Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4) (19 page)

"She is going to love it," Franny said, giving her sister a hug. Ettie beamed and thanked her again for helping her.

"It's so hard keeping secrets, isn't it?" Ettie asked as she folded the afghan. Franny instantly thought of the hidden book and nodded, unable to speak. Her sister continued. "But it's also so much fun! Sort of being naughty without paying a price!"

Franny swallowed hard but managed to nod again and when Ettie asked for help in adding the fringe to the edges of the afghan, she agreed and the two left the room. How on earth could that girl in the book have been naughty on purpose? As for herself, Franny almost wished she could confess what she'd done even if it meant receiving a spanking. Even though she remembered Lucy's explanation as to how a spanking did indeed hurt but that her heart always felt better afterwards, she knew she'd never be able to discover whether her sister-in-law was correct. Not being able to imagine confessing this crime to a man she so desperately wanted to think well of her, she knew this was one secret she'd need to keep to herself.

* * * * *

"I think you will enjoy dinner," Lawrence said as he draped Ettie's cloak about her shoulders. Frank was making sure his wife's cloak was fastened as well.

"Where are we going?" Ettie asked, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Ahh, it's a surprise," the doctor said, taking her hand and slipping it into her fur muff.

"But I want to be thinking about what I'd like to eat," Ettie complained. "I don't want to be dreaming of chicken and getting stew. Or have my mouth watering for lobster and find myself looking down at a steak."

Lawrence chuckled as Frank shook his head.

"Ettie, you are being a bit rude, don't you think?" Bea softly chastised. "I'm quite sure that wherever we eat, the selection will be varied and delicious."

"Your sister is right. I assure you that you'll enjoy dinner and I promise that if you are a good girl, there will be dessert."

Ettie rolled her eyes. "Perhaps I don't want dessert…"

"Perhaps you need to remember it's not polite to roll your eyes," Lawrence countered, tucking her other hand inside her muff before taking her elbow. "Or perhaps you'd prefer to be tucked into your bed without supper."

Hearing his tone, she felt her tummy start churning. "Oh, no, please. I'm sorry. I was just teasing. I know you have picked a lovely restaurant and I thank you for escorting me to dinner, Dr. Fielding."

"That's much better," Lawrence said, giving her elbow a light squeeze.

After closing the door behind the four, Lucas shook his head and turned to see Edward and the twins smiling. "How long do you think it will take before Lawrence pops her bottom?"

"Papa!" Lucy said, "He can't! They aren't married."

"Don't forget, little one, I did more than pop you before you agreed to be my wife. A woman can only expect so much leniency before a man needs to let her know that naughtiness will not be tolerated."

Louisa smiled, her hand slipping into Edward's. He returned her smile as he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "If I remember correctly, a certain little lady found herself across my knees before marriage as well. None of us will be the least bit surprised if Ettie takes her own unexpected tumble across a lap."

"Especially when the little minx seems to be going out of her way to provoke that very act," Lucas said, shaking his head.

The four were all smiling as they returned to the library. Emmie and Stefan were upstairs in the room used for both punishment and play. When Stefan had asked Lucas for the key, the twins had watched Emmie flush but also saw her smile. Lucy had an idea that her friend was being allowed to see exactly how Diabla differed from the horse in her own home.

"Should we ask Franny if she'd like to join us?" Louisa asked.

"Yes, where is she?" Lucy said. "She seems to disappear all the time."

"I'll go see," Lucas said. "I agree, I haven't seen her much lately." He climbed the stairs and knocked on his sister's door.

"Who is it?"

"It's your favorite brother," Lucas teased.

Franny opened the door a bit. "You are my
only
brother, remember?"

"Yes, but it seems that my sisters are dwindling one by one. We haven't had the pleasure of your company lately. Come join us."

"I-I'd rather not," Franny said. "Christmas is just around the corner and I've yet to finish my gifts."

Lucas studied her for a moment and then reached out to cup her chin in his fingers. "Sweetheart, are you okay? You'd tell me if something is wrong, right?"

"Yes," Franny said quickly. "Nothing is wrong. I-I just want to finish my painting for Sam… um, Mr. Benedict."

"May I see?" Lucas asked.

