His Blessed Epiphany (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 9) Page 16

  She blushed profusely, and swallowed thickly. “I, uh, I wish I hadn’t asked,” she whispered. “Let us hope Miss Duffy and Lord Chorley didn’t overhear. That sort of talk isn’t meant for their ears.”

  “Cass has so many problems right now, Fanny, he is barely paying any mind to anything. Look at the sorry fellow, he is fallen into civil whiskers with Miss Duffy. And by his expression, he is enjoying himself!”

  “Whatever you said to her certainly has altered her for the better,” Fanny mused. “Did you scare her into her changing?”

  “Little old me? I never intimidate the ladies. I merely charm them.”

  “You must have used a barge full of charm on her,” Fanny said, studying Miss Duffy critically. “She has become not only tolerable but rather nice to have around. I didn’t ever think she had it in her. Had she been like this all along, I wouldn’t have regarded her with such scathing contempt. Perhaps, if she stays like this, we could find a man for her to marry,” Fanny suggested, standing close together as they walked back toward the Library.

  “I hope you don’t have Cass in mind for that position. I think she is a bit old to be his wife.”

  “She isn’t that old,” Fanny mused. “She isn’t much older than me that is why my father always pitied her. Her bitter attitude only made her seem older. She would be a formidable adversary for his mother. Think about it, it would be a clash of two grand dames. Oh, it would be such a sight to behold.”

  “Fanny,” he said, hoping she would hear the warning in his voice. He knew she would hear it, he just didn’t know if she would heed it or not. Knowing Fanny, since she was so much like him—she would disregard any advice he had for her. She had matchmaking on the brain. He groaned. They were in for a lot of trouble.

  “What was that noise for?” she asked softly.

  “Now, I know how Micah, Lewis and Clarence felt.”

  “I don’t follow, you have quite lost me, my love.”

  “Freddie and I fancied we were matchmakers, and I am quite certain they had that same sinking feeling in their gut that I have right now thinking about you matchmaking Cass and Miss Duffy. Find another victim for Miss Duffy, please?”

  “I will think about it,” she said airily. “You have to admit, Cass is the perfect candidate. Think about it, Miss Duffy would have his mother marching to her own tune in no time at all. Of course, his mother might be opposed to the match because Miss Duffy is Irish, but that would only make it more delicious! Oh, the agony. The horrid woman would get exactly what she deserves for being such a bad mother.”

  “You never wanted to match her up with anyone before I reconciled you two, why now?”

  “Because now I can stand being around her, and I can listen to her thoughts on the issue of marriage. I never believed she had the capacity to think before. If she has the ability to think…she has the ability to be a much greater person that I ever thought she could be. Oh, what I could help her become.”

  “Please, God,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “Please let Miss Duffy be resigned to staying the merry little ape leader that she is.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next day started with little fanfare. It was a New Year, and yet most of his new beginnings had commenced the previous year.

  “We are an old married couple now,” he said in jest. “We were married last year.”

  She laughed, and sat up in bed, rubbing at her eyes sleepily. “Good morning, husband. Do we have to get up? I was having such a delicious dream.”

  “Don’t you want to be dressed and ready to bid adieu to the riders of the Hunt?”

  She groaned. “It’s a good thing Lord Chorley came in a carriage with his trunks. The man is ready for anything, and he was quite keen to go out on the hunt with Papa today. Maybe I should have married him,” she said wickedly, eying him with mischievous eyes. A smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  Felix chuckled. “Oh, aye, but would he be able to do this to you?” he asked, reaching for her and running his hands over her bare skin. She inhaled sharply.

  “No, I don’t believe he could, but then again, he might have been nice enough to warm up his hands first,” she sighed.

  “Truly? Are they that cold?” He pulled them away from her, and blew on them, rubbing them together briskly. “It seems I need to stoke the fire a bit. I don’t think a maid has come in to attend to it yet.”

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  He paused. “As long as it doesn’t involve Cass falling in love with Miss Duffy, I am all ears.”

