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

can. Then,tell me, and, I promise you, the War Office willpounce and stop this fiend once and for all.”

It was dangerous. Donner had obviously failed in the past.Rob might not be able to count on the War Office to do its part.

But lack of support for his audacious deeds—whether hisfather or the government—had never stopped him before.

He snapped a nod. “Count on me, Mr. Donner. But do notinvolve my sister further. She’s been through a great deal recently. I will nothave her heart broken by a fictitious romance.”

Donner colored once more. Truly, the fellow had no abilityfor subterfuge. “I assure you my intentions toward your sister are honorable. Iwould be the most fortunate man alive to be allowed to pay my respects. But Iam aware of the gulf between our stations.”

“Good,” Rob said, for all he didn’t care about that gulf.“See that you remember that and treat her accordingly. Now, how do you suggestI go about making the acquaintance of the Lord of the Smugglers?”

~~~

Hester could only be glad that Monday was to be a blur ofactivity. She must teach at the school, then rush home to help her mother withpreparations for Rosemary’s wedding on Thursday. Surely all that would keep hermind off Rob.

It didn’t.

She thought of him as she and Rebecca trudged to the schoolthrough the crisp autumn morning. Because of his generosity, they would soonhave a hearth to warm the building. One less excuse for her more-reluctantstudents to stay away. One more reason to be thankful.

After school, she and Rebecca went to try on their newdresses. The seamstress in Upper Grace had used her and Rebecca’s previousmeasurements to create new gowns for the wedding, as Hester and her daughterwere to be Rosemary’s attendants. Her mother also had a new gown.

“I’m sure there will be a few tucks needed,” she fussed asthe seamstress moved around her, eyeing the purple material.

“Or perhaps a seam or hem let out,” Hester said with a smileat her daughter.

Rebecca wiggled a little as she regarded herself in the Pierglass mirror in the corner of the shop.

“I look pretty,” she said.

“You always look pretty,” Hester assured her, “but that rosycolor does favor you.”

Rebecca swished the silky skirt from side to side. “Can wemake one for Esmeralda too?”

Hester glanced to the wooden doll regarding them with its paintedeyes from a chair across the room. She’d allowed Rebecca to bring it to keepherself entertained, if needed.

“The fabric is too dear,” she explained to her daughter,“but I’ll see if we have anything this color in the trimmings bag at home.”

“I wish I could take her to the wedding,” Rebecca said witha look to Hester as the seamstress began to pin up her mother’s hem.

“You will be far too busy at the wedding to play with Esmeralda,”Hester told her, starting to unfasten the back of the gown before her daughtercould wrinkle it. “But you can tell her all about it when you get home.”

“But I want her to meet Lord Peverell,” Rebecca protested,raising her arms so Hester could slip the gown off over her head. “I didn’t geta chance to introduce her when he was here for tea.”

Hester glanced to her mother and the seamstress, but theyappeared engaged in their discussion about the perfect length of a gown fordancing.

“Lord Peverell will likely be too busy as well,” Hester toldher, laying the dress safely aside.

“Next time he comes for tea?” Rebecca asked plaintively.

How could she promise her daughter Rob would return? Shewasn’t sure when she might see him again. Unlike second sons, viscounts did nothave the luxury of strolling the Downs looking for pretty girls to woo.

“Perhaps,” Hester said, rising from where she’d knelt besideher daughter.

Her mother bustled up to them and turned this way and that.“What do you think? Is the color too bold for a woman of my years?”

Hester regarded the deep purple, like mulberries. “Not atall, Mother. You look very well in it.”

She plucked at the gentle dip of the neckline. “Perhaps abit of lace?”

“If it pleases you.” Hester held out her hands as theseamstress brought her dress. Such a fine silk, such a pretty color. Rebeccawasn’t the only one who looked good in rose.

“You should not wear lace,” her mother said as Hester tookthe dress. “I want you looking your best too. Men think about marriage atweddings.”

Her cheeks were probably as rosy as her gown. She tipped herhead to where Rebecca was smoothing down Esmeralda’s skirts and promising the doll she would have a new gown soon. “Please, Mother. Let’snot go into that here.”

Her mother frowned as the seamstress began unfasteningHester’s dress so she could try on the new gown. “Why not? You have every rightto think about marrying again.”

“So I can have a father,” Rebecca piped up.

The seamstress’s brows rose, and Hester pinned her motherwith a look and a shake of her head. She managed to keep them off the subjectof marriages and fathers until they had finished at the shop, returned home,and sent Rebecca up to the nursery.

But her mother obviously had more to say about the matter.

“Rosemary is marrying an earl,” she reminded Hester as theyretired to the sitting room. “I see no reason why you shouldn’t marry aviscount.”

Hester’s hands were shaking as she went to a chair. “Becausehe doesn’t want me, Mother.”

Her mother sniffed. “Not from what I can see. He’s been very kind and generous to you and yours—the school, yoursister. He’s sat through tea with Rebecca. A viscount doesn’t do that sort ofthing unless he’s interested.”

She still couldn’t convince herself, but she couldn’texplain to her mother her past with Rob and why he might want to atone for it.

But did his attentions stem from a desire to atone? Shecould not make up her mind after her mother had gone to fetch the sewing box.The Rob she’d known had only apologized if it benefitted him in some way, andthen he would turn the apology into some clever joke. She could not see howdonating to the school or helping Rosemary benefitted him. What was he after?

On the other hand, she wasn’t sure