Kiss Me at Christmas--Playful Brides Page 13

  He watched her closely. Her attention remained intent on the snowwoman. “So that’s it? You intend to give up? No more looking for love?”

  She snatched a green velvet bonnet from her pile of supplies nearby, placed it on the snowwoman’s head, and tied the ribbons under its chin. “I don’t think of it as giving up. I think of it more as succumbing to my fate.”

  “That doesn’t sound like you.” He couldn’t keep the hint of anger from his voice. To see this beautiful, special woman give herself away in marriage to a man who didn’t appreciate her … Daffin couldn’t stomach it.

  She glanced at him, surprise in her eyes. “That’s what Nicole says.”

  “Nicole’s right,” he clipped.

  Regina plunked two pieces of coal into the snowwoman’s face to give her eyes and wiped her mittens together, apparently finished with her task. “Have you ever met the Earl of Dryden?”

  “I don’t believe I have,” Daffin answered.

  Regina tugged her red cap down over her ears. “Well, I have, on many occasions, and he’s perfectly … nice.”

  “Sounds like a stunning recommendation.”

  “Maybe nice is good enough. Maybe nice is all there is. Marrying the Earl of Dryden is what’s expected of me. I’ve put it off long enough. It’s been selfish of me to believe I’m special.”

  He stepped forward and cupped his hands under both her elbows. He stared into her eyes. “Regina, you’ve no idea just how special you are.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Regina slowly climbed the stairs to her bedchamber. Daffin had called her special. He understood her reasons for not wanting to marry Dryden. He even understood what it was like to be fearful that your children would experience the same hurt you did. So fearful you didn’t even want to have children. She’d never realized anyone else felt that same way. What had happened to Daffin after his mother died? Had he stayed with his hideous father? How must that have been for a young boy? He was opening up to her, but slowly. She’d wanted to ask him why a paid murderer had been after his mother, but that was a question for another time. So was the question about where he’d ended up after his mother’s death.

  He’d seemed a bit angry with her for seemingly giving up on her quest to find love, which made no sense because he himself had said he didn’t believe in love. The perfect man did not exist. The one who made your stomach flutter was not the one with a title and neighboring lands. It was a lesson she was learning all too well.

  She entered her bedchamber, closed the door, and climbed atop the bed. She sat in silence, staring into the fireplace, until a knock sounded at the door.

  “Regina? May I come in?” Nicole called.

  “Of course.”

  Nicole opened the door and stepped inside. She walked over to the bed and sat on the side of it, her hip turned to face Regina. “Are you all right, dear?”

  Regina expelled her breath. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

  “What’s happened?”

  Regina calmly folded her hands over her middle and stared at the canopy above her. “I’ve kissed Daffin. Twice.”

  A sly smile crept to Nicole’s lips. “I thought I’d interrupted something in the library the other night, but I didn’t want to pry.”

  “It’s all right. We needed to be interrupted. It’s all so confusing. I don’t know what to think. He makes me feel so … oh, I cannot describe it. All I know is that I want to kiss him again.”

  Nicole patted her knee. “I know, dear. I know.”

  “Did he ever tell you anything … about what happened to his family?”

  “Not much.” Nicole shook her head. “I only know his mother died when he was a boy. He went to boarding school after that.”

  “Oh.” Regina considered that for a moment. So he hadn’t had to live with his hideous father.

  “I get the impression his childhood was far from happy,” Nicole added.

  “I do, too.” Regina grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest. “I did what you suggested. I’ve talked to him. Tried to get to know him, and I’ve decided I like him. I really like him. But I’m not certain if he’s truly not interested in me or just thinks he shouldn’t be.”

  “Yes. Those are two quite different things. However, if he’s kissed you twice, I tend to think it’s the latter, dear.”

  Regina expelled a breath. “I’m going to ask him.”

  “I think that’s an excellent idea.” Nicole winked at her.

  Regina signed. “Why can’t life be easier?”

  “If it were easier, dear, I think it would also be terribly boring.”

  The two women exchanged smiles.

  “Now,” Nicole continued. “Let’s focus on Christmastide. Mark will be here soon and we should be merry and bright.”

  “I do adore Christmas,” Regina replied, before wrinkling her nose. “If only Lord Dryden weren’t coming for dinner.”

  Nicole crossed her arms over her chest and drummed her fingertips on the opposite elbows. “It is unfortunate. I do wish Uncle Edward had consulted with me before inviting the man, but Uncle worries about you. You cannot blame him.”

  “I don’t,” Regina replied. “Truly. Perhaps I’ll learn to … love … Dryden one day.”

  “I’m not certain that’s how love works,” Nicole said softly. “Not true love, at least.”

  Regina pressed her palms against her eyes. “Oh, enough about the Earl of Dryden. I’ll deal with him when I must. I’d much rather discuss how I can kiss Daffin again.” Her bright humor returned.

  “Oh, my dear.” Nicole gleefully clapped her hands. “That is what mistletoe is for.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  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 rely on. 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 embr
oidery 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 meet the 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 he wanted to 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.”

