A Visit from Sir Nicholas Read online

  “Someone must have assisted his lordship, with the invitations at the very least.” Jules nodded at the bunches of mistletoe and holly hanging conspicuously in the entryways, the swags of greenery festooning every doorway and window, the silk ribbons and berries tied with joyous abandon on stair rails and sconces. “Someone who has begun the celebration of the season far earlier than usual. Quite festive really, although whoever saw to the decorations is overly fond of mistletoe.”

  And when he laughed the sound caught at Elizabeth’s heart.

  “To check on my expenditures if nothing else.”

  “Perhaps Lord Thornecroft has a secretary? Or Mother might have had one of her staff assist him.”

  “How long could due consideration possibly take anyway?” Elizabeth had expected Nicholas yesterday and the day before and each and every day since their talk in her library. “Why, the man isn’t even checking on my accounts, which begs the question of exactly what he is doing.”

  Jules’s gaze skimmed the group. “We do know nearly everyone here, however. Indeed, many of the guests are relations of ours, which stands to reason as this is a party to welcome Nicholas home and both he and his uncle have long been thought of fondly by everyone in the family, especially Mother. As for the others, friends and acquaintances, no doubt, of Lord Thornecroft. Nicholas never struck me as being especially convivial.”

  “He’s probably letting me simmer in my own sauce,” Elizabeth muttered. “Wondering when he’ll decide to begin this arrangement of ours.”

  “Still, I may have misjudged him,” Jules murmured.

  When Nicholas had arrived precisely at the appointed time at Elizabeth’s door to escort her to his uncle’s house, he hadn’t said a word that could have been construed as anything other than polite. He’d made no mention of her proposal or her accounts and had not said so much as a single word about his absence. He’d been pleasant but no more than that. Even when he’d helped her into his carriage, his hand had not lingered overly long on hers. Furthermore, he had positioned himself in the confines of the vehicle neither too close nor too far away.

  “No doubt he’s intentionally trying to drive me mad. And doing an excellent job of it.”

  It was most annoying, especially since, now that she had acknowledged to herself and to him how very much she wanted him, it was increasingly difficult to be in his presence and not press her lips to his or run her hands over his chest or drag him bodily to a secluded spot where she could let him have his way with her. Or have her way with him.

  It had been hard enough to say everything she’d said at their last meeting. While she’d never been particularly shy, she’d never been anywhere near that bold, either. Her cheeks warmed at the very thought. And now a lifetime of proper behavior, coupled with a fair amount of pride, held her in check. She had meant it when she’d told him she would not throw herself at him again even if waiting for him to give her proposal due consideration was indeed driving her mad.

  “He always was a handsome devil,” Jules said under her breath. “But there’s something distinctly different about him now.”

  There wasn’t the tiniest doubt in Elizabeth’s mind that he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him. But the blasted man’s behavior was nothing short of impeccable. She didn’t trust him for a moment.

  “I have no idea what his conditions might be, but regardless, I have no intentions of agreeing to them.” Elizabeth might not be able to do anything about his management of her finances, but in this, at least, she still had a choice.

  “Engaging and most provocative. Practically irresistible,” Jules said softly.

  Certainly he had accepted her proposal, but it had been contingent on her conditions and her conditions alone. Not only did he not understand that fact, but he had refused to agree to her conditions. It seemed only logical therefore that her offer was null and void even if Nicholas had not seen it that way at all. It was increasingly clear that Nicholas Collingsworth was used to getting his own way in virtually everything.

  “I have run my life as I have seen fit for the last three years. I have no intention of letting a man control it now,” Elizabeth said firmly.

  “He makes you want to run your fingers through his hair,” Jules murmured at precisely the same moment.

  “What?” the sisters said in unison.

  Elizabeth huffed with annoyance. “Were you listening to me?”

  “No more than you were listening to me, dear sister.” Jules’s gaze drifted back to Nicholas. “Although I can certainly see how your thoughts might be otherwise occupied.”

