“That’s a fine idea.” Hector stood. “Shall we go exploring together now?”
“I don’t think we should go outside in this weather.”
“Not out, but up and around,” he said, twirling one finger about. “There’s plenty to see inside The Vynes. How about we start upstairs in the nursery? Find the boy something new to play with.”
Ruby was tempted, especially so when Stockwick gallantly held out his hand to help her rise. She slipped her hand in his and allowed him to bring her to her feet. There was a certain excitement in his gaze when their eyes met. Feelings she hadn’t experienced in a very long time stirred in her belly. Not since her husband had she experienced anticipation and perhaps a not-so-innocent desire to be close to anyone. Ruby was definitely drawn to Hector which was ridiculous given how slight their acquaintance.
“A quick jaunt upstairs and then back here to warm up again,” he promised with an eager smile, unaware of her inner thoughts.
Ruby’s pulse quickened. “We could remain here and have tea instead.”
“Only if you’ll allow me to slip brandy into mine,” he murmured, with a look she could only describe as seductive.
Ruby knew how other widows behaved with handsome men. For the first time, she understood their desire for a little attention too. In Scotland she would never have encouraged a flirtation. But she was in England now and bound to marry a man she might never have chosen for herself. She arched her brow. “How else do you drink it on a cold day?”
“Exactly.” Stockwick grinned…and something inside her shifted again. It occurred to her that she was enjoying his company very much. She hadn’t spoken to anyone so friendly since her husband had died, and she had certainly missed it. She hadn’t been allowed to be herself in a very long time. Ruby Clement had run off to marry a man because of love. Ruby Roper could do as she pleased, too.
Ruby rushed to Pip and dressed him in his warm coat, soft cap, and scarf. “Time for an adventure, little man.”
“Yay!” Pip cheered, jumping up and down.
Ruby rugged herself up, too, and they ventured out into the hall together. “If memory serves, the nursery is one floor up and to the east, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Taking her son’s hand in hers, they climbed the steps together, with Lord Stockwick bringing up the rear. Inside was cold, and the vast room had obviously been deserted for some time, too. She brushed her fingers over the wood of a rail and came away with a thick layer of dust on her fingertips.
Everything she touched was the same, dirty and uncared for, but Pip hardly seemed to notice. To his delight, he found toys belonging to his absent cousins to play with, and even a rag doll of a solider. He brought each discovery to Ruby, and she meticulously cleaned each one before allowing him to play with it.
Although it was cold in the nursery without a fire lit, she allowed her son to explore the chamber as long as he liked. She soon drifted to the window to look out at the view. The storm was still upon them. “I fear this won’t end soon.”
“Likely not,” Stockwick agreed, coming to stand by her side. “We’ll just have to make the best of it, use the time to get to know each other again.”
She glanced up at him, wondering how much time they would have together. Her uncle wanted her to marry, and she didn’t believe that he’d meant her to charm Lord Stockwick. But this might be her last chance to make peace with Hector over her lost silver bell. After she married, she may never come across him again. “I’d like that.”
“Will you play with me?” Pip asked suddenly.
Ruby spun around from the scene outside—but it was to Lord Stockwick to whom her son had posed the question.
Stockwick went to the boy and peered down at what he was holding out. “What have you got there?”
“A horse. I found two of them.”
“He’s a fine-looking steed, isn’t he?” Hector remarked, seemingly quite happy to indulge her son in conversation. To Ruby’s surprise, he picked up the second horse and waved it about as if playing. Pip joined in, following Hector’s movements but neighing, too.
Hector passed the second horse back to Pip then ruffled the boy’s hair. “You’ll take good care of them, won’t you?”
“I will,” the boy promised as he went back to his own game, galloping the toy about the room as if it were real.
She watched him for a few moments, her fingers at the base of her throat. Pip was so sweet and innocent and Hector so unexpectedly kind. She couldn’t imagine life without Pip, and Ruby would do anything to give him the life he deserved. She hoped the man her uncle wanted Ruby to marry might play with Pip like this too.
“Gads, it’s freezing up here.” Hector left Pip and drew closer, rubbing his arms briskly. He was a very well-dressed gent, quite tall and slender, prosperous and at ease with himself around her. He smelled very nice too. She started blushing when he suddenly caught her eye and winked. “What’s on your mind, Ruby Roper?”
That made her blush even hotter. She glanced at her son to hide his effect on her sensibilities. She ought not reveal her real thoughts to him. “I was wondering if anyone would notice if I borrowed a few things from the nursery to keep Pip amused until he can meet my cousins,” she said, rather than the truth.
“I doubt anyone would care,” he said, then shivered. “Find what you need, and I’ll help carry it all downstairs. Do it quickly before we catch our death.”
Grateful for the distraction of the task and for his offer of assistance, Ruby rushed around gathering up slate and chalk, and a box of toys, and handed them off to Hector. Then she ushered Pip back downstairs into the warm parlor.
Stockwick delivered everything she’d gathered to Pip—and then pulled something brown out of his pocket.
She frowned at his hand. “Is that…”
“Mistletoe. Last year’s pickings, I’m afraid. But still if one pretends it does the trick and offers an excuse for what I’m about to do next.”
He held it up over her head—and then swooped in to deliver her first kiss since her husband had passed away.
For a moment, Ruby was quite shocked and didn’t know what to do, but soon instinct took over, and she kissed him back.
They kissed for quite a while and then he drew back slowly. “That had to be better and longer than the first time I kissed you.”
She frowned. “You’ve never kissed me.”
“When we were children, I certainly did,” he promised. “Right upstairs, outside the nursery we just visited. You were the first for me.”
“I…” Ruby froze, startled that he even remembered that brief indiscretion. She’d been too young then to understand what he was about until much later. “So you did.”
Hector smiled, his cheeks dimpling. “I was young then, and not very good at it most likely. The kiss we just shared was nice.”
It certainly had been. Ruby could still feel the effect over her emotions, and her body, too. But she drew back from him. She shouldn’t encourage him to imagine she’d fall into his arms every time there was mistletoe about. Her uncle expected her to behave, and her son was in the room.