Mistletoe and Mayhem: A Regency Holiday Romance Anthology, page 78
That, at least, she was certain of now.
Chapter Twelve…or Two
Relieved, Tobias watched Anne and her cousin, Lady Leonora, return to the house, leaving behind a somewhat desolate-looking Lord Gillingham.
“That was close,” Phineas remarked beside him. “I hope you’ll heed my advice now and not delay any further.”
Tobias sighed and nodded, “I should speak to her.”
“Indeed, you should,” said a slightly annoyed voice to his right.
When he turned, Tobias found Lady Louisa standing on the bank, her arms akimbo and a bit of a frustrated glare in her blue eyes. Without him noticing, she had made her way across the frozen lake, then removed her skates and was now watching him with great displeasure.
Intrigued, Phineas approached her, his dark gaze raking over her in open admiration. “You’re quite a menace, my dear Lulu.”
Her jaw tensed as she looked past him, ignoring Phineas as best as she could. “I know you care for her,” Lady Louisa said to Tobias without preamble, her eyes watchful, no doubt noting the way he all but sighed at the mere mention of Anne. “Why then do you stand idly by and allow another to steal kisses?”
Tobias tensed. “What ought I have done? I was too far away.”
Lady Louisa’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Not this morning in the library.” Her brows rose in challenge. “I interfered and prevented the worst as I did again just now. However, I won’t be able to keep Lord Gillingham away from her indefinitely.” She took a step toward him, but then flinched, sucking in a sharp breath. “You need−”
“Are you hurt?” The easy smile slid off Phineas’s face as he grasped her hand, his gaze falling to her right foot.
“I’m fine,” Lady Louisa snapped, jerking her hand out of his. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t touch me, Lord Barrington.” Her voice was icy, and Tobias did not fail to notice that it seemed to cut his brother as few things ever had before.
“Why?” Tobias asked. “Not that I’m not grateful for your interference, but why?”
Lady Louisa sighed, a rather indulgent look coming to her eyes. “Because I want to see her happy and because I believe you’re the one to achieve it.” Her gaze warmed. “She loves you, and I feel deeply confident in my conclusion that you love her as well. Is that not so?”
Staring at Lady Louisa, Tobias barely heard the remainder of her words as her first three continued to echo in his mind. She loves you.
Lady Louisa exhaled an exasperated sigh, “Apparently, you’re as blind as she is.” She took another step closer, cringing once again as she put weight on her right foot. “How can you not see it?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Be that as it may, if you no longer think of her as Little Annie, then you need to act. Fast.”
Phineas scoffed, “That’s precisely what I said.”
Shock came to Lady Louisa’s face as she turned to look upon him for the first time. “You did?” Her lips thinned in something resembling disgust.
In answer, Phineas wiggled his brows in that deeply annoying way. “Believe me, it came as quite a shock to me as well that we actually agree on something. A grave sign, indeed, for it surely prophesies the end of the world as we know it.” Then he laughed.
Rolling her eyes, Lady Louisa returned to ignoring Phineas, which was generally sound advice. Again, she took a painful step toward Tobias. “Well? What do you intend to do?”
“You should have a doctor look at your ankle,” Tobias advised, equally determined not to discuss his plans with Lady Louisa. The woman was as intrusive as Phineas. Why the two of them didn’t get along was beyond him.
“Don’t try to distract me,” Lady Louisa hissed, annoyance darkening her face. “You−”
“I’m not trying to distract you,” Tobias insisted. “However, I do believe you’re in significant pain. You should−”
“He’s right,” Phineas exclaimed, and without another word, he swept Lady Louisa into his arms and marched back toward the house.
Tobias couldn’t help but laugh as the lady protested not only loudly, but also with severe-looking smacks to his brother’s upper body−anything within reach! Phineas, however, seemed to find her reaction deeply amusing as his hold on her never wavered.
Perhaps Anne was right. Perhaps those two would either kill each other before the year was out or fall madly in love.
