Involving his family, however, perplexed her. She saw no advantage to introducing her to his sister unless his intentions truly were honorable, and that did not match his story about becoming intoxicated and accepting the challenge to seduce her.
“Do you fancy my brother?” Serafine asked. “I don’t want to see him disappointed.”
If Regina were not accustomed to her aunt and Evangeline speaking without restraint, she might be offended by his sister’s direct manner. “I understand. I don’t like to see my sisters disappointed either,” she said, avoiding the question. “I would rather be the injured party than watch either of them suffer.”
Serafine smiled and didn’t press her for an answer. “I will worry about him if he is alone in New Orleans.”
Regina didn’t have a ready response, so she welcomed the sight of her sister returning with Mr. Tucker and Simon.
Mr. Vistoire’s nephew released his papa’s hand as the party neared the blanket and ran toward his mother. His small legs worked with as much grace as he could manage, the uncoordinated motion reminding Regina of a tottering windmill.
He stopped at the edge of the blanket, extended a hand toward Serafine, and crooked his plump fingers to summon her. “Raw?”
“No more rocks,” his mother said and extended her arms. “May I have a hug?”
He grinned and threw himself against her chest. She hugged and kissed him, then tried to settle him on her lap, but it wasn’t long before he wiggled free. This time he appealed to Regina. “Raw?”
“Now, Simon.” Serafine’s attempt at scolding her son fell short with laughter in her voice. “Allow Regina to rest.”
“I don’t mind.” Regina stood, grateful for a chance to move. She’d never been one to rest during the day. In fact, she would have joined Aunt Beatrice, Evangeline, and Mr. Vistoire on their stroll, but they left while she’d been entertaining Simon the first time. The boy loved the water.
She took Simon’s hand and led him back toward the water’s edge for another game of ducks and drakes—which amounted to him flinging small rocks toward the water. Some made their destination and others fell short on the grass.
Simon squealed in excitement as they strolled toward the lake. A persistent warm breeze rippled the Serpentine’s surface and shivered the leaves on the trees, creating a shushing noise.
As they reached the water, he grinned and sighed with pleasure. Her heart melted.
She searched the shore for small stones, and when she’d gathered several, she handed one to him. He drew his arm over his head and flung the rock approximately a foot.
“More!”
She passed him another, delighting in the knowledge he derived joy from such a simple act. He’d almost depleted his supply when Mr. Vistoire sidled up to her. He was alone. Regina glanced back toward the blanket to where Evangeline and Aunt Beatrice had joined the other picnickers.
“Did you have a nice stroll through the park?” she asked.
“It was enjoyable, thank you. Has Simon kept you at the water’s edge all this time?”
“He allowed me a short reprieve.” Simon thrust out his hand for another rock. “We will need more. I believe he could be at this all afternoon,” she said to Mr. Vistoire.
“Or you could tell him it’s time to return to the picnic.”
She scrunched her nose at him. “Have you seen how adorable he is? One imploring look from those big green eyes, and I’m putty in his hands.”
“Is that so? At last, I’ve discovered your weakness.” He winked, and it dawned on her that he and his nephew shared the same gorgeous green eyes.
She ducked her head as warmth stole into her cheeks. “I’ll gather more rocks.”
“More raw?” The boy’s sweet voice was just as dangerous as his soulful eyes. He might run her ragged all afternoon, and she would be powerless to refuse him.
“I am looking,” she said.
“I have one.” Mr. Vistoire pulled a stone from his pocket, and his nephew snatched it from his palm. “Thank you for entertaining Simon this afternoon.”
She bent forward to pick up a rock and glanced in his direction. “Thank you for entertaining Aunt Beatrice. I know she can be trying at times.”
“Trying in what way? It was a pleasure escorting your aunt and sister around the park.”
Regina returned with her bounty. Mr. Vistoire took the stones from her to form a pile at Simon’s feet.
“I’ve overheard complaints that she talks too much,” Regina said. “I believe Lady Lovelace is responsible for the moniker Babbling Beatrice.”
