strolled from the house in that moment and her breath caught. Never before had a man worn a greatcoat with such flair. It fitted his broad shoulders perfectly and the bottom hem swept across thick, muscular calves encased in shiny black boots.
“Forgive my tardiness,” he called out, all friendliness and nothing awkward, so she must have been seeing things last night. “I forgot my gloves.”
As he said the word, he tugged fawn gloves over his lean fingers. He winked at her as he passed, and she smiled at his cheek. She was glad whatever was troubling him had passed.
“Most excellent,” she said. “Then we may begin. It’s a wonderful day, and I thought a brisk walk around the estate would be bracing for all in attendance. But since today is our second day of Christmas, I thought we would stay close to the theme.”
She was trying not to bounce as she whipped a handful of colorful ribbons from her pelisse pocket. “Did you know that turtle doves can see color?” she asked as she handed one ribbon out—carefully selected, of course—to each of the ladies in attendance. “And can be trained to come to a specific hue?”
She stepped back and lifted her hand as signal. There was a whooshing sound of wings from just around the corner of the house and then the turtle doves swept into sight. Six of them, rather than two, but each flying to the lady whose ribbon matched the one tied around its delicate leg.
The crowd oohed and ahhed, just as she had hoped. Though the twins, Ladies Honoria and Prudence, did squeal a little more in fright than pleasure.
“You will note the card for each lady around the leg of your new friend. Remove it and open it to see which gentleman will escort you around the estate today,” Emily said with a quick glance toward Cav. He stood at the back of the crowd, arms folded, and when their gazes met, he gave a little flutter of soundless applause. A thrill worked through her at his impressed expression of surprise. It was hard to throw him off, and doing so flooded her with pride.
She refocused her attention on her victims. Damn, had she just thought of them as victims? Cav’s ridiculous word. Her guests! They were opening their cards, laughing as they paired off, and then the birds flew away, back to their handler behind the house.
“Off you go, just down the path,” Emily called out as they began to move away. “You’ll see markers to guide your way!”
Eventually the last coupling walked away, the chaperones gathering as a group to follow, and that left her with Cav. He arched a brow at her. “Well played. Now where is your cloak?”
She glanced down at herself. Though she wore a spencer, it wouldn’t be warm enough. “Oh, I am a goose,” she said with a giggle. “I was so excited for my reveal of today’s theme, I left it inside.”
“Geese are Day Six,” he called out as he hustled up the stairs. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.” He returned a moment later, her black cloak with the stunning red lining in his hands. He motioned her to put her back to him and she did. “My lady,” he said.
He placed the cloak over her shoulders, and for a moment his hands rested there, warm even through the heavy woolen fabric. She had a sudden urge to lean back, rest against that broad chest. Let even more of his warmth seep into every part of her.
She blinked. What was she thinking? Why was she so aware of Cav and his presence? She staggered forward, nearly depositing herself off the steps. It was only that he caught her elbow and steadied her that kept her from making such an inelegant display.
“W-We should go,” she stammered, refusing to look up at him. “The others will get too far ahead with our dawdling.”
He stood there for a moment, long enough that she forced herself to meet his gaze. It was even and steady on hers, his expression one she could not read. Then he nodded and the intensity faded, her friend returned and the tightness in her chest relaxed a fraction.
“Of course.” He swept out a hand. “After you.”
They walked together in the same direction as the others had taken. Swiftly at first, but they quickly met up with the retreating backs of the others and she made herself slow down, take a breath, even though she couldn’t