Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Midnight in the drawing room

L ucius paced before the hearth, embers still glowing and popping as he looked at the clock again. She’s late. She’s not coming. He ran a hand through his hair, then walked to the side table, and poured himself a brandy. She looked beautiful today. And more relaxed. He’d made her laugh several times, and the wariness in her cornflower-blue eyes had faded for a moment.

What would he do if she didn’t come? Pound on her bedchamber door? Visions of Christiana in a robe with little else beneath put him in a tailspin. He threw back the brandy and poured another.

“Courage for the upcoming battle?”

Her sultry tone cast a net over him. He stood with his back to her, his eyes closed, imagining her coming up behind him and sliding her arms around his middle. Dunderhead.

“Well, I’m here. What devious scheme have you decided upon for this eve—morning?”

Lucius turned. Christiana stood before the fire, the golden light shimmering against the deep-blue velvet of her dress. Her bodice was trimmed with tiny paste diamonds, drawing attention to her full bosom. The skirt clung to her curves as she moved toward him, a smile turning up her plump pink lips. He wanted to pull the diamond hairpins from her hair, letting the thick tresses fall across her shoulders like a wave of liquid amber.

He drew in a steadying breath. “Since your challenge was cards, I thought I’d follow your lead for the rest of the time. Do you care for cribbage?”

“I do. We can talk while we play.” She walked to a shelf along the back wall and fetched a board and pegs. “I hope your family is doing well?”

Lucius shook his head. “Annoying but wonderful as always. Wine?” He poured her a glass when she nodded.

They settled at the table and took turns cutting the deck. He pulled the ten of spades, but she won the deal with the two of hearts. She shuffled the cards, then offered him the chance to cut the deck. He declined with a grin. “You wouldn’t cheat at a game of the heart.”

She laughed, a delicious sound that tickled his insides. “My sister said to give you her love.”

“How is Lady Annette? I miss her and her humor.” Christiana dealt them each five cards, then they each discarded two face down, forming the crib. She reached across the table and laid her hand on his arm. When had she taken off her gloves? He swallowed a groan at the sensation of skin upon skin. “I heard about the unfortunate mishap of her first Season, but I never learned the name of the gentleman. I’m sorry he came here this week in his father’s place.”

He stared at her hand, noting the absence of a ring, the slender fingers on his cuff, wishing he could hold them there. “You had no idea I was coming either. In truth, I didn’t know until yesterday morning.”

“I assume you found satisfaction after the debacle?” She pressed her lips together to hide a grin. He cut the deck, she turned up the five of clubs, and the play began.

“Of course. Why do you think he blanched when he saw me?” Lucius laid down the Jack of hearts. “Ten.”

“I haven’t heard anything about her in years. Where did she disappear to?” She pulled the six of hearts from her cards and laid it in front of her. “Sixteen.”

“At Beecham Manor, enjoying her own house party while choosing a husband.” He set down the six of diamonds, making a pair. “Twenty-two for two.” He moved his first peg two holes. “It seems my father is finally going to marry Lady Henning, but they both want my sister settled before the wedding.”

“And how does she feel about a betrothal?” Christiana pulled out the five of spades. “Twenty-seven.” She blew out a breath. “No, no, no. That look tells me you have a four.”

His grin widened at her pouting lips when he laid down the four of hearts. “Thirty-one for two.” He moved his second peg two holes past the first one for going out exactly on thirty-one.

They added up their cards. Lucius went first, scoring two for a run of three and four with a run of four and moved his peg six more holes. Christiana added hers along with the crib from the beginning of the game and claimed fourteen.

“Lord Beecham is a kind and caring man, so I’m happy for him.” She collected the cards and passed them to Lucius.

“Like his son?”

“Which one?”

“You think you’re a clever girl,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m happy for him too. It may also be the only way my sister faces her fear and realizes all men outside her family are not beasts.”

The deuce if he hadn’t missed Christiana’s banter. They could volley back and forth as quickly as a lively game of battledore and shuttlecock. Though he could think of better things to do with the racquet than hit a piece of cork with feathers in it. Bollocks! Now he couldn’t remove the stupid smile from his face.

“Lady Annette is a wise woman. Most men are beasts.” She picked up her cards and discarded two as Lucius did the same. “Though I know how she longed for a family, and marriage is the only way to attain that.”

“I’ll ignore part of your remark. My father’s friend was there, and I have a suspicion the two of them have formed an attachment.”

“How old is he?” She gave Lucius her full attention. “She must be, what, twenty-four by now?”

He nodded. “I believe Lord Weston is around forty.”

“The Page brothers were the scourge of London when your sister first came out. Are they allowing these men to woo her, or must she be observed from a distance?” She drummed her fingers on the table, deciding which card to throw, a tiny smile tipping up one side of her mouth.

“We’ve matured.” He laughed. “But you’re right, we are still a wee protective.”

“My father was twenty years older than my mother. They were smitten with one another until the end.”

“You’re right. It’s not a terrible gap of years. He’s young at heart, fit, and I like him.”

“High praise, indeed, coming from you. How does your younger brother fare in India?” she asked, returning her attention to the cards in her hand.

