The Rake’s Christmas Wager (Spinsters and their Suitors #2)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

A t breakfast the next morning, Lily stirred her tea absentmindedly, listening—or rather enduring—the one-sided conversation Miss Amelia Barrett had struck up the moment they sat down. Across the table, Miss Barrett was all bright smiles and eager gestures as she rambled on about the latest fashions in London.

“And I simply must have the new shade of blue for my ribbons this Season,” Miss Barrett gushed, her eyes wide with excitement. “It is the exact color of the Duchess of Devonshire’s gown she wore at her last ball. They say it is to be all the crack in London—ribbons, trims, even gowns in this shade.”

Lily smiled politely, nodding at the appropriate moments while internally wondering how anyone could be so preoccupied with ribbons. She reached for her toast, but her appetite waned as Miss Barrett’s chatter continued, now shifting seamlessly into her next topic of interest.

“And Lord Brinton,” Miss Barrett added, her voice lowering conspiratorially, though not nearly enough to be discreet. “Oh, how handsome he is! Did you see the way he escorted me into dinner last night? Such gallantry! And his stormy blue eyes—so piercing.” She put a hand to her chest and sighed dramatically.

Lily’s brow arched ever so slightly, though she said nothing. She couldn’t help but find the fuss over Lord Brinton completely ridiculous. The man was a notorious rake, known for charming women left and right. Yet here Miss Barrett and her companions were, practically swooning over his every move. Stormy blue? What color was that? His eyes were decidedly light, with no storm in sight—like the color of the sky on a perfectly clear morning, not a stormy one—though she’d hardly spent much time analyzing the man’s eyes.

Miss Julia Davenport, seated on Miss Barrett’s other side, leaned in with a giggle. “He gave me the most pointed look during dinner. I daresay he was quite taken with me.” She glanced at Miss Barrett, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Though, of course, I’m sure I was not his only favorite.”

Miss Barrett tittered. “Oh, no, not the only one, but surely the first. You must have seen the way he looked at me when I mentioned Almack’s.”

The two young women giggled, their voices overlapping as they bickered lightly about who had captured Lord Brinton’s attention more.

Lily sighed inwardly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. How could they be so enamored by a man whose reputation preceded him in every social circle? Did they not know—or care—that he was notorious for his flirtations?

“What do you think of him, Miss Ashworth? Is he not the most agreeable man at the house party?” Miss Davenport put her hand to her chest and sighed. “I declare I was practically in tears during his recitations last evening. It was as if he was speaking to my soul.”

Lily wanted to snort at Miss Davenport’s comment, but she put on a practiced smile instead. “I daresay,” Lily said aloud, her voice even though laced with a hint of disdain, “he’s barely tolerable.”

Both Miss Barrett and Miss Davenport fell silent at once, their wide eyes snapping to Lily as if she had just committed a mortal sin.

“You cannot mean that, Miss Ashworth!” Miss Barrett gasped, her hand flying to her chest. “Lord Brinton is the most eligible man at the house party!”

Lily opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, a familiar voice sounded from just behind her.

“Barely tolerable?” Lord Brinton’s smooth voice cut through the air, and Lily felt her stomach drop.

She froze for a moment, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. Of all the moments for him to overhear ...

Miss Barrett and Miss Davenport immediately turned their attention to him, fluttering their eyelashes and offering flustered smiles. “Oh, we don’t agree with Miss Ashworth’s assessment at all, Lord Brinton,” Miss Davenport purred. “In fact, we were just saying how wonderful you are.”

“Quite,” Miss Barrett added, her voice sugary sweet. “You were the very highlight of dinner last night.”

Henry Brinton’s eyes flicked between the women, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “That is flattery indeed if I can compete with the mock turtle soup for being the highlight of dinner.”

Miss Barrett and Miss Davenport both giggled at his joke.

“Oh, Lord Brinton, you are such a wit,” Miss Barrett said. “I could listen to you all day long and never tire of you.”

He smiled. “Thank you, Miss Barrett.”

“Shall I fix you a plate for breakfast, my lord?” Miss Davenport said to Lord Brinton. “I was just about to leave the table, but I should be happy to oblige you before I depart.”

“That is most generous of you, Miss Davenport, but I shall fetch it myself.” He bowed to both of the women, who were now standing. “It is a pleasure seeing you both. You radiate like sunshine in the morning.”

Both girls giggled again, then left the room, chatting away.

Lord Brinton said nothing to her as he made his way to the sideboard and filled a plate.

Lily had little appetite, but she couldn’t leave her plate completely untouched. She broke off a small piece of scone and popped it into her mouth, watching the back of the man she’d just cut with an insult. He was tall, his coat filled out to perfection across his broad shoulders.

