Page 26 of Vying for a Viscount
“You let me worry about that.”
“You never said how much it cost, except that it was an exorbitant amount. I feel guilty for having you pay.”
He pulled the carriage off the path onto a patch of vacant grass. He held the reins in one hand and reached for her hand with his free one. “I suggested this. I invited you there in the first place. If you want to join, I will pay the fee. If you choose not to join, no harm done. The fee is not due until you are accepted into the club. We still have time.”
She looked at their joined hands, sighed, and smiled to herself. “I’m being silly. Of course I want to join. I want to spend time with you and get to know you better in a private setting, other than my home.” The home she had shared with Rutherford.
“My thoughts exactly,” he said, letting go of her hand and bringing his up to caress her cheek. “You are amazing. Do you know that?”
She broke into a wide smile, her cheeks flushed, and her heart raced. All because of his hand and his words. How strange that it took so little on his part to make her feel cherished.
“Did you hear what I said?”
She shook her head. “Thank you for the compliment, but I’m rather dull and unexciting. Not amazing at all.”
He caressed her cheek again, and the look he gave her spread warmth through her body. “You think too little of yourself. You are raising a young boy who will one day inherit an earldom. You run a household by yourself, and as far as I know, you never seek help from anyone. I would say that makes you amazing in my eyes.”
Unexpected tears pooled in her eyes, and before she could wipe them away, he wiped them with his hand. Her tears darkened his brown gloves. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“They are not sad tears, but happy ones. What you said touched my heart. But to be honest, my life is hardly a hardship. I adore my son, and I have a governess who takes great care of him and loves him as well. My servants are proficient in their work. My housekeeper,Mrs. Peterson, runs a smooth household with the help of the butler. I choose the daily menu. I hardly find enough to do in any given day. My life is easy, and I sometimes feel guilty for it.”
“Don’t feel guilty. You are doing exactly what you are supposed to do. You are managing a household and raising your son. We should move back onto Rotten Row before some carriage driver gets annoyed with us for stopping on the grass.” Greyson merged the horses and carriage back onto the path, and they rode on in companionable silence back to Rutherford Manor.
“Thank you for a lovely ride,” she said as he helped her down from the phaeton.
“You are most welcome, and thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your company.” He bowed, took her hand, and pressed his warm lips to the underside of her wrist, where the glove ended. The contact left her quivering inside. When he released her hand and stood straight again, he winked at her. “Do you have an engagement this evening?”
It took her a moment to focus her mind on something other than the handsome devil standing in front of her. “As a matter of fact, I do not.”
“Would you care to dine with my family and me?”
“I would love to.”
“I will send my carriage for you at half seven.”
He jumped onto the perch and left, glancing back once before turning the corner and disappearing from view. Then she panicked when she realized it was probably after five and she had much to do in the next two hours.
She hurried past Mr. Henry when he opened the door and made haste up the stairs and to her chambers, calling out to Jane as she entered her dressing room, going through her dresses.
“My lady,” Jane said as she entered the dressing room.
“Oh, Jane. Thank goodness. I’m going to dinner at Danbury Hall,and the viscount is sending his carriage at half seven. How will I ever be ready in time?”
“My lady,” Jane said in a soothing voice. “Come and sit by the fire, and I will bring you some evening dresses to choose from. If I recall, you mentioned the viscount’s favorite color is blue. Perhaps a blue dress?”
“No. I always wear blue. Perhaps the burgundy one. The more I think on it, the more perfect the burgundy one seems. I don’t believe he’s seen me wear that color yet.”
“The burgundy dress it is, my lady.”
Jane entered the dressing room and returned with the burgundy dress, matching shawl, and reticule. After dressing her, Letitia sat at the dressing table while Jane worked her magic on her hair. Using the curling rod, she curled her entire head of hair, then pinned it up, leaving some curls to cascade down the back of her neck, where they bounced as she moved her head. Letitia thought she looked beautiful, if she did say so herself.
“My hair looks amazing, Jane.”
“Thank you, my lady. It’s easy with your thick hair and light coloring. Your paleness, set off by the rich color of the gown, is striking. Burgundy was the perfect color choice. All you need is a little color on your cheeks and lips. I made some this morning, hoping you would like to try it. May I?”
“Please.”
Jane brushed a light touch of beetroot rouge onto her cheeks and carmine beeswax onto her lips, then wiped some off with a piece of linen. “Perfect. Very soft, but it enhances your cheekbones and full lips.”