  Elizabeth followed her sister’s gaze. Nicholas was across the room at his uncle’s side, and, at the moment, was raising the hand of a startlingly lovely and vaguely familiar woman to his lips in a far too attentive and entirely too charming manner. Jealousy stabbed at her and she brushed it aside. It was absurd to feel so much as a twinge of jealousy. After all, whatever she might or might not soon have with Nicholas would be temporary.

  The lady leaned closer to Nicholas and murmured something in his ear. A startled expression crossed his face and he laughed. The woman favored him with an all too inviting smile. Elizabeth’s jaw tightened. Still, temporary or not, she would add fidelity to her list of conditions.

  “I should do something about that if I were you,” Jules said.

  “He does not belong to me, Jules.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I have no claim on him.”

  “I should do something about that too.” Jules studied Nicholas for a moment. “He is rather a catch.”

  “If one were seeking a salmon. I, however, am not in the mood for a fish course.” She flashed her sister a wicked grin. “Only dessert.”

  “Pity,” Jules said pointedly.

  It wasn’t a pity, though. Jules might well never understand, as she had never submitted to anything in her life. But until her husband’s death, Elizabeth had spent much of her life letting other people, primarily Charles, make her decisions for her. Not simply about finances but about everything. Even Nicholas had had more of a hand in deciding her fate on that night ten years ago than she had. Worse still, it had never especially bothered her.

  Now, she quite liked being an independent woman. She liked choosing the direction her life took and being responsible for herself and her sons. Indeed, she liked who and what she was, who and what she had become. She would not allow Nicholas or anyone else to take that from her.

  And there was absolutely nothing to prevent an independent woman from engaging in an arrangement based on no more than prurient desire and unbridled lust. Oh, certainly, there were the endless rules of proper behavior even a widow was expected to adhere to, but she had no intention of publicly flaunting her arrangement with Nicholas. Still, she had better add discretion to her conditions.

  The woman speaking to Nicholas laid a hand lightly on his arm and leaned closer in a manner entirely too intimate to be completely innocent. Elizabeth narrowed her gaze. Certainly, she had no actual claim on Nicholas, even if she fully intended to occupy him until Christmas, but neither was she inclined to share.

  “Do you know who she is?” Elizabeth said to her sister.

  “No, but I’m certain I have seen her before.” Jules pulled her brows together. “I simply can’t place her at the moment.”

  “I think I should like to place her at a far distance from here,” Elizabeth said under her breath. “And I think it’s past time I chatted with Lord Thornecroft. Would you care to join me?”

  “I would prefer to find my husband and flirt with him in a provocative manner.” Jules grinned. “He quite likes that.”

  Elizabeth laughed and started across the room toward Lord Thornecroft, standing beside Nicholas. Had she ever flirted with Charles? Certainly she couldn’t remember having done so after they were married. In truth, she couldn’t remember having flirted with him before, either. He’d always been there and had always loved her just as she’d always loved him. As she looked back, there had been no
real effort on either side to make one another happy. They had simply expected and assumed happiness. Still, they had been happy—or at least content.

  Or had their marriage possibly been a well-intentioned mistake? Simply because everyone, including themselves, had believed they’d been meant for each other, neither of them had ever truly questioned it. Even when Elizabeth had thought she might love Nicholas, it had been in addition to Charles, not instead of him. What if she, what if everyone, had been wrong?

  “Ah, Elizabeth, I cannot possibly get everything I want. Some things were not meant to be.”

  What if her true fate, the future she was always supposed to have, was even now flirting with an all too beautiful woman?

  It was an intriguing idea and one that should be given further consideration at another time. Sometime after Christmas, perhaps when she had sated her desire for Nicholas and could consider what they might once have shared in a rational, logical manner. Besides, the days when she’d had any interest in permanence were long behind her. Her only interest now was in this particular man and only at this particular Christmas.

  “Lord Thornecroft, what a delightful gathering.” She extended her hand to the older man.

