Jay turned from the contemplation of a small landscape as she opened the door. For a moment, he merely watched her, causing her to worry all the more.
“Do I look all right?”
Raising her gloved hand to his lips, he hastened to satisfy her doubt. “You are beautiful,” he rasped. “So much so that if there were any other unmarried men in the house, I would insist you dine in your room.” His words were softened with a smile and a light brush of his lips against hers.
She smiled in return and allowed herself to relax as he escorted her toward the staircase. They were the last to enter the drawing room, making their entrance all the more conspicuous and bringing color into her cheeks.
Felicia rushed forward. “Oh, Tina, how lovely you look,” she exclaimed. Looking up at Jay, she said, “The jewels are beautiful and perfect with the gown.”
Jay chuckled as he relinquished her arm. “I’m glad you approve.”
He didn’t let it show, but he was amazed as well. Not by Tina, but Felicia. At sixteen, his sister was already a beauty. Thinking ahead two years, he was afraid it would take both he and Jon to keep her out of trouble when she finally made her debut. Remembering his speculation of the ton’s reaction to Tina, he wasn’t sure he was equipped with an imagination vivid enough to predict their reaction to Felicia.
Felicia linked her arm in Tina’s and ignored his comment. “Don’t pay any attention to him,” she told Tina, leading her toward a chaise where the duchess and her daughter-in-law, the Countess of Weston, sat. “You still have tonight to ignore him, but I suspect after tomorrow it will be impossible to do.”
Tina did not correct her, but she knew it was already impossible for her to ignore Jay. She felt his presence whenever he was near, knowing even without looking, when he entered or left a room she happened to be in.
As it turned out, the countess was near her own age and the two became instant friends. She had the ability, Tina discovered, to put people at ease around not only herself, but her formidable mother-in-law as well.
“You must call me Geri,” she told Tina, “but not too loud or Gerald will answer, too.” Her brown eyes twinkled merrily as she turned to locate her husband across the room.
The men all stood in a knot at the far end of the room, sporting drinks as they chatted. Turning as well, Tina’s eyes met Jay’s and for a moment, the rest of the room vanished, until Jon said something and Jay turned to answer him.
After dinner, the women left the men to their port and gathered back in the drawing room to chat.
“I hope you don’t mind that Felicia invited us,” the duchess drew Tina aside for a moment. “As I told your brother, I knew and liked your mother. I wished we had stayed in contact after she left London.”
“I have to admit I was apprehensive at first. Because we have spent all of our lives in the country, I suppose I worry excessively over whether I will fit,” Tina confessed. “I realize Jay, I mean, his lordship, will have to spend some time in London, but I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it.”
The duchess patted her hand comfortingly. “The ton can be daunting at first, but I don’t think you are likely to have any trouble. Geri and I will be delighted to help.”
“Of course, it will be our pleasure,” Geri agreed, joining them. “Besides,” she declared, “I want to be there when the ton gets their first look at you and his lordship together. You’ll be the talk of the town.”
“And Lorry will not be able to ignore it this time,” the duchess said gleefully. “Yes, my dear, you and that handsome husband of yours will set the ton on its ear.”
“Who’s Lorry? And what would she want to ignore?”
“The speculation, of course. Lorry, actually Lorraine, is the dowager Countess of Wynton—your grandmother,” the duchess informed her. “She and I came out together, I won’t tell you how many years ago. Unfortunately, she has grown into a bitter old woman after losing her husband and sons.”
Tina greeted this revelation with stunned silence. “I never knew,” she whispered.
“Knew what?” Geri asked.
“That I was named for her. It never occurred to me to ask where my second name came from.”
The men joined them shortly afterwards and Felicia presided over the tea trolley. Jay lounged on the arm of Tina’s chair, his hand absently toying with her curls. On the surface, Tina seemed oblivious as she conversed with Jon, the duchess, Geri, and anyone else who commanded her attention, yet she was acutely aware of his presence beside her.
In the middle of a discussion of young ladies’ academies, Keyes entered and announced a late arrival.
“Teddy!” Jon exclaimed, greeting the young man as he crossed the room. “What brings you here?”
“Curiosity,” Teddy answered. Approaching the duchess, he explained. “I arrived at Westover this morning, intending to make the acquaintance of my nephew, only to be informed you had all packed up and headed for Collingswood for a few days. How are you, Mama?” he asked, raising her hand to his lips.
The duchess wagged her finger at him. “I’m doing just fine, you naughty boy, but you’d best make your bows to your hostess or you might find yourself without a bed tonight.”
Teddy straightened and surveyed the assembled group. Jon came to his rescue, presenting him to both Felicia and Tina, ensuring he understood Felicia was his hostess.
While Teddy was engaged in charming Felicia, Jay leaned over and whispered in Tina’s ear, “Come for a walk with me.”
She rose from her seat. “I think I will turn in,” she said. “I will bid all of you a good night.” She curtseyed to the duchess, then left the room on Jay’s arm.
“I can imagine what they are thinking,” she told him as they crossed the hall and entered a smaller salon, which they walked through to exit the french doors into the garden.
