The baron rose to his feet on cue while staring longingly at the last pastry left on the tray. Stephen scooped it onto another small plate and handed it to the man.
“You might also consider finding a new chaperone for your daughter. The present one obviously lacks the skills to keep her out of trouble.” Stephen nodded. “I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty finding your way out. Good day to you, sir.” Without looking back, he exited the room himself and went looking for Hamilton. He really was in dire need of a shave.
Cecily awoke tothe sounds of birds chirping happily outside her window. Sally had already been in, left some tea — which, upon investigation, was actually still hot — and had opened the drapes wide.
After taking a sip from her dainty cup, Cecily returned it to the tray and then lay back on the disheveled tangle of sheets and blankets on her bed. Rolling over to where Stephen had been sleeping, she inhaled. Some of his scent remained.
She breathed in and then pressed her face into his pillow. Nothing was going the way she had planned, and she was absolutely giddy.
Which she knew to be foolishness in the extreme, but really, when one considered her situation, she ought to enjoy any giddiness she could feel now, for most certainly the future held an abundance of sorrow and recriminations.
She’d loved, loved,lovedsleeping beside Stephen Nottingham — her husband’s cousin.
Of course, she’d wanted to experience the full extent of his lovemaking, but he’d been quite right to bring a halt to things before they’d gone too far. For she did not, in truth, wish to present Flavion with a child that was not his own. She did not want for any child to endure the stigma of divorce that she, herself, would carry for life.
If Stephen had gone ahead and actually, well,fornicatedwith her, there would have been some chance of her being gotten with child. The timing would have been right, for she’d had her courses a few weeks ago, twelve days after her wedding night. When she’d discovered the evidence of them, she’d nearly fainted with relief. In either case, her life did not make for a happy situation in which to bring a child.
Stephen had done the right thing.
Cecily was beginning to realize that he was the sort of man who would always do the right thing. Which was nearly as appealing as it was annoying. No, it was more appealing than annoying.Stephenwas appealing.
Cecily bounded out of bed and called for Sally to attend to her. Today, she was happy to be alive. This was a nice feeling to have again. She hoped it was not fleeting.
By the timeCecily was dressed and went downstairs for breakfast, Stephen was already finishing up in the morning room. He’d obviously, by this time, been quite busy as he was perusing through some paperwork and sipping a hot cup of coffee.
Cecily daintily placed her usual piece of toast and one slice of bacon on a small but ornate plate and sat down casually, as though she spent the night with gentlemen who were not her husband, all the time. “I, too, prefer coffee to tea with my morning meal,” she said before taking a small bite of her toast.
A simple thing to know about him but comforting somehow, nonetheless.
Stephen took a deep sip and then gave her his full attention. “I’ve made arrangements for an associate of mine to provide you with protection if you plan on leaving the house today. A bodyguard of sorts. I didn’t like the way you were harassed yesterday. Having Salaam with you ought to eliminate similar situations in the future.”
“Salaam,” Cecily said, testing the unfamiliar name on her lips. She then looked around curiously. “Where is this person? As much as I don’t relish the idea of dragging somebody along with me, I must admit it will be a relief. I didn’t like the way I was harassed either.” She dabbed a bit of jam onto her toast and then took another refined bite.
“Salaam is in the study. After breakfast, I will present him to you.” Stephen turned his head and looked out the window. “Flave failed to return last night,” he said and then turned his gaze back upon her.
Cecily looked down at her napkin and sighed. “Ought we to be concerned?” she asked. “Since our wedding night, he is yet to have spent an entire night from Nottinghouse. He’s come and knocked upon my door with a rather annoying regularity, actually.”
Stephen pursed his lips. “I will track him to ground this afternoon.”
“We have plans for this evening. A few of my friends are joining us for dinner and then the theatre afterward, but if Flavion does not return, I am not certain we can attend without an escort. Do you think I ought to cancel tonight’s entertainment?”
Stephen was stacking his letters neatly in front of him. She wished he would give her some indication that he didn’t completely regret the closeness they’d shared the night before. He seemed like even more of a stranger today than he had yesterday. Shereallyneeded to become a better judge of character where men were concerned.
“Oh, no. I will escort you,” he said. And then he tilted his head questioningly. “That is if you do not mind having a meremisteras your escort?”
Was he feeling embarrassed, too? Cecily smiled cheerfully over at him. “I would be glad to have your escort… Mr. Nottingham.”
He did not return her smile with his mouth, but he did with his eyes.
And that was when she could see thathe didunderstand what she felt this morning, perhaps even shared it. He was merely doing what he could to keepherfrom being embarrassed. “It will be an honor, my lady.”
His look warmed her inside. He wasnota stranger at all.
“One other thing,” he said as he stood up to leave the room. “Since last night’s plan did not pan out, should we give it another go tonight?”
Give it another go? Oh, yes! “Absolutely,” she said.
And with that, he excused himself and left her to finish her breakfast alone.
