Lord Nick's Folly (20 page)

He scooped her close to him, kissing her with a fierceness that totally did away with any chill that might have lingered. The bonnet fell to the floor, the pelisse slithering after it when Nympha let them go to wrap her arms about him. This more than made up for his drive with Lady Anne. Didn't it? When he released her mouth, he remained close, so close his slightest whisper was loud and clear to her.

"That is what I would have offered you, my dear. Nothing less."

"I think I preferred the tea, my lord." If her mother could have heard her utter such a whopping lie, Nympha would have been relegated to her room for a week.

Instead of becoming angry again, he chuckled down at her, his dark eyes dancing with teasing lights. "And you the daughter of a rector. For shame."

She wrenched herself from his clasp, retrieved her pelisse and bonnet from the floor, and hoped her heightened color would be blamed on that, not the kiss and his taunting remark. "And I thought you a gentleman!" she whispered before dashing up the stairs as fast as she could.

"I am, dear heart, but I am first of all a man."

Nympha whirled around the corner and along the hall to her room, his words echoing in her mind. A man first, a gentleman second? He certainly had proved that!

Annie was putting one of her new dresses away when Nympha burst into the room. After a startled exclamation, the maid assisted Nympha into one of the new gowns that had come from Mrs. Rankin.

The blue spotted muslin had made up beautifully into a round dress suitable for morning wear. She liked the loose sleeves that fastened tightly at the wrist. A van-dyked lace edging somewhat covered her hand and she admired that as well. The treble ruff of pointed lace was becoming, she thought as she fingered it. Mrs. Rankin evidently intended to trim all Nympha's garments with yards of lace. How appropriate. She hoped her sisters enjoyed the large package of lace she sent home for them.

Annie fetched little blue kid slippers. She stood back to admire the effect. "What your sisters would say to see you now."

"When I am able, I intend to have new dresses for them as well. Surely Great-Aunt Letitia will give me a generous allowance so I can do that?" Nympha twisted a bit so as to view in her looking glass the small covered buttons that trimmed the back of the dress. They were simply for show, the dress fastening with clever tapes.

"That Lady Anne will have nothing on you now, miss."

"Why do you mention Lady Anne, pray tell?" Nympha dropped her hand, moving away from her reflection.

"Talk is that she fixed her eyes on Lord Nicholas. Miss Talbot saw her when you were all playing bowls earlier. Said as how Lady Anne was flirting with his lordship something disgraceful."

"I see. Well, if she is what he prefers, who am I to argue with him?" Nympha grimaced.

Annie bowed her head, compressing her lips as though there was a deal more she would have liked to utter.

"At least I have some pretty gowns now. And my costume is vastly delightful. I doubt anyone will have a costume half as pretty." Nympha walked over to where the Gothic gown was draped across a chair, waiting to be worn for the momentous masquerade ball.

She almost felt guilty that she had done so little to prepare for it. But on the other hand, all her great-aunt had done was issue orders to the servants. All had been accomplished with amazing ease.

Fortified with her new gown, Nympha sped from her room to the staircase. She paused at the top, listening.

"You may as well go down. Milburn awaits you there—in the drawing room with your great-aunt."

The words coming so close to her, and so equally unexpected, startled her. Nympha clutched at the stair rail to keep from tumbling headfirst down the stairs. "Don't
do
that," she scolded Lord Nicholas. "I had no idea you were behind me. I could have been killed, or at the very least, hurt."

"I would have caught you."

"I give leave to doubt that, sirrah. And as to Mr. Milburn, I doubt that he awaits me in particular." She went down a few steps, then added, "His uncle is in a bad way, not expected to live. Poor man."

Nick wondered if she meant Milburn or his uncle.

He was still furious that she had been left behind when Lady Anne assured him that she would be with Lady Jane. The ploy hadn't worked, for as soon as they arrived at the castle and he had found that Nympha was not with the others, he had spun on his heels to depart. He hoped he gave the impression he was displeased, for that was mild compared to what he wanted to do to that smug Lady Anne.

She deserved a good scold. However, it was beyond him to administer it, and he doubted anyone else would give it either. Daughters of rich dukes were more likely to be spoiled and pampered than not.

