And yet, she was a trifle disappointed to find Spathfoy had ridden into Ballater at first light, most likely to make arrangements for his return journey to England.
Fiona looked up from a bowl of porridge liberally topped with raisins, and beamed a smile at Hester. “It isn’t raining anymore!”
“Good morning to you, too, Fee. Did you leave any raisins in all of Scotland?”
“I like them, and Uncle Ian says anything that comes from the grape is good for us. Can we take a picnic to the oak tree this morning? She’ll wonder where I’ve been.”
Hester exchanged a smile with Aunt Ariadne and brushed a hand over Fee’s crown. “The oak doesn’t expect you to visit when it’s pouring, Fiona, but yes, we can take a blanket and a snack and pay a call on your friend. Any excuse to enjoy the fine weather will suit.”
She served herself eggs and bacon and two slices of toast, while Fiona chattered on about a letter she’d gotten from her parents.
“Do you have the letter, Fee?”
“I have it in my pocket. I’m going to keep it until they come home.” She passed over a single piece of paper, her expression slightly anxious. “Mama says she misses me.”
“And we miss them, too.” Hester turned the missive over and passed it to Aunt Ariadne. “Your mother has a very pretty hand, Fiona. You must strive to emulate her.”
“To what?”
A masculine voice replied, “Copy.” Spathfoy stood in the doorway, looking windblown and handsome. Hester sipped her tea lest she gaze too long at his mouth. “To emulate is to copy or follow the style of. For example”—he ambled into the room—“if I wanted to emulate you and cover my porridge with raisins, I’d likely find the kitchen’s supply has been raided into next week. Lady Ariadne, Miss Daniels, good morning.”
He took the place to the right of Aunt Ariadne, the same place he’d taken every morning, which put him directly beside Hester and across from Fiona.
Fiona grinned at him over a spoonful of porridge. “Did Rowan jump everything between here and town?”
“He jumped every fence and ditch and even a few shadows, some sunbeams, and a brace of invisible rabbits. May I have the teapot, Miss Daniels?”
She slid it down to him, and their hands brushed as if by accident—as if.
Marriage to him wouldn’t be boring, not sexually, but then what? When she’d presented him with an heir and a spare, and a few daughters to fire off for politically expedient purposes, then what?
Then he’d still be handsome and wealthy, and he’d probably have his papa’s title as well. She’d be… consoling herself with her children’s company, only to watch each child grow up and leave home, as children were wont to do.
That wasn’t going to be enough. Even Jasper would have given her that much.
And friendship wasn’t enough either, though it certainly added lovely potential to an otherwise fascinating bargain.
As Hester sat beside the man who might become her husband, she decided that regardless of what the future held for them, she was not going to buy her marital boots without thoroughly trying them on.
Beneath the table, she shifted her leg so her thigh was pressed up against Spathfoy’s more muscular limb.
“Might I have the butter, my lord? The prospect of fresh air and sunshine seems to be reviving my appetites.”
He turned to regard her, something like caution lurking in his gaze. When he slid the butter dish close to her hand, this time he did not touch her.
The damned day had taken for-bloody-ever to plod past. Tye had sat under the treaty oak and tried not to stare at Hester’s hands, her mouth, her ankles, her hair, her anything. Contemplation of those prizes so threatened his composure he’d climbed into the tree himself and had a protracted conversation with Fiona about her father’s years at school.
Gordie had been one for playing pranks. Whereas Tye had been a proper little scholar, Gordie had made friends before the first meal in the commons. Tye had tried year after year for firsts and often gotten them; Gordie had barely attended his studies and had a grand time.
“But he did enjoy languages, for which you also seem to have an aptitude.” He was resting his back against the trunk of the oak, while Fiona made a clover necklace several feet away.
“What’s an aptitude?”
“An ability. It will serve you well when you take your place in society.”
Hester glanced over at him, her expression difficult to decipher. When she looked at him of late, there was a measuring quality to her gaze, as if she were trying to reconcile the clothed, articulate man with the naked, incoherent heathen she’d had in her bed.
Tye himself was finding that a challenge.
Dinner passed with excruciating slowness, only Lady Ariadne’s benevolent presence making a civilized meal possible. By the time they got to dessert, Tye was envisioning trifle spread on various parts of Hester’s body, or—God save him—on his body, while the lady showed no sign any inconvenient thoughts were plaguing her whatsoever.
Lady Ariadne folded her serviette by her plate and sent Tye a smile that had no doubt felled princes in her youth. “That was a delightful meal, but now I must retire. Spathfoy, I wish you’d consider prolonging your stay with us. Fiona delights in your company, and I do as well.”
“I wish I might stay longer, but my father’s business waits for no man.” He assisted her to her feet, handed her the length of carved oak she used as her cane, and watched while she made her deliberate progress out the door.
“She’s slowing down.” Hester made this comment from her place at the table. “She keeps up appearances for my sake and Fee’s—we could hardly bide here without her to chaperone—but Ian said they were afraid she would not make it through last winter.”
“You’ll miss her when she’s gone?”
She turned her wine glass by the stem. “Of course. I’ve wondered how my life might have been different if I’d had an aunt like that, somebody wise and kind to love me when I felt most unlovable.”
Tye did not resume his seat. He stood a few feet away, studying the way the candlelight cast her pretty features into shadows. That she would speak of feeling unlovable no longer surprised him; it was indicative of the kind of courage she had in such abundance.
“Shall we take a turn in the garden, Hester?”
“Please.” She aimed a smile at him, and maybe it was the candlelight playing tricks, but it seemed a sad smile. He assisted her to her feet and resisted the urge to lace his fingers through hers.
As they made their way through the house, it occurred to Tye that Balfour likely held hands with his countess, regardless of who was looking on, or who wasn’t looking on. Tye hadn’t seen his own parents hold hands since Gordie’s death, or possibly even before that.
“What are you thinking, Spathfoy, to grow so silent?”
Hester twined her arm through his as they wandered among the roses, her stature not striking him as short or tall or anything, but the perfect complement to his.
“I’m recalling the day of my brother’s funeral.” With someone else—with anyone else—he would have offered a polite prevarication. “It’s the last time I recall my parents holding hands.”
She said nothing but slipped her arm around his waist—a posture more familiar than holding hands. He settled an arm over her shoulders and sent up a prayer that this woman might be his to escort through the roses for all the rest of his days.
He had not known Hester Daniels long, he had not acquainted himself with her immediate family, he had no idea if she had a penny to her name, but he did not question the depth of his regard for her. He wanted her honesty and her courage, he wanted her trust, and he wanted her body, all for his very own.
But that list, impressive and greedy though it was, was not complete, for he wanted her heart too.