Snowflakes and Scandals

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“It’s only me,” Frederick muttered quickly as he came to a stop behind Minerva, determined she would not escape him yet again. He’d been searching all over the house for what felt like hours today, catching glimpses of her here and there as she managed her brother’s house party with quiet efficiency. But she had always been in the company of one servant or another, and they’d done nothing more than utter pleasantries that left him unsatisfied.

And after yet another boring dinner without her company, he’d had enough and admitted to himself where he’d really rather be. With her. Not hidden away, either.

Now that he’d finally found her, spying upon her brother and Mrs. Franks in the deserted music room long after the dinner hour had passed, he was determined to get her alone and keep her.

Minerva observed the pair inside the music room silently, with such a strange expression on her face that his breath caught. Frederick watched her and wondered what was going on in her head. She did not look happy, or even sad anymore. She seemed resigned…and that wasn’t like her at all.

He leaned close to whisper in her ear, “I think it’s going quite well, don’t you?”

“How can you tell?” she whispered back.

“Because she’s still there. A sure sign of a lady’s, or gentleman’s, interest is when they don’t run away.” He moved closer, fingers itching to pull her into his arms as they settled on the small of her back. “Shall we join them?”

Frederick would rather not, though. He’d discovered during the course of the day, defending himself from Mrs. Franks’ eager advances, that he and Minnie had a lot more in common than he did with the widow.

They both liked to read, eat cake, and were fond of kittens.

Mrs. Franks claimed to be allergic when the kitten had been discovered under his chair in the dining room tonight, eating food Frederick had slipped to him. He’d quickly rescued the little beast when Humphrey threatened to banish it into the cold garden again.

“Could you still win the wager?” Minnie asked, turning a smile his way. But he had grown suspicious of her smiles now. He had come to suspect that when Minnie smiled, she wasn’t always as happy as she pretended to be. She hid her moods well, which made it hard to know what she was thinking or feeling.

Especially about him.

And he’d like to know now, before another evening had passed, if she could care about him more than a little. They were officially friends now, but their kiss was always on his mind. He wasn’t sure how to procure another, and he usually knew exactly how to seduce any woman he fancied. “I don’t want to win that wager,” he reminded her.

“A pity. I would like to see my brother’s face when he doesn’t get what he wants,” she said with uncharacteristic venom.

His brows rose, but he said nothing because there was movement inside the music room. Mrs. Franks finally led Humphrey from the room with a soft, inviting laugh. Frederick sighed in relief to see them both go away together. He truly hoped to lose this bet tonight and be done with wagers once and forever.

With everyone else now gone off to bed, and unlikely to interrupt, he lured Minerva into the room by the simple method of pushing her there by force. Her cozy little hideaway was all very well and good, but Minerva should never have to hide from anyone in her own home.

She fussed with the tea tray that had been left behind on the table.

“Any chance for a cup of tea?”

“There’s only enough for one, I suspect, but it might be cold.”

“Cold or warm, we could share a cup if you’re thirsty,” he offered, thinking of her lips on his cup…and then against his own.

“Sharing will not be necessary,” she assured him. Minerva poured a cup of tea and handed it over to him.

When she sat, he dropped into the spot right beside her with more satisfaction than he’d felt all day. He was determined to devote more time to this new friendship and see where it led. And also, perhaps find out what the argument with her brother had been over.

Her gaze locked on the distant door that her brother had disappeared through, and then she smiled. “So, it’s not quite a week, and it seems my brother will win your wager. How much will you lose?”

“Twenty pounds.”

She did not look happy about that amount but turned to him with another one of her suspicious smiles. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you always bid on the outcome of your seductions.”

“Not usually. It was your brother who proposed a bet of ten pounds, and then I doubled it, just to see what he’d do to win the funds.”

“I see,” she said. “Are you disappointed with the outcome now?”

He started to chuckle. “What do you think I want? To take away the one woman your brother might actually want to marry?”

Minerva’s eyes widened. “Marry?”

“Your brother had his eye on Mrs. Franks during her first season, but I don’t think he had started courting her back then. You know your brother can be a bit slow.”

“I didn’t know he’d been interested in any woman, least of all her. It does explain her late inclusion on the guest list,” she said, a frown appearing on her face. “It explains so much, actually. But I can’t imagine my brother married to anyone.”

“Neither can I, and yet it will happen one day,” he said, laughing. “I imagine it might be nice for you to have some company around here.”

“Why would you imagine I’d still be here when he married?” she asked, one brow raised.

“Well, you’re not married yet, and…”

“Yes. No man wants me.” She shook her head. “I won’t be here when he marries.”

He was on the edge of his seat before he knew it. Her low opinion of her appeal troubled him greatly, but it was the latter remark that alarmed him most. “Where will you be?”

She considered him for a long moment, then shook her head. “I don’t know if I can tell you. You are his friend.”

“I’m also your friend now. I won’t betray you.”

She wet her lips, but it wasn’t to be seductive. She was clearly nervous about something, and his stomach pitted in concern.