Jay shrugged his impossibly wide shoulders. “I’m sure you can, but the question is, do you care?”
The scent of roses and honeysuckle met them as they emerged onto the terrace. Crickets chirped and she could hear the small fountain gurgling.
She flashed him a sparkling smile. “At the moment, no. But there may come a time when I might.”
Jay closed the doors behind them, shutting out the gathering inside. As he came up behind her, she felt his warmth engulf her. His hands settled on her waist and she leaned back against him, resting her head against his chest. She felt his chin come to rest on the top of her head.
“The duchess has agreed to take Felicia under her wing after tomorrow. She says she has been in contact with the same academy the countess attended and it has agreed to accept Felicia. One might say it was a little presumptuous, but Jon and I are quite happy to leave such things in her hands,” he said.
“I hope it has a good music teacher. Felicia loves music.”
“I will mention it to Her Grace.”
“I was hoping she would not think Felicia presumptuous.”
She felt the movement of his chest against her back as he chuckled. “The duke assured me she did not. In fact, she was expecting an immediate answer. When Felicia responded, she came immediately because she assumed we would not want to leave Felicia alone after the wedding.”
“Jon would have been here.”
“But not for very long. He only came so we could discuss our investigation. He is planning on leaving the day after. Remember, he knew nothing about a wedding until he arrived.”
The conversation she’d had with Jon the day he’d arrived came back to her and she realized Jay was right. Jon arrived shortly before the gowns had, but said he’d ordered the gown she planned to wear tomorrow as a debut gown or a wedding gown—he hadn’t known which.
“And how does the investigation fare?”
“We’ve hit some dead ends, but Jon will be pursuing some new avenues.”
She nodded and vainly tried to smother a yawn.
“You must be tired,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”
She
was comfortable leaning against him. Unfortunately, it was the comfortably relaxed feeling which was making her drowsy.
She smiled. “You’re right. I should retire.”
They reentered the house and ascended the stairs. Reaching her room, she turned to look up at him. In the deepening gloom, his eyes glittered with passion held severely in check. Awareness snaked down her spine. Tomorrow, they promised.
“Thank you for the jewelry.” She hoped she didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.
Jay did not move. Indeed, he wasn’t sure he could at the moment. Nor did he want to. He could stare at her forever and not get his fill. Would he ever stop thanking his lucky stars for her grandmother’s intransigence? The combination of innocence and passion drew him like a lodestone. The jewels around her neck and in her ears twinkled in the lamplight, but seemed dull against the brilliance of her eyes. He was going to drown, he decided. And he didn’t mind in the least.
Moving closer, she put her hands on his chest, sliding them upward to rest on his shoulders. When she raised her face to his, he accepted the invitation and bent his head as she rose up on her toes. Their mouths met and his arms closed around her. Heat flooded his body, skittering through his veins, and setting him afire. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
She didn’t move when he raised his head. For the space of a heartbeat, he stared into her eyes, then reached behind her and opened the door. “Tomorrow,” he promised. Then he turned and headed down the hall.
*
Tina awakened the next morning with Jay’s promise still ringing in her ears and a vague sense of mortification. What had come over her last night? How could she have so brazenly kissed him. In the hall, no less. Perhaps she had become too comfortable in his presence. Of course, she speculated, it might have something to do with the fact that she was marrying him today. Maybe becoming comfortable also meant becoming bolder. Whatever it was, she wondered if she would be able to face him today, remembering her actions of the night before.
A knock on the door heralded the arrival of Milly, followed by two footmen carrying a large copper tub. Tina watched from beneath her covers as Milly directed the filling of the tub and added her rose fragrance to the water. Once the footmen left, Milly ushered her out of the bed and into the warm water, leaving her there to soak while she went for a tray for her breakfast.
Two hours later, dressed in the white and silver dress, her hair perfectly coiffed, the piece of lace attached to it at the top to drape down her back, she was ready to leave the room when Felicia entered, a velvet case in her hand.
Dressed in a light blue watered silk gown decorated with small white rosettes along the scalloped lower edge of the overskirt, the underskirt of white lace peeping through the scallops, Felicia reminded Tina so much of their mother she had to blink away the tears which sprung unexpectedly to her eyes.
“Jon asked me to give this to you and ask you to wear them. They go with the gown, he says.” She handed the case to Tina and waited expectantly for her to open it.
Inside Tina found a double strand necklace of diamonds with earbobs to match. “Perfect,” Felicia declared. “Stand still.” An order. And, once the jewelry was on, “Let me look at you.”
Felicia inspected her sister from all sides. The dress of silver and white fit Tina perfectly, the skirts draped over numerous petticoats to give them definition and girth, while her shoulders rose out of the lace bertha of the top. With the addition of the jewelry, her neck and ears flashed with brilliant white fire.
Felicia also noted the shimmering anticipation in Tina’s eyes. For today, there were no doubts, no insecurities, and no trepidation. Good, she thought, remembering Jay had already left for the church, impatience emanating from him in waves.
“Jon is waiting,” she said now. “It’s time.”
