The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor by Scott, Regina (christmas read aloud txt) 📗

eight years ago. Butshe’s been fine since.”

His hand touched her arm, a brief caress, but she felt it toher toes. “I’m sure the doctor will know what to do.”

“I hope so,” Hester murmured. “I don’t want to lose her.”

“I know. I suppose even as an adult, we often think our parentswill be there for us forever.”

The pain in his voice wrapped around her, and Hester lay herhand over his. “Until they aren’t.”

“Exactly.” He traced a circle on the back of her hand,sending tingles through her. “My father and I butted heads on occasion, but healways tolerated my foibles. Elizabeth and I could do as we pleased, knowingsomeone would always be there to clean up any messes. Now, I’m not expected tohave any messes to clean up. It’s quite a challenge.”

A smile tugged at her mouth. “But you have always risen tochallenges, my lord.”

His gaze lifted to brush hers, as briefly as his caress, butjust as potent. “Some challenges are more pleasurable than others.”

Oh, but she could lose herself in that smile. “And some makeus stronger, better able to meet future challenges.”

He chuckled. “So, am I to expect choppier waters ahead?”

“Perhaps not,” Hester allowed. “Grace-by-the-Sea is knownfor its sheltered cove, its warm welcome.”

“And will I find a warm welcome here?”

She should not give him hope there could be anything betweenthem. He claimed to be trying to change and become the man his father had been.She had seen little evidence as of yet. Still, some part of her grieved withhim, sought to comfort him.

“I’m sure you have already felt a welcome,” she told him.“You are the other major landowner in the area, after all. And you have beenrather generous.”

“Which means they welcome me for fear I might take offenseotherwise,” he pointed out. “That’s not a true welcome. What about friendship,camaraderie?”

“I suspect,” Hester said, “you are most likely to find thatin the new Lord Howland. The two of you have much in common, being recentlyelevated to the title. Which brings us back to our goal of selecting the bestpresent.”

As if sensing she meant to end their conversation, hedropped his hand and stepped back. “Eleven sounds perfect. I’ll come for youthen.”

Hester gave him directions to the house, but she had afeeling she would be counting the hours until Saturday at eleven.

Chapter Seven

Rob adjusted his cravat as the coachpulled up in front of a three-story stone house off High Street in Upper Grace.The front yard was edged by shrubs, leaves curling and brown with autumn.

“If you touch that linen again,” Elizabeth warned from acrossthe coach, “it will wilt off your neck.”

“Be nice,” he returned as Bascom jumped down to open thedoor for him. Rob climbed out and followed the short walk to the door. Itopened before he could knock.

Hester, her daughter, and her mother stood in the small entryhall. All were dressed in warm colors—russet and orange and peach. The littlegirl gazed up at him, mouth curving in a shy smile. Rob wiggled his fingers ather. She blushed and ducked behind her grandmother.

“It was very kind of you and your sister to request Hester’shelp in finding a present for Rosemary and the earl, my lord,” Mrs. Denby said,smiling at the coach as if to include Elizabeth. “Would you be willing to joinus for tea after you bring Hester home?”

“We’d be delighted,” Rob assured her with a bow.

Hester sent her mother a look, but she accepted his arm towalk out to the coach. Rob helped her in, and Bascom hopped up into his placeagain. As Rob climbed in after Hester, however, he noticed she’d seated herselffacing backward, the position generally reserved for a gentleman or a servant.He should insist she sit beside Elizabeth in the forward-facing seat, but hecouldn’t quite convince himself to forego the pleasure of having her besidehim.

So, he settled himself next to her. She frowned at him, butshe didn’t protest aloud.

The coach lurched as it started away from the house, and hershoulder brushed his. Definitely the best seat in the coach.

Hester was as composed as always. “Good afternoon, MissPeverell,” she said.

“And to you, Mrs. Todd,” Elizabeth said with a nod. “But Iam certain we are destined to become great friends. Therefore, you must call meElizabeth.”

She turned right enough that he could see her cheeks turningpink inside her straw bonnet. “Thank you, Elizabeth. Then you must call meHester.”

“Excellent, Hester,” Rob said.

She had not given him permission, but he saw noreason to stand on ceremony. Still, the look she sent him said she knew what hewas about.

Elizabeth’s smile was amused. “I’m delighted you could joinus today. I’ve heard so much about the shops at Grace-by-the-Sea, but I haven’tvisited in years. What are our choices?”

“They are many and varied,” Hester told her, shoulderscoming down in her russet redingote. “But you’ll see for yourself soon enough.Perhaps we should stop near Church Street and walk down toward the cove. Thatwould give you a good tour of the area.”

“Have you lived here all your life, then?” Elizabeth askedas the coach left Upper Grace and headed out across the Downs like a ship throughthe tossing waves of the browning grass.

“Since I was a girl,” Hester admitted. “We moved here aftermy father died to live with my uncle, Flavius Montgomery.”

Elizabeth’s brows went up. “The famed naturalist? Howmarvelous. What he must have taught you.”

Jealousy crawled up him. Hester had mentioned her unclebefore, but the name had meant nothing to him. Figure on Elizabeth to be thebetter read and more informed.

“He and my sister Rosemary were closer,” Hester said, glovedhands folded primly in her lap. “She loved searching for natural curiosities asmuch as he did.”

“Which is why she discovered thisancient crocodile I’ve been hearing about,” Elizabeth mused.

“Actually, Lady Miranda discovered it,” Hester said, “andshe is rather proprietary about the skeleton, ugly thing that it is. Rosemarytells me Lord Howland intends to make a museum in the castle to house theirtreasures.”

A museum? Well, at least Rob wasn’t the only one who feltthe need to donate things. Perhaps it was the lordly thing to do.

“Excellent,” Elizabeth declared. “I didn’t have anopportunity to