Page 39 of A Lovely White Christmastide
Then as if he’d forgotten his intention to return to the party, he ascended the stairs to the guestrooms. She shook her head. Julianna and Mr. Kaye would make a delightfully distracted pair—both too impetuous for their own good, but with hearts full of pure goodness.
She followed behind him slowly, not wishing to interrupt his reverie. When she reached the guestrooms she went directly to Julianna’s and gave a soft knock. A moment passed and then the door creaked open.
Julianna peered through the crack and then quickly pulled her into the room.
“Oh, Beth.” She fell into her arms. “I made such a fool of myself.”
Rubbing circles on her back, Beth hushed her cries. “You did not.”
Julianna pulled back. “I did. Did you see how Mr. Kaye looked after I kissed him? I think I may have offended him.”
Beth laughed.
A frown marred Julianna’s face as she pulled out of her grasp. “This is no laughing matter.”
“It is, because he just spoke to me about his fear that he had offended you.”
“He what?”
“Come, Jule. Let us have a seat.”
They moved to the wine-colored wingback chairs before the fire. Julianna pulled a thick lap blanket from the back of one and placed it over her as she sat.
Beth smiled. “Have you been able to stay warm sleeping in your own bed?”
“You are stalling, Beth. Out with it.”
She snickered. It was fun to be on the other end of the teasing. “All right. If you must know, I believe Mr. Kaye might fancy you.”
Julianna leaned forward. “Really?”
“Yes, especially after he nearly wore a hole in the entry rug pacing back and forth trying to explain why he turned his head and accidentally made you kiss him on the lips instead of the cheek.”
Julianna slumped back in her chair. “Oh. So it was an accident.”
“Not one that he regrets. Only that he thinks he may have offended you, and wanted to know what he might do to fix things between you.”
Julianna perked up. “Fix things? Like there might be something between us to fix?”
“He seems to think so. And when I said with confidence that you did not dislike his kiss, he walked away with a dreamy gaze.”
Julianna bounced in her chair, a little squeal escaping her lips. Beth could not help but smile.
“Wait. Why are you happy about this, Bethie? You have been telling me to be cautious.”
Beth gave her knee a pat. “Because there comes a time when the mama hen needs to let the little chick go and live a happy life.”
The day of the assembly in Kendal came far too quickly for Beth. Had they really been at Haverton for two weeks? She chose a light blue gown with little white and clear beads embroidered into the hem and bodice. Armed with long white gloves and a white wool cloak, she met the others in the entry.
When she saw Julianna, she nearly laughed. She had also chosen a blue gown, this one accented with silver and matching grey gloves, her identical white wool cloak draped over her shoulders.
“I do not think anyone who sees you both this evening will doubt that you are sisters,” Carswell said quietly beside her.
She smiled at him. “Not that they would have questioned before with our very similar complexions, but it seems we have similar tastes when it comes to balls.”
He nodded as he placed a tall beaver hat on his head. When his winter wear was in place, he offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
“Miss Haynes is quite capable of walking on her own, Lord Bingham,” Mrs. Barker said from behind them.
