Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“ T his is the orangery,” Noelle said, leading Cooper through a door at the very back of the manor. The large room was attached to the house, yet the air was warm and humid. “Whenever I visit Burton Manor, I make it a point to spend time here – especially during the cooler months of the year.”

Cooper followed her along the stone path, his neck craning to take in the various fruits that hung overhead. He reached up and plucked a pear off a tree before leaning down and tucking it into Noelle’s pocket.

She swiftly inhaled when he leaned down close to her, but he backed away as quickly as he had hidden the fruit.

“How did you know where my pocket was?”

“Through the power of observation,” he said with a wink, and her breath caught. He shouldn't be so charming if he wanted to keep this as a business arrangement. “How often have you joined the Burton family for Christmastide?”

“A few times. We usually celebrated on our estate, even though our family was so small. However, we would often come for an evening or two of celebration during the Christmas season, and Hattie and I spent a lot of time together in the summer months. It was usually rather fun and worth the half-day ride.”

“You said your mother enjoyed Christmas. Do you?”

She picked at the fabric of her skirt as she considered the question.

“I suppose I used to love Christmas as much as she did. She made it so magical when I was a child. There were always decorations and laughter and baking and all of the traditions that made Christmas such a special time. She took such care in her gifts for me, and we did everything together. When she passed… Christmas just lost that special spark that it had previously, even though I try to keep her memory alive. I wasn’t sure if we should attend this year, but last year it was a rather lonely Christmas with just me and my father.”

“What is it truly about for you?”

“Christmas?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose the togetherness with people I love.”

“So, this house party with me doesn’t exactly count?” he said with a self-deprecating chuckle.

"My father is here, as is Hattie, one of my closest friends, and her sister, Hermione, although she is not nearly as sweet,” she said, leaning back and looking at him. A lock of thick, dark hair had fallen over his eyes. She leaned up, pushing it back and away from his forehead.

He leaned into her touch, and she smiled at him, wondering if he had anyone close to him that he was missing this season. “Perhaps we could be friends as well.”

“We could,” he agreed, his eyes warm as the crinkles grew around the edges while he looked at her.

“What does Christmas mean to you?” she asked, and he looked away from her, into the distance through the glass panes of the orangery, although the grounds beyond were too dark to distinguish.

“Nothing, to be honest,” he said. “My family was never particularly close. My father left us, and Trenton and I had to find a way to look after ourselves and my mother. She was always so overworked trying to provide for us that she was too exhausted to do much to make Christmas special. We would go to church, of course. Sometimes have a bit of a special meal or receive a trinket if she remembered.”

“I’m sorry,” Noelle said softly, feeling for him.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he said with a shrug. “It’s just another day.”

“Well, you are now at Burton Manor,” she said wryly. “It will certainly be more than just another day. I’m sure you’ve had a taste of it so far.”

“It hasn’t been half bad,” he admitted, looking down at her with one side of his mouth lifted, his hands clasped behind his back.

“I am glad to hear it,” she said, wondering why she was so relieved when he had asked to be here.

“I have had excellent company,” he said. “Especially this young woman who continues to defend my honor.”

Noelle swung her head around to him in shock. “Do you mean me?”

“Who else would I mean?” He laughed. “I do appreciate what you said to Lord Northbridge, even though I can handle such a man, as I have done many times in the past.”

“His countenance is embarrassing.”

“That’s on him, not on you.”

“Yes, but?—”

“I should not be blamed for the sins of all of the businessmen in London, do you not agree?” he asked with a pointed look.

“Of course.” He was right. She had been placing undue blame upon herself.

“You and I are in this together. We should be fine if we can continue to look out for one another. Now tell me, how many blasted games will we be playing?”

Noelle sighed. “One most every night, I’m afraid.”

“Well, I have been rather adept at games in my life, although most have been of far greater consequence,” he said.

“You seem to know how to do it much better than my father,” she said ruefully. “I do not know what he has been thinking lately.”

“Grief can cause a person to make ill decisions,” Cooper said. “I still do not believe you should bear the burden of his choices. Besides, we were both on the losing end in this recent case.”

“I must admit that I was surprised to hear that you had also made a poor investment.”

“Heard of me, had you?” He winked at her.

“I had heard of you, yes. Hasn’t everyone in London?” she said, lifting a brow. “I couldn’t help but wonder, though – why did you agree to it?”

“The men involved have had success before,” he said. “It seemed like a sure thing. I was as shocked as anyone when they disappeared with the money.”

“Where would they go?” Noelle asked. “Is it that easy for a man to simply disappear?”

“I suppose if one truly doesn’t want to be found,” he said, staring rather intently at her before seemingly making up his mind about something. “If it means that much to you, however, I will make a few inquiries. See if anyone has heard anything about them. Would that help?”

