“He is the Earl’s son that Henrik spoke of, yes?”she asked.
Lise coughed, cleared her throat, and arranged her expression into something she hoped resembled composure.“Yes, Mama.”
Hans withdrew, leaving the door open while he told the viscount he was welcome to enter.Footsteps crossed the entrance hall, steady and sure.
Then Jonathan, tall and broad-shouldered, was filling the doorway, and Lise forgot how to breathe.
He looked the same.Wearing a dark-green coat of lightweight broadcloth, buff-colored doeskin trousers, and riding boots, his apparel showed the dust of travel.His hair was slightly longer than it had been in London, curling at his collar.Still mussed in a way that made her want to sink her fingers into it.His face had a bit more color, perhaps from days spent outdoors.
But his eyes — those clever gray eyes that missed nothing — were exactly as she remembered.
Thus, he was the same, but vastly different, because he was now in Holstein.Impossible!
His gaze found hers immediately.Held it longer than he ought, while her heart threatened to thump out of her chest.This man, standing with his legs slightly apart, his felt hat tucked under his arm respectfully, he had kissed her.Touched her.
She stared at his large bare hands, knowing he’d stripped off his gloves a moment ago, for they were in his left hand.He’d stripped them off in the London Tavern’s passageway, too.
She feared she would die on the spot from humiliation.
Something passed between them, swift and silent and utterly damning.
“Lord Bowen,” her father said, snagging Jonathan’s attention, although it seemed to take forever for him to drag his gaze from hers.“This is an unexpected pleasure.My son spoke highly of you.Your family held a dinner to honor the KGL.”
Jonathan offered a bow.“Herr von Ostenfeld.My parents were pleased to welcome such loyal men into their home.We were not the only hosts that night, as there were parties all over London, but your son and Miss von Ostenfeld were at our house.”
He nodded toward Lise to include her.“Be that as it may, I apologize for arriving without prior notice.I wasn’t entirely sure what day I would be in this area.I hope I am not intruding.”
“Not at all.”Her father’s tone was cordial.“I welcome you here in Henrik’s stead.This is my wife, Frau von Ostenfeld.”
Jonathan bowed to her, too, while Lise tried to get a steady supply of air into her lungs.
“And as you said, you have met my daughter,” her father continued.
“Indeed, yes,” Jonathan said.“We met more than once.”He turned to her again, and she feared he was going to take her hand in his and kiss it.She had a feeling that would make her swoon onto the carpet.Maybe she would try to crawl under it.
However, he merely bowed.“I am pleased to see you again and to know you made it safely home.”
Lise managed a steady curtsy.“My brother and I had a slightly turbulent passage,” she said, not looking him in the eyes.“I hope yours was smoother.”
“Let’s not keep Lord Bowen standing,” her mother said, her keen blue eyes moving from Jonathan to Lise and back again.“Refreshments are on their way.”Then she made atsk-tskingsound.“Hans should have relieved you of your belongings.Lise will take them.”
Moving woodenly, she stepped closer, keeping her gaze lowered, until she was looking down at his boots.Jonathan obeyed her mother, handing over his hat and gloves as he had nothing else with him.
“Thank you, Miss von Ostenfeld,” he said, his tone seeming a little too soft and gentle, too intimate.
Nodding, she retreated, practically running from the room.Hans was standing guard in the front hall in case they needed something.Dash it all!She’d hoped he’d left, giving her more time away from the mortifying situation in the drawing room.
Regardless, she gave him Jonathan’s things and, while he took them past the stairs to the cloakroom, she took a moment to collect herself.Glancing at her own pale face in the gilded mirror, she shook her head.How many hours had she spent thinking of the man who was chatting with her parents?Now, here he was.
“You did this,” she whispered to her reflection.“You wished to see him.Why, you practically conjured him.”
By the time she re-entered, her mother had reclaimed one end of the sofa, while Jonathan and her father were in the winged chairs.They rose again, until she sat beside her mother.At the same time, their housekeeper, Frau Kemper, followed by their housemaid, Anna, entered through the servant’s passage at the other end of the room next to the credenza.Each carried a tray, one with a porcelain teapot, one with a porcelain coffee pot, four cups and four saucers with each, and a plate of sliced cake.
“Leave it all there,” her mother said, gesturing to the low table in front of her.When their housekeeper and maid had left, she said, “Lise will pour.Which do you prefer, my lord, coffee or tea?”
Lise glanced at her father.He was clearly enjoying his position as a man who had everything, including staff, a capable wife handling the domestic duty as hostess, and a dutiful daughter, assisting.Scooting forward, Lise prepared to do the honors.
“You are very kind.”Jonathan said.“Coffee will be most welcome.”