"Um, I suppose, but give me a minute." She closed the door in his face and, for some reason, he just knew his sister was attempting to keep something from him. When it opened again a minute later, he entered her room.

"It's not quite done and will need time to dry, and I'll need to get a frame," Franny said, talking quickly as she led him to the easel she'd set up by the window.

Lucas looked at the painting and smiled. "You are very talented. I'm guessing that is Sadie and her pups?"

"Yes, she is just so sweet."

"Well, she certainly looks so in your painting." He turned to look down at her. "But I don't see how you can paint in the dark. There's barely enough light to read by."

"Oh, um… well, I'm just doing some touching up. I usually paint in the daytime with the sun coming through the window."

Lucas stood quietly, looking around her room. It was as neat as a pin, no clothing left lying about, her desk piled tidily with writing supplies, and her bedside table stacked with books. He noticed that the pillows on her window seat looked as if she often sat there, reading or simply staring out the window. There was nothing amiss and yet the unsettled feeling wouldn't leave him.

"Franny, are you certain that you are fine? I pray that you remember that you don't have to pretend with me. I love you, sweetheart, and if you are hurting, or feeling as if—"

"It's nothing like that," Franny said quietly. "It's not like that at all. I know I can come to you, and I know you are worried about me because of Walter, but you don't need to worry, I promise."

"So Samuel—"

"Is wonderful," Franny said, her voice softening even though her eyes darted away from his.

"Okay, sweetie. But swear to me that if you have any concerns or questions, you will come to me?"

Franny nodded, opened her mouth and closed it without speaking. He gave her another moment and then gave her a hug.

"Anything at all, Franny. I promise I will be there for you. I love you. We all love you."

"I know, thank you," she said, finally giving him a smile. "I promise, I'm fine. I just have a lot to think about."

"That's fine, but tonight, I'm insisting you join us for a game." When she began to protest, he shook his head. "Don't argue. Thinking and painting are fine but, little one, becoming a hermit is not healthy. Besides, I'm sure that we can beg some hot cocoa and a few biscuits from Mrs. Grover."

Franny smiled and when he offered his hand she took it. "You have always tried to ply us with treats," she said as they left her room. "No wonder Ettie has such a sweet tooth." As they walked through the house, he shared the scene about sweets between Dr. Fielding and their little sister. Shaking her head, she said, "That girl is going to learn that being adorable will not guarantee her bottom won't get—"

"Spanked?" Lucas suggested, when she blushed and didn't complete her statement. At her nod, he gave her hand a squeeze. "As I told her, no matter which man is lucky enough to wed her, she should not be surprised to discover that fact rather quickly." They reached the hallway and he paused. "Even young ladies who are usually perfectly behaved make mistakes and when they do, if they are lucky to have wed a man who truly loves them, they might also find a hand on their bare bottom. It helps free a girl from guilt and begin with a clean slate."

Franny looked up and while he was prepared for her to argue, she simply nodded and didn't say a word.

They settled in the library to play cards while sipping the promised cocoa and eating their fill of a large variety of Christmas biscuits made by Edith. As Lucas bit into his third, he chuckled, causing the others to look at him.

"Just wondering what our Ettie is eating. That girl constantly amazes me with her love of food."

"She needs the energy. After all, she is the bounciest young lady I've ever had the pleasure of knowing," Edward said as he played a card.

In the restaurant miles away, Ettie was licking her lips after taking a bite. "You were right. This is delicious," she admitted. "I've never had snails before."

Lawrence laughed. "They are called escargot. I'm glad you are enjoying them." He used a fork to remove another from its shell and slipped it onto her plate, spooning a little garlic butter over it.

"Thank you," Ettie said, giving him a bright smile. He'd been so wonderful, treating her with bites of different items, sometimes placing the food on her plate and a few times, simply lifting a fork to her mouth for her to accept. Each time he did that, her heart beat just a bit faster and she'd discovered that the food he offered tasted like ambrosia.

"Yes, thank you," Bea agreed as she took a bite of the salmon she'd ordered. "Your choice of cuisine has been quite an adventure. I had doubts about chaperoning my sisters but must admit I have been enjoying myself."

