Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

N oelle would never have admitted it to Cooper, but she was actually rather thrilled by all of this intrigue.

Not by the fact that anyone was in danger, but as much as Cooper seemed convinced that someone might be out to get him – them – she didn’t think that any of the gentlemen here would have it in them to follow through with such an act.

It all seemed like something from a mystery novel, especially on a glorious day like today, with the sun shining down on them as they walked with their skates to the small lake on the estate grounds.

“Lord Bingly, Lady Lucy, have you met Mr. Hartwell?” she asked, catching up with the pair ahead of them. Lucy was Lord John’s sister, while Lord Bingly was a young, quiet man who had only recently inherited his title. Like Lord Northbridge, he was a friend of Lord Leopold, Hattie’s brother, who was away on the continent.

“Only at this party,” Lord Bingly said in that quiet way of his. “How are you finding the festivities, Mr. Hartwell?”

“Enlightening,” Cooper said with a steady grin. “And you?”

“This is not my first Christmas at Burton Manor, but it is the first without my parents,” he said, a forlorn expression crossing his face. “It is not the same.”

Noelle reached over and patted his hand. “I understand, Lord Bingly. It is, however, better than being completely alone at home in your manor that seems far too big for just you.”

“That is true,” he said with a forced smile as they crossed the small crest toward the lake. Wooden chairs had been set out on the shore next to the lake, which fortunately was shallow enough to have frozen this winter, as it had been frigid, even though the only snow to be seen was the odd dusting in pockets that didn’t see much sun.

Noelle took a chair and bent over to untie her boot, surprised when Cooper knelt before her.

“Allow me,” he murmured, and before she could protest, he lifted her right foot and placed it on his muscular thigh. His head was bent before her, covered in a blue knit cap, while he expertly untied the laces of her boot before reaching for the skate. He cupped her heel in his palm before slowly sliding it into the skate boot, her skin prickling even through her stocking where he touched her. His hands were large, warm, and strong as they guided her foot in, and Noelle closed her eyes for just a moment as she reveled in his touch.

“There we are,” he said gruffly, and she opened her eyes to see that he had already finished tying it. “Is that too tight?”

“It’s perfect,” she said, and he nodded in satisfaction before he set her foot down and went to work on the other one. It was so easy, so natural, despite Noelle never having had such closeness with any other man.

When he finished her skates, he set her boots aside before sitting beside her and working independently. With his skates tied, he stood on the grass, holding his arm toward her as they hobbled together to the ice.

Noelle held his arm for balance as she stepped onto the slippery surface first, but she soon let go once she found her footing, and years of skating came back to her. She even did a little twirl of glee as Cooper watched, still standing on the solid ground.

“Are you ready?” she said, holding her hands out to him. “I’ll teach you.”

“You’ll teach me?” he said, lifting a brow as though questioning that she would have anything to impart.

“I am more competent than you might believe, Cooper,” she said, placing her hands on her hips. He chuckled.

“I do not doubt that,” he said. “Very well. Here goes nothing.”

He reached out, took her hand, and stepped confidently onto the ice.

Then, he promptly fell straight on his behind, taking her down with him. She landed on top of him, and both of them let out an “oof.”

Noelle pushed herself up on her arms, looking down at him with concern.

“Are you hurt?” she asked.

“I think it’s just my pride,” he groaned, and she couldn’t help it. She started to laugh. At first, it was just a chuckle, but when he joined in with her, it turned into one of those full-body laughs she hadn’t had in so long that she had nearly forgotten how. She could sense the stare of some of the other guests, but she had no care for what any of them thought. She only cared about herself and the man underneath her.

This was what had her suddenly realizing just exactly how he felt lying below her, her abdomen flush with his, her hips pressed against his until she felt a bulge below her that she knew was not just his hips.

Her cheeks flushed, and she scrambled off him, even as a shot of desire warmed her core most deliciously.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, trying to stand but, in her hastiness, falling backward herself.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he said, his joviality fleeting as well as he had – quite clearly – felt some of the same longings she had. “This seems to be a bit trickier than I originally thought.”

“It does take some getting used to,” she said, finally finding her feet, holding out her gloved hands to try to help him, but he waved them away.

“I think I best try this once more on my own,” he said, and she nodded in agreement.

“Very well.”

When he finally rose, he pushed forward on the blades much more cautiously. He wobbled but found his balance before trying the other side. It was back and forth for a few more steps while Noelle waited until finally pushing forward beside him.

“That’s it!” she encouraged. “You are doing it.”

He wore a boyish grin as he slowly improved, step by step, and Noelle was surprised with her pride in his progress. She had been so focused on Cooper that she hadn’t paid any attention to the rest of the group, who mainly had paired up and were skating in circles around the small pond.