  “I have written to your mother, and asked her to come and pay us a visit. I also extended the invitation to your aunts. I told her that they would all be most welcome here, and that if they wished, they could stay on.”

  “Stay on as…”

  “Family members, of course. What do you think I would do, assign them to the servants’ quarters?”

  “I…you might have second thoughts once my mother and my aunts blow into Blessing Hall. They are not what you are used to, Fanny. They…”

  “I know what to expect, Felix. You needn’t worry. I think Miss Duffy shall assist me as well. She has become so helpful.” He kissed her lightly.

  “I shall leave it all in your capable hands, my love, and I do mean that, Fanny. You have stolen my heart. I couldn’t love anyone more than I love you.”

  Her eyes blazed with her own warm love. “I feel the same way, Felix.”

  He slipped out of bed, and he felt her watching him, as he strode to the fireplace, and started stoking it. Once the flames were crackling away, he turned away from the hearth. Warmth started to flow through the room. He walked back over to Fanny. The fire wasn’t the only thing that been stoked. His ardor had as well. Gazing at Fanny, her eyes widened incredulously. “I know what that look means,” she sighed. “We shall have to dress quickly if we are to linger in bed.” He made certain that the bedchamber door was locked before he jumped back into the bed. Holding Fanny close, he gazed adoringly down into her eyes.

  “I could do with more mornings like this one,” he murmured softly, kissing the tip of her nose. “Cuddled up next to you, a nice fire blazing with you in my arms…bliss that’s what it is.”

  “Happy New Year, sir,” she said boldly, her eyes blazing with her cheekiness. She knew exactly what her words would do to him.

  “Call me sir, will you, you naughty little madam?” he asked, touching a spot on her belly that he knew would make her erupt into a fit of giggles.

  “Stop, Felix. Stop,” she laughed, writhing under him, her legs thrashing out beneath the sheets. His hands ventured lower, and her giggles turned to the sort of moans he liked to hear. Her moans were indeed music to his ears.

  “Do you want me to stop now?” he asked, his breath teasing her ear. “I will if you want it. You wish is my command.”

  “No,” she said. “Pray, continue, my love.”

  And he did.

  *****

  The hunters were preparing to leave Blessing Hall.

  Admiration and love filled Fanny’s heart, as she gazed upon her father. The butler and footmen were standing ready with the mulled wine. Her father had had the grooms ready Lord Rascal for him to ride today. She had to admit, the beast was a majestic looking horse, and he also had a stubborn and sometimes hard to control temperament.

  “Are you certain you are in good enough health to ride him, Papa?” she asked softly. She hadn’t seen Felix for a few minutes, and she wondered where he had gone off to.

  “Of course I am. I am giving my horse to Lord Chorley. I didn’t think it wise to let him ride Lord Rascal as the old thing can be temperamental.”

  “Papa we have four extra field hunters.”

  “Aye, and you know, I think we should buy another one. It doesn’t seem enough. I am only glad that all of the guests for the hunt brought their own horses this year.”

  Papa, it doesn’t add up.”

  “Oh, aye, it does. Felix has one horse, Lord
Chorley has my field hunter, and Lucky has the other one, and of course Peter has the fourth field hunter, he normally rides Amadeus.”

  “So he does,” she sighed. “Papa, did you say that my husband was going with you? I thought…I thought…”

  “So did I, darling. But he came to me after breakfast this morning and told me he would accompany the hunt. He said he wouldn’t do anything bloody. I agreed to his terms, and thought it would be nice just to have his company. He is an able enough horseman, so you shouldn’t worry.”

  “I’m not worried, I merely wondered why he hadn’t told me.”

  “He probably thought that he would surprise you.”

  “I suppose he didn’t have to consult me. It’s not as if he requires my permission.” Worry clawed at her heart. She fretted that something would happen to him while he was out Riding to Hounds. Shaking her head, and squaring her shoulders, she inhaled a deep breath. “I think I shall have some of that mulled wine once it is passed around,” she mused. Her father smiled softly at her, and moved away from her to greet the rest of the guests as they arrived.

