Page 8 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“Mrs. Barker,” Mr. Kaye said, “What brings you to Yorkshire?”
The dragon smoothed her pinched features. “We are only passing through, sir. The Misses Haynes have been invited to spend the Christmastide with their uncle in Westmorland. And since their father felt a bit poorly, he asked me to deliver them.”
Julianna wanted to snort in derision. Father was as healthy and whole as an ox; he simply did not like to travel, especially to see their uncle for whom he held little love.
However, Julianna did not believe that was his only motive. He probably wanted them both out of the way as he pursued the Widow Westwood. It was strange how he could not countenance his girls marrying any time soon, and yet he found time to court a woman only five years Beth’s senior. If he married her, they’d gain three brothers, one still in leading strings.
“You do not seem pleased with this visit, Miss Julianna.”
She blinked at Lord Bingham, trying to understand why he would assume she did not look forward to her visit to Haverton. On the contrary, she’d missed her Aunt Waverly dearly. As her mother’s only sister, she’d held a special place in her heart.
“Forgive me, but you grimaced.” He gestured to her with his spoon.
She glanced at Beth and her sister nodded. How embarrassing. “I… bit my lip.”
“Ah.” Lord Bingham dipped the spoon he held back into his stew.
“I am actually quite pleased to see our uncle and aunt. It has been some time and it will be nice to get reacquainted.”
“And will there be cousins to reacquaint yourself with as well?” Mr. Kaye asked. There was a certain twinkle in his eye that made her think there was a subtle meaning to his question.
“No. Our aunt and uncle have no children.”
Mr. Kaye leaned forward. “That is a pity, but I suppose that is why they invited you and your sister. Better to have young people to lavish their attention on during Christmastide than to be home alone.”
Beth dabbed her cheeks with her napkin. “I highly doubt they will be alone. Not if Aunt Waverly has anything to say about it. My uncle also has nephews, and they are always hosting this family or that.”
The gentlemen glanced at one another; their eyebrows raised.
“Your aunt would not happen to be the wife of a General Arnold Waverly, would she?” Lord Bingham asked.
“She is. Do you know him?” Beth glanced between the two men.
“Know him?” Mr. Kaye said. “We both served under him.”
Julianna leaned over her bowl. “You did? That is fantastic.”
Lord Bingham moved his spoon until it was straight beside his bowl. “What’s more, we are on our way to General Waverly’s as well. Your aunt also invited us to spend Christmastide at Haverton.”
Beth’s blonde eyebrows rose so high they hid behind the cascade of curls on her forehead. Julianna was just as shocked. Her eyes met Beth’s identically blue ones. They were to spend the entire holiday with these wonderful gentlemen?
A slow smile spread across her face and Beth responded with a little shake of her head. It was too late. Julianna’s mind had already conjured all kinds of plans for the future. When else would they have nearly five weeks with two handsome gentlemen without their father present?
Then Beth’s head dipped toward a scowling Mrs. Barker. Ah, yes. They still had the dragon there to follow them around and spoil their merrymaking.
“Are you sure we are speaking of the same General Waverly?” Mrs. Barker said with a sniff. “I cannot see him inviting two single gentlemen to spend the holidays when his nieces will be in residence.”
She was right. Uncle Waverly would never invite anyone unless it was suggested by their aunt. But her uncle had never liked their father, and so might go to great lengths to defy him. While Julianna had to agree he could be a bit distant and overbearing, he was not terribly bad as fathers went. He always wanted them near, lavishing them with clothes and jewels, and making sure they had ample pin money. An oddity for men in general, but military men especially. Some of her friends’ fathers were far too eager to pawn their daughters off to the first available man the moment they left the schoolroom.
“It is my understanding that there is to be a good-sized gathering of people.” Mr. Kaye gripped his spoon tightly even though his bowl had been empty for quite some time.
Julianna was tempted to reach out and place her hand on his to ease his tension. Mrs. Barker set her on edge, too, but there was no use getting worked up over the lady’s assumptions. They did not know everything about Aunt and Uncle Waverly’s arrangements.
Lord Bingham rose from his seat, bringing Julianna back to her senses before the temptation to touch the handsome man sitting next to her overcame her reason and thankfully cutting off Mrs. Barker before she could say anything more .
“I suppose we should all turn in then. We still have a long day of travel ahead of us tomorrow,” Lord Bingham said. Gently he pulled out Beth’s chair and she cast him a grateful smile.
Julianna wanted to do a happy dance in her seat at Beth’s admiring glance. Lord Bingham may not know it, but he’d now become her best prospect for a new brother-in-law, and she only had five weeks to make it happen.
