Improper Christmas Read online

  “I see,” she intoned with a grave nod. Her lips ticked up in another quick smile. “I assure you, I abide to the clock tower’s time.”

  His eyebrow quirked up, but he nodded. Taking off his greatcoat and handing it to Spriggs, Pennington said solemnly, “An attribute I sincerely appreciate.”

  She gestured behind her to the roof and dilapidated corner she previously examined, and used it as a smooth change in subject. “There are several blemishes to the building we should address. Is this something we take to Mrs. Martins?”

  “No.” Pennington shook his head. “I will not wait for Mrs. Martins to find the capital in the assembly hall’s coffers to finance these repairs. I shall finance them myself.” He gestured for her to precede him. “Please, show me what you’ve discovered.”

  Lillian nodded and wished she’d kept her gloves. The draft truly was obvious now that they were the only two people in the hall, and the fireplace had not been lighted. Clasping her hands over her skirts, she rubbed her fingers in a vain attempt to warm them.

  “This roof should’ve been repaired months ago,” she said and pointed to the water damage. “It’ll cost much more now.”

  He hummed in agreement, and she continued.

  “The paint is fading and the floor sagging beneath the water damage. However,” she said briskly, “I suggest we see to the roof first and the damaged window, if both are not too costly. The rest, for now, can be hidden by strategic décor.” She looked down at the floor and decided it was not so far gone as yet. “However, the floor will need to be replaced no later than spring.”

  “No, let us attend to all of it at once,” he insisted. He grimaced at the roof and stepped back, away from the damage. “I want this place to be at its best for the feast.”

  Lillian nodded. That was for the best, but in her experience, people rarely wished to expend the coin to see to it. Before she said anything, however, Pennington looked at his pocket watch and frowned.

  Fascinated by the deep V between his brows, she almost missed his words.

  “It seems we are the most reliable of our group,” he said, and the frown disappeared, as if it were never there. “Therefore, we should enjoy our work.”

  He took another step away from the damage and gestured to the wall. “What do you think of a wall coloring? Something more cheerful than a dark color?”

  Lillian tilted her head, still rubbing her fingers together. She longed to step away from the draughty window; however, Pennington seemed impervious to the cold November wind sneaking in through the broken panes. He moved from the water damage but not the cold. Interesting man.

  “It would certainly elevate the hall,” she agreed.

  He offered another quick smile, and once more Lillian felt as if only the two of them existed in this hall. She blinked and shook away the outrageous thought. But Camilla Primsby’s words refused to leave her, and Lillian couldn’t help but wonder if taking her life with both hands included Mr. Pennington.

  “Shall we travel to Hyde Heath, then, to choose a wall covering?” he asked.

  Lillian blinked. Surprised at the question, she looked around for a chaperone. The hall remained quite empty. Tempted as she was to simply agree, Lillian stepped back instead. She’d do nothing to ruin her reputation. Not when it was the only thing left to her.

  “What of the others?” she asked warily.

  “They are too late to catch the worm,” he said.

  She laughed. Shocked by his words, his efficient attitude, and his seeming complete lack of care as to a proper chaperone, Lillian couldn’t help the startled laugh.

  “I’m afraid, Mr. Pennington, I cannot ride with you unattended.”

  “Of course not,” Pennington said, but he looked as startled at her words as she felt at his.

  “Spriggs!” Pennington called. “Miss Norwood and I are heading to Hyde Heath. Would your wife be amenable to journey with us?”

  “My, um, my wife,” Spriggs said with a quick nod, “is just a few doors down at the baker’s. She’s recovered sufficiently to manage a short ride. Um, perhaps she can, indeed, accompany you — ah, both of you — to, ah, Hyde Heath?”

  Spriggs nodded quickly, a short movement, though his eyebrows raised high on his forehead. She couldn’t read the smile on his face, the quirk of his upturned lips; however, Lillian caught Spriggs’s glance between her and Mr. Pennington.

