone was much sharper than intended, but it did manage to quell her cousin’s constant barrage of chatter.

Escaping Emerald Falls two years previously had relieved her of the unwanted inevitability of a chance meeting in the village. It had given her time to heal from the wounds deeply ingrained upon her heart. Now, having been away from Emerald Falls and the man she had once loved, she was happy. Absolutely thrilled with her engagement and the life she would have in Italy.

Eleanor organized the bottles on her vanity as she expertly pushed away James Bailey’s intense eyes and handsome features. Instead, she focused on Montefeltro’s upcoming visit to her ancestral home. “My parents will love Montefeltro.”

Sally scrunched her nose. She sat for a moment, silently waiting until a sneeze burst out. She wiped her nose, and then tucked her handkerchief into her nightdress. “It would be difficult not to admire his devastatingly handsome eyes. His smile melted the heart of every woman in Society, and more than one lady has mourned your engagement.”

“Silly of them to do so.” Eleanor accepted a hot, wet towel from her maid so she could wash her face. As she dabbed around her eyes, she thought about the swoony features of her intended. He was tall and filled out in all the right ways that made him handsome. She was rather fortunate to have found a man who was physically desirable as well as kind and generous. A man who would give her beautiful children, or so her aunt had proclaimed that very evening over supper.

“I do not think you will enjoy Italy without me,” Sally said. “We were supposed to be together, always.”

They had made a pact, one her marriage would prohibit her from keeping. “I suppose we had to go our separate ways at some point. If Uncle Whittier will allow it, Montefeltro and I will find you an Italian husband.”

“The Count of Montefeltro will distract you so thoroughly, you will soon forget I even exist.”

“I will miss you terribly.”

“What need will a contessa have for her cousin when she is busy providing her husband with heirs?”

Eleanor dropped her wet towel upon the table. Of course, children would be the result of her marriage. That simple statement would not have unsettled her so easily, if not for the insistence of her aunt to discuss the topic that very day. But did Sally have knowledge of how such things came about? Her cheeks heated as she considered her wifely duty. “I suppose you have a point.”

Sally pursed her lips as she narrowed her eyes. The expression had a way of making Eleanor believe her soul had been made bare. Sally placed a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder. “You are engaged…surely you have discussed children.”

That discussion had occurred, but not with Montefeltro. It had, in fact, been the last discussion Eleanor had taken part in before Sally had burst into her bedchamber that very night. Her aunt had only left seconds before, the door not even tightly closed before her cousin entered through their adjoining rooms.

The conversation had opened her eyes to an understanding of the marital relationship and procreation. Aunt Whittier had thought it best to ensure there were no surprises, yet surprised Eleanor had been to discover the particulars of her wifely duty. She was certain the conversation could have been forestalled as the wedding date was yet to be determined, and although she loved her aunt, it would have been easier to hear the details from her mother.

“How do you know of such things?”

Sally blushed. Her cheeks had a way of turning into large purple grapes when she had been caught. “Well,” Sally said. She hesitated and then shrugged her shoulders. “I know nothing, of course.”

“Sally?” Eleanor left her seat, now that her evening toilette was completed and her maid had moved on to other duties. She sat on the bed next to her cousin, uncertain as to what would escape Sally’s tongue.

Sally rolled her eyes and then sat, pulling her knees up to her chest. “You can hardly blame me for hearing the conversation my mother had with you. Our bedchambers are connected by a thin wall and an even thinner door.”

“Put it out of your mind this very moment.”

“Of course, Eleanor. I will do as you wish. Do tell me, though, has Montefeltro made you his wife?”

It was now Eleanor’s turn to blush. Her neck and cheeks heated as she turned away from her cousin to find the maids had stopped packing her belongings as they listened for her answer. “He is a gentleman. To this day I have not permitted a kiss from Lord Montefeltro, let alone wifely duties.”

Sally’s exasperated cry sent a bout of shame through Eleanor. It was the most honest answer she could have given. Montefeltro had not attempted to steal a kiss, and she had not requested one from him. Their relationship truly was as chaste as one could find among the ton . A business arrangement of sorts. Certainly not a love match.

“Not even a kiss?”

“No.” Eleanor stood and walked to the door that separated her bedchamber from Sally’s. The maids had a bit of work to do yet, but Eleanor wanted privacy from her cousin. The rest of her night could be spent writing in her diary and reflecting upon her upcoming journey. She opened the door, ushering Sally out of her chamber. “Goodnight, cousin.”

“Eleanor…” Sally stood on the threshold between their rooms, her hand on the door so she could stop it from slamming in her face. “Did Mr. Bailey ever win a favor from you?”

Memories of the last time she’d seen James Bailey flooded her thoughts, as though the fight between them had occurred only moments before. Her heart quickened. Her breath caught in her throat, and her head felt a bit lighter, causing her to grasp the door handle to use it as a support for balance.

The simple answer was that she had never truly been kissed, neither by James nor by Montefeltro. But she had been caught under the mistletoe with a man she didn’t know. And that man had placed a kiss on her cheek, so close to her lips that everyone considered it a Christmastide kiss, everyone including James Bailey.

“You promised never to speak his name again,” Eleanor said, her clipped tone surprising even herself as she held tightly to the door to keep herself upright while her knees wobbled beneath her nightdress.

“I promised never to speak his name in your bedchamber, Eleanor. But I am now in mine.” Sally placed a calming hand on Eleanor’s arm. “I did not mean to cause you distress. It is only that I hope you have been kissed, for it is a wonderful feeling, and I could never accept a man’s offer of marriage without knowing how his lips feel against mine. It is important to know if you will want him to kiss you every day for the rest of your life.”

Eleanor grumbled. “Whom have you been kissing?”

Sally’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I shall never tell anyone. For I do have my reputation to protect.” As she pulled the door closed, Sally gleefully sang out, “Pleasant dreams, Eleanor.”

Eleanor stood with her back against the door, considering what her cousin had said. Was it important to enjoy kissing her husband? Her aunt had made it sound like marriage was a duty. Birthing children and providing heirs was not to be enjoyed by the woman.

Slowly walking across the room, avoiding the trunks and piles of clothing that had yet to be folded properly, she made her way to the writing table so she could record her thoughts in her diary. If she were being honest, she wasn’t thrilled about her upcoming nuptials. Eleanor liked Montefeltro. She found him to be a good man. But her heart didn’t yearn for him, and she certainly wasn’t anticipating a kiss.

She imagined kissing a man with a mustache and beard might be a bit uncomfortable, itchy…his little hairs might even cause a rash around her lips and upon her cheek. No, she didn’t care to think about kissing the Count of Montefeltro. Her relationship with Antonio Montefeltro was less about sharing a future together and more about what they could do for each other. He needed a wife to appease his mother. She needed to find a home far away from Emerald Falls. Love had not pierced her heart and was likely not able to do so any longer. Not since James Bailey had shattered it.