Page 10 of A Season for Christmas

Not something she had done on purpose, yet there was a part of her that was pleased at how well they would look together. Which was not at all the point because they werenottogether.

That was when she realized one of her hands had drifted up to pat her hair, checking for stray tendrils. Immediately, she snatched her hand down. Of course, she wanted Samuel to find her attractive. They had not discussed the explorations he wanted to engage in on this trip, not since that private discussion in Camden’s library, but she would not assume he had changed his mind since then.

Though part of her was afraid he had.

Either way, she would be making the trip and doing a service for her country.

Was it too much to ask for a little something for herself as well?

Over the past day, as she’d rushed to pack her things and prepare for the trip, she’d had more than one fantasy about what it would be like to have Samuel under her lash… under her. She pressed her thighs together and gave her head a little shake, as if doing so could shake the image from her mind.

Dismounting, Samuel handed off the reins of his horse to her footman, who rushed out from the sideyard to greet him. Already, Watson was ordering her assembled footmen to gather up her suitcases. Only one would be going in thecarriage she was riding in, as well as a bag for Anna; the others would all go in the luggage carriage, which would go on ahead of them so when they arrived at Clarence House, their things would be ready and waiting for them.

Watson opened the door as Samuel approached, and Catherine took another deep breath, lifting her chin and brushing her skirts down again before facing him. Thankfully, no one was paying attention to her. The footmen were lifting their burdens and moving toward the door, Watson was greeting Samuel, and Anna was watching the man with stars in her eyes.

Catherine could not blame her for the reaction. She was feeling a little starry-eyed herself, though she did her best to suppress it. Samuel was already cocky enough; no point in giving him another reason to be.

He moved to the side, giving the footmen room to go past him and out the door, turning to Catherine with a wide smile.

“My lady.” He strode forward, bowing in front of her and taking her hand so he could kiss the back of it. Her skin tingled where his lips landed, and she felt heat flush through her as he squeezed the tips of her fingers.

“Mr. North. You are precisely on time.”

“I do my best.” He flashed a smile at her. “The carriage has more than enough room for all of us, but I plan to ride Herod for the morning, so he’ll be more amenable to following the carriage in the afternoon. You and Anna should be comfortable throughout the day.”

“I see.” She glanced at the window. “You are not bringing a man with you?”

Samuel shook his head. “I have no need of one, and if I do, Gregory will provide.”

Catherine was not surprised Samuel eschewed having apersonal manservant. While he now had the wealth for one, he’d been raised to do things for himself. She certainly had not, though she made it a point of pride to do as much for herself as she could. There were certain things that were difficult on her own, though, that having a lady’s maid made things far easier.

He glanced over at the suddenly empty foyer.

“It looks like we should be ready to be on our way.” He smiled at her, and it was only then she realized he had not released his hold on her hand. “Shall we?”

Ignoring Anna’s big, curious eyes, Catherine nodded her head. It was going to be a very interesting trip.

Samuel

The day passed far faster than he would have expected. He’d planned on riding Herod to Clarence and had told Gregory that he’d be bringing the stallion as his friend had an interest in possibly pairing him with one or more of his mares, but with Catherine in the carriage, he’d almost regretted that decision. Still, once Herod had gotten to do some runs during the morning, he’d more than settled enough to be hitched behind the carriage for the afternoon.

Tomorrow, after a day of travel, he should be even more even-tempered from the very beginning.

During the afternoon he and Catherine had not been able to talk of anything of consequence, not with her lady’s maid present. The young woman’s suspicions were already roused, and she did her best to be silent and discreet while he and Catherine conversed. Mostly, he told them stories of his travels overseas, the places he’d seen and the adventures he’d had. He only embellished a few, enjoying Catherine’sreactions as he told her about lions in Africa and the huge whale that had decided to play with one of the ships he was on.

In return, she updated him on some of their mutual acquaintances he’d lost touch with while he was moving about the world rather than spending time in London. He got the impression she had not personally kept up with them, either, other than in a superficial way. She seemed… lonely. He was glad she had made friends with Priscilla because that group of ladies was clearly prepared to welcome her into their fold.

By the time they reached the Partridge and Pear Tree, the inn he’d planned on staying at for the evening, he was feeling more than a little frustrated at being in such close confines with her yet having to remain on entirely proper behavior. Though she’d had an audience for the flogging she’d administered at the Society of Sin, that was very different from an amorous interaction in a carriage with her lady’s maid pressed against her hip.

Besides, an audience was not something that had ever appealed to him.

He kept his hands to himself, no matter how he fantasized about touching her. Tasting her. All the improper things he could do to her if only they were alone.

“Welcome, Mr. North, so good to see you again,” Innkeeper Klaus greeted Samuel with his slight German accent. Coming up to the carriage as Samuel descended, the rotund man wiped his hands on the apron he wore round his ample waist. He fair beamed with goodwill and cheerfulness. With his rosy cheeks and white hair, dressed in dark red under his apron, he was the very picture of holiday cheer.

“Klaus.” Samuel smiled at the other man, reaching outto shake his hand in greeting. “Good to see you again. Did you get the runner I sent?”

“Yes, yes, we have rooms for you and your lady,” Klaus said, grinning even wider. Samuel did not bother to correct him. “Not to worry. Ah, and this must be she.”

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