  “Excellent.” Pennington nodded. “Now, I have a list for you,” he continued to the attentive Spriggs. “Do find Mr. Laurie and let him know his services are required here at the hall. I’d like to meet him promptly at eight tomorrow morning to discuss the repairs.”

  Spriggs nodded again and motioned to a worker. Without a word between them, the other man disappeared. Lillian blinked, impressed. She thought Chesham a sleepy little village, but it continued to surprise her with the efficiency of its people.

  “When the other ladies arrive,” Pennington continued, “simply inform them Miss Norwood and I have everything well in hand.”

  “Uh, yes, sir,” Spriggs agreed. “I’ll, ah, I’ll find Mrs. Spriggs immediately.”

  The worker returned with their coats, and Lillian gratefully reached for hers. Her fingers truly were frigid.

  Lillian didn’t watch the porter leave. Pennington turned stiffly to her and looked grave when he met her gaze.

  “My apologies,” he said softly. “My enthusiasm for a new project blinded me to the need for a chaperone.”

  She bit back a disappointed sigh. He saw her as no more than a… a business partner. Not a woman, or at least not a woman he found attractive.

  “It’s all right,” she told him softly. “Mrs. Spriggs will be here momentarily, and we’ll be off to Hyde Heath.”

  Pennington looked around the nearly deserted hall. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have sent him off in such haste, as we are now on our own here.”

  Lillian smiled and stepped from him, closer to the center of the hall and farther from the broken window. “We are in a public assembly hall attending to a meeting. All proprieties are intact.”

  Those penetrating eyes once more caught hers. “Do forgive me,” he said and closed the distance between them. “I am more accustomed to dealing with soldiers and men of work with such projects.”

  Lillian shook her head and resumed her previous relaxing tone. “I can appreciate such efficiency.”

  “As can I. Too many whittle away the time, and nothing is accomplished.”

  “Yes,” she softly agreed. “Time is whittled away with unnecessary distractions.”

  And was that not how she wished to change her life? She hadn’t done enough when she believed Edmund was going to marry her and she need only wait for him. But now she had her own life and vowed to see to her own needs.

  “There’s never enough time to do all that needs to be done.” He swept his gaze over the hall with the swift look of a commander on the field. “Unless,” he continued and met her gaze again, “one is orderly.”

  “I am certain you were orderly as a captain with the Horse Guards,” she said frankly.

  “It was my duty,” he agreed. “And I take duty very seriously as, I see, you do as well.”

  Lillian tilted her head and wondered if he saw more than she wished. Or did he simply mean arriving here early and agreeing with his own assessment of work to be done? The efficient persona she showed to the outside world.

  “I do my best to honor my commitments,” Lillian replied and tried to wipe all inflection from her tone. She was not certain how successful she was.

  Lillian wished she knew more about engaging a man in conversation not related to business. Unfortunately she never had the time to perfect that skill, the frivolity of such chatter.

  That way other women seemed to have in attracting a man. It surprised Lillian how much she wanted to attract Mr. William Pennington. How she wished him to notice more about her than efficiency and duty.

  She licked her lips and wondered how to go about that.
How to let down her walls and show him her true self. The woman she hid, the woman she’d nearly forgotten.

  “An admirable quality,” Pennington said.

  But his gaze flicked to her mouth. Suddenly she noticed a change in how he looked at her. That spark of interest she thought she saw upon his arrival now blazed, for a brief bright moment, in his blue gaze.

  The interest that had her hoping Mr. Pennington saw her as more.

  She blinked as warmth spread through her. But did she read too much into a single look? Time would tell, she supposed and smiled slightly. And perhaps Mrs. Primsby was, indeed, correct about looking into what was directly in front of her.

  Chapter Four

  William, Miss Norwood, and Mrs. Spriggs sat in his carriage as they drove to Hyde Heath. The December day was cloudy and a hint of rain scented the air. It was downright miserable, but sitting across from Lillian, William found it lighter than the weather foretold.

  Lillian and Mrs. Spriggs talked animatedly about the baked goods they planned to include in the baskets for the feast. He listened with half an ear and added in his approval when they specifically asked for it.

