The Christmas Countess. Adrienne Basso

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СКАЧАТЬ lovely face filled with uncertainty. Cameron braced himself for an argument.

      “Though I prefer it to be different, I agree with your decision,” she said. “It would be too upsetting and confusing for Lily if she learned the truth.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for your kind and exceedingly generous offer. My brother and I shall be delighted to attend the Christmas festivities at your home.”

      “Very good. I shall have my secretary send you all the pertinent details, along with directions to the estate.”

      Cameron tapped again on the carriage roof and instructed the coach to take them to her brother’s house. He saw Miss Tremaine’s expressive blue eyes widen, for she had not given him the address. He liked that; he wanted her to be a bit wary of him, wanted her to know that he was a strong, knowledgeable, formidable opponent.

      They did not speak for the remainder of the short ride. Amazingly, there was no extreme tension in the air and Cameron was glad they had managed to get past the awkwardness of the situation. For the moment.

      Philosophically, he realized the tension would very likely return in full force when Miss Tremaine and her brother arrived at Windmere. Unfortunately, that was the reality of this bizarre situation and the sooner he learned to cope with it, the better.

      Besides, Christmas was known to be a time of hope and rebirth. Perhaps this year, when it was needed most, they would be able to resolve this matter in a way that would bring all of them some measure of peace and happiness.

      Chapter 4

      Rebecca and Daniel set out on their journey to the earl’s estate five days later, just after breakfast, in a brand-new, recently purchased carriage. It was well sprung and plushly appointed, but could have been filled with hay, for all that Rebecca cared. It was the prize at the end of her trip that she valued; the means to bring her there was unimportant.

      “You should not have accepted this invitation without first consulting with me, Rebecca.”

      “I know, Daniel. I am sorry.”

      “This is a most inconvenient time for me to be away from London. Since I’ve decided to stay in England for at least a year, ’tis imperative that I establish a stronger business presence. Currently, I am in the middle of some very delicate negotiations for mining rights in Cornwall. This venture needs my complete attention in order to succeed.”

      “Perhaps you can arrange to return to London for part of the time?”

      “And leave you on your own with Hampton? Not on your life.”

      “There will be a house full of guests, including the earl’s mother. I hardly think my reputation, or virtue, will be in jeopardy.” Rebecca rolled her eyes, but her brother was gazing out the window and did not see. “I appreciate your concern and support, but I am well beyond a time in my life when I need someone to protect me, to shield and shelter me from the world.”

      Daniel huffed. “Maybe if someone had done a better job of that years ago, we would not be in this particular mess.”

      Every muscle in Rebecca’s body stiffened, surprised to feel the hurt. He did not mean it the way it sounded, she told herself. He is merely annoyed and frustrated because of the inconvenience and interruption to his schedule. “I apologize again for not conferring with you before accepting the earl’s invitation, but I simply could not allow the opportunity to spend time with Lily to slip out of my grasp.”

      Daniel turned to her. Rebecca saw a moment of embarrassed anger cross his expression. “Curse my wicked tongue. I do not mean to vent my foul temper on you. Forgive me.”

      “Oh, Daniel.” Rebecca appreciated his apology, yet found herself compelled to explain further. “Please try to understand. I have no real desire to spend the holiday with Lord Hampton at his grand country estate. Truth be told, the very notion intimidates me. But this might be the only chance I will ever have to be with Lily and I know in my heart if I do not do this I shall waste far too many of the days ahead dwelling in bitterness.”

      “Hush, now. Of course you must go. We must go.” Daniel darted her an embarrassed look, then awkwardly patted her hand. “I know it is necessary for you to seize this opportunity. Though no one who knew the truth of the matter would fault you for wallowing in pity and resentment. ’Tis monstrously unfair what our parents did.

      “As for Great-Aunt Mildred, let me just say it is a blessing she is already deceased or else I would not be held accountable for my actions toward her.”

      Rebecca heaved a small sigh and smiled at her brother. It did her bruised spirits good to have him play the champion for her. “I know this visit will not be easy for either of us, but at least it is a happy time of year. Celebrating Christmas often brings out the best in people.”

      Daniel grimaced. “I find the holiday can oftentimes be a foolish combination of sentimentality and over-blown piety.”

      “But you always loved Christmas when you were a boy.”

      “That was a very long time ago, Becca.”

      Knowing she would never win an argument on that subject, Rebecca felt it prudent to change the course of their conversation. “How long before we are there?” she asked.

      “The coachman told me another hour.”

      Rebecca straightened and looked out the carriage window. There had been a subtle transformation in the landscape that had previously escaped her notice. The more densely populated area outside the city proper had given way to a gently rolling countryside, the fields now bare, the meadows still boasting a few sparse patches of green.

      The woodlands and copses were without leaves and the bareness was a fitting accompaniment to her mood. Though she had professed her great desire and determination for the necessity of this upcoming visit to her brother, Rebecca worried if she was doing the right thing.

      Would it be easier or harder to leave her daughter once she had become acquainted with the little girl? Was she possibly making a most difficult situation even more intolerable? Would it be better to try to forget about Lily and simply move forward with her life?

      And what of the earl? Was her attraction to him merely the natural female instinct of admiring a handsome, powerful man? Or was there a deeper, more complex connection that she could not begin to define or understand?

      These thoughts plagued her for the next hour, but when they passed a sign announcing they had entered Kent, Rebecca threw off her worrisome mood. It was a lovely, charming, rural area, one that reminded her a bit of her home in Taunton. They rode through a prosperous village, with a fine selection of goods displayed in the shop windows and numerous, well-dressed people frequenting those establishments and her mood lightened further.

      Beyond the shops were clusters of houses. Some of the dwellings had thatched roofs; others were constructed of stone and slate. All had bare gardens neatly tidied and dormant in the winter cold and there were hedgerows or painted white fences marking their boundaries. As the carriage reached the outskirts of the village proper, it clattered past an old Norman church, then turned onto a curving road that crept up a hill.

      In the distance, Rebecca could see the manor house and its extensive grounds. The sun was high in the sky, its wintry rays brilliantly reflected in the many small-paned windows of the four-story house. There was smoke curling from the ten chimneys she СКАЧАТЬ