Page 42 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

Hugh exchanged a look with Maria. “I’m afraid not at this time, my lord. Suffice it to say that I would make an offer to the lady if my prospects were not currently in a hobble. When I am able to tell you more, my lord, I will. The lady knows all the particulars, but has sworn herself to secrecy.”

“Even more intriguing, Granger. I can perhaps see why the lady finds you amusing. But that still does little to forward my cause, which is to take Lady John back to Scotland with me. She will, undoubtedly, refuse to go, citing her cousin’s circumstances as the reason.” Kinellan’s frown went straight down his nose. “In which case I will propose that Lady Kersey pack her bags and accompany her cousin to my estate.” He beamed at them, convinced he had hit upon the perfect plan. “There is nothing to keep Lady Kersey here.” A glare at Hugh kept both of them quiet—for the moment. “She and her cousin will have a fine time celebrating the holidays in Scotland. You have never done so, have you, my lady?”

Stunned by this sudden reordering of her life—without so much as a by-your-leave—Maria had had enough. “No, my lord, I have not done so, and I am afraid I will not remedy that situation this year either. My traveling to Scotland is out of the question.”

“Indeed.” Lord Kinellan fished in his jacket pocket and produced a quizzing glass, which he applied to his eye and scrutinized Maria. “You stand up for yourself. Not something one usually sees in one so young. They are most often happy to be told what to do.” Nodding, he dropped the quizzer back inside his coat. “Even though it may prove inconvenient for me, I find myself approving of you, my dear.” He glared at Hugh. “Which makes your good behavior toward the lady even more paramount.”

The tapping of running feet down the corridor alerted Maria that Jane was approaching. Now perhaps she would put Lord Kinellan and his high-handed ways in their place.

“Kinellan? Is it really you?” The door swung open and Jane rushed in, then stopped so abruptly at the sight of Maria and Hugh that she stumbled on the carpet. Maria grabbed her to keep her from plowing headlong into his lordship.

“Maria! Mr. Granger. What are you—” Her gaze pivoted to the distinguished gentleman who had turned toward her voice and now regarded her with hungry eyes. “Kinellan.”

The husky desire in Jane’s voice told its own tale to Maria.

Jane and Lord Kinellan moved as one toward one another, with an intensity that was striking to witness. Kinellan caught her in his arms and was lowering his head when Jane stopped him, her face turning bright red. “Kinellan. We are not alone.”

“It has been almost a year since I saw you, Jane. I don’t give a damn who is in this room.” He sank his mouth onto hers and her protests ceased.

Maria moved closer to Hugh and as if in accord, they turned away, but not before Jane wrapped her arms around Lord Kinellan’s neck and pulled him even closer to her.

Much as Jane might insist she had no deep affection for Lord Kinellan, her reactions in the past few moments told another tale.

“Should we leave?” Hugh whispered in her ear, tickling it with his warm breath.

“If I thought we could get away with it and they wouldn’t find us, I would say yes. However—”

“Maria, Mr. Granger.” Rather breathless, Jane’s voice nevertheless called them back. They turned to find Jane standing beside Kinellan, his gaze still on her with an avid gleam. “I beg your pardon for that most inappropriate”—frowning, she glanced up at Kinellan, who grinned back at her—“display. But as Lord Kinellan said, we have been long absent from one another due to various circumstances.” Here she glared at Maria.

Well, that was Jane’s decision. Maria raised her chin, refusing to be made guilty for a choice that had been Jane’s alone. “And now those circumstances no longer seem to exist, my dear. I am settled here at Kersey Hall, under the protection of the earl and countess. You should feel free to pursue your own, um, pleasures.”

“And leave you alone to do the same, I assume, Lady Kersey?” Kinellan raised his eyebrows, as if daring her to say more.

Jane cocked her head at Lord Kinellan, then swiftly brought her gaze to bear on Maria. “To what does he refer, my dear?” She shot a severe look at Hugh. “Why are you and Mr. Granger here? Saunders said only that Lord Kinellan waited for me.”

Maria opened her mouth, not at all sure what was going to come out of it this time.

“I was shown into this receiving room to discover Lady Kersey and Mr. Granger locked in a sensuous, and very heated embrace.” Lord Kinellan apparently did not mince words.

“Maria! Mr. Granger.” The shock in Jane’s voice was actually comical. Had she truly thought Maria would not act on her feelings just because Jane disapproved?

“I must beg your pardon, Lady John.” The perturbed look on Hugh’s face wasn’t as severe as his anger at Lord Wetherby had been; however, the grim set to his jaw told her he was deeply displeased with Kinellan. “His lordship surprised us during a private moment, for which I have also begged his forgiveness. As you yourself understand, it is rather uncomfortable to be subjected to witnessing such intimacies between two people.”

Smothering a smile, Maria took his hand and squeezed it.

“I do not, however, apologize for the sentiments I had just expressed to Lady Kersey regarding our future lives together. We had just agreed to marry—”

Hugh might as well have set off an explosion. Everyone began talking at once, except Maria, whose anger grew with each passing word.

“Mr. Granger, you have no right to ingratiate yourself with my cousin by making a proposal of any nature.”

“Granger, you and I will talk about this ill-conceived plan, this instant, sir.”

“My lord, I am sorry, but I need not speak to you, nor ask your permission for anything.” Hugh looked from one to the other. “Nor you, my lady, although you are Lady Kersey’s kinswoman.”

“I am considering the welfare of my cousin, Mr. Granger.” Jane had stepped forward, bringing her considerable poise and stature to bear. “I have sworn to keep her from making a third disastrous marriage.”

“And you believe if she marries me she will come to regret it?” A tightness came into Hugh’s voice.