Tobias sighed, “Anne,” he whispered to himself, loving the sound of her name for it conjured her beautiful face. “Will you marry me?” he mumbled, imagining what it would be like to have her by his side for all the days to come.
Would she say yes?
“Truly, Leo, I’m fine,” Anne told her cousin after they’d returned to her chamber. “I’ll probably have a bit of a bruise on my hip, but other than that I suffered no injury.”
“I’m glad,” Leonora replied, both of her hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea as they sat in Anne’s chamber, trying to warm up. “I admit it looked quite horrifying the way she crashed into you.”
“That’s Louisa for you,” Anne remarked with a smile. “She never does anything half-heartedly.”
Leonora grinned. “No, she doesn’t. Sometimes that worries me for I fear that−”
“You foul-mouthed oaf! Put me down this instant!”
Both cousins froze, their eyes widening as they heard Louisa’s booming voice echo through the closed door to Anne’s chamber. “What is going on?” Anne asked as she hurried to cross to the door, then pulled it open.
“Miss Thatcher, Lady Leonora,” Phineas greeted them with a smirk on his face as he walked by, a struggling Louisa in his arms. Ignoring her protests, he carried her a few steps farther, then pushed open the door to her chamber and walked inside.
“What happened?” Leonora asked, her eyes wide with concern as both cousins hurried after them.
“He won’t put me down!” Louisa snapped, once more shoving against Phineas’s chest. “This poor excuse for a man won’t−”
“She twisted her foot with that little stunt of hers,” Phineas explained over his shoulder. “I asked to send for a doctor, but I suggest you cool her ankle until he arrives.”
Leonora nodded and immediately darted off.
“Put me down!” Louisa hissed yet again as Phineas moved to settle her upon the bed. However, another one of her abrupt shoves against his chest promptly made him lose his balance.
Anne stared as Phineas with Louisa in his arms tipped forward and they both fell onto the bed. Phineas barely managed to catch himself with one outstretched arm, their faces now close enough for a kiss. “If you wanted me in your bed,” Phineas whispered with a grin, “all you had to do was ask.”
Anne bit her lip to keep a grin from showing on her face for the look in Louisa’s eyes spoke only remotely of annoyance. Indeed, there was something there that whispered of temptation and desire held in check. Perhaps Anne was not the only one hesitant to admit where her heart truly lay.
“Get off me!” Louisa hissed, once she’d recovered her wits. “Or I swear I will end you!”
Chuckling, Phineas rose to his feet, “Charming as always, dear Lulu.” His gaze moved to her ankle, and the expression on his face sobered. “For once, take care of yourself.” Then he turned, smiled at Anne and walked out the door…
…right past a very curious looking Grandma Edie.
Pushing herself up into a seated position, Louisa glared at the door. “That man is despicable! He had the nerve to−”
“To carry you to your chamber all the way from the lake,” Anne interrupted as she came to sit beside her cousin. “Is that not so?”
Closing the door, Grandma Edie settled into an armchair in the corner, her pale eyes watchful. “He carried you inside?” She chuckled with a glance at the door through which Phineas had left. “Perhaps he discovered some manners after all.”
“I didn’t ask him to!” Louisa snapped defensively. “Quite on the contrary, he refused to set me down!”
“But it was kind of him to do so,” Anne insisted, sharing a bit of a complicit look with Louisa’s grandmother. “To carry you back to your chamber.” She marveled as she glimpsed a moment of contemplation flit over Louisa’s face. However, it passed before it could linger.
“Who knows why?” her cousin hissed. “I have no doubt he’ll mock me about it endlessly.” Her teeth ground together before she finally managed to shake off the thoughts that riled her. “Let’s forget about that odious man and talk about our dear Mr. Hawke.”
Anne inhaled a deep sigh, “I promised I would speak to him and I shall.”
Leaning back against her pillows, Louisa reached for Anne’s hand. “He loves you. He all but admitted as much.”
Anne tensed as a sense of foreboding washed over her. “What did you do, Louisa? Please tell me you didn’t…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words, but her head moved from side to side as though the movement could undo what Louisa had so foolishly done.
