“I know you are right. I just don’t want to make any more mistakes,” he said after a moment.
An understanding smile curved North’s lips. “Indeed, I do understand.” He set down his cup and smacked the armrests with his palms. “Now when do I get to meet this paragon?”
Nicholas smiled, stood up, and walked to the window. Peering out to the garden, he motioned for North to join him. “I thought she might be here. There she is.”
North joined Nicholas in looking out to where Christina and Helen stood with Mrs. Sanborne. Ty was in Christina’s arms, and she was smiling down at him as she lightly swung him back and forth.
“She’s lovely,” North whispered almost reverently as his gaze took in the sight before him. “Look at all that glorious red hair. What a splash she’d make amongst the ton.”
Nicholas shuddered at the thought. “And subject her innocence to the immoral behavior of the upper classes? Never.” He stared at her a moment more before looking over at North. “We are from two different worlds, North. I’m not sure either of us would fit into the other’s world, even if she wanted to.”
“You can do almost anything if you want something badly enough.”
“But at what expense?” Nicholas murmured more to himself than to his friend.
“I want to meet her!” North declared as he turned from the window and started across the study. When he got to the door, he looked imperially at Nicholas. “Well? Are you coming or not?”
Nicholas laughed. “Only if you’ll remember I saw her first. Absolutely no flirting!”
North shrugged in an arrogant manner. “Women have always seemed to like me, Nick. There’s never been a need to flirt.”
“I’m surprised they could fit in the same room with you with such an inflated ego filling the space!” Nicholas retorted as he slapped him on the shoulders and led the way to the garden.
❧
“Oh, dear. Oh, dear! They’re coming, Christina, they’re coming!” Helen smoothed her light blue dress and patted her fat curls. “How do I look? Am I presentable?”
Christina looked at her beautiful friend and knew Helen was much more presentable than she. Already her hair had come loose from the topknot she’d pinned it into this morning, and now it was flying wildly about her face and past her shoulders. Ty had spit up on her dress, and it was wrinkled from holding him.
In short, she was embarrassed at being introduced to a duke looking as she did, but there was nothing for it.
Throwing her misgivings to the wind, she smiled and waved to the men as they came near.
“My lord! You’re just in time for our daily walk through the garden,” she called out as she placed Ty into his pram.
“Excellent,” he called back in reply. After a few moments, they had reached the women.
“Miss Wakelin, Miss Nichols, may I present an old friend of mine, Trevor Kent, the Duke of Northingshire. Mrs. Sanborne, I believe you are already acquainted?”
“Your grace,” the women said in unison as they curtsied.
“It is a stupendous pleasure to see you once again, your grace,” Mrs. Sanborne added. “Stupendous!”
Christina noticed the handsome duke took great care not to smile as he nodded her direction. “Indeed, it is my pleasure, Mrs. Sanborne, that you were able to help Lord Thornton with his nephew.”
A few other pleasantries were said before the nanny took control of the pram and went ahead of them on the path.
Nicholas held out his arm to Christina. “Shall we?”
Christina told herself her heart should not be racing madly just because he asked to walk with her. But it did no good. With her heart pounding, she took his arm.
Beside them she noticed the Duke of Northingshire, or North, as he asked them to call him, had offered the same to Helen.
For one horrific moment, Helen became so pale Christina thought she might faint dead away, right there on the garden path. But her fanciful friend recovered, and a big smile curved her lips as she slipped her hand through the duke’s arm.
They had walked a short distance when North remarked, “I have heard it is you I should thank, Miss Wakelin, for this remarkable turnaround in my friend here. I had despaired that he might be lost to us forever.”
Christina glanced surprisingly up at Lord Thornton. Her heart tripped a beat when he smiled down at her. Swallowing hard, she pulled her eyes away from his and looked at the duke. “I would not say that, your grace. It is God who led me to his lordship. I just knew I had to let him know he is much too important to God and his friends to shut himself away from everyone.”
North smiled but looked puzzled. “If Nick had shut himself away from everyone, how did you meet?”
Wincing a little with embarrassment, Christina opened her mouth to explain, but the earl interjected. “She climbed my tree, then fell out of it and straight into my arms. My life has not been the same since.”
Christina stared at Lord Thornton with amazement. He made the whole encounter seem so. . .romantic!
“Surely you jest! I cannot imagine this proper young woman climbing a tree!” North laughed.
“Oh, she climbed it all right. I was there every horrifying moment of it!” Helen exclaimed. “I tried to talk her out of it, but when Christina gets something in her mind, there is no stopping her.”
North laughed again. “A woman with determination! I like that.”
Helen quickly changed her tune. “Of course, I would have climbed the tree with her, but I thought someone needed to stand by as a lookout in case the earl came by.”
Christina smothered a giggle at Helen’s obvious tactics.
“You know, Helen, I didn’t know you had been there with Christina. I saw no one until I heard the cry of my poor cat up in the tree.”
“When she spotted you coming near us, I told her to leave so that she would not get into trouble also,” Christina explained. “She argued, but I insisted!”
