“Heaven help me.”
She did smile then. And he smiled back at her, holding her gaze. Her heart performed a queer little somersault. How his face changed when he smiled! There was a sparkle in his eyes and a flash of strong white teeth. A brilliance to make her catch her breath.
“Had I known teasing would make you smile so brightly, I’d have done it sooner,” he said.
“I’m sure I’ve smiled at you before.”
“Not like this you haven’t.”
“I’m merely surprised,” she said. “It’s not like you to engage in light-hearted banter.”
“I don’t claim to be an expert at it. I’m certainly not up to Murray’s weight.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
Ned’s mouth hitched. “Perhaps I should take another leaf out of Murray’s book.”
“What do you mean?”
“Court you as I would someone of my own class. As I would have courted a stonemason’s daughter.”
Sophie didn’t know whether to be intrigued or appalled. A flood of questions filled her head. She didn’t know which one to ask him first. “Is it really so different?”
“In some ways, I expect. There are still rules—an abundance of them—but a fellow can be a bit easier. He can tease and flirt. Steal a kiss, perhaps.”
Her heart executed another acrobatic gyration. She couldn’t imagine Edward Sharpe teasing and flirting with anyone, least of all her. As for stealing a kiss…
“Would you have kissed me if I was a stonemason’s daughter?” The question tumbled out in an anxious rush of breath.
Ned’s gaze darkened. He took another step toward her, a flash of something in his blue eyes that was almost predatory. “Would you have liked me to kiss you?”
She pressed her back to the tree trunk. The dusting of snowflakes clinging to the bark melted into the fabric of her paletot. “I…I don’t know. Perhaps. If we grew fond of each other.”
“In other words, you’d have preferred I refrain.”
“Well,” she said with sudden frankness, “I don’t think I’d have enjoyed it if you’d simply grabbed me and kissed me. A lady likes to prepare herself for such an event.”
“Fair enough. Are the next nine days enough time to prepare yourself? Because, unless you very strenuously object, I intend to kiss you this Christmas.”
Sophie stared at him, her mouth suddenly dry. It took all of her strength of will to compose herself. To moisten her lips and formulate words more substantial than a breathless squeak. “Under the mistletoe, I presume.”
“Under the mistletoe. Under the gaslight. Under the stars.” Ned bent his head close to hers. “Perhaps all three.”
The rest of the day progressed in a haphazard fashion. After washing and changing his clothes, Ned proceeded downstairs to the breakfast parlor. Eggs, sausages, and other hot foods were arrayed in silver serving dishes on a mahogany sideboard. He fetched a plate and helped himself to a generous portion of each before joining the other guests at the table.
Sir William was seated at the head of it, perusing a newspaper while a footman poured his coffee. Walter was there as well, as was the vicar, Mr. Hubbard, and a reedy-looking fellow who Ned understood to be the village schoolmaster. Another of Sophie’s last-minute guests, he suspected. And, if Sir William’s scowl was any indication, not one who was very welcome.
They were joined in short order by Ned’s father and a few more of the guests, a smattering of gentlemen and unmarried ladies. The married ladies, including Lady Appersett and Ned’s mother, didn’t make an appearance at all. They had the privilege of having breakfast delivered to them in bed.
Ned didn’t see Sophie at the table. Instead, he found himself seated between Walter and the vicar’s widowed sister, Mrs. Lanyon, who—like her brother—had a great deal to say on the subject of Prince Albert’s death.
“The Queen’s grief can scarcely be imagined,” she confided to Ned in sepulchral tones. “To lose a much-loved spouse—to see him struck down in the very prime of his life—such pain and desolation cannot be measured—”
“I say, Sharpe,” Sir William interrupted. “Do you ride?”
Ned lowered his fork to his plate. “I do, sir.”
“Capital, capital.” Sir William finished off his coffee and rose from his seat. “Meet me at the stables in half an hour. I’ll take you down to see some of the improvements.”