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Over two years ago, to be exact.
A woman he never conceived that he would have the opportunity to court. First, because she’d been betrothed. Secondly, because she now affected to despise all men.
“Nicolette,” her mother admonished, taken aback. “Where are your manners, my dear?”
She softened her chastisement with a doting smile as she handed her daughter her steaming tea along with a lemon Shrewsbury biscuit.
Upon spying the treat, Nicolette’s eyes lit, and a delighted smile blossomed over her face. “Oh,” she breathed. “Cook baked my favorites.”
Her frank joy at something so trivial hitched Mathias’s breath in his lungs. He’d never seen her so unguarded, and the woman before him radiating such happiness transfixed him.
Careful, old chap, he sternly warned himself for the second time in the past few minutes. Don’t wade in over your head. You very well might drown.
Hell, he was far past that point. Had been for a good while.
In truth, he suspected she’d laid claim to his heart during the Christmastide festivities at the Sutcliffes’ house party.
He finished chewing the supremely delicious ginger biscuit before responding. Their cook was truly gifted. “In truth, I hoped I might persuade you and your mother to accompany me to the theater the day after tomorrow.”
Where the hell had that come from?
It wasn’t a premeditated plan, but it was the perfect solution to the slight dilemma he had.
He glanced at Nicolette’s ankle, now regretfully covered by her gown. “If you’re well enough, that is.”
Her puppy stirred, opening sleepy eyes and yawning. She stood, and after stretching, climbed up her mistress’s torso, demanding a bite of biscuit.
“No, Bella, you cannot have mine.” Nicolette set the pug on the ground and then broke a piece off another biscuit for the puppy.
“What a generous offer, Your Grace.” Mrs. Twistleton couldn’t quite keep the giddiness from her voice, but to her credit, she hadn’t accepted on her daughter’s behalf. That didn’t prevent her from giving her daughter a half-pleading, half-expectant look.
“I assure you, Your Grace, you needn’t go to such extremes as recompense for Sampson tackling me to the ground.” A hint of mischief gleamed in Nicolette’s eyes, and her pretty mouth twitched the merest bit. “You’ve apologized, and I’ve accepted. Let us be done with the matter, shall we?”
A crestfallen expression replaced her mother’s earlier exuberance.
Bella trotted over to sniff him. She placed her front paws upon his calf, begging for a treat with her buggy little eyes. He broke off a bit of biscuit, and after glancing at Nicolette for permission, he gave the puppy the snack.
“She’s hopelessly spoiled, already,” Nicolette said fondly.
Bella dropped onto her haunches and chewed happily.
“You would be doing me the greatest favor,” he insisted, wiping his fingers on his serviette. “My sister has recently returned to England after living abroad these past eight years. Her husband was a diplomat stationed in India.” He picked up his cup, aware of the reflective look Nicolette leveled him. “In truth, she’s just come out of mourning and has few acquaintances in London.”
“The poor dear,” Mrs. Twistleton murmured. “My sincere condolences.”
“Indeed,” Nicolette echoed. “How hard to suffer such a tragic loss so far from home and family.”
“True.” He helped himself to a Shrewsbury biscuit. They were particularly delicious. “Though she’s a strong woman and has three sons to help ease her grief.”
“Ah, yes. I certainly understand that.” Mrs. Twistleton gave Nicolette a fond smile. “I do not know what I would’ve done without my children when my dear husband passed. They gave me a purpose, a reason to rise every morn.”
Nicolette returned her mother’s adoring smile before taking a dainty bite of biscuit. A crumb lingered on her lower lip, and she darted her tongue out to catch the tidbit.
Mathias swallowed, his mind at once jumping to all of the other things she might do with her tongue.
God rot him for a lecher.
“Megan left England directly after marrying,” Mathias put in, dragging his mind away from things he had no business woolgathering about. “I hope to introduce her around and help take her mind off Michael’s unexpected passing.”
