Page 59 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“Good morning.”
He allowed his hand to move covertly toward hers until their pinkies touched. Her cheeks pinked and she glanced about the room, but no one paid them any mind.
“You should be careful with such blatant flirting, Mr. Kaye. I might actually believe you like me.”
He chuckled but kept his voice low. “As if asking for your hand was not proof enough.”
“Come now, we both know it was a ruse.”
The mirth dropped from his face. “Not for me.”
The humor in her eyes fled and she let go of the basket. Julianna quickly stood, running her hands down the front of her cream-colored gown and straightening nonexistent wrinkles.
Daniel wished to say more, but several other guests, including Bingham and Miss Haynes, had joined them and confusion overtook the room as baskets were filled.
The clouts were finally located inside a bandbox on top of an old hat Mrs. Waverly had also set aside for the new mother.
Finally when all the things were arranged, servants came in to receive their Boxing Day gifts along with a special bonus.
“Now to deliver the rest of the items.” Mrs. Waverly motioned to the remaining baskets. “Beth, Julianna, I believe you know where the Thatchers live. Would you mind taking this to them? I am certain Lord Bingham and Mr. Kaye would be happy to escort you.”
Bingham leaned over to Daniel and whispered, “Have you noticed Mrs. Waverly’s enthusiasm in placing us with the Haynes sisters?”
Daniel glanced at the matronly woman with the rosy cheeks. “I had not thought on it.”
“If I were a betting man, I’d wager General Waverly’s so-called despondent state was not the true aim of our hostess. Prepare yourself, Kaye, but I believe we are being duped into making matches with her nieces.”
Daniel’s bark of laughter brought all conversation to a halt as everyone stared at him. “Begging your pardon. Bingham was relating a bit of drollery.”
When Mrs. Waverly returned to giving instructions and the room again bustled with activity, Daniel turned to Bingham. “If she is, she’s doing a charmingly good job of it, for I find myself falling more in love with Julianna every day.”
“Love is for nursery rhymes and fairytales. You are simply taken with her fine face and comely figure. Not much different than every other fair maiden you have come across.”
“Not this time. I?—”
Miss Haynes’s glowering face appeared behind Bingham stopping anything Daniel might say. How much had she heard? His friend's words echoed through his head…Every other fair maiden.Good heavens, did she think him a philanderer?
Seeing the surprise on Daniel’s face, Bingham turned to look at Miss Haynes with a subdued Julianna not far behind.
“Still spouting your nonsense about love being a myth?” Miss Haynes placed her hands on her hips.
If Daniel had not been so taken aback at Miss Haynes’s ire with Bingham and not him, he would have found her pose amusing. He’d never seen the reserved woman appear so determined before.
“And I suppose next you will be saying the sun's warmth is simply a delusion of an overwrought brain.” Miss Haynes stepped forward and poked Bingham in the chest. “Or maybe you will also assert that the Americas do not exist because you have never seen them.”
Bingham opened his mouth, but then shut it again. His shoulders went rigid and he smoothed his face into a bored, impassive expression. “You can feel the warmth of the sun every day, Miss Haynes, and one need only ask anyone well-traveled if the Americas exist.”
A glisten in Miss Haynes’s eye alerted Daniel that Bingham had just entered dangerous territory. “The same as asking anyone who has felt or seen love if it exists. And yet you stilldo not trust them or yourself when it slaps you in the face. But perhaps that is because you are incapable of feeling such warmth.”
She spun on her heels and called over her shoulder, “We do not need your escort, Lord Bingham, Mr. Kaye. Please enjoy the rest of your day.”
Julianna cast Daniel a confused glance before her sister latched onto her arm and pulled her out of the room.
All Bingham’s starch dropped and he curled in on himself like a wilting bloom. When Daniel and Julianna had come upon Bingham and Miss Haynes yesterday, they’d been pleasantly surprised their scheming had begun to work. It seemed they were far more thorough at creating an attachment then either one had expected—at least on Miss Haynes’s part.
Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come, we cannot let them go alone.”
Both his friend’s stance and face turned wooden. “Yes, we can. At least I can. I was not foolish enough to engage myself before I even knew my own mind.”
