Page 28 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
“I mean, I asked you to think of something that brought you joy, and you do seem quite content. So, I was wondering what was on your mind.”
Phineas’ green eyes lit with mirth. “I was thinking of the joke you told last night at dinner.”
Christianna laughed. “The one about the duck?”
“Yes,” Phineas said as he chortled. “I do not know where you come up with these things, Christianna.”
“Oh,” she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “It was something my father used to say all the time. Any time Cook would serve duck for dinner, Father would drop that joke into the conversation. My mother indulged this bit of tomfoolery even though I am sure he made the same joke hundreds of times.” She sighed wistfully. “I miss the way the two of them used to laugh with and tease one another. They made being in love seem so simple and easy.”
“I imagine it is meant to be that way,” Phineas said gently.
“Yes,” Christianna murmured as she put aside her pencil once more. “I always thought it would be quite nice to meet a gentleman, make a connection with him, and fall in love, but now….”
“It is more complicated?” Phineas prompted.
Christianna nodded her head. “Indubitably. These last few days, since the duke and I shared those dances together, I thought, or rather, Ithinkthat our situation has improved, but still…where is he?” “I think he is in town, visiting the shops this morning, my lady,” Phineas replied hastily.
“I know where he said he was going,” Christianna grumbled. “But what I mean is why is he not here, spending time with me, getting to know me better? Why…why can things not be as easy with him as they are with you?”
“What?” Phineas asked. “Forgive me, Lady Christianna, but I could not hear what you said.” He leaned forward but not before swatting his hand at the buzzing insect that was circling him once more. “Go on, what was it you wanted to tell me?”
She gazed into his startling green eyes, which bored into hers. There were no falsehoods there, no expectations, no desire to be anywhere else than sitting right next to her, listening to every word she cared to share with him. It hurt her heart to think that she could spend a moment like this with Doctor Radcliff, but she could not say the same for his brother, her betrothed.
“It was nothing,” Christianna replied at length. “I was just griping a bit over the duke’s capricious ways, but it matters not.”
Phineas’ eyes flashed. “But it does matter, Lady Christianna. What you think—it matters a great deal. To me.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, and Christianna was tempted to repeat what she’d just said as well as the thoughts that were flitting through her mind, but Miss Fitzroy re-joined them then. “Look, my lady,” she said as she proudly held out a bouquet of flowers. “I picked enough for the both of us.”
Christianna nodded toward Phineas. “Thank you for being so thoughtful, but please give my share to Doctor Radcliff. I do think he would look rather becoming holding a bunch of violets.”
“Oh, do you think so, really?” Phineas said playfully as he accepted the flowers from Miss Fitzroy and held them right underneath his chin.
Christianna, Miss Fitzroy, and Phineas all laughed merrily. “Yes,” Christianna said as she picked up her pencil. “That will be perfect….”
Chapter 12
“And then she said she thought we were meant to use the tuning fork toeatour tuna,” Phineas told the punchline of the joke, and Lady Christianna snorted in laughter.
“She did not,” Christianna replied as she tapped the tines of her fork on the side of her plate. “Really, Doctor Radcliff. You make up the most ridiculous anecdotes.” He beamed at her. Phineas could not believe his good fortune.
Not since that first night at Bixby Hall when he had implored his mother to let him sit next to Lady Christianna had they been able to have the seating arrangement work so much to their advantage. But as the wedding drew nearer and more people arrived by the day, it just so happened that Christianna’s and Phineas’ place cards were situated next to one another this evening, and Phineas could not have been more pleased.
Even though they had spent all day together, going over Doctor Buchan’s book in the library, discussing the merits of having physicians be more attentive to the diseases which plagued small children, he was glad to be positioned at her side once more.
No one understands my sense of humour quite like Lady Christianna.
He was just about to tell her that his story was indeed based on a real account when the tinkling sound of cutlery being clinked against the side of a crystal goblet disturbed the merry atmosphere. Everyone, including Phineas, stopped talking at once and turned their attention to the head of the table. Percival stood there, smiling beatifically at the large party.
“It is my great honour to welcome you all to Bixby Hall this evening,” Percy announced loudly, lifting his voice so that it might spread to the farthest reach of the table. “As you all know, I am to be married in six days, and I cannot be happier about the prospect.”
He paused and reached for his wine goblet. It was half-full, and Percy raised it carefully as he pivoted, so that he could look directly at Christianna. Phineas could immediately feel the way all eyes in the room flitted in their direction. He had the sensation to cover Christianna’s hand with his own, to protect her somehow from all those prying eyes.
But when he cast his own gaze upon her, he saw that she was not perturbed in the slightest. Rather, she was staring back at Percival. A sweet smile played on her lips as she listened intently to his speech.
“I do not have to tell any of you, my dearest friends, that it was going to take an exceptional woman to bring me to my knees.” He paused and the other revellers tittered. “But here she is, Lady Christianna. The woman who has swept into Bixby Hall and changed everything.”
He lifted his glass just a bit higher and toasted, “To Lady Christianna!” All those in attendance cheered Christianna’s name as well before tipping their cups back and drinking to Christianna’s good health.