  They traveled to Hyde Heath to look at their final choices in wall coverings. In the previous weeks, they traveled to the neighboring village several times, each time chaperoned by Mrs. Spriggs.

  Today William could’ve traveled on his own. He and Lillian already agreed on the style and color of the wall fabrics. Or he could’ve had Mr. Henry deliver everything to the Assembly Hall.

  His left thumb brushed along his right hand, across the scar slashing just below his knuckles.

  William didn’t fool himself. He knew why the three of them traveled to Henry’s. And it had very little to do with inspecting the merchandise.

  Was he ready for such a change? Lillian was intelligent and organized and he knew she’d make an excellent mistress of Pennington Hall. But was he ready for a wife?

  Lillian laughed and drew his gaze to hers. Yes. Yes, he was ready.

  The carriage pulled to a stop and his footman opened the door. The wind blew down the street, carrying bits of trash and the day’s broadsheets with it. He frowned and eyed the sky, but though the clouds looked heavy, he thought them safe enough for their outing.

  William opened the door to Mr. Henry’s and a young clerk scurried up to him.

  “Mr. Pennington,” the man bowed, eyes darting to Lillian and Mrs. Spriggs. “Mr. Pennington, we did not expect you so early today. Mr. Henry isn’t here this morning. But he wants so very much to be the one to tend to you.”

  “It’s no bother.” Lillian cut the man off with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”

  “Oh, no.” The clerk shook his head. “Oh, no. Mr. Henry is very particular about the way he wants to present his items to new patrons.”

  William was about to brush the clerk’s mutterings off. But then stopped.

  “Would you mind terribly returning in an hour or so?” the clerk asked.

  An hour. His heart sped at the thought of an extra hour in Lillian’s company. He looked to Lillian, who smiled and nodded.

  “An hour or so will not be a problem,” he said graciously. “We’ll explore more of Hyde Heath.”

  Lillian smiled at the clerk and stepped back. “Very well, we’ll return shortly.”

  The clerk nodded and bowed thankfully. William resisted rolling his eyes and held the door open for Lillian and Mrs. Spriggs. He followed Lillian out and just stopped himself from taking her arm.

  William didn’t know what it was about Lillian that caught his attention and so very quickly. Perhaps because she wasn’t a prattling young miss so commonly found here in Chesham. Or perhaps because he knew she experienced her share of hardships.

  Whether he knew the details or not, her living situation proved it. Even more, the way she held herself, kept herself distant from everyone. And the way she let her walls down, just enough for him to want to know more about her.

  Lillian was more serious, yes, but there was a lightheartedness to her he admired. One he wanted to see more of. He wanted to hear her laugh as she did with Mrs. Spriggs. He wanted to see her smile directed at him, not only when they worked together, but all the time.

  He was hard-pressed to name what it was that drew him to her, but for the first time in his life, William embraced it.

  Clearing his throat as the winter wind slapped him in the face, William looked briefly around the main street of Hyde Heath. But his gaze, as always, returned to Lillian. She pulled her coat more firmly around her and he frowned. She was often cold and he did all he could to keep her warm as they worked.

  There was a rug in his carriage especially for her on their trips here. He made sure Mr. Spriggs kept the fire stoked when they worked in the Assembly Hall. And when it was only them in the little office, he made sure the brazier was warm and near to her chair.

  “Would you ladies care for a pot of chocolate?” he asked and nodded to the chocolatier across the street.

  “Oh yes, that sounds lovely,” Lillian said with a wide grin. Her eyes danced with joy over so simple an offer and William’s heart pounded in his chest.

  “Yes,” Mrs. Spriggs agreed. But she looked up and down the street and added vaguely, “I’d love to.”

  William frowned at the woman, but shrugged in dismissal. She’d been acting odd for days now, and he couldn’t figure out why.

  The shop was mostly empty this early in the morning. They sat by the windows with a view of the busy main street. Despite the weather, and the threat of rain, Hyde Heath bustled with activity.

