Mischief and Mistletoe - Stacy Reid Page 0,16

her any farther down that scandalous and wanton memory. Everything must be about her mother and the earl finding their hearts with each other. Not the impossible attraction she felt for the man’s son. The Viscount had been playing billiards with Mr. Thomas Brampton earlier, and as soon as the young Lord Sherbrooke spied her, he had abandoned the man and the game to observe her. Shameful and outrageous! And worse, she blushed like a silly miss whenever their gazes collided.

The memory of his kisses lingered in the air once they looked at each other. She swore every time she felt his stare, and whenever she returned his regard that wicked knowledge shone from him, and she would become warm and out of sorts in so many wretched ways.

A panting Letty hurried over to her. “It is done! Mama is now by the lake, and I slipped the note beneath the earl’s door. Surely he will meet her there soon.”

“Hush,” Callie said, glancing to see how close the viscount stood.

She did not turn around, but she anticipated Viscount Sherbrooke to be right behind her.

“Why are you whispering?” Letty demanded.

“I do not wish Viscount Sherbrooke to know what we are doing.”

“Are you certain the viscount is following you?” Letty asked, her eyes laughing. “I think your imagination is running amok! I daresay he does not notice us at all.”

Interest flashed in her sister’s eyes. “I knew it! You blushed frightfully yesterday morning when you saw him. How is he aware of our antics?” her sister’s elegant brow winged upward. “Callie…are you blushing again?”

With a scowl, she grabbed her sister’s arm and tugged her toward an unoccupied gazebo. She smiled politely at the few gentlemen and ladies strolling about. The morning was unexpectedly warm, but she sensed it would not last long, for she could see the rain clouds in the far-off distance. And her plan hinged on that rain actually appearing.

“Will you tell me what happened with the viscount, or am I left to guess?”

Looking about to ensure they had cleared all listening ears, she muttered, “He kissed me.”

Letty faltered, forcing Callie to stop.

“Twice.”

“He kissed you…twice?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

Callie rolled her eyes. “On my shoulder.”

“Upon my word! Why would he—”

“Letty, for heaven’s sake! I was funning you,” Callie said, then lowered her voice to say, “he kissed my mouth and I…I kissed him back. In truth I have been able to think of little else.”

“Oh, my.”

Oh, my indeed.

“Do you like the viscount? Because I do not think you can marry him and then his father marry mamma. Is that…is that even legal?”

She flushed hot, and annoyance prickled her spine. “Letty you go too far. It was just a few kisses and you are suggesting marriage! I do not even like him!”

Her sister folded her arms beneath her bosom and arched an elegant brow. “Then why did you allow him liberties?”

Callie closed her eyes briefly. “I…I feel a bit foolish to say this but when he kisses me, I feel like he is the center of a storm and I am happy to be caught in it.” An odd sensation quivered low in her belly.

Letty appeared at loss for words for several seconds, then said, “Is he courting you?”

“He has no favorable intentions.” And Callie did not know if she wanted him to have any.

In round-eyed astonishment, her sister glared at her. “That leech! Ruining Vinnette did not satisfy—”

“He did not ruin her,” Callie blurted, disconcerted by how she wanted to defend him. Did she dare to really like the viscount?

“Oh,” Letty said, her ire deflated. “Still…what did he mean by his kisses?” she asked with naïve curiosity.

Callie lifted a shoulder in a shrug, not wanting to admit she had wondered the same thing for hours. Was he interested in her, or was he playing the libertine? “I do not want to think about that now…we need to direct all our efforts to Mama. She was refusing to come down this morning for fear of encountering the earl.”

“Yes, I heard all those mutterings about the dreadful mistake she made. It took much convincing for her to accept the earl’s invitation to a stroll this morning,” Letty said with a heavy sigh. “Why did he not asked her to dance at last night’s soiree. It is evident the earl is shamelessly besotted. He danced with three ladies and not once with mamma. She was miserable for it.”

“I think mamma is being too careful with her emotions, it makes her seems rather indifferent. Perhaps Lord Deerwood was