“Lady Lovelace sounds like a shrew. I consider myself fortunate never to have made her acquaintance.”
Regina smiled at his candidness. “Well, don’t count your blessings too soon. The widow is quick to set her cap for every new bachelor joining Society. I’m certain it is just a matter of time.”
“That is a problem easily solved.”
“How so?”
He swayed toward her, their shoulders brushing, and he twined his fingers with hers. “You could changed my status from bachelor to husband,” he said softly in her ear, his warm breath creating a pleasing tingle across her skin.
Regina’s heart lodged in her throat. Her glaze flicked toward him and he smiled. “It’s only a suggestion, but if you care about protecting me from Lady Lovelace and those of her ilk...”
Regina released the breath she’d been holding and chuckled. “I’m certain you can manage ladies like Celeste Lovelace without my assistance.”
“I know, but you could protect me with those fancy Wang Fu moves you do.” He released her hand to playfully spar with her.
Laughing, she blocked his exaggerated, sluggish moves. “It’s Wing Chun, and I only employ my skills to discourage annoying men.”
“Ouch!” He covered his heart and staggered as if she’d plunged a dagger into his chest. “You’ve mortally wounded me, Miss Darlington.”
She rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t referring to you.”
He abandoned the pretense and gifted her with his handsome smile. “Are you saying you don’t find me annoying?”
“Only a little.”
His smile grew. “You like me, don’t you, Regina Darlington? Admit it.”
“I do not.”
“Yes, you do.” He reached for her hand, drawing her closer. “Regina likes Xavier,” he said in a teasing singsong.
They were standing much too close for the park, so close she could feel his body heat and detect the faintest shadow of whiskers on his jaw.
“I don’t like you,” she murmured, her eyes drifting to half-mast, revealing her lie. “Only a little.”
His thumb drew an arc on her inner wrist, against her bare skin. “If we were alone, I might kiss you.”
“If we were alone, I might allow you.”
A loud splash caused them to jump apart.
“Simon!” Mr. Vistoire’s panicked voice sent her heart on a tear, but they both seemed to spot him at the same time.
“Oh, thank heavens,” she said.
The boy was busy wrestling a large rock from the dirt close to the water’s edge, and when he pried it loose, he wobbled a couple of steps and dropped it in the lake. Water shot up and drenched his shoes. He slapped his hands together to dust off the dirt.
“That’s enough rocks.” Mr. Vistoire swept the boy off his feet to toss him in the air and catch him under the arms.
Simon squealed with laughter and demanded more. Mr. Vistoire complied several times, stopping to throw his nephew and catch him as they made their way back toward Simon’s parents. He wrestled with the boy a few more minutes before surrendering him to Serafine.
His mother wrapped him in her arms then frowned at his wet shoes. “Did you walk in the lake?”
He puffed out his chest. “Throw raw.”
Serafine threatened to send Simon and her brother to bed with no dinner, but Regina could tell from the twinkle in her eyes she wasn’t angry. When the p
icnic ended, Mr. Vistoire insisted on escorting Regina and her family to Wedmore House. Aunt Beatrice and her sisters dispersed the moment they arrived home, leaving Regina alone with her gentleman caller, as Aunt Beatrice had been referring to him all day.
She and Mr. Vistoire stood in the foyer facing one another. His flirting at the picnic seemed more in line with what she expected from a libertine, and as much as it galled her to admit, she’d enjoyed it. Perhaps if she invited him to kiss her now, he wouldn’t be quite the gentleman he was attempting to portray.
She cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows.
“Yes, Miss Darlington? How may I be of service?”
“We are alone, Mr. Vistoire.”
A sinful smile spread across his lips. “You want that kiss, no?”
“Yes.” She tipped up her face, challenging him to show his true character.
He placed his hands on her waist to draw her to him. His touch was gentle and not at all demanding. He kept distance between their bodies. Their only contact was his hands curled around her waist, but it was enough to shower her with tingles everywhere. He didn’t try to kiss her, which made her crave him even more.
