Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

H olly returned to Lord Thornton’s room that afternoon, only to find him sound asleep. She had to admit to some relief as she closed the door and retreated to her own bedroom. Every indication was that the viscount was an inveterate gambler—which confirmed the suspicions she’d had after encountering him in the not-quite-respectable neighborhood where she’d gone to hear Caroline Norton speak.

She supposed there wasn’t any harm in indulging him by playing cards to pass the time. He’d mentioned wagering almonds with his siblings, so she’d brought some up from the kitchens and grabbed a box of cards from the billiards room. Whenever their guest awoke and was ready, she would do her duty as a hostess.

Spending time in his company had nothing to do with the treacherous thoughts that kept popping up in her head regarding their kiss in the midnight hallway. Clearly he didn’t recall it at all, and she was relieved at the fact. Truly she was.

Despite the slight hollowness beneath her heart that suggested otherwise.

She set the cards and almonds on her dressing table and decided to go see how the tree was coming along. After Lord Thornton had decided it didn’t need to travel up to North Yorkshire, Rose had gotten their parent’s permission to install it in the grand hall.

Holly paused on the upper landing and leaned on the railing, viewing the hubbub below. A flurry of maids and footmen swirled about the tree, draping ribbons along the boughs, positioning bright splashes of holly berries here and there, along with snowflakes cleverly cut from paper. It was astonishing how quickly the evergreen was being transformed into something magical.

“What do you think?” Rose called up to her. “Isn’t it lovely?”

“Quite.”

“I’ve sent to York for candles and clip holders, if any are to be found,” Rose said. “If only we had more sparkling things.”

“You could hang some sugar spoons,” Holly suggested. “Tie red yarn about the handles.”

“A splendid idea!” Rose turned to one of the maids, who nodded and hurried off, no doubt to turn the idea to reality.

Holly watched a bit longer. Hadn’t Lord Thornton mentioned he was bringing gilded nuts up from London for the Dovington tree? She’d have to ask him if he might donate them to the cause.

First, of course, she’d have to tell him that the tree was here at Hartley House. She hoped he wouldn’t mind. Perhaps it would be best to wait until the evergreen was fully decorated, and surprise him with its magnificence.

Despite Theo’s plan to lure Lady Holly into a game of cards, he found himself sleeping a great deal. He attributed it to the laudanum, and resolved to bear the pain as much as possible, without its aid. The maids came in at mealtimes, rousing him as they brought his meals on a tray, and despite his resolution to stay awake, he dozed fitfully.

His fever hadn’t quite abated, and he suspected that, in addition to the ankle, he’d caught a chill from riding in the rain all day—which, of course, exacerbated his general sense of ill health. At least spending the day in slumber kept him from feeling entirely miserable.

That evening, Lady Rose visited, her arms full of greenery.

“You must have some holiday cheer,” she said with a smile, tucking a spray of holly above the headboard of his bed.

“Thank you,” he said, watching bemusedly as she proceeded to deck every surface in his room with garlands of evergreens: holly, ivy, fir branches, and the like.

“There,” she said, brushing her hands together when she finished. “That brightens things up quite a bit. And doesn’t it smell lovely?”

“Indeed.” How could he help but agree? “Thank you, Lady Rose.”

“You are most welcome. I’ll send my sister in to appreciate it.”

Before he could respond, she whisked out of the room, leaving the door half open. He heard her rapping at Lady Holly’s door, their voices in conversation. A short time later, Lady Holly peeked into his room.

“Oh, you are awake,” she said. “I never quite know whether to believe Rose or not.”

“I am.” He gave her a wry smile. “My apologies if you visited earlier, and I deprived you of your card game.”

“Not at all. Would you like to play now?”

“I would.” He levered himself up a bit more, ignoring the stab of pain from his ankle as he shifted it.

Lady Holly moved the nightstand down to make a table, then drew the chair up on the other side.

“I brought cards,” she said, laying the deck down. “And almonds, so that we can wager.”

Theo nodded, swallowing his smile. As he thought—Lady Holly was all too ready to place her bets.

They began, with Theo dealing out. To his surprise, Lady Holly lost several hands in a row, and ruefully pushed half her almonds over to him.

“I’m not the best at cards,” she said. “In truth, though it might shock you, I feel my mind is more suited to chess.”

“Do you play cards often?”

“Not at all. Might you remind me of the rules concerning the court cards once more?”

As they played, he studied her. He couldn’t decide if she was a marvelous liar, or truly unskilled. Or both.

“You’ve bested me, sir,” she finally said, pushing the last of her almonds over to him with a laugh. “I see I need to sharpen my playing skills.”

“Don’t you want to play one more hand?” he asked. Surely a gambler wouldn’t be able to say no.

“I’ve nothing left to wager.”

“A kiss.” The words surprised him,

She looked at him, wide-eyed, a blush coloring her cheeks. Then her gaze moved to the greenery her sister had placed over his headboard, and she shook her head.

“Rose is such a mischief maker,” she said. “Can’t we pretend she didn’t put mistletoe over your bedhead?”

He blinked, scrambling for an answer. “That would hardly be in the spirit of the season. Surely you won’t begrudge me a kiss upon the cheek?”

Their gazes met, and she swallowed.

“As long as I don’t have to play another hand of cards for it,” she said softly. “I fear I’m quite spent.”

“Then I won’t insist.” For some reason, his heart was beating heavily in his chest. “Though I’m afraid you’ll have to come to me.”

She rose from her chair and bent over him. Slowly, she lowered her face to his, but rather than turning her head to present her cheek, she brushed her lips over his.

Heat flashed through him, and it was all he could do not to reach up and pull her down atop him. There was something achingly familiar in the sensation, the smell of her, the way a stray lock of her hair brushed his neck.

He lifted his hand, slipping his fingers around her nape and pressing softly, encouraging her mouth to stay with his. Their breaths mingled, and, it seemed, so too did their heartbeats.

When she pulled back, he didn’t try to keep her, no matter how desperately he wanted to. For the first time in days, he felt restored.

“Will that suffice?” Her voice trembled slightly.

“It will have to.” He glanced at the greenery above his head—the small white berries of the mistletoe unmistakable, now that he knew to look for them. “But you’d best remove that, or I won’t be responsible for the consequences. Lady Holly, I would be happy to kiss you upon the lips all night, until the sun rose.”

“You are a rogue, sir.” Her words were not as heated as her blush.

“And you are a gentlewoman. I assure you, I do not presume to toy with your affections. Or ruin your reputation.”

“What, then?” She cocked her head. “I must warn you, I will not marry.”

“You won’t?” Surprise made his words clumsy. “I thought that was the aspiration of every miss of the ton .”

“Not mine.” Her manner hardened. “Now, I must bid you goodnight.”

She snatched the greenery from above his bed, scooped up the cards, and swept out of his room before he could marshal his thoughts enough to stop her. All that was left was a forlorn pile of almonds upon the nightstand, and the sinking feeling that Theo had made a grave error.

If only he knew what it might be.