Louisa patted Anne’s hand. “I’m sorry, dearest, but it slipped out.” She sighed, “Truly it had to be said.”
Anne stared at her cousin. “You told him I loved him?” she asked in horror.
Grandma Edie chuckled. “Well played, my girl.”
Louisa cast her grandmother a warm smile before her gaze returned to Anne. “Why don’t you want him to know?”
“Because…because…” Lost for words, Anne knew not what to think, let alone say.
“I can see that you’re afraid,” Louisa replied, her hands settling on the mattress before she pushed herself back against the pillows into a more erect position, “and I understand why you would be. But if you allow that fear to hold you back, you’ll spend the rest of your days dreaming of a life with Tobias instead of living it. Is that what you want?”
Anne closed her eyes. “But what if he doesn’t love me?”
“He does,” Louisa insisted.
“He does,” Grandma Edie agreed as she settled deeper into the armchair, her head coming to rest against the upholstery.
“How do you know?” Anne demanded, looking from one to the other.
Exhaling another exasperated breath, Louisa grasped Anne’s hands anew, a rather impatient insistence in her grip. “Have I not been right about this from the start? Why are you so afraid to trust me? To trust yourself?” Her blue eyes looked deep into Anne’s. “When he kissed you, what did it feel like?”
A smile teased Anne’s lips. However, she could not help but feel a bit uneasy discussing this with her cousin’s grandmother seated only a few steps away. Fortunately, a rather uneasy glance in Grandma Edie’s direction confirmed that the dowager had once again dozed off as she often did quite unexpectedly.
“See?” Louisa declared triumphantly, interpreting Anne’s smile for what it was. “Now, would you stop worrying and go and speak to him? You’re giving me a headache!” Sighing, she rubbed her temples.
A part of Anne wanted nothing more but to seek out Tobias and see Louisa’s words confirmed. Another part, however, still would not let go of the what ifs, fearing she could not gain anything from revealing her feelings, but would instead lose the best friend she’d ever had. “You had no right to tell him,” Anne squeaked, well-aware that she was merely stalling for time. Her hands were trembling, and she feared her heart would beat out of her chest at the thought of facing Tobias.
Louisa, of course, saw right through her. “Stop trying to distract me,” her cousin snapped gently. “What is done is done. Now, stop hiding and go speak to him.” She waved her hands, shooing Anne off the bed. “And avoid Lord Gillingham for I won’t be there to save you another time.” Her brows rose, and she gestured to her ankle.
Anne smiled at her. “Thank you…for saving me.”
“What is family for?” Louisa replied with a devilish grin. “I admit it was fun!”
“But your ankle,” Anne insisted. “You−”
“Out!” Louisa snapped, a warning glare in her eyes. “Now!” Her right arm snapped outward, and her forefinger pointed at the door. “I mean it! Go!”
Inhaling a deep breath, Anne complied, hoping despite her jittery nerves that this day would end as promising as it had begun.
With another kiss!
From the right man, of course.
Chapter Thirteen ~ Out into the Snow
Pulling on a dry pair of boots as well as her heavy winter cloak, Anne headed back outside.
The cold air felt wonderful upon her heated cheeks as her eyes swept the grounds, looking for Tobias. Many guests were still ice-skating while others had begun a snowball fight near the maze in the western half of the garden. The tall hedges provided a good shield behind which one could duck when another missile came flying at one’s head. Laughter echoed across the glistening snow, reminding Anne of the joyful winter days she’d shared with Tobias and Phin when they had been children. Was there any chance they could hold on to this bond now that they were grown?
“Are you looking for someone?”
Looking over her shoulder, Anne found Phineas standing only a few feet away. “I might be,” she replied as a nervous shiver snaked down her back. It would have been easy enough to blame it on the cold; however, Anne knew that she could no longer hide from the truth.
Louisa would never let her.
Phineas grinned. “Am I right to assume that you’re looking for my brother?” He moved closer, his dark gaze watchful and…knowing.
Oh, so knowing.
Anne swallowed. “Perhaps.”