They had almost circled the perimeter of the garden when Lord Thornton bent down to her ear. “I have something I would like to give you.”
His breath at her ear warmed her as she turned to look at him. So close was he that she could see tiny gold flecks in his eyes that she had never noticed before. Staring into those eyes made her feel strange yet wonderful at the same time.
“What is it?” she asked, loving the fact he still had not pulled back from her.
His intense gaze swept her face like a loving caress. “If you can try to get away from the others in an hour from now, I will meet you under the gazebo just on the outskirts of the garden, over there.” He nodded toward the ornate white structure standing a few yards from them.
She wanted to say yes, but it did not seem proper. “I don’t think. . .”
Nicholas cut her off. “I promise it will only be for a few moments. I have nothing improper in mind. Your reputation will remain safe.”
Her heart won out over her head. “All right,” she answered.
He covered her hand with his free hand before letting her go. “It’s been a pleasure to walk with you this afternoon, ladies. I hate to end our time together, but I must see that North is settled into a suite.”
Helen reluctantly let go of North’s arm after Christina gave her a pointed look.
“How long will you be at Kenswick Hall, your grace?” Helen blurted out.
North seemed unruffled by her too-eager tone. “Only for a few days, I’m afraid. I have business to take care of at my estate near Edinburgh.”
When Christina thought her friend might burst into tears at that news, she quickly stepped in front of her to cut off the duke’s view. “Well, it’s been nice making your acquaintance, your grace. I’m sure we’ll see you on the morrow.”
From the twinkle in the large man’s eyes, Christina knew she hadn’t fooled him. “Indeed, I shall look forward to it. Good afternoon.”
After an hour had passed, Christina convinced Helen to check on the puppies in the stables so she coul
d run over to the gazebo.
Lord Thornton was already there, standing so tall and handsome as the rays of the sinking sun shone through the latticework and touched his manly features. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the gazebo, not daring to come too close to him.
Neither of them spoke. Words didn’t seem to be required as they stood staring into each other’s eyes.
Slowly he brought his hand from behind his back, and within it he held an exquisite glass case about six inches tall. She took the case and brought it closer to peer inside.
And what she saw took her breath away—a carved figurine of a woman holding a puppy in her arms.
The woman was Christina. Every detail of her face, hair, and dress was so true to life.
“Do you like it?” Nicholas asked.
Looking up at him, she could tell he was nervous about giving it to her, unsure of how she would feel.
Without thinking about it, Christina reached up and kissed him on his rough cheek. “It so beautiful, my lord. I cannot express what it means to me that you have made this for me.”
Nicholas took her arms in a soft, caressing grip. Emotions she couldn’t understand flashed over his handsome face, and she wondered if he might kiss her.
Oh, she hoped he would. She wished he would take her into his strong arms and tell her he was falling in love with her, just as she was falling for him.
Suddenly he let his hands drop and stepped back from her. Confused, Christina looked searchingly at him, but it was impossible to read his thoughts, for his face was turned away.
“Perhaps you should go before Helen wonders where you are,” he told her, his voice gravelly.
Christina wanted to cry. She must have done something wrong. Of course! He must have thought it untoward for her to kiss him like that. Sickened that she’d shamed herself, she mumbled, “Yes, I should go.” Clutching the glass case protectively to her, she ran from the gazebo.
❧
Nicholas banged his hand on the post of the gazebo in frustration and anger. He’d promised not only Christina but also her father that he would not act improperly.
But there he was, all set to take her into his arms and kiss her.
Filled with self-loathing and disgust, he railed at himself for bringing her out to the garden alone. He should have just wrapped the gift up as a parcel and had it delivered to her house.
But he’d been so excited about seeing her face when she realized the figurine was of her. He’d even gone into town just to purchase the case, causing a lot of gossip and speculation in the process, he was sure.
He should have done better. He should not have compromised her honor by getting her alone.
She deserved a gentleman who did not make such foolish mistakes. She deserved someone who did not have an ugly past. She deserved a man of impeccable reputation.
In short, she did not deserve him.
Yet, she had faith in him.
Christina told him God also believed in him and could help him.
So for the first time since he was a young boy, Nicholas Thornton, the sixth Earl of Kenswick, the most notorious rake in all of England, kneeled down on the whitewashed boards of the gazebo. . .and prayed.
Eleven
The next morning was bright and sunny. Almost everyone in Malbury seemed to be outdoors, walking their dogs, playing with their children, or just strolling about for exercise.
It was a day that should have brightened everyone’s mood. But as Christina stared glumly out her window, she could not drum up so much as a smile, her spirits were so low.
She’d already made the decision to stay home today and not go on her daily visit to Kenswick Hall. How could she face him after behaving so boldly? What must he think of her?
She took her eyes from the window and looked down at the figurine in her hand. As her fingers caressed the smoothly carved wood, she marveled again at how much care had gone into the figurine.
Why did he make it? Did she mean something to him? Did he think of her as a cousin or friend?
