Page 31 of A Lovely White Christmastide
Kaye’s promise of other military men was a hollow one, something Carswell should have expected. Nothing had been as he’d expected since his arrival.
A high-pitched titter caught his attention and he glanced again at the girl across from him. While Mr. and Mrs. Crane were decent people, and he was sure were fine neighbors to the Waverlys, Carswell had no desire to get to know any of their daughters. But the moment they all heard he held a title, they’d each taken their turn at making fools of themselves in an effort to get his attention.
“Is the veal to your liking?” One side of Miss Haynes’s mouth twitched.
She was not hiding her amusement very well, but Carswell was relieved that she was his dinner companion and not one of the Crane women.
“It is awfully young and a bit brazen.”
She choked on her sip of wine and he handed her his serviette. When she’d gained control over her coughing, she cast him a mock glare.
“My apologies,” he whispered. But he was not completely sorry. That she had understood his remark at all was a testament to her wit and intelligence, but to find the humor in it—well, heneeded no further proof that Miss Haynes was truly unique. But the last few days had already proven that time and again.
He’d observed her with a multitude of people, from parishioners, to neighbors, and even with her cousins. She was polite to all, but she did not fall for any of their traps—especially those set by her sister.
Down the table Miss Julianna sat with the eldest Mr. Waverly. He’d not missed her various attempts to leave her sister alone with him. However, he’d also not minded the times she’d distracted Mrs. Barker so he could speak with Miss Haynes alone, something she was apparently adept at, especially when she had help.
On the other side of the table, Kaye hardly listened to the middle Miss Crane. The woman droned on in a voice far too loud for a dinner party about her talent in painting screens, but Kaye’s attention was decidedly focused on his plate. When he glanced up, a scowl marred his handsome features.
Carswell leaned close to Miss Haynes’s ear, relishing the scent of roses before he whispered, “Methinks Mr. Kaye is a bit taken with your sister.”
Her head snapped up and she observed the other end of the table. Instead of smiling, she frowned. “He does not look pleased.”
“No, because Mr. Waverly is keeping her highly entertained at the moment. I know jealousy when I see it.”
“I suppose that could be the case.”
“I must warn you though, he’s a bit flighty.”
“So is Julianna. Flighty and far too quick to think highly of people.”
Carswell frowned. Miss Haynes apparently held a bit of a cynical streak that he’d not seen before. “I think we should all think highly of others until they have proven us wrong, do you not?”
“I do not. It is imperative that we hold others on level ground until they prove that they deserve a higher place in our regard. That way if they fall, it will not be a far drop, and if they rise they will not have to step up so far.”
He studied her, pondering the logic of her statement. That sort of rationale stemmed from a place of hurt, but he did not wish to disagree with her.
“I suppose that is a sensible approach.” He glanced down at his plate. As of yet he had not cut into his meat, choosing instead to eat the potatoes which he could spear easily. Before tonight, their meat had been easily broken with a fork which he knew appeared strange as he ate with the wrong hand, but the veal needed the work of a knife.
He glanced up to find Miss Haynes peering at him. Without a word she quickly switched their plates, placing her perfectly cut meat in front of him. He stared at her a moment, but she did not lift her head as she set to work cutting the meat. After a moment she placed a piece in her mouth, and he took his cue.
A shy smile graced her lips when he took the first bite off her plate. The veal was far better than he’d ever tasted. Was it possible for food to taste better simply because a beautiful woman had cut it? Or perhaps it was the kindness that made it more flavorful? Whichever it was, he was grateful.
Mrs. Waverly clapped her hands once everyone was seated in the drawing room.
“I have a very important announcement. My dear husband has agreed that this year we should have a musicale and whatbetter time to hold it then when my two beautiful and talented nieces are in residence?”
Miss Julianna glanced at her sister, but Miss Haynes chose instead to inspect her gloves. Odd. He knew her to be a bit reserved, but the way she avoided her sister and aunt’s gaze indicated discomfort.
“We will hold it the afternoon of Twelfth Night, and we should like to invite all of you to participate,” Mrs. Waverly continued. “We will, of course, invite many of the gentry here about, but we wanted you to be the first to know.”
The Crane sisters began chattering in delight and Mrs. Waverly appeared pleased with herself. No one seemed to notice the silent conversation going on between the Haynes sisters as their eyes met and Miss Haynes shook her head at Miss Julianna. The concern etched on Miss Julianna’s face intrigued him.
Someone stepped into his line of sight and Carswell tried to peer around him, but Mr. Caleb Waverly blocked his view.
Kaye rose from a chair across the room and approached the settee where Miss Julianna sat. When he disappeared behind the youngest Waverly, Carswell thought he might need to intervene. His friend had become increasingly surly toward the apprentice barrister the last few days due to his continued insistence on remaining so close to Miss Julianna.
“Caleb,” the general called from the other end of the room, “come hear what Mr. Crane has to say about that piece of property you have had an interest in.”