  From here, William just made out the church at the end of town, and across the street, a notice declared Wassail here for the winter season.

  “Oh, do excuse me,” Mrs. Spriggs said even as he and Lillian took their seats. “But a few shops down there’s a hat I simply must see. Do enjoy your chocolate,” she added and backed away from the table. “I’ll return as quick as I can.”

  Before William had the chance to say anything, Mrs. Spriggs disappeared out the door. He blinked at the suddenness of her departure.

  Lillian smiled. “Hats can be very important.”

  William laughed and nodded. “Please, stay,” he said and gestured at their table. “I’ll fetch our chocolate.”

  Out the window, he saw Mrs. Spriggs retreating form. Hiding a smile, he was grateful to the other woman. Not only for her continued agreement to accompany them as he and Lillian traveled to Hyde Heath so often, but for her opportune disappearance now.

  Perhaps she wasn’t such a strange creature after all.

  He was grateful for the private time with Lillian. He was grateful for any moment he spent with Lillian, but especially away from prying — and curious — eyes.

  The girl behind the counter smiled and nodded, but he only vaguely returned her greeting. William ordered the chocolate and two pastries and returned to the table to await their tray.

  Lillian grinned up at him. Before he had the chance to speak, however, the serving girl arrived with their order. She set the pot of chocolate between them and two cups, along with two pastries.

  William sipped his chocolate but barely tasted it. “If only Cook could make such a delicious cup.”

  “Our cook in Lily Field Park had a wonderful chocolate recipe. Though I do think it was more sugar than any other ingredient.” Lillian smiled and it wasn’t one of the reserved smiles she used when around others. It was open and happy. William wanted to see that smile on her all the time.

  “But it was quite nice,” she added with a quick, happy laugh. “Especially on a cold day, served by the fire after a run in the snow.”

  “Thing like that were heaven when we were young,” William agreed. “Weren’t they?”

  “Yes,” she sighed. “Everything felt so free. There were no obligations to meet. Simply adventures to be found.”

  Lillian looked at her chocolate as if it hid the adventures of her youth. William wondered what she h
ad wanted then. He knew about the recent rumors, of course he did. Mrs. Martins and Mrs. Miller ensured everyone knew everything they did about Lillian’s circumstances.

  He ignored the two women just as he ignored the rumors surrounding Lillian.

  But he admitted to a curiosity about her. One not mired in rumor or gossip that was usually untrue. He wanted to know everything about Lillian Norwood.

  Not only how quickly she tallied a ledger or how she stood up with grace and calmness to the roofers who wanted to increase their payments. But how she preferred her chocolate or her tea. Or if she enjoyed walks in the evening or morning.

  “And what kind of adventures did young Miss Norwood find at Lily Field Park?” he wondered.

  William pushed his chocolate aside and gazed at her, more interested in her answer than he wanted to let on.

  “Oh, many.” Lillian smiled. “I crossed jungles and deserts and crossed great mountains all to find a very rare blossom.”

  William laughed. He didn’t care how loud it sounded in the empty chocolate shop, only that she made him laugh.

  “A daisy?” he inquired.

  “Oh, no.” Lillian shook her head and looked at him very seriously. “The very rare and the very wild… dandelion.”

  Lillian’s laugh echoed across their small table, her eyes bright with remembered humor. William grinned widely in return, utterly charmed.

  “And you?” Lillian wondered. She sipped her chocolate and with her fork broke off a piece of her pastry. “What was young Mr. Pennington’s most daring adventure?”

  Most daring? He had to think about that. He needed to have an adventure equal to Lillian’s. Ah. Yes.

  “Why the search for buried treasure, of course!”

  “Oh, yes, of course,” Lillian agreed. “Where was this mythical treasure?”

  “Mythical indeed, it had a mind of its own.” William lowered his voice and leaned over the table, the better to tell his tale. “One day, it was buried deep in the moors,” he whispered. “Another, it might be at the bottom of the Seven Seas.”

  “And how did you discover it?” Lillian asked in the same hushed voice.