“Mr. Vistoire?”
“Xavier,” he whispered and leaned his forehead against hers. “Call me Xavier.”
His scent filled her with longing, but she had no experience with men other than deflecting unwanted advances. She wanted this—him.
“Is something wrong? Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
His smile was like a caress. “No, darling. I am not.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said I am not going to kiss you.”
She pulled away and her hands landed on her hips. “Why not? You said you would kiss me if we were alone.”
“I said I might, and I have decided it would be improper since you have not yet agreed to marry me.”
She issued a small cry of outrage. “What is your game, Mr. Vistoire? I know you cannot truly be interested in marriage.”
“You are wrong. I am only interested in marriage.”
There was a small tic at his jaw. She pointed at it. “You are lying. I could see it in your face. You don’t want to walk away without kissing me, so what is stopping you?”
“Hope.”
His response stole her momentum. “Hope? I don’t understand.”
“At one time, I was a drunk, a wastrel, and a philanderer just as you think. I will never look back, Regina, because when I am with you, I see the happy future we could have together.” His green gaze held her captive. “My hope is you will come to see it too, but that won’t happen if I prove myself unworthy of you.”
A lump had formed in her throat, and she swallowed around it. Too many thoughts raced through her mind to grasp on to one. She needed time to sort through his revelation—to make sense of everything—but if she didn’t make some overture in return, he might decide courting her was pointless. She wasn’t ready to see him walk away.
She cleared her throat. “Lady Ellis is hosting a ball tomorrow evening. I think you should come. The countess has taken a liking to Sophia. I’m sure my sister could procure an invitation for you. Perhaps we could start again and forget what we believe we know about one another.”
His smile caused her heart to batter her ribs. “I would like that very much. Would you allow me to claim the supper dance?”
“I suppose I could save the supper dance for you. I did say I like you a little.”
“That is progress.” He winked. “Enjoy your evening, Miss Darlington. I look forward to meeting you for the first time again at Lady Ellis’s ball tomorrow.”
“I hope you make a better impression this time,” she teased.
“As do I.”
Sixteen
Late the next afternoon Regina and Sophia sought out Evangeline in the library. As usual, their sister had Uncle Charles’s papers spread across the table, but her attention was squarely on a thin, leather bound notebook open in front of her.
“What have you found now?” Regina asked.
“It is one of Uncle Charles’s expedition logs.” Evangeline held up a small piece of ripped foolscap. “I found this tucked inside.”
Regina came up behind her to read over her sister’s shoulder and recognized Uncle Charles’s messy handwriting. “It looks like gibberish to me.”
Evangeline glanced up as Sophia slid into a chair on the opposite side of the table. “I have been staring at it for the last half hour, and I cannot make sense of it.”
“Let me see.” Sophia stretched her hand across the table, and Evangeline passed the note to her. A crease appeared between Sophia’s brows as she broke up the continuous string of letters and tried to sound out the note. “WUU AZMLQ YIP FACUPPGN... I give up.” She tossed it on the table. “Is it a strange form of Latin?”
Evangeline shook her head. “I can decipher Latin. This is something different.”
Regina grabbed the note to study it, but soon abandoned the task and returned it to Evangeline. “Languages were never my forte. I will leave the translating to you.”
“I’m uncertain it is worth my time. For all we know, Uncle Charles was deep in his cups when he wrote it.”
It was a rare occasion when their uncle overindulged, but it was not beyond the realm of possibilities.
Regina sat in the chair next to Evangeline. “We should discuss our strategy for keeping Aunt Beatrice out of mischief at the Ellis’s ball tonight. Sophia’s dance card will likely fill up quickly, so I propose you and I divide the evening. I will watch her until the supper dance, and you can relieve me.”
“I could take a turn with Auntie,” Sophia piped up.
Her sister’s thoughtful offer elicited a fullness in Regina’s chest as if her heart were expanding to twice its size. “Most of your days are spent helping Aunt Beatrice on shopping excursions and at garden parties. Your evenings should be free to husband hunt.”
