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

frowned in his direction, as if certain he had something to do withher behavior. Perhaps he did. But how did one go about occupying a six-year-oldchild?

He nudged her with his elbow, and she directed her big blueeyes to his face. Rob put a finger to his lips, then dropped his hand below thetop of the pew to form something approximating a rabbit’s head with his fingersand thumb. Rebecca’s eyes widened.

He hopped the head closer to her, then away, and she watchedavidly. When he hopped it closer again, she snatched at it. Rob jerked out ofreach. She stilled, waiting.

The second time, she grabbed him and held on tight. “Gotyou!”

“Sh!” some lady from behind them warned.

Rebecca glanced over her shoulder. Rob pulled out of hergrip and bounced the bunny away.

She caught him three more times before the vicar invited thecongregation to acknowledge the Earl and Countess of Howland.

As Rob rose, he met the gaze of Mrs. Greer, who was frowningat him as if wondering how the paragon she’d praised could have allowed alittle girl to disrupt the service.

“I should like to see you remain silent, madam,” he said,“if you caught a rabbit in church.”

She blinked so rapidly he was certain the candles flickeredwith the breeze.

The earl and his bride made their way down the aisle tocongratulations on all sides. Hester followed on the magistrate’s arm. As shepassed the pew, she held out her other hand for her daughter. Rebecca clung toRob and shook her head.

For a moment, Hester looked stricken, as if he’d taken herlast hope. Then she was past, and it was all he could do not to shout afterher.

“Why didn’t you want to go with your mother, Rebecca?” heasked.

She glanced up at him. “They’re all so big.”

He remembered that feeling. His brother and Elizabeth hadreached their heights early. For a few years, Rob had been the shortest memberof the family. He had always felt as if they were all looking down on him.

“We can fix that,” he told her, and he bent and hefted herhigh in his arms, so her head was above even his.

“I can see Grandmother!” she cried.

As the church began to empty, Mrs. Denby came to join them.“Whatever were you thinking, Rebecca, to bother the viscount and MissPeverell?”

Rebecca shrank against him. “I wasn’t a bother.”

“Indeed she was not,” Rob assured her grandmother. “It wasthe most delightful service I have ever attended.”

Elizabeth coughed into her hand. It sounded suspiciouslylike a laugh.

“That is very kind of you, my lord,” Hester’s mother replied.“What do you say, Rebecca?”

Rebecca toyed with the velvet on his coat collar. “Will youcome to the party? There will be dancing.”

“Well, then, I wouldn’t want to miss it,” Rob told her.

Her grandmother held out her arms. “Come now, Rebecca.”

Rebecca met his gaze. “Do I have to?”

Her grandmother drew herself up, for a proper scold, nodoubt.

“You should,” Rob said. “Your grandmother would probablyvery much like to spend this special day with her beloved granddaughter.”

Her head swiveled. “Am I your beloved granddaughter,Grandmother?”

Mrs. Denby’s round face melted. “Oh, sweetheart, of course.Now, hurry! What would the wedding party be without the attendant who carriedthe basket?”

Rob set her down, and she slipped her hand into hergrandmother’s. He thought she would abandon him without another thought, butshe glanced back. “Come along, Lord Peverell.”

“It seems you’ve been summoned by the queen,” Elizabethmurmured beside him as Rebecca skipped out, hand in her grandmother’s,seemingly without a doubt that he would follow.

“Would you mind attending for a while?” Rob asked.

Her smile was content. “I’ll be fine. I didn’t notice Mr.Donner in the crowd, but surely someone will be willing to dance with me.”

She’d been looking for Donner?Guilt sank its teeth into him. He’d explained to his sister that the fellow hadrequested a moment of his time to ask about a business arrangement rather thansuggest a courtship, but apparently that hadn’t stopped Elizabeth from hoping.He’d have to have another word with the agent the next time they met. And hestill needed to have a conversation about the possible capture of the Lord ofthe Smugglers.

For now, they exited the church and rode up to the assemblyrooms for the wedding breakfast. He’d never understood why the celebration wascalled a breakfast when it might be held even in the middle of the afternoon asit was today, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying the roast tongue, bakedham, sweet rolls, and other delicacies the footmen served to the guests at tablesset across the top of the hall. For all Howland was hurting financially, hehadn’t skimped on feeding his guests.

Rob’s rank allowed him a prime place near the head table,where the bride, groom, and their families congregated. It also allowed him a primeview of Hester. She’d styled her hair so that little tendrils curled around hercheeks, caressing them in a way he’d once had leave to do. The warm color ofher dress matched the color of her lips. She kept her head down, seeing toRebecca’s needs, conversing with the little girl. No matter how long hewatched, he couldn’t seem to will her to raise her head and favor him with aglance.

“You should ask her to dance,” Elizabeth said as a quartetbegan warming up in the musicians’ alcove above the main floor.

Rob dragged his gaze back to his sister. “The bride and newcountess? I’m certain her husband might have something to say about that.”

“You can pretend to misunderstand me all you like,” hissister warned. “But if you don’t ask Hester, someone else will, and I refuse tosee you moping about again.”

Rob tore open a sweet roll with his fingers. “I do notmope.”

“Or frown prodigiously, apparently.” She nodded to whereRebecca had wiggled off her mother’s lap to go speak to the earl’s daughter.“You could always ask Rebecca instead. She seems to like you. I can’t imaginewhy.”

Neither could he.

In the end, he girded up his loins to approach Hester. Shewas laughing over something her sister had said, and he wanted to sit and soakup the sound. Unfortunately, it shut off abruptly as she glanced his way atlast.

He bowed. “Mrs. Todd. Would you care to dance?”

She regarded