Chapter Ten
“Sisters!” Joy hurried toward them as they disembarked from the carriage, her slight limp and bejeweled cane not slowing her in the least. “It is so good to see you all.”
Felicity hung back as Serendipity and Merry rushed to embrace their sister. She so admired Joy. Even though her sister had suffered an attack of apoplexy when she gave birth to little Lion, she had fought to regain her health and mobility and now only walked with a cane. Such courage, she had.
“I wish I had such courage,” Felicity said under her breath.
“Felli!” Joy called out with her arms open wide. “No hug for your favorite sister?”
Joy’s husband, Jansen, stood beside her, grinning as he attempted to hold fast to their son, whose given name was actually Richard Wager Lionheart Winterstone. “Shall I loose the Lion upon you? You know how silly he is about his Auntie Felli.”
After hugging Joy, Felicity held out her hands to Lion. “Come here, beastie. You only love me because Auntie always brings you treats.”
“Tweats!” the toddler crowed as he dove into her arms, then started twisting in search of her reticule. “Tweats!”
“I must set you down to fetch them from my bag,” she told the squirming lad. “Will you promise to stay right here and not run away?”
With sincerity born from his love for biscuits and his big blue eyes flashing with mischief, Lion nodded.
As soon as the child had a biscuit in each hand, he took off, but Nanny was at the ready and intercepted him. “Oh no, Master Lion. We shall be having a cup of milk with our biscuits, and then off we go for a nap,” she said.
Lion shook his head hard and fast. “No nap!”
“Yes, nap.”
The two argued all the way out of sight.
“I have a surprise,” Joy said, her eyes as sparkling with mischief as her son’s.
Felicity braced herself. One never knew what Joy might have in store for the family.
Even though she was married and a mother now, she still adored a good game of chance or a dare.
Rather than rise to the bait, Felicity withdrew a note from her reticule and handed it over.
“Before you dazzle us with whatever you have planned, here are several more menu suggestions for the party in addition to the recipes I already sent over.”
Joy took the notes and brazenly tucked them inside her bodice between her bosoms. “Thank you. I shall hand these over to Cook. I am sure she will be most grateful, as am I.” She stamped her cane while excitedly looking at her sisters one by one. “Well? Do you not wish to know my surprise?”
Felicity backed up a step and shook her head. “Not I. The last time I saw you this excited about a surprise was when you helped Blessing replace the pillows on Chance’s bed with sacks of stones.”
“Where is our darling brother?” Joy asked. “Is he so foolish as to shun my party?”
“He had several appointments he swore he could not possibly miss. Once through them, he shall be here.” Serendipity pulled Felicity forward. “What is your surprise, Joy?”
“Lord Wakefield is coming to the party. In fact, he has already arrived.”
Felicity went cold and lightheaded, feeling as though all her blood had drained away.
Over the past two weeks, she had refused to see Drake whenever he called after deciding they both needed a bit of time away from one another.
She had decided their courtship would be the better for it if they both stepped back and took a breath, considering how easily a bit of malicious gossip had very nearly torn them apart.
She had to conquer her insecurities about him and needed time to do so.
Of course, this tactic was a double-edged sword.
It gave Serendipity’s exemplary contacts time to watch him and see how he reacted.
Those results would give Felicity either the reassurance or the resolve to stop not only doubting him but also stop doubting her instincts.
To his credit, the man had never left Wakefield Manor unless it was to stand on Broadmere Hall’s doorstep and bang on the door.
Felicity had planned to move forward with their fresh start upon her return from Winterswick.
“Felli! Are you unwell?” Joy took hold of her arm. “You have gone terribly pale.”
“She and Lord Wakefield are presently at odds,” Serendipity said in a hissing whisper. “Did you not receive my letter?”
“I wrote to you as well,” Merry said as she took Felicity’s other arm. “Do you still allow your correspondence to lie unread for days? I thought you were doing better about that.”
“Lion keeps me very busy,” Joy said. “Oh, Felli, please forgive me.”
Blessing joined them, holding her youngest son, Ross, on her hip. “What have you done to her? She’s gone as white as fresh cream.”
“I should not have invited Lord Wakefield,” Joy said as she wrapped an arm around Felicity’s shoulders and hugged her. “I am so sorry, dearest, but fear not, we can fix this.”