Without warning, he turned around and caught her staring at him.

He smiled, and she averted her eyes, breaking off another piece of scone. Surely the man wasn’t going to join her at the table, was he? Now that Miss Barrett and Miss Davenport were removed from the room, she was the only one left at the table. Breakfast was not a formal affair and the group activities didn’t start for another hour at least. There was a chance that others would join them eventually, but she felt awkward. Perhaps he would use the insult as an excuse to leave the room entirely and take his breakfast elsewhere.

No such luck. Although there were a dozen chairs to choose from, he took a seat directly next to her, much to her dismay. “I hope you don’t mind if I take a seat here,” he said, his tone neutral as he turned his full attention to Lily for the first time since she’d uttered the insult.

Lily blinked, unsure what to say. He had already taken a seat, so his statement was more rhetorical than an actual question. She swallowed her scone, but immediately broke another piece off and put it in her mouth so she wouldn’t have to answer verbally. She only nodded. Departing at this moment would imply that his presence had an impact on her, which it most certainly did not.

Silence stretched between them. The clinking of utensils against the china became a deafening sound in the otherwise silent room. Her heart pounded traitorously against her chest at the awkward situation she had placed herself in. She ate three more pieces of her scone and took two sips of her tea before she finally looked at the handsome man next to her.

He smiled at her, as if he’d been waiting for her to look up.

Lily swallowed forcibly, unable to look away.

He leaned closer to her, as if they were sharing an intimate moment, which they most certainly were not. “Barely tolerable, hmm?” Lord Brinton’s voice held a teasing note as he leaned even closer to her. “May I ask for clarification on that assessment, Miss Ashworth?” He paused, but when she didn’t say anything, he continued, “Is it the cut of my coat that offends? Perhaps my choice of cravat? Perhaps my hair is not to your liking?”

His eyes gleamed with amusement, as if he found her remark utterly entertaining.

Her cheeks still burned, but she refused to let him rattle her. “There is nothing deficient in your clothing, my lord,” she replied coolly, taking a sip of her tea to calm her nerves.

“Ah,” he continued, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh of relief. “I feared I might have to visit my tailor for an immediate remedy.”

Lily’s lips twitched despite herself, but she kept her expression neutral. “Perhaps it is not your attire, but rather your behavior that leaves something to be desired.”

Henry raised an eyebrow. “My behavior? I had no idea I was such a disappointment.”

“You seem to make a habit of collecting admirers,” Lily said pointedly, nodding toward the now-empty seats where Miss Barrett and Miss Davenport had been seated. “I am not one of them, Lord Brinton. I assure you.”

He chuckled softly, his voice low and smooth. “Ah, so that’s it. You find me ... overbearing?”

Lily met his gaze, her voice firm. “I find you to be precisely what you are—a man who enjoys attention, particularly from simpering debutantes who will fall at your feet with a few pretty words. But I am not one of those women.”

Henry’s smile faded slightly, though the amusement never left his eyes. “I see. So you’ve already made up your mind about me, Miss Ashworth?”

“I know your type,” Lily replied, her voice cool and controlled. “And I have no interest in indulging your games.”

For a moment, he said nothing, simply watching her with that same unreadable expression. Then, much to her surprise, he smiled again—this time, a softer, more genuine smile.

“Well,” he said, his voice quieter now, “there is only one remedy I see for this situation.” He was all smiles.

Lily narrowed her eyes slightly, unsure what to make of his sudden shift in tone. “You are going to leave me in peace for the rest of the house party?”

He took her hand in his, but there was a teasing glint in his eye. “I fail to see how that would solve the problem, Miss Ashworth. I intend to win your good opinion. I cannot do that if I simply ‘leave you in peace.’ No, I will work harder to earn your approval.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please don’t trouble yourself.”

He raised her hand to his lips. “Oh, but it is no trouble at all.”

But before she could respond, he rose from his chair, giving her a small bow. “Enjoy your breakfast, Miss Ashworth. I am sure I will be seeing you very soon.” With that, he left the table, leaving Lily to wonder just what kind of game he was playing.

Lily walked through the conservatory, trying to gain peace from her surroundings. The air was fresh, and the ferns and potted palms were beautiful. Her boots tapped softly against the tiled floor as she walked among the exotic flowers that still bloomed inside here, even amid winter. But the peaceful setting did not soothe her conscience or bring her any measure of peace. Try as she might, she couldn’t shake the lingering guilt from her thoughtless words at breakfast.