“I enjoy our outings,” Sophia said. “Besides, I would be unable to leave the house if Aunt Beatrice was unwilling to venture out every day.”
Regina smiled. “We all enjoy her company. I didn’t mean to imply—”
A tremendous boom shook the ceiling, and the chandelier crystals clinked together. Regina and her sisters gasped. Their heads shot up to gape at the ceiling.
“Auntie!” Regina bolted from the chair to race for the stairs. Her sisters were close on her heels.
Joy had taken the servant staircase and met them in the corridor. Cupid, who had been napping in the kitchen earlier, accompanied her. Deep lines crisscrossed the maid’s forehead. “I never heard the bell, miss. I’m sorry.”
“Neither did we,” Regina said to reassure her as they reached her aunt’s bedchamber door. She barged in without knocking and found Aunt Beatrice flat on her back beside the wardrobe and groaning. A chair was tipped on its side.
“Dear Lord.” Regina hurried to her aunt, barking orders to the maid and her sisters. “Joy, go for Dr. Portier. You two, help me get her into bed.”
“Yes, miss.” Joy dashed from the chamber while Evangeline and Sophia came forward to assist.
Regina knelt beside her aunt. “What happened?”
Aunt Beatrice blinked up at her. “Isn’t it obvious I fell?”
“Yes, but how did you fall?”
Sophia knelt too, and cradled their aunt’s head in her lap. Aunt Beatrice winced. “Be careful. I hit my head.”
“You poor dear,” Sophia cooed. “Where does it hurt?”
She gingerly walked her fingers along Aunt Beatrice’s scalp then paused to glance up. “She already has a goose egg on the back of her head.”
Evangeline righted the chair and looked in the wardrobe. “Were you trying to reach something on the top shelf?”
“I wanted my jewelry box.” Aunt Beatrice tried to move and winced.
“You could have rung for Joy or asked one of us.” Evangeline stretched on her toes and pulled the small box from the shelf.
“Haven’t we warned you about climbing on the chair to reach items?”
Aunt Beatrice scowled. “I am perfectly capable of getting what I want without anyone’s assistance. I am not an invalid.”
Sophia smoothed their aunt’s gray hair from her face and bent forward so they were eye-to-eye. “You’re on the floor, Auntie. It is time to surrender.”
“Never.”
Sophia grinned and placed a kiss on their aunt’s forehead. “You are impossibly stubborn. I think we know from whom Regina inherited the trait.”
“Is it any wonder she is my favorite?”
Sophia laughed. “Now Auntie, you said earlier today I am your favorite.”
“No, that cannot be,” Evangeline said as she closed the wardrobe doors. “I am Aunt Beatrice’s favorite. She told me so yesterday on our walk with Mr. Vistoire.”
“You are all my favorites, but you were not supposed to tell each other I had singled you out.”
“Can you move everything?” Regina asked.
Aunt Beatrice tested both arms and legs. “Yes, but I’m stiff as always.”
“I think you’ll be more comfortable in bed.” Regina motioned Evangeline to grab Aunt Beatrice’s legs. “I’ll support her back. Sophia, you hold her shoulders.”
Surprisingly, Aunt Beatrice didn’t insist on walking, which reinforced Regina’s fears that she was suffering more than she wanted to admit.
“On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”
Aunt Beatrice hissed when they lifted her from the floor, but she offered no complaint. Her slight frame was easy to bear, although maneuvering her proved challenging. Regina and her sisters managed to shuffle the short distance to the bed and place their aunt on the mattress without incident.
When Dr. Portier arrived, their aunt reached her hand toward Regina. “Will you stay with me, dearest?”
“Of course.”
Aunt Beatrice shooed Regina’s sisters from the room with instructions to send a message to Lady Seabrook requesting a favor. “If she will act as chaperone, there is no need for any of you to miss tonight’s ball.”
“The ball is the least of our concerns,” Regina said.
Secrets to a Gentleman's Heart (Uncle Charlie's Angels Book 1) Page 13