“Jeremiah is married with a son. We have yet to meet the babe, but he should be coming home by Easter.” He watched her fret over the next card to play and wanted to smooth the lines creasing her brow. He didn’t want her to worry about anything for the rest of their lives.

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Is he selling his commission?”

Lucius nodded. “Ambrose has a growing congregation, and he and Hester are expecting their first child.” There were days he couldn’t believe two of his younger brothers were married with families, or a babe on the way, and he had only just begun to think in that direction. Because of the woman sitting across from him.

“Time moves on, doesn’t it?” she murmured. “I wanted that once. Children. Then the years went by, and… well, here I am.”

“It’s not too late.” He leaned forward and tipped her chin up with his forefinger. “You’re still young enough to carry a child if it’s what you truly want.”

She blinked, her eyes shining.

“Are you…?” Lucius jumped from his chair and pulled her up, crushing her body to his. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He pushed back just enough to brush a tear from her cheek, cursing himself for causing her distress. “I want to give you a world where there are no tears.”

She sniffed. “It’s not your fault. I think it’s the holiday, thinking of my parents gone, how alone I am.”

Without another thought, he covered her mouth with his. They clung to each other, a tangle of lips and tongue and teeth, remembering a past when they were still young. Still innocent.

With his forehead braced against hers, he whispered, “You are never alone, for I am here. I’ve always been here.” He kissed her closed eyes, her nose, both corners of her mouth, soaking in her warmth, her sweet vanilla scent. If there was a way to stop time—now, at this very moment—he would sell his soul to do it.

“Is your brute outside the door?”

“He won’t crash through it unless I scream,” she said with a chuckle, then wiped her wet cheeks. “Shall we finish the game?”

It was as if their kiss had removed the wall between them. Lucius had been tense with the sexual tension between them, wondering if she would allow him to touch her again, if he would lose his mind if she didn’t. The rest of the game was full of laughter, recounting memories, and telling her of his family. He was at his most charming, and she was as witty and amusing as he remembered.

“I don’t believe I’ve felt so much like myself in years,” she said as she pegged out. “It’s as if the young Christiana has returned for Christmas.”

“A Christmas miracle. You’re welcome.”

Her smile melted his heart, a puddle swishing around in his chest.

***

His charm, sincerity combined with humor, was burrowing under her skin. How could she have forgotten how magnetic he was? As if she had no choice but to be near him.

Yet, she had let Edward overshadow that attraction for a few brief weeks while Lucius had been away. Long enough to convince an innocent girl to marry him, to believe it was Lucius who was the rogue in disguise. A young man tasting of freedom. Edward had explained it was all an act to deceive her, lure her into bed. Christiana had seen the Earl of Winfield as a worldly man, sophisticated compared to Lucius’s practicality, droll compared to Lucius’s boyish humor. Her dead husband had been a master at twisting words and situations to his advantage. And she had been the queen of fools.

As Lucius gathered the cards, she noted the tiny white mark on the right corner of his mouth. It could have been mistaken for a dimple when he smiled. But she knew he’d received it in a mock battle with his brothers, an oak branch whittled to a sharp point and used as a sword.

They had a history together. Their families were acquainted, though she and Lucius hadn’t met formally until she was sixteen. Her mother had wanted her to wait for her first Season. Christiana’s father had died a year earlier, and Mama hadn’t been ready to come out of mourning. But Papa would have wanted them to go on, enjoy life, she had urged her mother.

And she had met Lord Page again, his thick brown curls tamed back, gold flashing in streaks as he bowed over her hand. She thought she would be lost forever in those sea-green eyes.

“Is that a yes or a no?” he asked, bringing her back to the present.

“I beg your pardon, but I was?—”

“Not listening to a word I’ve said? You wound me, my lady.”

His smile, those pearl-white teeth, the square jaw above a strong neck—all devastating. She shivered.

“Are you cold?” He immediately stood to remove his jacket.

“No,” she said, holding up her hand, palm out, as she shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Indeed.”

The smile came unbidden. “You are incorrigible.”

Standing before her, he held out a hand. “Shall we retire for the evening? I’m not sure what you have planned for tomorrow, but this is our second late night.”

The mention of sleep brought a yawn, and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “I apologize. But I believe it’s a sign that you are correct.”

Lucius opened the door to find Jensen blocking their way. “Excuse us, I’m escorting Lady Winfield to her chambers.”

“I don’t think so.” Jensen peered over Lucius’s shoulder at her, his head tipped, eyes questioning. “My lady?”

“Yes, Mr. Jensen, you may retire now. Thank you for your service tonight.”

The giant of a man nodded curtly and stepped aside. Christiana knew he would watch them from the shadows until she was safely behind a locked door.

Lucius walked her up the stairs, and she stopped at her bedroom. A thrill raced through her at the thought of him knowing where she slept. With his hands pressing against the doorway on either side of her head, he pinned her against the chamber door and bent to kiss her. A brush of lips, soft and tender, promising so much. It frightened her. And took her breath away.

Then he reached behind her, and instead of pulling her close, he opened the door. She almost fell backwards, but he caught her shoulders. “Sleep well, my little bird.” Lucius walked away, his dark coat blending into the shadows.

Christiana slumped against the doorjamb. The man tugged at her soul, then brought her body to life. He was much too dangerous.