Page 50 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“But—”
She did not allow Daniel to finish his sentence as she grabbed his hand along with a fist full of skirts and rushed toward the road. No one could see them in the woods. They needed to appear as if they had been strolling toward town.
When they reached the path, she quickly let go of his hand and clasped her hands behind her back. “Act normal.”
He looked at her as if she had two heads but took up the place beside her, gulping in several deep breaths to calm his breathing.
Julianna smiled down at the frozen dirt road, unsure if he was winded from their mad dash or their delicious kiss, but she liked to think it was more the latter… at least it was that way for her.
The carriage stopped in front of them, and before she had time to gather her thoughts, the door burst open and Mrs. Barker ordered her in, all the while glaring holes into Daniel. She wanted to protest the older woman’s treatment, but decided right now was not the best time. Considering what she and Daniel had been doing moments before, the old dragon might actually have cause to breathe fire this go-round.
Chapter Fifteen
Beth fingered the keys of the piano, trying to summon the will to play. Her heart was in such turmoil. How could Julianna have rushed into an engagement after she’d cautioned her so many times to take things slow?
Not that she disliked Mr. Kaye. On the contrary, he was a fine gentleman. But if Julianna married, things would change, life would change. Beth hung her head, letting her hands fall on the keys. Discordant notes echoed through the room.
“Not my style of music, but to each their own.”
Her head shot up. Carswell peered at her from the open double doors, his left hand clutching his lapel. The dark dinner jacket he wore hugged his frame nicely and was accented with a fine grey waistcoat and a snowy white cravat. A ruby stickpin glittered in the candlelight.
He made his way to the piano. “I wondered where you’d gone off to after everyone gathered for hot cockles.”
“I am not fond of the games where one must submit to being hit or kicked.”
He smiled. “We are of one accord then.”
Beth tried to smile, but it was weak at best.
“May I?” Carswell asked as he sat beside her.
She scooted over, allowing him half the bench. He removed his white gloves and then with practiced fingers, began playing a soft soothing melody. Her gaze locked on his fingers as they glided on the white and black keys. His left hand did the majority of the work, but he was able to employ his right thumb and index finger for several notes. It was fascinating.
He had talent, and she wondered briefly how accomplished he had been before he lost control over his other fingers.
“Care to tell me what has you so melancholy?” he asked as he continued to play quietly.
Her gaze slowly rose from his fingers, trailing up his arm to his angular face. A slight shadow darkened his jaw where a day's worth of hair had grown. She itched to run a hand along it if only to see whether the stubble was sharp or soft.
When he reached the last note in the concerto he turned to her, waiting patiently.
Beth hung her head. “I suppose I am selfish for wishing that things would never change.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Simply that I am happy for Julianna and sad for myself. On the journey to Haverton, she opened my eyes to the understanding developing between my father and the Widow Westwood. It has taken some time, but I had almost resigned myself to the change in our home life when Julianna and Mr. Kaye announced their intention to marry. I cannot help but feel that my life is being torn apart and every happiness I once knew will soon be but a distant memory.”
The admission left Beth aching for times gone by when things had been easier. Back when her mother had soothed her aching heart, and her days had been filled with the joys and wonder of girlhood. Her fingers instinctively rose to her throat only to remember her locket was still missing.
A warm finger slipped under her chin and tipped her head up. Carswell’s grey eyes were intense as he stared into hers.
“You are not selfish. Nothing about what you have shared is unnatural. Change is difficult, especially when it happens all at once.”
She tried to duck her head but he held her chin firm.
“Please believe me, Beth. It is perfectly normal to feel at odds with the situation. I, myself, am a bit flabbergasted.” He shook his head. “How my flibbertigibbet of a friend convinced your sister to marry him is beyond me.”
Beth smiled at his comically aghast face. “Probably because they are two of a kind.”
