Mischief and Mistletoe - Stacy Reid Page 0,9
anything about Father, it is his deep pockets and connections.”
She did not trust herself to make a civil reply. “You odious creature!” Well…she did try to hold her tongue for a few seconds. “Who gives you the right to object to true love?”
An arrogant brow lifted. “Ah…so your mother’s feelings have even exceeded the normal type of affection? Of course, this…” he waved toward the mistletoe and the conservatory, and continued, scathingly, “This is true love and not the manipulation of a family after my family’s fortune.”
Callie faltered into astonishing stillness, an unknown tempest brewing in her breastbone. How had she ever thought this man handsome? He was the devil! For she could see he intended to ruin her mother’s chance at happiness with the earl, and she would not allow it!
“I assure you, nothing of the sort is happening! I am appalled, mortified, and angry that you should think it and express your opinions in such an uncivil and arrogant manner. I cannot credit that the earl…who is kind and most thoughtful, is your father! I can see your purpose is to ruin my mother’s chance at happiness, and I will not allow it,” she fired, jabbing the point of her finger against his shoulder.
Surprise flared in his beautiful blue eyes before unexpected humor filled his gaze. The shift in his temperament rattled her.
“And how do you plan to stop me?” he asked with provoking amusement.
Sudden tears pricked behind her eyes, and her throat burned.
His eyes widened, and his entire body stilled. “Why are you crying?” he demanded in a gruff tone.
She fought her reaction with a will Callie hadn’t known she possessed. It would be so mortifying if she should shed a tear in the odious man’s presence. “I am not crying,” she snapped, hating that her voice trembled.
“Then, what is this?”
The tender way he spoke had her peering into his eyes in surprise. He reached out, his thumb brushed against her cheek in a feather-light caress, and it was then she realized he traced the path of a tear. Her stomach twisted itself into a knot, and her breath hitched at the weakness that assailed her. “I have a tendency to express my emotions a bit too obviously.”
“I supposed I frustrated you with my plans to thwart your schemes?” There was an edge of steel beneath the gentleness of his tone.
Her chest hurt with the effort to remain unaffected. “No…you do not know my mother…of her kindness, of her loyalty, and that when she loves, she does so with her entire heart. It hurts that you would judge her so unfairly and by the standards of other women you must have encountered in your life. I am not trying to entrap the earl. Never that.”
She vibrated with indignation, took a deep breath, and continued, “I…I could see the tendre Lord Deerwood and my mother have for each other. Mama has been broken and hurt for so long, that it relieves my heart she still can love and yearn for more from life. My mama is pure of heart, demure, respectable, and though she is a bit enamored of scandal sheets, she is not mean-spirited at all! But she can be painfully shy, which some might misconstrue as indifference. I only thought to help her along, and it angers me you would try to take away the cheerful smile I just saw on her face because of your own arrogance and vanity. Your father is an earl…a man of maturity and excellent sense. I daresay he does not need you to decide whom he should shower with his attentions!”
He lowered his hands and studied her as if she were an unusual creature.
“You are very decided with your tongue, aren’t you?”
Now he sounded as if he admired her.
“I agree, Miss Middleton, I do not know your mother, and I may do her a disservice by comparing her to others. I should also trust my father’s judgment and not meddle in his affairs. I will endeavor to do so if you promise no more mischief.”
She frowned. “I…”
He held up a hand. “If there is a genuine attachment between the pair, they will discover it for themselves with no added manipulation, wouldn’t you agree?” he queried in a smooth voice, his eyes never leaving her face. “They’ve received a proper nudge just now…I am certain you also witnessed that passionate kiss.”
She flushed, recalling the wicked embrace. She wondered if he was right, but Callie knew her mama. The viscountess would need