Page 38 of A Sight to Behold
“To lay me on it and gain access under my petticoat.”
Bea tore her hands away from Violet’s grasp and covered her ears. “I don’t want to hear it; it’s too wicked.” She squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her head, clutching her ears shut. “La, la, la, la… Bobby Shafto’s gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee; He’ll come back and marry me, Bonny Bobby Shafto.”
Pippa looked at her in amazement. How could the Beauty of the Ball recite nursery rhymes instead of listening to the bride’s juicy tales of seduction?
Violet turned away from Bea and looked at Pippa. “I’m not mad, you must know.”
Pippa gave her what she knew was a warm smile, one that she’d never expected Violet would receive from her as deservingly as she did this afternoon. “I’m happy for you, Violet.”
“You are?” Violet appeared stunned. “Really?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“B-because I was always so cruel to you, Pippa. And I’m so sorry for that. I was an immature wretch.”
“And now, you’re not?”
“I hope my husband will teach me to grow up.” Somehow, when Violet said that it sounded sinfully wicked.
“I hope so, too, Violet. And I truly am happy for you. By the sound of it, the earl has just the right amount of experience to teach you…”
There was a click, and then a dark, masculine voice pierced the air. “Ladies.” The three of them turned to see that the white double doors had opened, and a tall, attractive man in beige breeches and a tightly fitting blue coat with golden lapels stood at the door. The earl!
He was a striking figure; his hair, a soft hue of blond that glittered in the ambient light, was neatly combed back, revealing a forehead that hinted at his wisdom and experience. His eyes, a charming shade of blue, sparkled with mischief and warmth, their light-hearted twinkle softening his otherwise stern features. His smile was rakish yet inviting, a disarming combination that could undoubtedly intrigue any lady in the room. But there was only one lady he focused that smile on, and she was blushing and melting into her seat on the settee.
“My lord.” Pippa rose from her seat and curtsied. “We were just about to leave.”
Bea dropped her hands from her ears and joined Pippa. Her face was bright red, and she appeared to be looking everywhere in the room but at the earl. In fact, if her eyes hadn’t been firmly ensconced in her skull, Pippa was sure they’d be bouncing around the room. “My lord. We’ve overstayed our welcome.”
“Not at all, Bea. I hope you shall both visit us again soon,” Violet said with a newfound friendliness and a warmth in her voice that Pippa hadn’t ever heard there before. She didn’t act coy or haughty at all. Instead, standing next to the earl, Violet had an air of serenity and happiness that Pippa had never seen in her. Not even when she was victorious in the most elaborate of schemes or when she had been the one to find and spread the meanest, most salacious gossip.
Violet was changed. And this dashing man in the blue coat was responsible. He gave his wife a warm look, one kinder than any Pippa suspected Violet had ever received.
Indeed, a moment unfolded between Violet and her husband when their gazes met. His face brightened. He was her elder, and looked like a man who’d lived, suffered, and conquered. But when Violet’s eyes locked with his, Pippa couldn’t help but notice a boyish gleam in his gaze. At that moment, he wasn’t an earl, but a man in love with a woman.
Pippa warmed to him, for she’d seen that look before. Nick had looked at her like that just yesterday. She’d received a boyish sparkle and a dark, hungry look that suddenly made her insides twirl like a fairy on a frozen lake.
The earl and his countess accompanied Pippa and her cousin to the front door, where he paused and gave her an inquisitive look. “Your eyeglasses are quite fetching, Lady Penelope.”
“Thank you, my lord. They are rather new.” Pippa gave Violet a nervous look, fearing the old Violet would lash out if Pippareceived a compliment from her husband. “The nurse who made them for me, Miss Folsham, was very kind, and I feel rather lucky to have them now.” Pippa felt the need to explain herself.
“Folsham, you said?” Violet said brightly. “That’s the name of your oculist, Henry.” She looked at her husband with brilliantly sparkling eyes.
“It is indeed.” He wrapped his arm around Violet as if they were speaking about an old friend.
Pippa swallowed hard.
“Are you acquainted with Dr. Nick Folsham, then?” the earl asked.
“Indeed, my lord.” Pippa was eager to leave lest she blush and give away just how well acquainted she was.
Chapter Nineteen
Later that eveningafter Nick had kissed the aristocratic beauty in the arboretum, he still couldn’t get his racing heart to rest. He tossed and turned in bed but couldn’t get the image of her pretty pink and swollen lips out of his mind.
Or the reaction of his own body.
When he did finally fall into a fitful sleep, it wasn’t restful. Instead, it was full of Pippa, and they did more than just kiss. He’d awakened, bathed in sweat. He pulled his sleep shirt off and tossed it in the corner of the room. The lights from the street had been unlit; it must have been after five in the morning. Not a sound besides the rustling of his covers was audible. The whole house was silent. He had to get some more sleep. If he didn’t get enough rest, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on his work in the morning.