  * * *

  Less than an hour later, outfitted in his own riding gear, Daffin accompanied Regina and Nicole out the back of the manor house. As they set out on the path to the stables, Daffin glanced around uneasily. He didn’t like the idea of Regina being out in the open. It was true that he had seen no evidence of an intruder since they’d been here, but he didn’t like to take chances.

  Nicole spun in a circle and sucked in lungsful of air. “It’s so good to be outside. I don’t even care that it’s so cold.”

  Regina laughed. “I agree. It’s been positively stifling in that house.”

  He was barely listening. He was focused on keeping his eyes and ears sharp, attuned to any noise or movement. The usual servants bustled about. He’d got to know them all over the last several days. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

  “Honestly, Daffin, you cannot think the shooter could be here of all places. We’d see him coming a field’s length away,” Nicole said.

  Daffin continued to scan the countryside. The meadow was clear and packed with untouched snow. Beyond it, a copse of trees. Nicole was right. No one could approach the house without being seen, and he’d had the footmen and groomsmen on watch round the clock. He stood watch daily himself. “Until we have a better idea who he is, I don’t know what he’s capable of, which means if you’re outside, you’re potentially in danger.”

  They entered the stables and the smell of fresh hay, leather, and horses met their nostrils. Nicole waved to one of the groomsmen. “Good morning, Jacob. Did you saddle Atalanta?” They’d sent a footman to ask the groomsman to saddle the horses.

  “Yes, my lady,” the groomsman replied. “She’s right there in the stall.”

  “And Excalibur?” Regina added.

  Daffin’s head snapped to the side to face her. He arched a brow. “Your horse is named Excalibur?”

  “And she’s a girl,” Regina said with a nod. “I was a bit grandiose as a child.”

  Daffin shook his head and grinned at her.

  “Let me go greet my girl,” Regina said, on her way toward the stall. “I’ve missed her so much.”

  Now that they were in the confines of the stable, Daffin relaxed a bit, but his guard remained up. They were about to ride through open fields, and that would be dangerous. Jacob should come with them for added protection. It couldn’t hurt to have another set of eyes. He turned to speak to the groomsman.

  A gasp from Regina made him swivel. She stood by her horse’s stall, her hand over her mouth.

  “What is it?” Daffin asked, quickly making his way to join her.

  Regina pointed toward the saddle. Daffin turned his gaze in the direction she’d indicated. He narrowed his eyes. There was a small card sticking up between the saddle and the horse’s back.

  He leaned closer and snatched up the card. Only five words were scrawled on it in a messy hand.

  I’m watching you, Lady Regina.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The front door slammed and Regina jumped. She and Nicole had been waiting in the green salon for what felt like hours. Nicole paced in front of the grand fireplace while Regina stood near the door, waiting for Daffin’s return. Two footmen had been posted at the doors to the salon to ensure no one other than the duke, Lady Harriet, or an approved servant came in or out. After seeing the ladies safely back to the house, Daffin had returned to the stables and the meadow to search for tracks in the snow, any sign of the intruder. He’d just returned.

  Regina had never been more afraid. She’d been so certain she was safe here. There’d been no sign of anyone following them from London but it wouldn’t be difficult to guess where she had gone, and the location of the Duke of Colchester’s manor house was hardly a secret. Knowing that the madman had followed them to her country home made Regina’s stomach twist in knots. It still made no sense. Who wanted to hurt her? And why?

  When Daffin entered the room, Nicole whirled
to face him, her eyes flashing. “I don’t care if I am with child, Daffin. I want to help you search. I cannot stand to think of someone skulking about our property. I am angry beyond words.”

  Daffin began to pace in front of the fireplace. “I understand, Nic, but you must think of the babe. Sit. Rest. Please.”

  “I don’t want to sit. I don’t want to rest.” Nicole had nearly ripped her handkerchief in two. “I want to go find whoever this is and beat him.”

  Daffin gestured to the settee. He waited for her to sit before he spoke. “I know you’re not used to letting other people do things for you, Nic, but in this case, you must trust me. I cannot allow you to help search when you could be hurt. You know you’d give the same advice to someone in your position.”

  Nicole groaned. “Fine. I agree with you, but I don’t have to like it.”

  “Did you find anything?” Regina came to stand next to Daffin. She searched his face. It was somber. He scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck.

  “There are several sets of tracks around the stables. They all lead to and from the house … except one.”

  “Where did those tracks lead?” Nicole asked, leaning forward.

  “To a copse of trees beyond the stables,” he replied. “From there, they disappear. I questioned every servant in the stables thoroughly. They all claim to have seen and heard nothing.”

  Regina crossed her arms over her chest and paced away, biting the tip of her finger. “How can that be? If Jacob had just saddled the horse, he had to have seen something.”

  “I agree,” Daffin replied. “He claims there was no note when he finished preparing Excalibur, however. That was about a quarter hour before we came out, according to his memory.”

  “So we’re dealing with someone who sneaked in and out of the stables in less than a quarter hour, silently and possibly invisibly.” Nicole tugged on her handkerchief. “Sounds like we’re dealing with a professional.”