Simmer All Night (32 page)

"You did quite a bit of traveling."

"It wasn't so bad. I like trains much better than steamers. The side to side swaying is better for me than the up and down."

Considering their recent behavior, Chrissy couldn't stop the suggestive thought that flashed into her mind. She did, however, keep her mouth shut against it. Clearing her throat, she said, "I suppose you're having the banns read, too?"

He nodded. "In the local village church for three weeks."

"Being thorough."

"Yep."

"I see."

Cole braced his hands on his hips and stared down at the floor for a full half minute before looking up and pinning her with a solemn-eyed stare. "Uh, Chrissy?"

"Yes."

"I really would like it if we could figure out a way to make this work for both of us."

"By
this
you mean...?"

"Us getting married."

From out of the blue, tears collected in Chrissy's eyes. "Oh, Cole."

For a moment, he just stood there visibly willing her to say more. When she didn't—she couldn't—he closed the distance between them and lifted his jacket from where it lay draped over her arm. "I do love you, Christina Elizabeth Delaney, and I hope that before too much longer, you can bring yourself to believe it."

She blinked rapidly, willing the tears not to fall. Then, unwilling to end this interlude on such a note, she forced herself to speak. "Cole, about getting married."

He waited expectantly as Chrissy searched for the words she wanted to say. When a full minute passed in silence, his mouth twisted in a rueful grin. He shrugged into his jacket, then leaned down and lightly kissed her lips. "I reckon it'll keep for the time being, Lady Bug. As long as you know where I intend for us to head, I guess it won't hurt anything to wait a little while until you're ready."

In a small voice, she said, "I don't know if I'll ever be ready, Cole."

Honest amusement replaced the wry look in his eyes. "You'll be ready. Sometime, someplace." Repossessing the marriage licenses, he slapped them playfully against her forehead and added, "And, as I've certainly proved here today, my Lady Bug. You can always count on me to be primed and ready."

* * *

One week later Chrissy sat beside her grandfather and across from Lana and her viscount as the earl's carriage made the turn at the gate that marked the lane to Harpur Priory. Michael and his sister had deserted the roomy coach soon after departing Hartsworth, the boy to ride a well-mannered little gelding, Sophie to double up with Cole. The journey had taken just under two hours to complete and despite the pleasant traveling accommodations, Chrissy couldn't wait to disembark from the coach.

She wanted to be with Cole.

Since his return to Hartsworth, they had spent most of their days and many of their nights together. They had fussed and feuded over a plan to gain possession of the Declaration. They had laughed together and teased each other and offered glimpses into one another they'd always kept hidden in the past. And when night fell and Hartsworth slept, they loved one another, using their hands and mouths to convey words of admiration and tenderness, affection and desire.

As the days passed, Chrissy had slowly lowered her guard. The man had officially conquered her heart and now lay siege to her mind in an attempt to gain her trust. He was doing a right fine job of it. Twice already during the coach ride from Hartsworth she'd found herself imagining a world where she lived as Mrs. Cole Morgan.

Darned if it didn't feel like heaven.

Chrissy smothered a sigh, not wanting to cause her coach mates to believe they bored her with their discussion of Viscount Welby's extended family, including the Dowager Viscountess, whom Lana and the children were scheduled to visit later that month. Chrissy dreaded the thought of the Klebergs' departure. They were family now, and she would miss them desperately once they were no longer part of her daily life. But Lana was so wonderfully happy and watching her bloom beneath Welby's effusive regard was such a treat. They had scheduled their nuptials for six months hence, though after watching them together, Chrissy wouldn't be surprised to see the viscount produce a special license of his own much sooner.

As far as wedding plans for herself were concerned, Chrissy had reached a conclusion about that, too. She had given herself permission to put off that decision until the Declaration was in their hands. She needed both the time to think matters through and the deadline to force her to move forward. For the time being, she wouldn't worry whether she dared trust in his claim of love. She'd wait a little while longer to decide if she dared to give her hand in marriage to Cole Morgan.

Be honest, Chrissy. What you decide may not matter. Knowing Cole, he's liable to take it anyway.

"And he says I'm marble-headed," she muttered.

"What was that, my dear?" her grandfather asked.

