“Yes. Yes, please,” Nick said, slightly breathlessly and their lips met in the very briefest of kisses before they heard voices approaching the threshold. They broke off, and by the time the small group of laughing partygoers entered the antechamber, they were simply chatting and sipping wine idly, appearing to be only glad for a few people to join them.
Chapter 14
He and Nick took part in the general chatter before a few extra stragglers laughingly joined the fray. This was Jonathan’s chance to quietly return to the main space and catch Nick’s father for a quick word. He was aware that this gentleman intended to take his family home earlier than usual to be up the next morning to deal with further preparations for colder days ahead.
Jonathan gradually worked his way through the throng, unobtrusively approaching his quarry. When he reached his goal, he eased the conversation around to farming techniques and the possibility of Nick’s visit, as if this had only just occurred to him.
“A very good notion,” that gentleman said warmly. “That would be very amenable of you, sir. He’s a good boy and often shows more interest about the place than his older brother.” This was said with a rueful, amused shrug before continuing, “It would be an opportunity for him to learn a few new ways and bring them back for us to use ourselves,” he said jocularly.
Jonathan gave no signal of how delighted he was at such an easy agreement to his plan to have Nick close by him for as long as could be contrived. In fact, he was so distracted by this happy event and so keen to tell Nick as soon as possible, that he almost missed a minor social and romantic disaster.
Freddy was sitting with Miss Belinda in a narrow window alcove, in which only two chairs would fit. Corinna was nearby, which probably explained why Freddy was leaning attentively towards Belinda as though she was the only woman in the room. Belinda’s face was as serene as ever from Jonathan’s angle of sight, but any casual observer might misconstrue her apparent acceptance of Freddy’s near embrace.
To his consternation, he could see Mr. Hammond expressionlessly looking in the same direction and cursed Freddy’s thoughtless interference in that budding romance. Jonathan was just about to intervene when, to his surprise, Mr. Hammond calmly approached Belinda, and with a courteous bow at Freddy, asked her for her hand in the next dance which was about to start. Her face now animated, she accepted with a warm smile and rose eagerly to join him.
Well, well, thought Jonathan, meek Mr. Hammond must be very sure of her feelings to be so bold in the face of Freddy’s most beguiling behaviour. As Freddy was looking a trifle nonplussed at this turn of events, he continued across the room to join him.
“By the looks of things in recent days, those two might make a match,” Jonathan said casually, as he sat beside him, to help soothe Freddy’s ruffled feathers.
“I had no idea!” Freddy exclaimed, genuine surprise in his voice. Jonathan recollected the glances and smiles of assorted guests, particularly amongst the older generation, at Mr. Hammond and Belinda’s growing preference for each other. However, it was not altogether a revelation that Freddy had noticed nothing that didn’t concern him directly.
Jonathan kept quiet as he observed his cousin mulling over this new information, apparently transfixed by the dancers. By the looks of things, he was adjusting to this idea and manfully swallowed the fact that Belinda might prefer the unprepossessing Mr. Hammond compared to his own good looks and palpable charm. “If that’s the case, then I wish them both happy,” he said firmly.
Jonathan looked at his cousin and blinked. “Good for you, Freddy,” he said in genuine praise, wondering if this might mark the start of his cousin growing up a little. This happy thought was consolidated when Miss Corinna was left alone and rather forlorn as the music struck up once more.
To Jonathan’s surprise, Freddy immediately stood and politely asked her to dance. It was clear by his manner that this was not the recommencement of his fervent attentions, but a particularly well-chosen olive branch.
Jonathan then too got sucked into the dancing as there were still ladies to spare. Although the evening seemed to pass in a whirl, and Jonathan appeared as caught up in the jollity as anyone, he was watching out for the first sign of guests leaving. He could not bear to let Nick go without a private moment of temporary farewell.
His watchfulness was rewarded when he saw Nick’s father approach his host as if to say his goodbyes while Nick disappeared into the hall, Jonathan guessed to retrieve their outdoor gear. Before he could be caught in yet another conversation or be requested to dance, Jonathan slipped out to join Nick.
Even if the hall was not secluded, they were at least alone for a few minutes as they retrieved the correct overcoats from the pile of shawls and outerwear on the hall table. When he had their coats slung over one arm, Nick hesitated, drawing out the moment for a little longer.
“I’m sorry we are leaving so early, but Pa wants us up in the morning to help out. I truly wish I could stay tonight,” Nick said his blue eyes dark with regret.
“I wish that too, but I understand completely,” Jonathan replied, and under the cover of the folds of the coat, he took Nick’s hand in his. “We will be together in January, at my home, alone together.”
Nick’s squeezed Jonathan’s hand as his smile returned. “That is something to look forward to,” he said.
“And in the meantime,” Jonathan said,