He took a step forward, tucked Nympha's arm in his to walk down the stairs at her side. He paused at the door to the drawing room, keeping Nympha beside him while enjoying the effect on Milburn. A glance at Mrs. Coxmoor also pleased him. She approved; he could see that at once.

"Have you any success with the sketch you distributed in Mansfield, Lord Nicholas?" Mrs. Coxmoor inquired.

"None. Several said the face was familiar. I suppose my sketching ability is not good enough."

"Perhaps you should take some into Nottingham? It would be a pity if you could not discover the identity of this man." Mrs. Coxmoor reclined on her favorite sofa. Her soft gray lutestring gown trimmed with yards of lace was most becoming, as was her cap fashioned entirely of lace. He wondered why she had never made a splash in London. She should have been a great success.

"You never spent time in London, ma'am?" Nick released Nympha, but made a point of seeing that she was comfortably seated. His stare at Milburn as challenging, to say the least. But Milburn evinced no interest in Nick's drawings even though he had glanced at one. He turned his attention back to his hostess, his stare becoming a smile.

"Too busy here to bother with the nonsense in London. I get the papers sent up, the latest periodicals in the mail every week. I keep up with what is going on, my lord. When I want something, I order it."

"I should think it delightful to wander along Bond Street to see the displays in the windows," Nympha said thoughtfully.

They discussed the topic at some length. Before Nick realized it, Foley appeared to announce dinner.

"I told Foley not to bother with a dressing bell when we all look respectable and it is a waste of time to change." Mrs. Coxmoor rose to take the hand offered by Nick, as was proper. He glanced at Milburn just long enough to send him a discreet warning. He intended to be understood that Nympha was to be hands-off as far as Milburn was concerned.

"You remind me of my mother, ma'am," Nympha said with a chuckle. "I can see you are related!"

Nick observed that she did not seem to mind being escorted by Milburn. Not in the least.

The next day dawned uncommonly mild, with the spring sun shining gently on the land. After such a frigid winter, mildness was particularly welcome.

Nympha opened her eyes to find Annie standing by her bed with a tray containing rolls and steaming chocolate.

"Best rise, miss. It will be a busy day for you, what with the ball this evening and all." The maid adjusted the tray just so, then walked to open the draperies a bit wider.

"The sun blesses the day for you, miss. 'Tis a good omen, I'm thinking." Annie gave Nympha a shy smile. "We all hope you will have a good time tonight. That ballroom is as fine as fivepence. Never thought to see anything so grand."

Nympha agreed. She made short work of the dainty rolls and chocolate. Once Annie had removed the tray, Nympha was free to toss back the covers and slip from her bed.

From her window she spotted Lord Nicholas returning from an early-morning ride. She glanced to the clock that sat on the fireplace mantel, realizing that he must have risen very early. He chanced to look up in her direction and waved his whip in recognition.

Mortified that he should see her while she was still in her bedgown, Nympha hurriedly stepped away, anxious to dress. She begged Annie to hurry with a suitable dress for the day. The lilac India muslin she declared acceptable. Within a brief time, she was properly dressed and on her way, lilac leather slippers speeding her to the stairs.

Just why she wanted to hasten to the breakfast table, she refused to admit.

To say she was disappointed to find Mr. Milburn at the table was putting it lightly. How silly to think that the attentions paid her last evening compensated for his lordship's earlier neglect. Although to be fair, he had insisted he wished her to join the party and had departed immediately when he learned she had been left behind.

Without a confidant in whom she might share her bewilderment, Nympha was unsure of herself. If only she had Priscilla here. While she often stuck her head in books of Greek myths, she had a sensible streak that was greatly comforting. She would have gone to the heart of Nympha's worries.

"Good morning, sir. I trust you slept well?"

"Excellently, Miss Herbert. This is an important day for you, I should think."

"But, of course." Nympha seated herself after indicating what she would like for her breakfast. She was in the process of tucking into a light-as-air scone when Lord Nicholas entered.

"Ah, Miss Herbert! Milburn. I trust I find you both in high spirits?"