"Oh. I didn't mean... never mind. Are we there yet?"

Lana laughed. "Why Chrissy, you sound just like my children."

Welby turned from the window and said, "You can see the house now. Its low-lying position deep in the park is a reminder of Harpur Priory's monastic origin. Members of medieval religious orders liked secluded sites for their buildings."

"They did?" Lana asked, encouraging him with a look to elaborate.

As Welby launched into a discussion of architectural accomplishments during the Middle Ages, Chrissy got her first look at Lord Bennet's ancestral home, her first thought being, My,
how ominous.

The Greek Revival portico extended from a Baroque front, obviously a later addition to the main structure, according to Welby. "I'll know better once I've seen the place up close, but I imagine Harpur Priory is a hodgepodge of fourteenth and fifteenth century walls."

The gray sandstone walls were forbidding, no matter how old they were, and Chrissy felt a trickling sense of unease as the coach descended the gentle slope toward the south front. "In Texas we'd never build in a gully like this," she observed. "Looks to me like it's asking to flood."

Welby continued, "Notice that the house is a rectangular block with projecting corner pavilions. This design for country houses was much favored in England around seventeen-hundred. Note how the pavilions are defined by fluted pilasters that support a classical cornice." He studied the structure silently for a moment, then added, "That cornice is magnificently bold and elaborately decorated. I suspect its design was derived from a plate in Philibert de l'Orme's treatise on architecture."

Chrissy felt her eyes starting to cross at the lecture as the earl observed, "You truly are well versed in the subject, Welby."

"Architecture is a particular interest of mine." He grasped Lana's hand and offered her an adoring smile.

Harrumph,
The earl solicited Lana's gaze, then said, "See that the young pup builds his mother the most elaborate dower house in England. Your marriage will be the better for it."

Dryly, the viscount replied, "I've had the plans drawn for years now. I ordered building to commence two weeks ago."

They had no more time for discussion about Welby's mother because the coach rattled to a stop. They had arrived at Harpur Priory.

Cole was there to take the footman's job away from him, and he boldly placed his hands around Chrissy's waist and swung her to the ground. "Hey there, Lady Bug. How was the drive? I wish you'd ridden with us."

His hands lingered at her waist and he stood closer than was proper. Chrissy suspected he might kiss her then and there. "Marking your territory, Mr. Morgan?"

He frowned and made a stab at looking affronted. Then he did lean down and give her a quick buss on the lips. Chrissy pulled away, laughing and saying, "I guess I should be pleased you chose that method rather than lifting your leg."

"Now Miss Delaney, no need to be crude."

Then, because he'd timed it that way, he turned around to greet their host who had come out of his house to meet them, visually anxious to welcome a pair of honest-to-goodness Texans to Harpur Priory. The handshakes and backslapping were at odds to the greetings Chrissy had witnessed elsewhere in England. This was reminiscent of a true Texas howdy and gave her a sharp tweak of homesickness.

You'll
never be happy making your home in Britain
, her conscience whispered.
Texas
is in your blood.

It was a truth she could not deny. With Cole or without him, someday she'd go home. Right this moment, staring up at the imposing facade of Harpur Priory, she wished someday was today.

Well, let's lift the curtain
on
this play.
The faster they found the Declaration, the quicker she could go home. Maybe that's what needed to happen. Maybe she needed to go home with Cole and see how he acted around her mother. Maybe that would show her if his claims of love were true or motivated by guilt and the fear of displeasing the almighty Elizabeth Delaney.

Chrissy wanted to think about that notion some more, but time ran out. Bennet approached and welcomed her to Harpur Priory. She pasted on a smile and said, "Thank you, Lord Bennet. I am so looking forward to the first meeting of the Anglo-Texan Society. Why, I've felt as if this day would never arrive."

"My feelings are the same. The days have dragged since my departure from Hartsworth despite my being terribly busy making meeting arrangements and preparing my speeches. Did you see my herd as you drove in? I had the longhorns moved from their usual pasture to the front park. My lawn will suffer for it, of course." He chuckled for a moment, then continued, "So what did you think of them, Miss Delaney?"

She hadn't noticed them. She'd been too busy looking at the stern lines of Harpur Priory. "A fine herd, Lord Bennet," she replied. "Nothing says Texas like a herd of longhorn cattle."