“Tell me. I promise not to breathe a word to anyone,” he swore.

“I don’t know yet where I will go, but it will not be where my brother plans to send me.” She shook her head again. “I had hoped to go back to London for another season, but my brother refuses to take me there now.”

He clenched his jaw. “He actually refused you a second season?”

“Yes. The day you found me outside in the snow, I was furious about something he said, but I was too embarrassed to tell you. I’m sorry we’ll never get to dance together there. I think I would have enjoyed it.” She shrugged, and then smiled in a way that he knew to distrust. “However, I think I found a better solution today.”

A newspaper clipping appeared in her hand and, after a moment’s consideration, she passed it over. He read the words with a sinking heart, though, because it was not good news. Not good for her at all—or for their friendship. “You’d take a position as a companion to an old woman rather than stay here?”

She wet her lips again and glanced at her lap. “Well, since it has been made clear I’m no longer welcome here, and it’s uncertain if I could find a beau where he plans to send me, I’m considering doing as I please for once. My brother scared off every gentleman with a glimmer of interest in me in my only season. He won’t fund another. I happen to already have an acquaintance with the lady who advertised in this paper…and who knows, perhaps she might introduce me to someone eligible who Humphrey can’t browbeat. I’d have exactly the same duties with her as in Cornwall, but with her, I would actually be paid and hopefully appreciated.”

He stared at her. If Minnie took up a position as an old lady’s companion, he would never see her again. Old ladies rarely came to London with any frequency, and no one missed them.

But Frederick would miss Minerva.

He burst to his feet, agitated by the idea of Minnie waiting on an old lady for money when she should be enjoying herself in society. Dancing in ballrooms, laughing when she was tipsy, and being thoroughly kissed in shadowy alcoves or secret sitting rooms.

“Where is your brother sending you?”

“The Cornwall estate.”

“But that’s in the middle of nowhere.”

“Yes, it is but the views of the sea are lovely.”

“You’d be alone there.” Everything about her confession tonight seemed wrong—and incomplete. “What did your brother say that made you so angry with him?”

She blushed and looked away from him.

“Was it he who insisted you wouldn’t find a husband next season?”

She nodded quickly and still wouldn’t meet his eye. “He has decided to send me away to where I won’t be a bother to his friends, too…but I think he’d just rather not be bothered by me anymore.”

Frederick stalked around the room, running a hand over his mouth to prevent a vile curse from crossing his lips. He had to stop this nonsense, but what could he really do? He couldn’t very well offer her an alternative to being exiled or taking up employment. Or even find her a husband in one night.

Or could he?

He stopped dead in his tracks.

He turned slowly, rather stunned by his train of thought, and stared at Minerva Chase.

Four and twenty years old, hair like molasses and a figure he longed to hold against him. Sensible, accomplished, intelligence in abundance.

He liked Minnie. They were friends, and he hadn’t thought of another woman since he’d started talking with her. Even when he’d been blatantly offered female companionship, he’d refused to be tempted into another woman’s bed.

He moved toward her now and sat at her side, the knots in his stomach suddenly unraveling, but his heart was beating wildly.

Frederick could take Minnie away from her brother…if he married her.

She’d have a home of her own to manage as she pleased and a man she seemed to like kissing. Yet, it was hard to tell what she thought of him still. Especially when she didn’t seem to try to flirt with him. Something had to be done about that. “Have you written to apply for the position yet?”

“No, I only saw the advertisement tonight, but I planned to write to her this evening and send off a letter in the morning.”

“When will you tell your brother about your plans to avoid Cornwall?”

“I won’t tell him. Not straight away. He’ll only think I’m writing to an acquaintance when he sees the letter to be franked in the morning, and forget about it. And when I have the position, I will leave for Cornwall and divert the carriage to my new place of employment instead. I could tell him that I was invited to visit her estate for a while. He should have no reason to suspect I won’t be coming back until it’s too late.”

“No, he won’t,” Frederick agreed, heart sinking as he pictured future events unfolding. Minerva would slip away quietly, and no one would see her again.

Humphrey was so caught up in his own pursuits that he might not discover the truth until his sister was long gone.

Frederick was about to lose Minerva.

But then again, he’d never really had her. He’d not tried to claim this woman for the sake of a friendship with her brother. Though he could have claimed Minnie's innocence the first night of the house party. She’d expected it, and he’d disappointed her then.

He raked a hand through his hair, aghast at the realization of what was about to slip through his fingers. He was almost as slow as Humphrey when it came to matters of the heart, it seemed. He’d not acted, and it was almost too late!

Almost, but he still had tonight. He glanced at her now, and nodded. “Are you tired?”

“Not really. I still have my letter to write.”

Frederick wanted to spend every possible moment alone with Minnie, and her secret room was the perfect place to begin his true seduction of her lovely self. He had a goal, unshackled by any wager.

For the first time in his life, he had honorable intentions for a lady he wished to seduce.

