The day before Christmas Eve, Regina made the rounds, visiting friends in the countryside and her uncle’s tenants. She went shopping for gifts in the village. She caught up with the servants. She shared nice, long talks with her grandmother, and managed to scour the grounds for a fresh bough of mistletoe, which, as evening set in, she promptly handed to Nicole, who promised to handle everything.
Regina sat in the front salon, ostensibly reading letters from friends, but her mind was elsewhere. Her heart ached at the thought of an eleven-year-old boy learning his mother had been murdered. At Christmas of all times.
She remembered that day, so long ago, when her grandmother had come into her bedchamber to tell her that her parents were never coming home. She’d been playing with her dolls. After Grandmama left the room in tears, she’d put away the dolls and never played with them again.
At least she’d had her grandmother and her uncle to relyon. It sounded as if Daffin had had no one. He hadn’t mentioned any other family and he’d said his father hadn’t been part of his life. What exactly did that mean? What had happened to Daffin? She desperately wanted to know the answers to these questions. He needed love and support.
She hadn’t seen much of him in the last few days. There had been no opportunity to catch him under the mistletoe. He’d been busy each morning making his rounds around the estate grounds. He watched her like a hawk watched its hatchling. Regina stayed in the house playing the pianoforte and talking to Uncle Edward and Grandmama. Nicole remained inside as well, attempting to do things she hated, like writing letters and embroidering pillows. In the afternoons, Nicole stared out the window toward the north. Regina could nearly feel her cousin’s longing. Nicole missed Mark desperately. He would be here tomorrow night, in time for Christmas with the family.
“Regina,” Nicole called from her perch near the window in the front salon.
“Yes.” Regina moved into the room. Through the window, she saw Daffin marching through the snow toward the back door. “Do you need something, Nicole?”
“Will you see if I left my embroidery near the servants’ entrance? I went there earlier to peek out.”
Regina shook her head. It was killing her cousin to have to remain cooped up in the house. She could picture Nicole peering out the back door. No doubt she’d left her embroidery there on purpose.
Regina trailed her way toward the back of the house. When she got to the servants’ entrance, she looked right and left. There were cupboards on both sides of her, but no sign of Nicole’s embroidery.
A slip of paper on the cupboard caught her eye. Her name was written on it. She frowned and picked it up. She glanced out the window. Daffin was headed toward her, about to enter through the door in front of her. Unfolding the paper, she saw the words,Look Up,just as Daffin opened the door and stepped inside.
Regina lifted her gaze to the bough of mistletoe strung above her head. Daffin looked up too, then back down at her, suspicion etched on his features.
He obviously thought she had planned this moment. Regardless, she wasn’t about to let it pass. She took a deep breath, locked gazes with him, and said, “Kiss me. It’s Christmas.”
***
Daffin pursed his lips. There was indeed a bough of mistletoe hanging above their heads. And Regina, who was standing directly under it, was tempting. Each time they shared each other’s company he came away liking her more. She was sweet and funny and thoughtful and kind. She thought about others more than herself. Hell, she was even willing to marry a man she didn’t want because she wanted her uncle to die in peace.
The thoughts she’d shared with Daffin about wanting to control her own destiny made him realize how brave she really was. Being a young lady in her position and refusing to take a husband for so many years hadn’t been easy. She risked being ostracized by the people who made up her world, but she was willing to take that chance to make her own decisions in life. He admired her for it.
She appeared to be at the end of her rope, however. Her implied duty was catching up with her and she seemed resigned to her fate. Daffin had already decided he would meetthe Earl of Dryden before determing whether the man deserved Regina. Daffin was looking forward to it.
Daffin glanced down at Regina’s pretty face. She was looking up at him with a mixture of vulnerability and longing in her eyes. He should not kiss her for a third time. The first two had been lunacy. But hewantedto kiss her. Besides, what harm would a small kiss do?
He glanced around to ensure they wouldn’t be seen, then he pulled her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. She sighed against his mouth and leaned into him, while Daffin held her for a few precious moments. When their mouths broke apart, he kissed her cheek, too.
“Merry Christmas, Regina,” he murmured, before summoning his strength and walking away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“But Daffin, it’s been days and there’s been no sign of anyone,” Nicole insisted the next morning. She was lying on the sofa in the middle of the green salon, her hand resting on her forehead, one foot rocking back & forth. “I cannot stay inside a moment longer or I’ll go mad. I merely want to have a short jaunt around the meadow on my horse. I need some fresh air. Desperately.Please,it’s Christmas Eve.”
Regina sat across from Daffin, nodding vigorously. “Yes, I agree. Please, may we go for a ride?”
“Should you be riding in your condition?” Daffin countered, addressing Nicole. His booted foot was crossed over his knee and he was eyeing her with a mixture of suspicion and tolerance.
“Racing, no,” Nicole replied, her voice still pleading. “But a quick jaunt will hardly hurt me, and Atalanta is a perfectly trained horse.”
“Grimaldi wouldn’t want either of you to go,” Daffin replied.
Regina paused and set the embroidery in her lap. She contemplated the question for a moment. “Yes, but in all these days, you’ve found no evidence we were followed here. I say it’s safe to believe the man who tried to hurt me is still in London.”
Daffin groaned and rubbed a hand across his face. His gaze bounced between the two ladies. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this, but very well. I insist upon accompanying you, however.”
“I never doubted it,” Nicole said with a smug smile. She hoisted herself from the sofa and headed toward the door. “I’m off to dress in my riding habit.”
***