“Not if he has already arrived.”
“Did you not say you were ready to resume your courting?” Merry asked. “Simply do it here. Problem solved.”
“Yes,” Serendipity said, “or torture him a bit longer by flirting with other available gentlemen.”
“I do not flirt.” Felicity pulled away from all of them, went to the bench alongside the circular drive, and plopped down upon it. She picked at a seam on her glove. “Besides, he might have a change of heart and leave. I may have already missed my opportunity.”
“You have not missed your opportunity,” Blessing said. “He arrived an hour ago and appears quite determined to stay.”
“Take hold of the situation,” Grace said as she strolled up to join them.
“Besides, do you not think you possibly overreacted? After all, the misunderstanding turned out to be nothing but lies that were not of Lord Wakefield’s doing.
Seri’s spy network is busily sowing the truth throughout the village.
A version of it even made it back to Wolfebourne Manor. ”
“Everything my sources say is quite positive,” Fortuity said as she swooped in from another direction.
“Lovely,” Felicity muttered. “A conversion of the Broadmere sisters.”
“You make us sound like witches,” Merry said.
“Sometimes you are.” Felicity hugged herself, grudgingly admitting that everything her sisters had said was correct.
Even she had second-guessed herself, wondering if she wasn’t being a little silly about the whole affair.
“I will speak to him.” She glared at Serendipity.
“But I will not be a party to ridiculous games that will only make matters worse. I do not flirt.”
Serendipity threw up her hands. “Fine. It was merely a suggestion.” She glanced around, then tipped a nod at the mansion. “Are we to stand in the drive all day, or might we go inside and refresh ourselves so we can help Joy with last-minute touches?”
Felicity pushed up from the bench and flounced up the steps.
“Since I have been so sorely put upon by the lot of you, I am taking the corner room at the top of the stairs.” Serendipity and Merry usually fought over that room whenever they visited Joy.
This time, it was Felicity’s turn. The nicest room of all, it looked out over the garden with a balcony perfect for spying on those below.
It never hurt to be aware of one’s surroundings and those who shared them.
Before any of her sisters could protest, she breezed into the house, hurried upstairs, and took refuge in that room until the footmen and Daisy, her maid, brought her things.
Tossing her reticule and gloves onto the bed, she immediately eased out onto the balcony and crouched down, hiding behind the thick columns of its stone balustrade.
From this viewpoint, she could watch anyone below, and they would never be the wiser.
Her heart leapt to her throat as Drake meandered into view.
Hands fisted at his sides and his shoulders held at a tensed level, he wandered through the garden like a lost soul in search of everlasting peace.
Good gracious, he looked so haunted. A darkness emanated from him, a heart-wrenching sadness.
She caught a hand to her throat, shocked at the sight of him.
She had done this. All because she was too cowardly to believe him or trust her instincts.
“I am so ashamed. What a ridiculous ninny I am, for putting us both through this.” It was time to set her insecurities aside, believe in herself, and believe in him. Hang the gossips.
After Daisy had helped her freshen up from the overly warm carriage ride, she would go downstairs and seek him out. It was time to clear the air once and for all. The brief delay in their courting was now at an end.
*
Refreshed and wearing her favorite sprigged muslin with its pale-pink roses embroidered on the white background, Felicity eased down the stairs while scanning the wide entry area for Drake.
Earlier, he had been in the garden, but it had taken her longer than planned to put herself back together after cleaning up from the overly warm ride from Broadmere Hall to Winterstone.
Once finished, she had crept out onto the balcony again and peeped down into the garden, but he was no longer there.
The place was a beehive of activity, with servants rushing around to ensure every guest had whatever they required.
Surprisingly, none of her sisters were in sight.
Joy was probably still greeting guests, Merry was more than likely enjoying a visit with the children, and Serendipity and the rest were no doubt plotting some sort of foolery that would involve eligible gentlemen meeting eligible sisters.
“Well,” Felicity muttered, “I am no longer available. Merry best take care, for she will be their next target.” When she reached the main floor, she pondered whether to meander into the parlor or retreat to the safety of the kitchens.
He will not be in the kitchens. Stop being a coward.
She squared her shoulders and marched into the parlor, determined to cast aside her mousy ways.