"You were up bright and early," Milburn said with a curious note in his voice.

"I saw you return." Nympha hoped her cheeks didn't flame with the memory of what he had seen when he looked up to her window. "Did you have a good ride?"

"Actually I rode into Nottingham with some sketches. I took Mrs. Coxmoor's suggestion to heart. The shops open early there, and it was an easy matter to distribute the rest of my drawings."

"Did you have any reaction to them?" Nympha caught a frozen expression on Mr. Milburn's face. He offered no comment.

"As a matter of fact, I did."

When he said nothing beyond that, Nympha decided it was best not to pry. Had he wanted to tell them what he had learned, he would have.

"Anything of interest?" Milburn asked.

"Yes." Lord Nicholas helped himself to coffee and a plate of scones and jam.

If Mr. Milburn wanted to know more he was to be disappointed. He obviously was not an inquisitive person.

For the rest of the day there were many last-minute tasks for Nympha to do. She wondered if her aunt kept her busy to prevent a fine case of nerves from developing. If such was the case, it failed. By the time she was to dress for the ball, she was a bundle of nerves.

On her way to her room she encountered Lord Nicholas, who apparently was intent upon the same purpose— to change for the evening. They met at the bottom of the stairs.

"Your great-aunt has kept you going from pillar to post all day. I trust you are not too tired to enjoy your ball?" He flicked a glance over her that brought a hint of color to her cheeks.

"They were light tasks, little things like checking the candles, making certain none of the floral arrangements drooped, that the screen for the musicians was properly in place. It kept me occupied."

"But I daresay your mind was in a whirl."

"Indeed, it was. I suppose that is not unnatural for a young woman about to attend her first ball." She didn't like to reveal her lack of polish, but he likely knew it.

"Yes, it would be, wouldn't it? I doubt if the rectory leans towards balls for its daughters." The dry note in his voice brought a smile to her lips.

"No room," Nympha replied with a laugh. Suddenly she didn't care a jot about the effect she might have on the local citizens. Her great-aunt would only have invited those people she wanted to have Nympha meet. It was to be an evening of fun, full of pleasure.

They parted at the top of the stairs. He went his way, whistling as though he anticipated a splendid party.

Nympha swallowed her fears, entering her room with high hopes.

It took some time for Annie to remove the lilac India muslin and replaced it with the blue linen costume. Lacing up the back was not as simple a matter as Mrs. Rankin had said. Annie persisted while Nympha tried not to fidget.

"Lucky for you madam had a wig in one of those attic trunks. There must have been costume balls held here in past days," Annie muttered as she tied the last of the lacing. She picked up the wig to settle it on Nympha's head with a flourish.

"Oh, dear! I am another person." Nympha stared at the woman in the looking glass with curiosity. What a difference the gown and wig had made. She could easily see how a disguise could make it possible to fool people. Why, she doubted even Priscilla would know her in this apparel.

She wondered what Lord Nicholas would think of her costume.

"Will be a wonder if some gentleman doesn't make off with you this evening, lookin' the way you do, miss. My, you are that nice." Annie stood back to admire her handiwork.

Nympha adjusted the gold circlet set with precious stones that held in place the very sheer linen serving as a veil. The veil was like gauze, it was so gossamer. She took one last inspection of the image she saw in the looking glass, then left the room to search for her great-aunt.

The house hummed with subdued activity. Sounds of last-minute additions in the dining room, the arrival of the musicians, and the voices of early guests who were to join them for dinner mingled to create an atmosphere of anticipation—at least for Nympha.

There were strangers in the drawing room as well as Mr. Milburn and Lord Nicholas. For a moment Nympha worried that she was late for dinner.

Lord Nicholas stepped forward, his costume fitting amazingly well for something pulled from a trunk. He bowed over her hand. His gaze met hers. "Very nice, indeed, my dear girl."

Mr. Milburn edged his way forward, his long, simple velvet robe quite right for King John. "May I say that I think the legend needs a different ending? I believe the king ought to have the fairest lady of all."

She flashed a delighted smile at both gentlemen. "I believe I shall enjoy this evening very much." She hurried to her great-aunt's side, anticipating introductions to the strangers.