  “The delight lies fully in the charm of my guests.” He lifted her hand to his lips, his gaze never leaving hers.

  “I cannot recall ever attending a party of yours before, but I do hope I shall be included again in the future.”

  “My dear Lady Langley, you have not been invited in the past only because I have not had a fete like this before.” A twinkle sparked in Lord Thornecroft’s eye. “I live an exceptionally dull life dedicated primarily to the study of ancient flora and fauna.”

  Nicholas choked back a laugh.

  His uncle ignored him. “However, I should have parties each and every evening if you would promise to grace us with your lovely presence.”

  “I would consider it an honor,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

  Odd, she had never considered the older gentleman in any manner other than as a friend of her parents and, as such, a figure of parental guidance. The slightly wicked gleam in his eye now was anything but fatherly. Nor had she ever noted how attractive his lordship was or how very much his nephew resembled him. While she had never quite believed it before now, at once she realized Lord Thornecroft’s reputation with women was obviously well founded.

  She pulled her hand from his and turned to the woman beside Nicholas. “Please forgive me. I seem to have forgotten your name, although I am certain we have met before. You look remarkably familiar.”

  “I rather hope I am, Lady Langley.” The woman smiled a genuine kind of smile, and Elizabeth couldn’t help but like her immediately. “While our paths have crossed at an occasional ball, we have never actually met.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t—”

  “Do allow me to introduce you both,” Nicholas cut in smoothly. “Elizabeth, Lady Langley, may I present Miss Theodora Godwin.”

  “The actress?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened with recognition. “Of course. I have seen you perform any number of times. You’re quite good.”

  “So I have been told,” Miss Godwin said with a light laugh. “But I dearly love hearing it again.”

  Theodora Godwin was well known in London for her skills on the stage, and, unlike many other actresses, she was considered something of a private person. While many actresses were as famous for their reputations off stage as for their acting abilities, Elizabeth had rarely heard more than the occasional rumor about Miss Godwin. Either the woman was remarkably chaste or remarkably discreet.

  She was also remarkably beautiful, with dark, nearly black hair, porcelain skin, rather lush lips, and clear blue eyes. While Elizabeth had seen her on the stage for years, she must have started at an early age. The woman couldn’t possibly be more than a few years older than Elizabeth herself.

  “Teddy is quite extraordinary, in my opinion.” Lord Thornecroft cast the actress an affectionate smile. “And exceedingly generous with her time.”

  “Teddy helped my uncle with this evening’s festivities,” Nicholas said. “And did an excellent job of it, given the speed with which the task was undertaken.”

  “Not at all, Nicky.” Miss Godwin smiled up at Nicholas. Nicky? “The credit for this evening belongs to Frederick’s staff.” She leaned toward Elizabeth in a confidential manner. “His housekeeper, butler, and cook are true wonders, and I daresay he has never taken the tiniest advantage of their skills. It is the Christmas season after all, and the poor dears were simply dying to do something of a festive nature in this stuffy old house.”

  “Nonsense,” Lord Thornecroft said staunchly. “This is your doing. Why, you penned the invitations, selected the menu, directed the decorations—”

  “The mistletoe,” Elizabeth murmured.

  “Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without mistletoe.” Miss Godwin glanced around the room with a satisfied smile. “It has always seemed rather a shame to me that we hesitate to decorate in the fashion of the season until the very day or so before Christmas. I know it’s considered bad luck, but, as Frederick gave me free rein for everything surrounding Nicky’s coming-home party, I thought why shouldn’t we start the celebration of Christmas with the celebration of his return?”

  “Why not indeed?” Elizabeth said pleasantly. Nicky? “It is lovely, Miss Godwin. Quite in the spirit of Christmas. And I agree. It is never too early to begin the celebration.”

  “Oh, do call me Teddy.” Miss Godwin—Teddy—laid her hand on Elizabeth’s arm and met her gaze directly. “I much prefer it to Miss Godwin. There is something rather dreary about the title of Miss at my age. It simply serves as a reminder that I have failed in that most illustrious of female pursuits, that of marriage.”