  Felix stepped out of Blessing Hall in his hunter duds.

  Good God, he was a handsome. The breeches clung to his muscular legs, and she felt herself getting a little lightheaded. It would be his first meet. How would he cope?

  “Are you quite all right, my lady?” Miss Duffy asked softly. She nodded her head. “Oh, he does look smart. Your husband, if I might say so, is the most striking figure out of all of the hunters.”

  “You may say so, as long as you don’t get any ideas,” she teased.

  “Oh, a man such as he would never look upon me, Lady Spaulding. You needn’t fret about that.”

  “You may call me Fanny, Euphemia.”

  “And you may call me, Effie, Lady Spaulding. I shall, however, keep to addressing you formally during events such as this one.”

  “Thank you, Effie,” she smiled at her. Effie gave her a tentative smile, and pulled the shawl she wore closer around herself.

  “I almost wish I could go with them,” Effie mused.

  “You could follow in the carriage that my Aunts shall ride in. Some women follow on foot, though I daresay that wouldn’t be the thing for a lady such as yourself to do. I know the other ladies wouldn’t mind making room for you in their carriages.”

  “No, I shall remain here with you. As long as my presence won’t vex you. You could go and ride with your aunts, you needn’t feel as if you have to stay with me.”

  “Gracious, no,” Fanny laughed. “I will let them roam over the hills and through the woods all on their own. Felix shall handle himself admirably, I am certain. As for you vexing me, Miss Duffy, you never would have vexed me in the first place had you acted more like the way you are acting now, Effie. You remind me of my own dear mother with the softer personality you are showing now.”

  “I take that as the highest compliment, indeed, my lady. It would seem that your husband shook up the House of Blessing in a way that it needed to be shaken.”

  “Felix works in mysterious ways, but he has a good heart and I love him dearly for it.”

  “That he does,” Effie said, smiling. “I went from cursing his name to blessing it with my nightly prayers.”

  As if he knew they were discussing him, Felix wandered over their way. Grooms stood with their horses waiting, and footmen stood with the trays of mulled wine in the silver stirrup cups with Mr. Davies keeping a watchful eye.

  “Are you ready for the thrill of the chase, my lord?” Fanny asked.

  His eyes snapped with good humour. “As you know, my lady, I am always ready for a good pursuit.”

  Her cheeks warmed, and she pressed her hand to her side. Peter had arrived. He looked warily at Felix, and then, turned his attention to her father. She cast her eyes away from them, and focused on Felix. “It doesn’t look as if Peter is going to make any trouble.”

  “I shall treat him as he treats me, you know that, my darling.”

  “So there isn’t any need for me to get cross?”

  “No, I shall behave.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t be cross at you, Felix. I meant that there wasn’t any reason for me to get sore at my cousin.”

  “No, none at all. I think he shall be on his best behaviour today.”

  “One usually doesn’t like to take a return trip to a pile of excrement,” Miss Duffy said, her eyes widening. “Oh, doubtless, I shouldn’t have said that aloud.”

  Fanny chuckled. “Mayhap not, but you are right. I don’t think Peter is keen to take another header into that vile stuff.”

  A groom presented Felix with his field hunter. He swung up onto the large animal, and smiled down at Fanny. Heavens, he looked magnificent.

  “Oh, you do look handsome,” she breathed, looking adoringly up at her. He took a cup of the mulled wine and sipped at it. She took her own cup, and watched everyone at the meet as they talked amongst themselves. The hounds were brought round, signaling that the hunt would soon commence.

  “Do take care,” she said, preparing to part herself from the riders.

  “I always take care. You needn’t fret, Fanny. I am quite at home on a horse, and I at least am riding the right horse for the occasion.”

  “Bloody cheek,” she murmured, blowing him a kiss and retreating to stand beside Miss Duffy. She took her arm, and companionably hooked arms with her. “Now, Effie, we wait.”

  “With your heart in your throat?”

  “Oh, aye,” she sighed heavily.

