Mortified at her reaction to him, she swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Indeed, Lord Clarendon. It’s a pleasure to see you here.” She pressed her lips together, inwardly chiding herself for using the word pleasure. What a cake she was making of herself.
“And you as well,” he said, taking her hand to brush a kiss over her knuckles.
Her cheeks went from warm to burning and she could only imagine how red they must be. When he straightened to give her a rakish grin, she thought she’d ignite from the heat of embarrassment blazing within her. Daphne turned to her parents. “Mama may I be excused to join Natalie?”
Mama gave a nod. “Of course, darling. Go ahead.”
Needing no more encouragement, Daphne strode toward the stairs. She'd run if she thought she could get away with such unladylike behavior. She wished she were invisible as it were, for surely the others had noted her reaction to Marcus. Odd that she'd become so flustered in the presence of an old friend.
It wasn't as though she had designs on him. In fact, she most certainly did not fancy him. Even if she did, they would not suit. He was a worldly rogue and she a wilting wallflower. Even in their youth, the pair hadn't been interested in one another beyond friendship. Even. That relationship had been precarious, resting on the fact that Bradford shared a connection with each of them. He'd been the glue.
Nothing had changed. She was still Bradford’s cousin and Marcus his friend. If not for their ties to Bradford the two would never so much as speak to one another. Even now, Daphne was at Huntington Gardens because her family resided here and Marcus came to see Bradford. She’d only reacted as she had because she’d not seen him recently—not noticed how he’d changed with age.
He’d caught her off guard was all, and true to her shy nature she’d reacted thusly. Daphne focused on her breathing, a slow breath in followed by a steady exhale, as she traversed the maze of hallways leading to the rose parlor. Her pulse calmed more with every breath and by the time she reached Natalie, her body was behaving normally once more.
“I am so glad to see you.” Daphne strolled into the parlor then sat on the sofa across from Natalie. “I’ve only just arrived but had to come find you straight away.”
Natalie twisted the green paper she held in her hand. “What’s the emergency?”
“Oh no, everything is as it should be. No-one is hurt or missing or anything. I simp—”
Natalie’s sudden laughter stopped Daphne’s onslaught. She swallowed back her words and peered at Natalie, sharing none of her amusement. “Stop teasing.”
Natalie sobered, but her grin remained in place as she said, “One can hardly help jesting when you make it so very easy.”
Admonishing Natalie further would garner her no benefit. She had always been a minx, the most incorrigible one in the family. Rather than saying anything else on the subject, Daphne shook her head then turned her attention to the table between them. Stacks of colored paper, lace, and evergreen bits were spread across it. Deciding to help make paper flowers, Daphne reached for a red piece.
For long minutes she and Natalie sat in relative silence as they worked on their crafts. The tick of the mantle clock, crunching of paper, and crackling of the fire provided the only sound beyond their breathing. Then Natalie sat her flower aside and turned her gaze on Daphne. “I’m glad you sought me out.”
It was the best apology Daphne would likely receive. Besides, she did not wish to sit in silence. She'd had enough of that during her travels. Daphne sat her paper rose in her lap and smiled at Natalie. "The ride here was dreadfully long. I spent most of the time pondering what Lilia said to me at the ball."
“I’ve been thinking on it as well. Surely we can get someone here to kiss you.” Natalie reached for a piece of mistletoe. Grinning mischievously, she held it in the air between them. “If nothing else we can lure someone under the kissing bow.”
Daphne sighed, her frustration growing over how impossible her situation was. “Even if I stood under it all night with my lips puckered, there’d be no guarantee of someone kissing me. And if they did, it would most likely be a family member. I don’t believe that counts.”
"Nonsense." Natalie shook the mistletoe, her eyes glinting. "Bradford has several friends coming to the Christmas Eve ball. Marcus is already here and Mr. Ashe will be coming as well. Plus Pippa will be here. The two of us will help you entice a non-related gentleman."
A shuffling sounded at the door and Daphne angled her head to look. A footman entered, his attention turning to Natalie. “Lady Maddox to see you.” He stepped aside and Pippa strolled into the parlor.
“We were just talking about you.” Natalie stood to greet her, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “Do join us.”
Pippa gave a bright smile as she settled onto the sofa beside Natalie. "I came the moment I discovered you'd arrived. Of course, Lucas and I will attend your parent's ball, but I didn't want to wait until then to see you." She met Daphne's gaze, her friendly smile firmly in place. “And what a pleasure to see you again, Daphne.”
“Likewise.” Daphne smiled back at her. “My favorite part of the Christmastide season is having the opportunity to see old friends.”
Pippa reached for a sprig of Hawthorne. She rolled one of its red berries between her fingers as she arched a brow curiously. “You said you were talking about me a moment ago.”
“Indeed. I was telling Daphne that we would help her steal a kiss.”
Daphne shrunk in embarrassment, sinking back against her chair wishing it would swallow her whole. This was pure madness. She’d never be able to steal a kiss.
Pippa turned a curious glance her way. "Of course I'll help, but why do you desire a kiss?"
“I…well…” Daphne worked to speak past the lump in her throat. Finding the task impossible she turned to Natalie for help.
Natalie smiled. “Lulia told her that if she did not receive a kiss by Christmastide, she’d never marry.”
“Oh.” Pippa’s eyes rounded. “Then we must see that you do.”