The four ate and talked with ease. Lawrence asked about the progress of their house plans and about the business of raising and training horses. In between pauses, Ettie noticed that he kept her plate full. She blushed when she heard him chuckle as she took a rather large bite of lobster she'd dipped in a pot of hot, melted butter. "I'm sorry," she said, realizing that she had rolled her eyes. "It's just so good."

"Don't fret," Lawrence assured her, using his napkin to wipe a spot of butter from her chin. "It makes me very happy to see you truly enjoying your meal." As their entrees were cleared away, he turned to her with a grin.

"So, Ettie, my girl, are you quite sure you don't want a sweet?"

She felt her cheeks and then smiled. "I would love a treat if you believe I deserve one, Dr. Fielding," she said softly, suddenly hoping that he thought she'd been a good girl.

"You've been a very good dinner companion," he said, signaling for the waiter. "Just as I believe in withholding pleasure when a girl is naughty, I believe in rewarding a girl when she is good."

"Oh, um, thank you," Ettie said, noticing the glance her sister gave her and the smile on her face as she turned to look at her husband. As the waiter approached with a tray of desserts to choose from, she knew that she'd be asking Lucy, Louisa and Emmie if the words she had just heard meant something other than some confection. Even as she chose a slice of chocolate cake, she had to stop herself from squirming just a bit in her chair, blushing furiously when she realized that Lawrence was not looking at the tray but was focusing on her. Yes, for some reason, she just had a feeling that this very handsome, very confusing doctor hadn't been speaking about dessert.

Chapter Twelve

Emmie and the twins found themselves wagering which Lady Huntington would be the first to have a new name. They'd been positive that Franny would become Mrs. Samuel Benedict but, as Lucy pointed out, Franny seemed to be becoming quieter and less forthcoming about her outings or her feelings.

"Do you think something has happened to make her question her attraction to Mr. Benedict?" Emmie asked one afternoon, when the three were preparing to go downstairs after their naps.

"I hope not," Lucy said. "She told us how much she likes him and has been so happy. They seem like such a good match."

Louisa turned to look around before speaking. "I'm not saying I'm right, but have either of you noticed that she is sort of acting, um, like, well, like I do when I've done something that I'm afraid might be considered naughty?"

The other two girls abruptly stopped halfway down the stairs. "Oh, that's exactly it!" Emmie said, her eyes wide.

"But what on earth could make her feel naughty?" Lucy asked. "She is
never
naughty from what I've seen."

"You don't suppose she feels guilty over that kiss in the parlor, do you?" Emmie asked.

Lucy shook her head but gave a shrug at the same time. "I wouldn't think so, but I'm not sure. I mean, from what I witnessed, she seemed to be enjoying it very much. Maybe we should just ask her?"

"No, that might embarrass her or make her feel guilty if she wasn't before, simply because we asked," Louisa countered.

"But—"

Louisa cut her twin off. "Think about it. Would you want me to ask you straight out if you were feeling guilty about something intimate you and your Papa shared?"

Lucy shook her head again but then giggled. "No, but from the look on your face, I am dying to know what you've been doing lately. More experiments for Miss Summers?"

"What experiments?" Emmie asked. "Tell me!"

In perfect unison, the sisters turned to their friend and said, "No." The twins laughed and put their arms around each other's waist as the group finally made their way downstairs. Emmie sputtered her indignation at being left in the dark until Louisa leaned towards her. "All we can say is that Miss Summers is looking for a large pool of results." When Emmie looked confused, Lucy giggled.

"What she means is that your Papa should be receiving his, um, directions for conducting the experiment quite soon."

Emmie's eyes widened and then she smiled. "In that case, don't tell me a thing. I'd hate to skew the results." She paused and then said, "Can you at least tell me if I'm going to like it?"

"Let's just say it's a good thing we are riding today," Lucy said, her free hand rubbing against the back of her riding skirt.

"Oh," Emmie gasped, her cheeks pinkening with understanding. They were all still smiling when they entered the library to meet their husbands. It was a beautiful afternoon and since Franny and Ettie were attending a matinée with Mr. Benedict, Lord Lenar, and Frank and Bea, the others were finally going to ride.