He offered her the tea and when she refused to take a sip, he gulped it down quickly. “Would you like some help with the wording of your letter?”

“I think I can manage on my own.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, I am sure.”

“I think I should help. I cannot permit your brother to consign you to the boredom of Cornwall when there is a far more exciting alternative in store for you. Come on,” he insisted, grabbing her by the hand and tugging her up to her feet. “Let’s go to your secret room before your brother finds us alone together here.”

“I do have paper there,” she agreed, keeping pace with him easily.

“I was certain you would have. You’re a very resourceful woman,” he noted, checking that they were unobserved before ushering her into the hidden stairwell and patting her on the bottom as she passed him by.

“What’s gotten into you?” she gasped, stopping on the bottom step of the stair. “Can’t wait to be rid of me, too?”

“You will find out shortly what I can’t wait for,” he teased, shutting the door and then pulling her against him. He couldn’t see her face, but he could feel her softness against his body.

Minerva was delightfully distracting when she was close. He had her alone again, and soon he would put his heart on the line, tell her he’d not been able to stop thinking about her since before their kiss.

If she didn’t want him or his attentions, he’d make a gracious exit and wish her well in her employment. But if she responded in the way he hoped, well, who knows what pleasures might come by evening’s end?

He controlled his hunger ruthlessly and urged her up the stairs to her secret chamber ahead of him. The fire was lit already, the kitten sleeping in front of it where Frederick had left it after dinner, and it took only a moment to decide this was where it should happen.

The seduction of his future wife.

His proposal to the woman he’d somehow fallen in love with.

When he turned around, Minerva was digging through a drawer with her back to him. Her delightfully round rear thrust in his direction and wiggling back and forth.

He groaned softly. Utterly besotted.

Yes, this was the woman he really wanted to make love to. Not to win a wager, or just for one night.

But forever.

He moved toward her, turned her around and cupped her face between his hands, as he had done the first night. Her skin was warm beneath his palms, and he smiled down at her pretty face. “Might I steal a kiss?”

“You never asked last time.”

“Well, I’m asking now,” he said, studying her lips. She was pouting again, and he leaned down a little more.

Her pink tongue darted out to wet them, and finally she nodded.

He swooped down to kiss her again, and then wrapped his fingers around her waist. But he couldn’t help it when they strayed. He did enjoy her soft curves; they fit so well against his harder body.

She was gentle in her responses at first, and untutored, but she seemed to grasp immediately that he was seeking the same passion as the last time.

She rose up on her toes and attempted to wrap her arms about his neck, but he was too tall for that to happen. So, Frederick lifted her up and held her tight against him. “Minnie, be mine,” he whispered against her throat when he drew back for air. “I know it is too soon, and you might still doubt my honor, but I want you far more than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Yes,” she readily agreed. “Tonight might be my last chance to kiss you.”

“There’s always tomorrow,” he asked, drawing back. “And the next day, and then the next.”

She scowled. “You’re making fun of me.”

“No. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I want you more than I ever imagined.”

She appeared rather incredulous. “When did you ever imagine me?”

“The night we kissed Before we kissed, even. When I saw you the next day, and even when I didn’t see you.” He smiled. “I might have acted upon my instincts too soon that first night, but there was that sister thing getting in my way, preventing me from understanding what I really want.”

“There is still the sister thing,” she reminded him.

“Every rule needs to be tested and broken,” he assured her, setting her gently on her feet again.

“You don’t have to pretend, just to get beneath my skirts. I know what you want from women.”

“I’ve already been beneath your skirts, remember? I want the rest of you now,” he promised, meaning every word. “I did not pursue a friendship with you for the thrill of it. I mean, I did, but?—”

She put her finger over his lips when he fumbled to explain. “I understand what you’re trying to say, but surely you can’t mean it. My brother says?—”

“Your brother is an ass and utterly wrong about your appeal! Whatever he said to you to make you doubt yourself is so wrong, it’s not even funny. You are the woman I want to know best of all.”

“I feel the same about you, and I usually don’t want to know my brother’s friends as intimately as I do you,” she confessed.

“Intimately?” he asked, with one brow raised and a ridiculous grin spreading over his face.

“Where else could a friendship with such a man lead?” she asked. “I’m willing, and you’re all a lady could want in her first lover.”

“First and last, my dear. What do you know about pleasure, anyway?”

She winked at him. “Even spinsters hear things from time to time, and my imagination is excellent. Besides, you kiss too well for me not to have speculated on what comes after the kiss.”

“Minnie mine, you only have to put your hands on me to find out.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and then her cheek, and then nibbled on her neck as her fingers played lightly over his body. “Spend tonight in my arms, and we will confront your brother together tomorrow.”

“Confront him? Why?”

“I wish to make him understand that you are the most desirable woman I’ve ever met, and that I am utterly desperate to marry you.”

“Marry me?” She shoved him away, pushing herself out of arms. “Oh, now you go too far, sir. No one would ever believe that!”