  *****

  Felix had handled himself in his capable manner during the Foxhunt on New Year’s Day. She believed that she had admired and loved him before that day, but after that day, her love had increased exponentially.

  Her husband wasn’t only the kindest man alive, he was also the bravest. He had embarked on a life that was quite strange to him, and he had done it with aplomb she hadn’t seen. Knowing that he had done it all for her…it warmed the cockles of her heart. Her father might not have to worry about passing the tradition on to Peter. Her husband might take it on and it wouldn’t have to be moved from Blessing Hall.

  It was the day before Epiphany Eve, and they had all dressed to go for a dinner at Evesham Hall. Fanny was looking forward to seeing Ann, and Felix looked as if he was champing at the bit to see all of his mates.

  Lord Prescott had planned to ride alongside their carriage. Lord Chorley had decided to remain at Blessing Hall. He was still wary of his mother discovering his whereabouts.

  Fortunately, Evesham Hall wasn’t that far away from Blessing Hall, and while it was located just over the border in Worcestershire, she knew that part of Lord Evesham’s lands ran into Gloucestershire. Felix told her that even Clarence sometimes became confused as to what county his lands were in. He had told him that even though Evesham Hall stood in Worcestershire, the Dower House was located in Gloucestershire and friends of his had mistakenly defined Evesham Hall as being in Gloucestershire. He didn’t care as both were correct if one really thought about it.

  She, Felix, her father and Miss Duffy would ride in the carriage. Miss Duffy wore a beautiful sapphire blue frock that she had given to her last year, with a matching cloak edged in ermine. Fanny had chosen an emerald green concoction, and wore a cloak that matched it, also edged in beautiful white ermine. She prayed that no one else at the dinner would be wearing the same shade.

  Felix helped her and Mrs. Duffy up into the carriage, and he and her father followed. “I do hope we are not kept too long at the Eveshams,” her father said, once they were settled into the carriage. “I don’t want us to lose out on our sleep. We have a big night tomorrow night.”

  Fanny laughed. “Oh, Papa, we can sleep away most of tomorrow if it comes to that.”

  Miss Duffy sat smiling. Not a pretend smile that she had plastered onto her face for the sake of keeping everyone, happy but a genuine smile.

  “We should be home by about three am,” Felix said.

  She smi
led over at Felix.

  “Three am,” her father repeated, sighing heavily. “It’s absolute fustian nonsense that they keep town hours while in the Country.”

  She looked heavenward. Her father thought that one should keep two different set of hours. One he called Town Time, and the other one he called Country Time.

  “I heard the servants talking about a problem with highwaymen on the road that we are going to take to the Eveshams. Do you think we shall have a spot of bother on the way?” Miss Duffy asked softly.

  “I hope so,” Felix said, before catching himself. “Did I just have a Freddie moment?”

  Fanny chuckled. “If a Freddie moment entails you speaking without thinking—you did, darling.”

  He winced. “I need to watch my tongue more often in the future.”

  “You want us to be accosted by highwaymen, Lord Spaulding?” Miss Duffy asked incredulously.

  “Oh, aye. I think it might be quite diverting. I haven’t had a bit of that kind of excitement in a long time.”

  “I hope you are wrong, Felix. I could do without that kind of excitement tonight,” Fanny said, nervousness fluttering through her.

  “I think, Fanny that Felix views it more as a sport. I take it you have come properly attired?” her father asked, his stern visage melting.

  Felix grinned in the dim light that the carriage lanterns afforded them. “Oh, aye, sir. I always come properly attired.”

  She didn’t like the sound of it. Having a nice quiet evening would be more to her liking. Highwaymen were the stuff of nightmares, and she had heard a few gruesome tales told to her by ladies who had been accosted by such rough and ready fellows. Though some of them were dashingly polite. Some of the highwayman were little more than bloody murderers, and found themselves hanging from a gibbet as a result.

  “Perhaps we should have sent our regrets to Lord and Lady Evesham and stayed home,” Fanny said nervously, darting her eyes furtively to the window. Suddenly the darkness of the almost moonless night seemed extremely forbidding. She shivered.