Page 46 of An Earl's Christmas Seduction
Nicholas was confused. Just like the words Amelia had overheard, these too made no sense, not without something more to add to them by way of explanation. He did not understand to whom they could be referring to, and he was at a loss to understand what Sir Samuel and his wife were talking about.
“But whose dignity?” Nicholas asked.
Harry shrugged.
“I don’t know. His wife cut him short. She told him to stop dragging up the past. She wouldn’t hear any more talk of it. I only caught the last bit of what they were saying to one another. It was all rather heated, though. What a lot of secrets there are in this house,” he said, shaking his head.
Nicholas sighed. His friend was right. Bringing the guests together for the house party had brought with it all manner of unexpected intrigues. Nicholas did not know if these secrets even had anything to do with him, or whether they were something entirely different. He sighed, sitting back in his chair and closing his eyes.
“There certainly are,” he said.
“And where were you this afternoon? Were you really searching all that time?” Harry asked.
Nicholas opened his eyes, finding his friend looking at him pointedly. He sighed.
“No, I wasn’t. I was with Amelia,” he admitted.
There was no point denying it. There could be one less secret in that, and Harry smiled.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Nicholas. What will you do if Constance finds out?” he asked.
“I’ve already told her I want to know the truth about my mother,” Nicholas replied.
Harry’s eyes grew wide with astonishment.
“You did what? I thought it was supposed to be a secret, Nicholas. Surely, she’s the one person you don’t want knowing about all of this,” he exclaimed, but Nicholas shook his head.
He had told Constance the truth for the simple reason of buying himself time. She had wanted them to announce their betrothal, but Nicholas had no intention of doing that, ever. He did not want to marry Constance, and the more he came to know Amelia, the more his thoughts were turned in a different direction.
“I had to, Harry. She wanted me to announce our betrothal. But I told her I wasn’t going to until I know the truth about who my mother is, who she was. It’s bought me some time, at least,” Nicholas replied.
“Then you’d better hope you discover it soon, Nicholas. She won’t wait, and I don’t think Amelia will, either,” Harry replied.
Nicholas sighed. Harry was right. Time was not on his side, and with the festivities now begun, the truth was still waiting to be discovered.
Chapter 15
“I’m not going out in the snow to sing to an apple tree,” Clara exclaimed, and the viscount roared with laughter.
“But tis’ the tradition in the cider counties…wassailin’ to the orchards,” he retorted, and Clara folded her arms and shook her head.
“Not until twelfth night. Tell him, Mother. He’s wrong. He’s not talked of anything else but wassailing since we finished playing sardines. He never stops singing,” she replied, and again, the viscount roared with laughter.
“Tis’ good to have a song in yer heart. Back in Ireland, we’re forever singin’. Tis’ good to sing and make merry,” he said.
Amelia was sitting with her mother, watching with bemusement as the argument over wassailing continued. The guests had finished decorating the house, and on every surface, and hanging from every possible hook and frame, the greenery spoke of the hopeful season ahead.
“We’ve sung plenty of carols,” Mrs. Bennett pointed out.
“Ah, but we need to drink to the health of the orchards. Tis’ what the wassail means,” the viscount said. He called for the servants to bring in the wassail bowl.
Devonshire was famous for its cider, and Clara and Isobel had told Amelia of the extensive orchards on the Amhurst estate. Gallons of cider was produced every year.
“Tell him, Nicholas. Tell him he’s being foolish. We don’t drink the wassail until twelfth night. Besides, it’s far too cold to go outside and sing in the orchard,” Clara said, as Nicholas and Harry entered the room.
Amelia glanced at Nicholas. He looked somewhat distracted, and it seemed he had only vaguely heard what his cousin had said.
“Wassail, yes, we must have wassail,” he replied, and Clara gave an exasperated cry.