She had called Lord Brinton “barely tolerable” in front of Miss Barrett and Miss Davenport, and while she didn’t regret speaking her mind, something about the way he’d asked for clarification had left her unsettled. The look in his eyes hadn’t been one of anger or arrogance, but something quieter, something that now tugged at her with a heavy sense of guilt.

As she rounded the corner, stepping into the corridor leading back to the main hall, she saw Beatrice bustling about with an armful of greenery.

“There you are, Lily!” Beatrice exclaimed as soon as she spotted her. “I’ve been looking for you. I was hoping you could help me set up the festive adornments on the tables for this afternoon’s activity. The group will help arrange everything, and I need a steady hand. You’re much better with these things than I am.”

Lily smiled, grateful for the distraction. “Of course, I’d be happy to assist you. What is your vision for the decorations?”

Beatrice’s face lit up, her eyes filled with excitement. “I propose creating multiple clusters of mistletoe to adorn every room in the house. Doesn’t it sound festive? A little mischievous, perhaps, but what’s a Christmas gathering without some fun?”

Lily chuckled softly at her cousin’s enthusiasm. As hostess, Beatrice could do whatever suited her fancy. “Mistletoe is an essential part of Christmas decor, I suppose.”

“I agree, and I will have the servants scatter them throughout the house for a diverting surprise.”

Lily made a mental note to watch the ceilings for the rest of the house party so that she would avoid such a diverting surprise , as her cousin called it.

As they walked together toward the parlor where the decorations were to be arranged, Lily’s mind wandered back to Lord Brinton. Her stomach twisted as she recalled her harsh verbal assessment, and she hesitated before speaking again.

“Beatrice,” she began cautiously, glancing at her cousin, “what would you do if … if you realized you’d said something that had offended someone? And you weren’t sure how to apologize for it?”

Beatrice paused, turning to face Lily with a curious smile. “Oh dear, who have you offended?”

Lily’s cheeks flushed. There was no sense in hiding the information from her cousin. She needed to be rid of the guilt. “I may have been less than kind to Lord Brinton this morning at breakfast.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened in surprise before she let out a soft laugh. “To Lord Brinton? Oh, my dear, what did you say?”

Lily sighed, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her sleeve as she recounted the morning’s events. “I may have remarked that he was ‘barely tolerable,’ and he overheard. He asked for clarification, but I was too embarrassed to explain myself properly.”

Beatrice’s laughter grew a little louder, though not unkindly. “Oh, Lily! That poor man—he must have been stunned. But I would not worry too much. Lord Brinton is not the type to hold a grudge over something like that.”

Lily frowned slightly, still unsure. “I did not mean to insult him, at least not so directly. I certainly did not intend for him to overhear it. And now I feel terrible. I recognize the need for an apology, though I am unsure of the proper way to convey it.”

Beatrice’s laughter softened into a gentle smile as she placed a hand on Lily’s arm. “You’re overthinking it, darling. Lord Brinton has a good sense of humor, and I am sure he was not truly offended. It is probable that he found it more amusing than anything else.”

Lily bit her lip. “But what if he didn’t? What if he thinks I was being cruel?”

“Then you must show him you are not cruel. Be kind to him,” Beatrice suggested. “You don’t need to apologize outright if it feels awkward. Sometimes kindness speaks louder than words. Show him you didn’t mean to offend, and he will understand.”

Lily nodded slowly, feeling a bit of the weight lift from her shoulders. “You’re right. I will be more than civil—I’ll be kind.”

Beatrice beamed at her, squeezing her arm. “That’s the spirit. And don’t forget—there’s nothing a bit of mistletoe can’t fix!”

“You jest.” Lily laughed at that, shaking her head.

“Perhaps I do,” Beatrice said.

“Let’s hope it does not come to that.” Because Lily had no intention of being caught under any of the mistletoe that would be displayed throughout the house party.

Lily assisted in organizing the greenery, needles, and thread on the tables for the convenience of other guests to take part in creating various arrangements.

Soon, the other guests filtered into the room. Lily looked for Lord Brinton, so she could apologize, but each time she looked toward the door, it was a different guest.

“Lily, could you assist me in arranging the garland for the mantel?” Beatrice asked.

Lily looked to the door once more, but there was no sign of Lord Brinton. What if she really had offended him, and he had chosen not to take part in today’s activities because of her? She cringed, hoping that he would appear in due time. She turned back to her cousin. “Of course I will help you.” But even as Lily worked, her mind kept drifting back to Lord Brinton. She resolved that the next time she saw him, she wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss him.

But given her feelings about Lord Brinton and her lack of warmth toward him up to this point, this could prove to be an arduous task indeed.