*
The Earl of Wynton watched his sisters descend the staircase. Their parents would have been proud of them, he thought. Tina and Felicia had grown into beautiful, apparently self-assured, young women. He knew Tina suffered bouts of self-doubt and had become especially introspective since meeting Jay. He expected her natural self-confidence would reassert itself once she was married and comfortably settled. Felicia, on the other hand, seemed to have no insecurities at all, and he didn’t know if he looked forward to her debut with anticipation or dread.
Today, however, was Tina’s day. He would worry about Felicia when the time came, but for now he would concentrate on seeing that today was as perfect as possible for Tina.
The whole village turned out for the wedding. An open invitation had been extended to the villagers and tenants of Collingswood and the tiny church was packed. Felicia entered the church first, stopping in the small entryway to wait for them to join her.
The local sheriff’s wife had been enlisted to create the flower arrangements and Jon knew by Felicia’s expression she had exceeded expectations. The scent of roses filled the small space, causing him to wonder if there was a rosebush left in the county which hadn’t been denuded. The woman handed Felicia a small bouquet of forget-me-nots, peonies, and violets tied with white, silver, and blue ribbon.
Tina was handed a larger bouquet of the same flowers with white roses added in, and tied with white and silver ribbon. Smiling her thanks, she turned to him as the music began and Felicia started down the aisle.
“Our parents would have been proud of you,” he told her. “And I know they would have approved of Jay. Even Mama, who was unsure what he would be like.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “And I’m sure Papa knows you kept your promise.”
Then she turned to face the front. Jay stood alone in front of the altar. Felicia had decreed Jon was to perform double duty today. He was to give the bride away and stand up with the groom. Once the Westovers arrived, he and Jay had discussed asking Gerald to stand up with him, but Jay was content with the way Felicia had it all arranged. It was unusual, but so was nearly everything else about this wedding. Felicia reached the front of the church and turned to face the burgeoning pews. That was their cue, and he and Tina started down the aisle.
*
“Superb!”
“Wonderful!”
“Well done!”
Such were the accolades Felicia received from their guests as the day wore on. Tina agreed they were well-deserved. Her sister had accomplished much in four short days.
After the ceremony, they had returned to a banquet set up on the expansive front lawn. Tables had been set out for the villagers and tenants, a large covered dais erected for the wedding party and their honored guests. The set up and atmosphere reminded Tina of a description she had read once of a medieval fair.
Even the weather cooperated, providing a light, cooling breeze in the afternoon when it could have been unbearably hot.
Jay rarely left her side for the duration of the celebration. As the two of them circulated among the guests, tenants and villagers alike congratulated them and wished them happy. It was a wonderful feeling for Tina, who had not been able to talk to anyone around Thane Park for more than a year. Although she had never spent much time at Collingswood, she found herself more and more at ease among its people. It also reminded her that she and Jay had to decide how to handle the animosity of the villagers around Thane Park. She did not want to feel uncomfortable in her own home when they returned in the fall.
Later in the afternoon, she sat with the duchess and countess beneath one of the various canopies erected as shade from the afternoon sun. The third carriage, it transpired, had contained the newest member of the earl’s family and his nurse. William Michael Gerald Hartwell was barely a month old. Light blue eyes regarded the world around him with intense interest when he wasn’t sleeping or clamoring to be fed. Naturally both parents and grandparents doted on him and he took it all in stride as his due.
Jay was crossing the lawn toward the small group when he abruptly stopped, seemingly turned to stone. His mouth went completely dry for a moment and h
is heart stopped as he took in the scene before him. His brain told him to stop staring and move, yet he remained, rooted to the spot. Frozen in time, he watched the group before him until a large hand fell on his shoulder, jolting him back, and he turned to find the duke’s blue gaze twinkling at him.
“I remember the first time I saw my wife holding an infant, too,” he explained, nodding toward the tableau before them where Tina sat on a rug, her white and silver skirts billowing around her, holding the baby in her arms. Her laughter rang out and Jay felt the sound settle in his chest. “It does strange things to a man to realize the possibilities, does it not?”
Jay managed to find his voice. “Yes, I suppose it does.” It didn’t matter that this wasn’t the first time. He still felt the same way he had when she approached him holding Daisy’s grandson.
The two men joined the group, Jay dropping onto the rug beside Tina. “He’s almost the size of the twins already,” Tina informed him, “and they are near four months.”
Jay took in her animated features and looked down at the infant in her arms, before looking back up to make a suitable reply. The duchess spoke instead.
“I suspect his lordship is not necessarily interested in babies this day.”
He turned to the duchess, mischief in his eyes. “On the contrary, your grace,” he replied smoothly. “I find I am very much interested in babies these days. Especially the manner of their conception.”
“Jay!” Tina blushed to the roots of her hair, as the others around her erupted in laughter.
A short time later as they walked away from the group, Jay apologized for his remark. “I did not embarrass you, did I?”
“No,” she replied. “I was just surprised is all. But you were attempting to shock Her Grace, weren’t you?”
He tried to remain somber, but a fleeting smile touched his lips. “Yes, I was. Not that it worked, mind you.”
The Gypsy Legacy: Marquis Page 18
