“I doubt she does,” Phineas replied with a shrug.
“How do you know?”
“Call it a sixth sense. It’s in the way she looks at him.” He chuckled, “Or rather in the way she doesn’t.”
Tobias felt his hopes rise. “What do you mean?”
His brother sighed, “Well, she looks at you in the same besotted way as you look at her.” Again, he chuckled. “I’d say you’re a perfect match.”
Tobias sighed, afraid to trust his brother’s observational skills. “Honestly, how much can you truly tell from a look? I don’t see a difference in how she looks at me and at him.” Was that true? Or was he simply afraid to hope that there was?
“Well, if indeed, you’re right and she cares for Gillingham,” Phineas stated with a tinge of amusement in his voice, “then you have two options.” Here, he stopped and wouldn’t open his mouth again until Tobias begrudgingly asked him to continue. “One, you can stand by and wait until she agrees to marry Gillingham.” Indeed, Tobias had never encountered a thought more terrifying. “Or, two,” Phineas turned to meet his brother’s gaze, “you could change her mind.” A roguish grin spread over his face.
Running a hand through his hair, Tobias tried to think of anything to say that would distract his brother from his current line of thinking. “What about Lady Louisa?” he asked, noting the way she cast bone-chilling glares in Phineas’s direction. “What happened between the two of you?”
Grinning at her, his brother shrugged. “Nothing.”
“So, she hates you for no reason?”
“I’m certain she has one,” Phineas replied, turning to look at Tobias with that utterly innocent expression on his face that made women swoon at his feet without realizing the danger they were putting themselves in. “However, I’m not aware of it.”
“Why do you call her Lulu? It seems to rile her.”
His brother chuckled, “That is precisely why I do it.”
“Pardon me?”
Phineas heaved a somewhat exasperated sigh, “Have you never known the joys that come from fighting with a woman?”
“Joys?” Tobias asked, eyeing his brother through narrowed eyes. “Are you honestly saying that you enjoy her reaction?” He paused. “Do you care for her?”
For a split second, a muscle in Phineas’s jaw tensed before he shook his head laughing. “No one can deny that she’s a beautiful woman,” he stated, that wicked smirk back on his face, “and spirited as well.” He shrugged. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind stealing a kiss. No one in their right mind would. The lady has a very tempting mouth.” His brows wiggled, suggesting the directions of his thoughts−not that they were in doubt. “Perhaps the two of us meeting here this Christmas will provide such an opportunity.” He glanced at the sprig of mistletoe hanging near the pianoforte. “Do you think she would slap me if I pulled her under that bit of greenery there and kissed her?” Phineas asked with a chuckle as he looked at the lady in question, completely unimpressed by the hateful glare she sent his way.
Tobias laughed, “Oh, please do so for I do believe the lady will do much worse to you than grant you a simple slap.” He grasped his brother’s shoulder and met his gaze. “I cannot rightly say that you would not deserve it.”
Phineas grinned devilishly. “I admit I’m thoroughly tempted.” His eyes moved back to Lady Louisa, and for a terrible moment, Tobias truly thought his brother would stride across the room, drag the lady under the mistletoe dangling near the pianoforte and steal a kiss. Fortunately, Phineas was no fool. He often pretended to be one, but Tobias could see his brother’s thoughts churning behind those dark eyes.
Phineas turned back to Tobias. “What about you? Do you think Anne would slap you if you dared to kiss her?”
Tobias cringed.
“Ah!” his brother exclaimed as though he’d just solved a most fascinating riddle. “I see, you’ve wondered about it yourself.”
Swallowing hard, Tobias linked his arms behind his back, trying his utmost not to look at Anne, who was still−to his utter regret−speaking to Lord Gillingham.
Beside him, Phineas sighed, “Simply kiss the girl,” he whispered before his black gaze met Tobias’s, a wicked gleam coming to his eyes, “or I shall do it for you.” His brows went up and down in challenge before he turned and walked away without another word.
Shocked, Tobias stared after him, worried what his brother might do. For although Phineas was no fool, he’d more than once proved to be a rogue of the worst kind.
Chapter Six ~ Under the Mistletoe
For the life of her, Anne could not find a polite way to rid herself of Lord Gillingham’s company. The man had been all but stuck to her side ever since he’d arrived earlier that day. Fate also saw them seated next to one another during supper, refusing to grant Anne a short reprieve.
By the time everyone returned to the drawing room, Anne was exhausted.
“The venison was exquisite,” Lord Gillingham commented as they stood near the pianoforte at a safe distance from the nearest sprig of mistletoe. Thanks to Leonora’s diligent observations, Anne knew well which areas to avoid. “This has indeed been a splendid evening.” He smiled at her, and she could see his blue eyes light up with delight. “I’ve enjoyed your company very much.”
“You’re too kind, Lord Gillingham,” Anne urged herself to reply. After all, he was not only polite and attentive, but also a perfect gentleman. Moreover, Anne had been unable to note any of the objections Leonora had inquired after at the Barrington ball a few weeks back. All in all, there was no reason why she ought to object to his company.
But she did.
In truth, Anne had spent most of the evening trying not to stare at Tobias. He had been seated not directly across from her, but a few chairs down the table on Lord Gillingham’s side next to Grandmother Edie. Fortunately, that had granted her an excuse to turn her gaze in his direction as she did her best to follow Lord Gillingham’s retelling of his last trip to the Continent.
Still, Tobias had been the only one on her mind. She’d stolen glimpses at him as often as inconspicuously possible. His gaze had been distant, his jaw somewhat taut as though something plagued him. Then he’d looked up, and their eyes had met for a split second before Anne had dropped her gaze in utter panic. She’d felt herself blush profusely, unable not to think of her cousin’s plan in that very moment.
What would a kiss feel like?
Tobias’s kiss?
“Would you care for a refreshment?” Lord Gillingham asked her in that moment, jarring Anne from her wayward thoughts. “Or perhaps a turn about the gardens?”
Anne was about to decline when she stopped. Perhaps a brisk walk through the snow would finally chase away that lingering blush that grew each time her eyes fell on her childhood friend. Indeed, it seemed whenever she lifted her gaze this night, Tobias was there, his brown eyes finding hers without fail. Was she simply imagining his presence? Or was it her cousin’s blasted plan that made her overinterpret everything?
“A turn about the gardens sounds lovely,” Anne told Lord Gillingham. “I must admit I feel a bit flushed.”