Beaming, Bennet nodded rapidly. Had the man a tail, Chrissy mused, it would be wagging fast enough to kick up a breeze.

"Come in, come in, come in. Allow me to offer you a refreshment white my servants deliver your luggage to your rooms." Bennet showed them into the drawing room where soon they quenched their thirst with, of all things, iced tea.

"What is this?" the earl demanded, holding his glass up to the sunlight, his mouth fixed in a sour twist.

Chrissy smiled. "It's sweet tea, the official drink of the State of Texas, Grandfather."

"Now Chrissy," Cole said, "I thought whiskey occupied that slot." Glancing at the earl, he added, "Bad whiskey it is, too."

"I have harder spirits also, Thornbury, if you'd prefer that," Bennet said worriedly. "I have planned everything during this meeting to be authentic to Texas." Wringing his hands, he added, "Perhaps that was a mistake. Like you, Miss Delaney, some of my other guests are bringing family members along who do not share our interest in the Lone Star State. Perhaps I should revise the menu. Oh, dear. I simply don't know."

"I would be happy to assist in that area if that's agreeable to you," Lana said, stepping forward.

"Oh, yes. Thank you, my lady. That's such a relief."

Lana smiled graciously. "I'm happy to help, however, you're mistaken in designating me as a lady already. Lord Welby and I are only betrothed. I am still Mrs. Kleberg."

"Oh. Yes. Well, that's right. I apologize. It's just that you have the bearing of an aristocrat so I became confused."

"Easy to understand, Bennet," said Welby, walking up beside his wife-to-be. "I daresay my Lana could show scores of titled British women the true definition of the word 'lady'."

Chrissy sighed at the romance of it all. Cole nudged her in the side, winked, and rolled his eyes. She held her hand up to her face as if hiding a yawn and stuck her tongue out at the Texan.

He laughed, and said, "So, Bennet. Where is this Texas Room I've heard about? I'm anxious to see it."

"Now? You don't wish to retire to your bedroom for a rest?"

"It's just a short ride from Hartsworth to here. Why, I'd have to turn in my Texas Ranger badge if I needed to rest after a jaunt like that."

"You're a Texas Ranger?" Surprise and something else flickered in Bennet's eyes.

"Nope." Cole shot him a mischievous grin. "I won the badge from a Ranger in a poker game. It is a treasure though." He paused, then casually asked, "Do you have one of those in your collection?"

"No. No I don't. I would love to have one, however. Very much."

"Hmm..." Cole folded his arms and cocked his head to one side. "Well, I might be willing to give mine up. Maybe before this meeting is over, you and I can work a trade."

"I don't trade my things, but I am always willing to purchase what I want. Yes, I'm certain we will work something out. Come along, then, Mr. Morgan, and any of the rest of you who are interested. I'll show you Harpur Priory's Texas Room." Bennet all but skipped as he exited the drawing room.

Cole and Chrissy were the only people who accompanied him. The earl was content to occupy a seat beside the fire, and after asking Welby to go find her children who had not made it in from outdoors as of yet, Lana accompanied the majordomo to the kitchens in order to speak with the cook about the menus for the coming meeting days.

Welby led them down a hall and up a staircase, allowing little time for more than peeking into the rooms they passed. Chrissy was able to identify a Caricature Room, a room done entirely in yellow, and a library. When she quit looking side to side and glanced down the hallway in front of them, she spied the Texas Room right off. The pair of stuffed longhorn cattle standing guard on either side with miniature Texas flags hanging from each horn gave it away.

At the doorway, Bennet gestured for them to precede him. Cole walked into the room, then stopped so abruptly that Chrissy bumped into him. "Well," he said in a tone dry as a South Texas August. "Your taxidermist must be a happy man."

Peeking around Cole, Chrissy's eyes went round. The room was stacked wall to wall with stuffed animals. "Oh, my."

To the left a coyote appeared ready to spring. On the right, a mountain lion posed with his mouth opened in a snarl. Directly in front of Cole, a black bear stood on his hind legs with his right paw lifted in slashing position. Chrissy took a step back and said, "I didn't know we have bears in Texas."