  “Come now, Teddy, I know for a fact you have had numerous proposals and ample opportunity to acquire a husband,” Nicholas—Nicky—said.

  Teddy laughed. “I have indeed had numerous proposals, few of which were for marriage, and ample opportunities for the acquisition of a husband. Unfortunately, none of them my own.”

  The comment hovered in the air.

  “How very interesting.” Elizabeth stared at the other woman, not quite sure if she should be offended or rather envious. Everything in her up-bringing dictated shock, yet Teddy was obviously a woman who had always run her own life, apparently on her own terms. Elizabeth drew a deep breath and smiled. “And you must call me Elizabeth. My friends do.”

  “Excellent.” Lord Thornecroft breathed a sigh of relief, beamed at Elizabeth, then turned to Teddy. “I don’t believe you’ve met Elizabeth’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Roxborough, and you really should. Remarkable couple, I’ve always thought.” He offered Teddy his arm. “Shall we?”

  “Of course.” Teddy studied Elizabeth for a moment. “It was very nice to meet you at last.” She nodded at Nicholas. “Nicky, we shall have to have a long chat later.”

  “I shall look forward to it.” Nicky grinned.

  Elizabeth watched the couple cross the room to greet her parents. Her mother would no doubt be delighted by Teddy’s straightforward nature. The Duchess of Roxborough was rather unique among her peers in that respect. As for her father, Elizabeth doubted there was a male alive who would not appreciate the actress’s more obvious charms, including the man beside her.

  She turned to Nicholas and raised a brow. “Nicky?”

  He grinned. “Are you jealous?”

  “That she called you by a pet name? Not in the least.” She shrugged. “But Nicky? Come now, Nicholas, it’s the name one would use for a little boy.”

  He laughed. “I used to be a little boy.”

  “Yes, well, you have grown some.” She tried and failed to stifle her curiosity. “Have you known her for very long?”

  “Ah.” He nodded in an annoyingly smug manner. “You are jealous.”

  “I most certainly am not.” She narrowed her eyes. “But if I was, not t
hat I am, mind you, but if I was, would I be justified?”

  “If you were,” he tucked her arm in the crook of his elbow and steered her toward the entry, “you would not be justified. Teddy and I are simply very old friends.”

  “How old?”

  “I knew you were jealous.” He chuckled. “Very well then. We met once, years and years ago, before my uncle and I left on our travels. She was in a rather dreadful play called The Bandit’s Bride, or something like that, although she was quite good. We renewed our acquaintance when she toured America. I had no idea she knew my uncle until he reintroduced us last week.” He glanced down at her. “Does that ease your mind?”

  Last week? Before or after she had issued her proposal? She brushed aside the question.

  “I am merely curious, therefore my mind does not need easing, thank you. However, if it did, you have not precisely answered my question, and furthermore…” She realized they had moved into the foyer, and she stopped in midstride. “Where are you taking me?”

  He continued to steer her forward. “There is something I wish to show you.”

  “What?”

  “In here.”

  He pushed open a door and allowed her to pass by him into what looked very much like a gentleman’s library and smelled very much like a place where said gentlemen indulged in brandy and cigars. Not an offensive odor, more of an essence really, a memory of past times, and not at all unpleasant.

  She stepped into the room and turned toward him. “Well?”

  He closed the door behind him and leaned against it. “I wanted to thank you. Privately.”

  “Oh?”

  “For being so kind to Teddy.”

  Her heart sank. “I see.”

  “You were most gracious, and I am most appreciative.”

  A leaden weight settled in the pit of her stomach. That was that then. She certainly was not about to have any relationship whatsoever, let alone a temporary arrangement based on nothing more than lust and desire, with a man who was already involved with another woman. Whether that involvement was of a legal nature or something substantially less official, she would not be in the position of destroying another woman’s happiness. She was disappointed of course, but there was nothing more to it than that.