With a sigh of frustration, she went over to her nightstand and put the figurine back into its glass container. Spending all her time having romantic thoughts about the Earl of Kenswick was not doing her any good.
“Miss Christina!” Mrs. Hopkins called through her door, knocking gently. Glad to have a diversion from her troubles, she called for the housekeeper to come in.
Excitement flushed her plump cheeks and her hands fluttered around nervously. “Oh, Miss! I’ve never seen the like. Gentlemen such as these, and here in your father’s cottage!”
Christina went quickly to her. “Take a calming breath, Mrs. Hopkins. I’m afraid I do not follow. What gentlemen are here?”
“Lord Thornton and another gentleman. A tall man with fancy clothes and almost as handsome as the earl himself. They are something to behold, I’m telling you, Miss. Quite takes the breath clear out of me!”
Christina was having trouble breathing herself at the news. “Lord Thornton? Here?” When Mrs. Hopkins nodded, Christina let go of her hands and whirled to face her large oval mirror. “He must have the Duke of Northingshire with him!”
“A duke, did you say?” the housekeeper gasped. “Oh, dear, and with no warning too! I still haven’t done the dusting!”
Christina tried to tidy her hair, but the curls kept springing out everywhere. Giving up, she grabbed a ribbon and tied it back in a ponytail. “It’s all right, Mrs. Hopkins. I’m sure they won’t notice,” she said, though her thoughts were on other things than the dusting.
What did he want? Was he here to see her?
“Mrs. Hopkins, I believe there’s someone at the door!” her father’s voice called from downstairs, startling both women.
“Oh, dear, oh, my! I hope I can remember the proper etiquette for handling one of the ton!” the elder woman fretted as she scurried to the door.
Christina turned back to the mirror and wished, as she had a thousand times before, that she was more sophisticated in appearance, more dainty and elegant. Her gown was a recent style, but with her height and lack of grace, she would never be mistaken for a peer.
Wishing, however, would get her nowhere. She was who she was and no amount of wishing would make her something she was not. And, besides, she’d always liked who she was. Why should she suddenly want to change everything about herself just because she’d become acquainted with a nobleman?
Maybe because you want him to like you, a voice whispered in her head.
Angry with herself for having such vain thoughts, she turned away from the mirror and waited by her door to see if the earl had, indeed, come to see her.
❧
“Tell me again why we have come to the vicar’s house,” North whispered to Nicholas as they sat in the parlor where the housekeeper had sent them. It had been quite an amusing welcome, as the woman greeted them both with such a deep curtsy, the men thought they were going to have to help her up.
“Because I want to ask Reverend Wakelin’s permission to see his daughter today.”
“Hmm,” North grunted with a puzzled frown. “And why could you not just wait until she came to Kenswick Hall? Doesn’t she visit your nephew every day?”
“Because I felt I needed to make an apology to both Miss Wakelin and her father for my bad behavior yesterday,” he explained evenly while keeping an eye on the door, waiting for the vicar to come into the room.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t follow,” his friend replied.
Nicholas let out a nervous breath. “I asked Miss Wakelin to meet me in the gazebo alone so I might give her a gift.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I almost kissed her!” he blurted out in a harsh whisper.
North stared at him as if he were speaking a language he could not understand. “I beg your pardon. You almost kissed her? That’s what this whole thing is about?”
“Yes.”
“Did she protest?”
“No.”
“Slap you?”
&nb
sp; “Of course not.”
“Call you a cad and a rake?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
North scratched his head. “Did she act as though she wanted to kiss you, then?”
“I thought she did, because she kissed me on my cheek, and it compelled me to take her arms and bring her closer. But she was only thanking me for the gift I gave her. I realized in the nick of time.”
“Sooo, let me understand this,” North stated slowly. “You are upset because Miss Wakelin kissed you, and you thought it an invitation to take it a step further and kiss her back. Do I have that right?”
Nicholas threw up his hands. “Yes, except I had promised her father I would stay away from her. Instead, I encouraged her to meet me without her chaperone and all but embraced her! I also promised her that if she’d meet me, I would do nothing improper.”
North shook his head. “Really, Man, you’re being too hard on yourself. What is a kiss after all? I daresay it wouldn’t be the first lips you’ve kissed.”
“You are thinking about London society, where flirtations are a way of life. This is the country, where even a kiss could cause a scandal.”
North was about to comment when they heard the door to the parlor open, and in walked the Reverend Wakelin. “Well, Lord Thornton, so good to see you again. And I see you’ve brought a friend.”
Nicholas made a quick introduction of North and got right to the matter at hand. “Reverend, I came today because—”
“Because you have decided to join us tomorrow for Sunday service! How lovely of you to come by and let us know,” Christina said as she breezed through the doorway, putting herself between the vicar and Nicholas.
Nicholas stared at her with surprise, not understanding the warning look she flashed him with her bright eyes. “Uh. . .I’m not sure. . . ,” he stammered.
Christina was mouthing something, but he couldn’t quite make it out.
She turned to North with a big smile and said, “And you, Lord Kent, will you be joining us also?”
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