Page 33 of A Wallflower's Wassail Punch
The viscount beamed.“I don’t believe I’ve enjoyed myself so much in years.”He may have answered her brother, but his eyes never left Annette’s face.
Annette’s cheeks burned, and William arched a brow at her, glanced at Weston, then back at her.She shook her head ever so slightly, signaling for William to keep silent on the matter for now.
“Ah, yes.That’s… good,” William said, frowning at his sister.“Lord Weston, have you met Mr.Charles Wilkens?He’s a solicitor, and we’ve worked together often.”
“It’s a pleasure,” said the viscount, holding out his hand.He turned back to Annette.“Lady Henney ordered a wagon to be brought round.Shall we go ourselves?”
“Yes, please.I had thought to ride Domino and follow the wagon, but I find I’m a bit sore after this morning.”
At William’s insistence, she told him of her earlier fall.“No injuries, I just don’t feel up to the saddle today.”
“Of course,” all three agreed at once.
“Besides, it won’t be hard work.”William added, “Father pays some of the older tenants’ boys to collect plenty of pine boughs and mistletoe.We only go out ourselves and gather a bit to continue with tradition.It’s something we always did as children growing up.”
“It’s a ritual I uphold myself when I’m home,” said Lord Weston as the butler appeared carrying his greatcoat, hat, and gloves with Annette’s maid following with the same.
Once settled on the wagon bench, Lord Weston picked up the reins, gave them a shake, and clucked to the pair of bays.The wheels lurched forward, and they were off.A copse of pine was nearby, and they soon had the bottom of the wagon bed covered with freshly cut boughs.
Annette was longing to ask Lord Weston if he’d spoken with Papa, but she didn’t want to seem forward or assuming.As he held out his hand to help her into the wagon, Andrew pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “May I court you, my sweet Nettie?”
She gazed into those dark coffee eyes and could only nod.Their faces were so close his warm breath touched her cheek.He bent his head, their lips brushing, and when he deepened the kiss, Annette’s legs turned to butter.She gripped the lapels of his greatcoat as he tightened his hold to keep her upright.
“You taste so good, Nettie,” he murmured against her ear, then trailed kisses down her neck.That pounding began in her belly again, spreading lower.It was the beat of desire, she was sure.And now she would have a lifetime of this dizzying feeling, a lifetime with a man she cared for.
“You make me feel… tingly inside and out.”
He chuckled.“I thought I had become indifferent to finding love again, hoping to gain companionship with a woman of similar background and likes.Yet, meeting you, spending time with you, has convinced me I could never be happy with that.”He cupped her face with both hands.“You have brought my soul back to life, along with all the possibilities life still offers.”
Annette’s eyes burned with happy tears.She swiped them away, overcome by a sense of belonging.Belonging with this man.They fit together like Christmastide and wassail, like a cup of warm chocolate and a crackling fire, like passion and desire.
She threw her arms around this wonderful man, thanking fortune, or fate, or destiny… whatever or whoever had brought him to her.Annette kissed him again, then hugged him tightly, her cheek pressed against his chest.She could hear his heart thudding beneath his greatcoat.
“Nettie!”called a voice in the distance.“Nettie!”
Over her head, Drew sighed.“It seems reality intrudes again.Your brother is joining us, and it appears to be urgent.”
A moment of panic struck, hoping it wasn’t bad news.But when she turned to find him galloping toward them, she spotted the grin on his face.“He’s happy.I haven’t seen him this excited in?—”
Lucius slid off his chestnut horse, dropping the rein and rushing to her.He was panting when he grabbed her by both arms, his face glowing.“Christiana is having a house party, and I have an invitation.I must leave, but I had to tell you goodbye and happy Christmas before I left.”
“Oh, Brother, that’s wonderful.She invited you for how long?When will you be back?”
The light dimmed briefly in his green eyes.“Oh, no.William’s friend, Charles, was invited.I’ve talked him into letting me go in his stead.I will call her bluff and pursue her like Wellington routing Bonaparte.”He pulled Annette close.“Watching your courage these past few days has humbled me.How can I not fight for my own happiness when my little sister has valiantly opened her heart again?”
“This is the brother I’ve missed so.With such an attitude, and a torch that has burned for so long, I have no doubt you will win her heart.”Annette glanced sideways at Weston, breathless with these recent events.
Lucius peered at his sister, then at the viscount.“You spoke to my father today.Congratulations to the both of you.”
“Thank you, Lucius.Now go!You have a battle ahead of you and no time to waste.”
He kissed her cheek, picked up the rein, and leapt onto his horse.“I will see you for the new year, Sister,” he said as he dug his heel into the gelding’s flank.“With Christiana by my side.”
CHAPTER15
“Has it only been five days since you arrived Lord Weston?”Lady Henney had sections of pine on her lap.She and Annette were expertly weaving them together.
“It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?”he answered over his shoulder as he stood on a stool and arranged garland over the doorway of the drawing room.They’d already finished the dining room and parlor.He was like a young cove again, sneaking shared glances and little smiles with Nettie across the room.
