allowed a few drops of cold water to fall on his cambric-covered chest, the sheet somehow having slid downward. “I shall fulfill my share of the bargain and look after your father. But nothing more. I shan’t marry you, sir. Not for anything.”
“I’m such a good catch, how can you turn down marriage to me?” He affected a pout, and for an instant she had a glimpse of what he must have looked like as a boy. It took great resolve to resist his appeal, but he was most provoking.
She scowled at the plaintive note in his voice. She ought to pour the entire contents of the basin over his head. How dare the man propose marriage so casually? He was impossible. Rather than brush aside that appealing curl that had fallen over his brow, she rose and walked to the door, after dropping the cloth back into the basin.
“I shall pay my respects to Aunt and consign myself to bed. It will be a penance of sorts. On the morrow I will begin our plan.”
“Before you leave, I have something for you. A Valentine’s Day gift, if you like. I hope it pleases you. Over there, on the dresser. Open that package.” He turned his head to watch her.
Disregarding his offhand presentation, she hastened to the dresser to pick up the rather large parcel. Sitting back down on the chair, she proceeded to undo the wrapping, exclaiming softly when she beheld what was inside.
“Good gracious! You ought not, you know. This is frightfully valuable.” Perched in the tissue reposed an enameled gold singing-bird music box. The base, sides, and top were blue enamel. Wide gold bands trimmed the corners and the oval upon which the bird sat. Unable to resist, she wound up the music box and listened, utterly enchanted, to the sweet melody. “How lovely!” The smile beamed at his lordship was quite, quite bemused and delighted.
“I thought that since you are plagued with that infirmity of the voice, you might like a song sung on key.”
Only the delicacy and great cost of the music box kept her from throwing it at him then and there. How like him to tease her about her lack of musical ability. Unwilling to let him know she was hurt, she smiled serenely at him.
“It is truly a marvelous gift, and I shall treasure it always. Would you mind if I conceal it from Aunt Bel for the nonce? We scarcely wish to add fuel to her determination to see us wed.” At his nod she rose. “Thank you. Lord Leighton, for the valentine gift.”
“I knew you’d be pleased, and so I sent a request to Hadlow to bring it along. Been in the family awhile.”
His triumphant smile almost made her take back her words. What a devious man, to be sure. She turned to leave the room, the music box clutched tightly in her arms.
“And the name is David, you know. I think you had best learn to use it.”
Compressing her lips and taking a deep breath, she nodded her good night to him. After first hiding the music box in her room, she sailed down the stairs to find her aunt. David, indeed.
* * * *
The next morning Elizabeth discovered her aunt in the breakfast room, staring out of the window with a frown on her face. Beyond the panes of glass a few lazy flakes of snow sifted to the ground. Elizabeth believed that if her aunt frowned hard enough, the snow would cease, afraid to fall and vex that formidable lady.
“Good morning, Aunt.”
“Bad weather to travel to Penhurst Place.”
“You plan to go with me, then?”
Aunt Bel nodded. “I wish to see what Harold has done with that house. He was secretive about his plans, and with him not having a proper hostess, I’ve not had the chance to see it.” She shot a sharp look at Elizabeth. “What did you think of the place?”
“Well, I saw nothing other than the hall and the drawing room. But it seems charming. The stone exterior is such a lovely hue of saffron, and the French windows in the drawing room seem most pleasing. Did you know the drawing room is on the ground floor? With doors that open out onto a very nice
“I’m such a good catch, how can you turn down marriage to me?” He affected a pout, and for an instant she had a glimpse of what he must have looked like as a boy. It took great resolve to resist his appeal, but he was most provoking.
She scowled at the plaintive note in his voice. She ought to pour the entire contents of the basin over his head. How dare the man propose marriage so casually? He was impossible. Rather than brush aside that appealing curl that had fallen over his brow, she rose and walked to the door, after dropping the cloth back into the basin.
“I shall pay my respects to Aunt and consign myself to bed. It will be a penance of sorts. On the morrow I will begin our plan.”
“Before you leave, I have something for you. A Valentine’s Day gift, if you like. I hope it pleases you. Over there, on the dresser. Open that package.” He turned his head to watch her.
Disregarding his offhand presentation, she hastened to the dresser to pick up the rather large parcel. Sitting back down on the chair, she proceeded to undo the wrapping, exclaiming softly when she beheld what was inside.
“Good gracious! You ought not, you know. This is frightfully valuable.” Perched in the tissue reposed an enameled gold singing-bird music box. The base, sides, and top were blue enamel. Wide gold bands trimmed the corners and the oval upon which the bird sat. Unable to resist, she wound up the music box and listened, utterly enchanted, to the sweet melody. “How lovely!” The smile beamed at his lordship was quite, quite bemused and delighted.
“I thought that since you are plagued with that infirmity of the voice, you might like a song sung on key.”
Only the delicacy and great cost of the music box kept her from throwing it at him then and there. How like him to tease her about her lack of musical ability. Unwilling to let him know she was hurt, she smiled serenely at him.
“It is truly a marvelous gift, and I shall treasure it always. Would you mind if I conceal it from Aunt Bel for the nonce? We scarcely wish to add fuel to her determination to see us wed.” At his nod she rose. “Thank you. Lord Leighton, for the valentine gift.”
“I knew you’d be pleased, and so I sent a request to Hadlow to bring it along. Been in the family awhile.”
His triumphant smile almost made her take back her words. What a devious man, to be sure. She turned to leave the room, the music box clutched tightly in her arms.
“And the name is David, you know. I think you had best learn to use it.”
Compressing her lips and taking a deep breath, she nodded her good night to him. After first hiding the music box in her room, she sailed down the stairs to find her aunt. David, indeed.
* * * *
The next morning Elizabeth discovered her aunt in the breakfast room, staring out of the window with a frown on her face. Beyond the panes of glass a few lazy flakes of snow sifted to the ground. Elizabeth believed that if her aunt frowned hard enough, the snow would cease, afraid to fall and vex that formidable lady.
“Good morning, Aunt.”
“Bad weather to travel to Penhurst Place.”
“You plan to go with me, then?”
Aunt Bel nodded. “I wish to see what Harold has done with that house. He was secretive about his plans, and with him not having a proper hostess, I’ve not had the chance to see it.” She shot a sharp look at Elizabeth. “What did you think of the place?”
“Well, I saw nothing other than the hall and the drawing room. But it seems charming. The stone exterior is such a lovely hue of saffron, and the French windows in the drawing room seem most pleasing. Did you know the drawing room is on the ground floor? With doors that open out onto a very nice
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