Page 27 of The Dare Before Christmas

“Very well. For now,” she said easily, but the look in her eyes told him she was not done with him yet.

Chapter 8

Dearest Bella,

Well, I did as you told me to. I gave her the truth, laid my heart before her, and got it soundly stomped on. She ran away and I fear I’ll not see hide nor hair of her for the rest of my stay here. I know, I know… what did I expect? I can hear your voice in my head, and I know you’re right, but I’d hoped all the same. Yes, I know, I’m an arrogant devil to believe a strong-willed woman like Hester would fall into my arms without a murmur of protest after what I did. Such conceit. It comes with the dukedom, you know.

I shall not give up, though if you have any advice for this poor old fool, you’d best despatch it at once. It has been a long time since I set my mind to wooing a lady and I’m uncertain I remember how to go on.

I hope that great lummox of a son of mine is looking after you and the next addition to our growing brood. Oh, and when I was in town, I found those sweetmeats you were so fond of the last time you were breeding. You should expect a half dozen boxes to arrive any day, I should think.

Yrs affectionately.

A x

―Excerpt of a letter to The Most Hon’ble Arabella Grenville, Marchioness of Bainbridge, (daughter of Mr and Mrs Alice and Nathanial Hunt) from her father-in-law Alfred Grenville, His Grace, The Duke of Axton.

18th December 1844, Lewes, East Sussex.

Emmeline started as Wrexham stood up, the discovery of how much larger he was than her provoking a rush of feeling she was unprepared for. She had forgotten just how handsome he was, too, and he was as beautifully dressed as before. His company at the dinner party had been both fascinating and challenging, disturbing in ways she could not quite put her finger on. He had made an impression on her, and she had found her thoughts returned to him often since that night. He was so unlike anyone else she had ever met before, that she had hoped she would see him again. She had not expected it to be so soon, however, or in such circumstances.

“My lord, how long have you been here? You look frozen to the marrow.”

“That good?” he replied dryly. “My, you are a tonic to a fellow’s self-esteem, Miss Milly.”

“That’s Miss Knight, to you, my lord,” she replied.

He grinned, and she shook her head, amused despite his teasing.

“I think I had best take you to the nearest inn to warm up before I see about your carriage,” she said, fighting the urge to reach out and brush the snow from his shoulders. She suspected he would not like her touching him without invitation.

“I’d not say no to a brandy or three to thaw me out. I feel a kinship to an icicle that is most disconcerting. So lead on, Miss Milly. I would offer you my arm, but the fact is that I need yours to guide me,” he said, an edge to his voice.

She wondered what it must cost his pride to ask it of her. He was a strong, beautiful man who’d been born to one of the most powerful titles in the land, and yet he must ask for her assistance. She knew enough of men and their pride to believe it must sting, at least a little.

“I should be honoured, my lord,” she said, and reached out to take his hand so she could place it on her sleeve. Before she could, his fingers tightened on hers.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice low. “Of all the people who might have come to my aid, I’m glad it was you.”

“So am I,” she said, before she could think better of it, and then blushed furiously at the impropriety of what she was doing, holding this man’s hand in public.

He chuckled, a warm, rich sound that was so delicious she could not help but stare at him.

“Are you blushing, pet?”

“Never you mind,” she retorted, placing his hand on her arm.

He huffed out a laugh and moved his hand until it lightly clasped her elbow. “Lead on, sweet, and I shall follow like a lamb.”

Emmeline snorted at that. “Lamb, my eye,” she muttered under her breath, praying that no one saw them together, or the gossip mill would have a field day.

The snow was falling thick and fast now, the soft crunch of it underfoot quietening the world around them. The streets were all but empty, most people having sought shelter. Indeed, Emmeline was supposed to have done the same and returned to her sister and Louis by now. They would wonder where she had got to when she had only been popping into the stationery shop next door to buy ink. But then she had seen Wrexham sitting alone, and she had known at once that there was something wrong, though she could not say how. Perhaps it had been the rigid set of his shoulders, or the fierce expression he wore, daring the world to test him further.

“There’s a step coming up,” she warned him. “In three steps. Two. Now.”

“You’re good at this,” he observed, but Emmeline was already staring up at him, rather astonished by the ease with which he moved, and the trust he put in her.

It was rather humbling and… and strangely intimate. His strong profile caught her gaze, and she could not help but admire this handsome, intriguing man. Not for the first time, however, she ought not to have been daydreaming. Emmeline gasped as her foot slipped on a patch of ice, going out from beneath her until a tumble seemed inevitable, but then Wrexham’s arms firmed around her, hauling her against him.