“This isn’t so bad, now, is it?” she smiled, reaching for his hand. He hesitated before finally placing his palm against hers, her gloved hand flush against his bare one as they continued on their path forward.

Noelle looked over at him, their gazes locking on one another as they shared an intimate smile – and missed what was ahead of them until it was nearly too late.

“Look out!”

They turned, Noelle stopping in time, but Cooper ran straight into Lord Northbridge, who had skated right in front of them.

Cooper went back to the ice with a crash while Northbridge, smaller yet much more experienced on skates, stood smirking down at him.

“You have no business being out here if you cannot stay on your feet,” he sneered, causing Noelle’s anger to simmer. “You’ll only cause harm to the rest of us.”

“You tripped him on purpose,” Noelle accused, pointing her finger at him, noting with satisfaction that his nose wasn’t as straight as it had once been, and dried blood was still apparent below it.

“I did nothing of the sort,” he said. “It’s not my fault the man is floundering around without ability.”

“Listen here, Northbridge,” Cooper said, trying to get to his feet, but his lack of purchase on the ice caused his threat to lose most of its edge. “You were bested and humiliated last night. It can happen again.”

“Are you threatening me?” Northbridge said, loud enough for others to hear. Most ignored them, but Lord Burton must have felt it was his duty to intervene and skated over to them.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, looking back and forth from one man to the other, but it was Noelle who stepped forward.

“Lord Northbridge wasn’t looking where he was going,” she said. “Unfortunately, it caused a collision.”

Lord Burton bent down and offered his arm to Cooper, helping him up. “Not injured, are you?”

“Might have a few bruises, but that’s about it,” Cooper said, straightening his cloak and jacket.

“Good,” he said, looking from one man to the other, some warning in his gaze. “This house party means a great deal to my wife. Let us remember the Christmas spirit in our dealings with one another. Do you hear me?”

“Of course, my lord,” Cooper said while Northbridge muttered something to himself. Burton leaned in.

“Christmas spirit, Northbridge, hear me?”

“Yes,” Lord Northbridge said, his clipped tones earning him a frown from Lord Burton.

Hattie and Lucy skated by then, apparently needing to see just what was causing such commotion.

“Is everything well, Father?” Hattie asked.

“It should be now,” Lord Burton replied with one last look of warning at the men.

“Lucy and I were just saying that when we are finished, we would love some hot chocolate, perhaps in the pavilion. Do you think Mother would agree?”

“I am sure she would be most happy with such a plan,” he said. “I shall send one of the footmen to arrange it.”

He skated away with a sullen Lord Northbridge following, Cooper watching their easy glides with undisguised longing.

“You shall get there very soon, Cooper,” Noelle said, trying to ease the tension. “Look how far you’ve come in just a few minutes! In no time, you will be besting us all.”

“By next Christmas, I’m sure you will be the fastest,” Hattie agreed with a broad smile, causing a twinge in Noelle’s stomach. For Cooper wouldn’t be here next Christmas. By then, he would have long moved on from her to the next woman, business deal, or whatever the future might hold for him. All she knew was that it didn’t include her. Nothing past Epiphany.

“I am sure,” he said in a low, polite voice before the four of them began skating the loop together, this time much more aware of their surroundings. Cooper did improve, but the joy that had been present between the two of them at doing this together was gone, removed by Lord Northbridge’s arrival as well as the reminder that this was only temporary, that skating would soon be part of the past and not the future.

Which was exactly what they both wanted – was it not?

“Are you ready for chocolate?” Noelle asked after a few more half-hearted loops of the pond.

“Ready,” he agreed, and they silently removed their skates. Noelle tried to remove her own skates, but Cooper insisted on doing it for her once again, holding her feet almost reverently before he transferred them to her boots. Their connection and emotion were strong, yet they were twinged with melancholy that Noelle could not quite explain.

They walked toward the pavilion amid other guests, listening to the chatter around them. The wooden chairs that had been situated near the pond had been moved to the pavilion, except there weren’t enough for all the guests.

“I’ll stand,” Cooper said, motioning toward the lone chair remaining for Noelle to take, but she shook her head as she could tell that he was in a fair bit of pain from their skate.

“I think you should take it.”

“The two of you are soon to be married!” Lady Hermione exclaimed. “I’m sure you could sit on his knee.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t,” Noelle said, looking around them, but Lady Hermione waved a hand toward the assembled group.

“It is just the younger set of our group as my father has returned to the house and the rest stayed inside to play cards. No one would mind, I am sure. What is the worst that could happen? The two of you would be forced to marry?”

She laughed lightly, and Noelle forced herself to chuckle along with her, as Hermione had no idea she was speaking the truth. It would be the worst that could happen, at least from Cooper’s perspective, she was sure. As for her, well, the thought of being married to Cooper was not quite as horrid as she’d once thought.

Not horrid at all, for that matter.

But rather… altogether too tempting.