Phin laughed, and his large hands settled upon her shoulders as his eyes looked into hers. “You’re as bad as he is, dear Annie,” he said gently, humor teasing his voice. “I’ll go and fetch him for you, but you have to promise me that you won’t let him get away.”
Anne inhaled a shuddering breath. If only it were that easy! After all, Tobias did have a say in what would come of…of their kiss, of that deep, unsettling, all-consuming feeling that made her heart race and her breath lodge in her throat. It was not merely her decision, but his as well.
“Promise me!” Phin insisted.
Anne nodded, unable to utter a single word.
Phineas grinned, giving her shoulders a slight squeeze before he walked away in the direction of the lake, a soft chuckle echoing after him.
Anne inhaled a deep breath, rubbing her hands together against the cold. Her thoughts were racing as much as her heart, trying to conjure the right words to say. Never had she been good at expressing what lived in her heart. Somehow it had always simply been a known truth between her and Tobias. They’d been friends, almost family. She’d always loved him, and he’d always loved her. They’d never said it, never spoken about it, and yet, they’d known.
They’d simply known.
How on earth was she to tell him what lived in her heart now? Was she simply to blurt it out?
Her feet carried her around in little circles, her gaze drawn to the other guests still engaged in a snowball fight, laughing, their faces flushed with excitement. Oh, if only she could join in and ignore the nagging fear that lingered in her chest!
“Miss Thatcher, what a surprise to see you!”
Anne almost groaned at the sound of Lord Gillingham’s voice behind her. Her eyes closed, and she inhaled a calming breath before turning to face him.
“I’d thought you’d remain indoors after your ordeal,” he remarked as long strides carried him closer. “Are you well?” His gaze swept over her.
Anne felt a shiver run down her spine; and this shiver was not of the teasing, tingling kind; the kind that stole one’s breath and quickened one’s heart. No, this shiver spoke of reluctance and unease. “I am well,” Anne told him, annoyed that he’d found her again. “As I’ve said before. Is there a reason you don’t seem to believe me?”
A hint of surprise came to his face at her harshly spoken words. “Not at all. I’m merely worried.”
Anne sighed, “I appreciate your concern; however, it is not necessary.”
“Would you like to take a stroll around the gardens?” Lord Gillingham asked, stepping closer and offering her his arm.
Anne glanced over her shoulder. “I’m afraid I cannot. I’m waiting for a friend.”
Lord Gillingham’s smile faded. “It seems we’re always interrupted.” He moved closer, and his gaze sought hers in a way that made Anne want to turn and run. “I lost not one, but two chances to kiss you today.” His gaze drifted lower to touch upon her lips. “But perhaps a third will present itself.”
Repelled by his frank words, Anne took a step back. “You’ve been very kind, my lord,” she told him, doing her best not to sound as repulsed as she felt, “but I feel compelled to inform you that…my heart beats for another.” There, she’d said it! Not to Tobias, but at least she’d managed to tell Lord Gillingham how she felt.
Thus far, Anne had been reluctant, hoping that the man would come to understand her short, indifferent answers and lack of interest for what they were. She’d hoped he would realize that she did not care for him and bestow his attentions elsewhere. However, it would seem open words were needed after all.
Lord Gillingham’s face darkened. “That cannot be true.”
“But it is,” Anne insisted, wishing he would simply take his leave and go. “My heart beats for another and has for a while.”
His lips thinned. “You’ve misled me,” he gritted out on a hissed breath.
Anne frowned. “I’ve done no such thing. I’ve spoken to you as a friend, no more and no less. But I am sorry if you’ve misunderstood my intentions.”
The look in his eyes remained hard and, instead of taking a step back, Lord Gillingham took one closer. “You−”
“I must insist you leave!” Anne objected to his inappropriate approach. No longer concerned for his feelings, she drew back her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Now!”
Lord Gillingham tensed, but he kept his distance. Still, he seemed more than a bit reluctant to comply, no doubt another accusation on the tip of his tongue. However, before he could give it voice, a snowball hit him hard on the side of his face, sending him sprawling into the snow.
