“And?”
“And nothing.” Whitfield sighed. “No one else is around. Your guests are all still in the saloon as far as I can tell. I suspect it’s just a bit of fun to pass the time for someone.”
Nicolas gestured to the mistletoe. “I found three others this morning.”
Whitfield whistled. “Perhaps its not for fun after all. Someone is determined to steal a kiss from someone.”
“And desperate.” Nicolas had his suspicions as to the culprit. Lord James’ finances were not the best, and his estate could use a new injection of funds, not that Nicolas would agree to any match because Jessica hardly favored the fellow.
He scowled when Whitfield snapped his fingers. “I should be going.”
How lucky was Whitfield to be a bachelor with a home close enough that he could leave? He had no one to answer to, and no one to notice his comings and goings or if he arrived safely. “Let me have a carriage brought out to take you home.”
“No need.” Whitfield stepped back into the library, wrapped his neck with a scarf, drew on his greatcoat and gloves and set a thick wool cap upon his head. “The short walk is always invigorating. I will be late tomorrow,” he said as they reached the chilly ent
rance hall.
A covered lantern had been left on the hall table for his neighbor by a servant, so Nicolas lit it from a brace of candles and passed it over. “How late will you be?”
Whitfield shrugged. “Not sure. But I will certainly send word if I find I cannot make dinner.”
Puzzled, Nicolas followed him to the door and let him out into the cold evening air. Whitfield had promised he had no other plans for this week and would be available every day and evening. If he were not present tomorrow, Nicolas would have to deal with the ladies on his own. A depressing thought indeed. “What are you doing over there?”
“I’ll let you know after your house party ends,” he said with a sly smile. “Try to enjoy what remains of your evening,” he called as he strode away.
Nicolas shivered in the cold as he watched Whitfield plod along the garden path that led to his nearby home. He was tempted to follow him, just to avoid another hour of utter boredom. The only bright point in his evening was after Jessica said goodnight, he had just one further responsibility.
After his regular nightly conversation with Mrs. Thorpe, when they only ever talked about Jessica, he could finally go to bed and forget he had visitors.
Jessica greeted him at the saloon doorway and hugged him. “Good night.”
“So soon, Little Mouse?”
Jessica nodded, hiding a yawn behind her hand. “I feel so very sleepy tonight.”
She wandered off, Mrs. Thorpe trailing after her at a brisk pace.
He took a seat, but he knew from past experience that Mrs. Thorpe would return downstairs in precisely fifteen minutes. Punctuality was her stock in trade. She had done wonders for Jessica’s tardiness by example. With luck, that habit would continue into her marriage.
The party broke up soon after and he bid all good night and fled to his study, glad to have a few moments to collect his thoughts before his regular evening appointment.
He pulled Mrs. Thorpe’s employment file from his desk drawer and studied it for the hundredth time. Gillian Thorpe intrigued him far more than she ever should. She was already a widow when they’d met at his daughter’s home. She’d been rescued from a bad situation and employed as a companion there for a time. Nicolas had employed her the day he’d met her, mostly because he was impressed by her forthright nature and willingness to laugh.
Months of proximity and shared conversations had suggested she was very shy with gentlemen. She did not flirt but she seemed to like him. And she did not encourage anyone to think she might overstep her position. He knew very little about her life before she’d become a companion other than she’d been a wife once.
Mrs. Thorpe had smoothly become part of the household from the beginning, never forgetting that her only concern was Jessica’s happiness. She rarely left the estate and he was glad. The idea he could lose Mrs. Thorpe went against his expectations. He could not do without her for Jessica’s sake.
“Your grace?”
Mrs. Thorpe stood poised in the doorway with a shy smile on her lips.
Nicolas’ heart beat a little faster. “Yes, do come in.”
He quickly tucked her file away in his drawer before she saw her name on the cover and schooled his features to give nothing of his thoughts away. One day Jessica would be gone, and so too would the unflappable Mrs. Thorpe.
“Jessica has had a wonderful day,” Mrs. Thorpe began, moving quickly on to explaining in detail the ins and outs of their activities.
Mrs. Thorpe was always softly spoken, and he loved to hear her laugh. He admired her. He liked her. She had become important to Jessica, to him too. He would like to know her better. He would like to kiss her. She attracted him without even trying.