“I would be very grateful,” she said. “I know it seems small, but it would go a long way for a man like my father. Besides, I don’t like the thought of someone escaping consequence after purposefully causing so much trouble for other people.”

“You are a fair woman.”

“Some would say I am vengeful,” she said with a laugh.

“Not me,” he responded. “I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today if I wasn’t fair.”

“I understand,” she said as they reached the end of the circular path around the orangery. The steaminess in the air seemed to permeate the space between them as Noelle felt her hair beginning to curl around her face. “We should probably return.”

“We probably should,” he agreed.

Except she had enjoyed this time with him far more than she would have if she were playing Blindman’s Bluff. Not that she could ever admit that.

They stopped in front of the doors, facing one another.

“Thank you for the tour of the orangery,” he said, dipping his head, and Noelle had a strange wish that he would lean down and kiss her.

But he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Nor was it something she should have been contemplating.

Instead, she turned and reached for the door handle at the same time that he did. Their hands touched, and she jerked hers back as though she had been burned while he murmured, “Allow me,” and turned the knob.

Only it didn’t turn.

It stuck.

He tried the other way, but it still didn’t move.

“Is it locked?” she asked, looking up at him with a frown. “How could that be?”

“The orangery appears to have been added onto the house during its history, so I am sure this was an exterior door at one point. This was no accident.” He met her gaze. “Someone locked us in.”

“It could not have been purposeful,” Noelle said, pursing her lips together, the expression on her face one that Cooper well recognized. She was trying to solve their current problem, already moving on from what had caused it.

Cooper was still concerned about that part of it. He could admit to being an overly suspicious man. One had to be when faced with so many adversaries. And yet, in this, he wondered if someone had a reason to prevent them from returning to the party.

“Did anyone know we were out here?” he asked, and Noelle shook her head.

“I didn’t think we should inform anyone where we were going. Even though we are betrothed, I should still have a chaperone if we are alone together.”

“I never thought of that,” he said, dread filling him at the idea. If he had to spend weeks following all of these rules, it better be worth it at the end. And if they were caught alone without proper supervision, would it mean that this brief arrangement would become something much more permanent?

“You do not think someone meant to trap us out here, do you?” she asked as she picked up on his suspicions. The woman had natural intuition. She would do well in his world if she were a man.

However, he was pleased with his choice of woman, for she would be well-suited to help him with his current endeavors.

“I cannot see one of the servants locking the doors before everyone retired for the night,” he said. “It feels too contrived, although I cannot understand why. But we will have to worry about that later. First, we must escape before we end up here all night.”

“Scandal on the first night of a Christmas house party might not attract the proper notice.”

He nodded before his attention moved to the top of her head as he searched within the auburn strands.

“Are you interested in how I have styled my hair tonight?” she asked suddenly, and he chuckled.

“I am, actually,” he said, leaning toward her, hearing the catch in her breath as he lifted his hand and reached behind her ear, surprising her when he slipped a pin out without her even noticing until she saw it in his hand and a curl dangled much lower over her ear.

“What are you doing?” she said, her voice not much louder than a whisper.

“Getting us out of here.”

He returned to the doorknob, kneeling before it and slipping the pin into the lock.

“Do you know how to unlock it without a key?”

“I have done this a few times,” he murmured as he tried to concentrate. “It just might take some time.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Just wait.”

He closed his eyes, allowing himself to feel what was required rather than force the lock. He turned the pin a few times until he finally felt the click as he turned the lock simultaneously.

“Were you a thief in another life?” she asked, and he bristled, unsure just how he was supposed to respond. When he opened his eyes and met hers, he realized that she was joking, and his smile began to spread. If only she knew.

He turned the handle – and the door slid open before them.

He lifted his hand to her with one foot on the floor and the other kneeling beneath him.

“Well, shall we?” he said.

She placed her hand on his.

“We shall.”

Cooper was on edge as they neared the drawing room where they had left the remainder of the party, wondering if anyone present had contrived against him.

“Be watchful,” he murmured from the corner of his lips to Noelle, for that was precisely what he would do – be on the hunt for any surprised responses when the two of them appeared.

It didn’t seem he was going to get his wish, however, for when they walked into the room, it appeared that some of the guests had already retired while a few of the gentlemen were gathered in the corner in what appeared to be a serious conversation. They all looked their way when they entered the drawing room, and an expression of ire, not surprise, flashed across Lord Northbridge’s face.

Cooper was just going to have to keep his guard up – not what he was expecting during the Christmas season at the home of a nobleman. But it seemed that not much was changing in his life.

Not at the moment, anyway.