Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Minnie wasn't confident that the night had been a success when they went to bed. Christopher had seemed interested in her early in the evening, but then she hardly spoke another word to him. She could feel the eyes of his future intended watching her through both dinner and after. Matilde was fragile but intimidating. It was no wonder Lady Aston didn't want her as a daughter.

Kitty and Minnie were given rooms only a short distance down the hall from each other, but Minnie had thought they would be sharing a room. In truth, she was a bit afraid to sleep alone in a house such as this. Shortly after she was escorted to it, after she had put on the nightgown and wrapper bought for her, Minnie began to feel anxious and needed someone to talk to. She slipped out of her room quietly to go in search of Kitty.

"I think this has been a good start."

Minnie paused when she heard voices talking inside the room.

"Christopher was watching her all evening."

"His sweetheart was watching him."

"That means it was going even better then."

Minnie recognized the voices and being Kitty and Lady Aston. If they were in there plotting, Minnie didn't want to interrupt. Best if she went to find something else to help her sleep. Perhaps a bit of warm milk.

Finding her way downstairs was easy enough. This house was much larger than the one she had grown up in but they were all built the same. She knew she could find the kitchen and hopefully fix a little drink to help her sleep without waking anyone.

"Hello?" a masculine voice said from inside the kitchen.

The gas lamps in the kitchen were lit, casting enough light for Minnie to see someone standing in front of the stove. The man had his back turned to her and was wearing trousers and a robe with matching slippers.

"Pardon me, I didn't think anyone would be awake."

The man turned around and Minnie realized it was Lady Aston's son. He appeared almost as startled as she was. The front of his robe was open, showing he had no shirt on underneath. In the soft gaslight she could see the lines of his muscled chest and had to force her gaze away.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, turning away from him. "I didn't mean to bother you. I should return to bed."

"Having trouble sleeping?"

His voice was smooth and soothing to her, letting her breathe again. She nodded her head but still couldn't look at him.

"Same. I thought a bit of warm milk would help and didn't want to wake the maid for something so trivial."

"Isn't that what they were hired for?"

As she glanced at him, she saw him shrug.

"My mother gives them enough tasks during the day that they deserve to sleep at night."

That was an unusual sentiment coming from a lord. Minnie's own father had always been quick to put the servants to more work.

"My aunt Elizabeth has been a great influence on me. She believes that servants deserve more respect than they are often given."

Minnie knew about Kitty's older sister. Kitty had a great deal of admiration for her, even if she didn't like to openly admit it. Elizabeth had visited the theatre a few times and had always been so dignified. She had also been kind, which Minnie appreciated. Not everyone was kind to the Misfits.

"You seem very comfortable in the kitchen," Minnie told him.

"This isn't the first time I've snuck down here in the middle of the night. It's best not to let my mother know."

He gave her a wink and her stomach fluttered. Men had flirted with her before but Minnie never felt the urge to giggle about it before.

Christopher placed a cup in front of her and then another one across from her at the tiny kitchen table. He took the seat, and Minnie could feel the warmth seeping into the palm of her hand as she gripped the cup.

"I wouldn't want to tell anyone about this. It would ruin my reputation," said Minnie.

"It will be our little secret."

Something told Minnie that Christopher was not a man with many secrets. Those blue eyes of his were always looking directly at the person he was talking to and showed no signs of deception when speaking. It was a refreshing change for Minnie.

"Perhaps I could share another secret with you," said Minnie, wanting to strengthen the bond they were sharing. "I'm not only really Kitty's cousin. I'm an actress in her theatre. She wanted to share the experience of an elegant house party with me."

Christopher's expression flickered with surprise but he recovered quickly from it.

"What led you to theatre?" Christopher asked as the two sat in the quiet of the kitchen.

"I love the feeling of being able to pretend to be a different person without losing myself," she replied.

"I wish I could enjoy that sometimes."

"Do you not enjoy being Lord Aston?"

"I do, but sometimes I wish that wasn't the only thing I was."

"Nobody is ever just one thing." Minnie knew she might be overstepping her bounds to say this but couldn't help it. "You are also a son and nephew. A friend to many. Not to mention you will one day be a husband and a father. Each of those roles has different responsibilities and benefits."

"Yes, but even those roles are dictated by my being Lord Aston first. That is the role that I was born and bred to play."

"You play it so well."

Minnie gave him a smile and waited for a matching smile to slowly spread across his lips. This was the perfect moment for her to attempt a seduction, since they were alone. She slowly let her hand slide across the table until it touched his, but he pulled back quickly.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, getting up from his chair in a hurry. "I should be returning to my room before we are found here. I wouldn't want to ruin you, especially when you are a special guest of my mother."

Minnie should have known better than to be so forward. A gentleman such as he would be aware of her situation, perhaps more than she was. He was too kind to risk ruining her.

"I will let you go upstairs first," she told him. "I can clean up the kitchen so that the maids don't know we have been here."

He paused at the door, and Minnie could almost feel how torn he was. He needed a little nudge.

"I appreciate you helping me fall asleep. You have been a good friend."

Those words must have convinced him that no damage was done and he gave her a nod before leaving the kitchen. With a sigh, Minnie kept her word and removed all evidence of their late night meeting.