Sebastian searched for a way to bring Isabel back into conversation, but too soon, she was putting down her paint brush.
“That is good enough for now. Thank you for sitting for me. I’ll finish it soon, I’m sure.” Isabel nodded toward the door. “I’m sure you have plenty else to do so I won’t keep you.”
Making his way out of the room, Sebastian wondered where he might have gone wrong. He could have sworn something had gone right. Isabel had talked to him. But there was a new sort of knot in his stomach, and he found himself fearing he couldn’t protect her from everything.
CHAPTER 21
After sleeping ill all night, Isabel enjoyed a simple breakfast, finished wrapping a few gifts she intended to give to the servants on the morrow for Boxing Day, and then took a walk around the grounds.
“What the devil are you doing out here?”
She had just turned into the next pathway––one that led to the house, too––to find Sebastian standing there with a frown on his face.
“Happy Christmas to you, too,” she said in response.
When he huffed, white fog blew around and obscured his face for a moment. She was dressed warmly but could still feel the frost as well. But Sebastian was hardly dressed in more than a coat; he didn’t even wear gloves.
“And a happy Christmas to you as well. The weather’s going to keep dropping. Let’s get you inside before you freeze,” he told her.
A flare of irritation swept through her as she frowned at him. “I’m just fine. I know what it’s like to be in the cold. And the sun is out, so surely it will begin to warm up.”
“No, I know my British weather.”
“I think we all do,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“It’s going to get colder,” he repeated sternly. “Do you wish to lose yourself to frostbite? Come, there is hot tea and fresh biscuits in the drawing room for you now.”
Her stomach suddenly grumbled. A second ago, Isabel had no interest in any more food. But now that she thought of it… She could eat some more.
“Fine,” she huffed. She didn’t even know why she was in an ill mood, but that was one of the reasons why she had come out here, knowing how bright and cheery everything would be inside. It simply didn’t feel very festive today.
As for yesterday, what on earth happened? All of it feels like it happened to someone else. Not to me. Was Thomas really here? And did I really ramble on like that to Sebastian? I can’t imagine what I was thinking.
She moved ahead of her husband toward the stairs, thinking to go on without him. But then there was a patch of ice she hadn’t noticed.
The world tipped.
“Careful,” Sebastian called as he wrapped a hand around her waist. The movement caught her gasp and she swallowed. As he righted her, he kept his arm around her to nudge her through the doorway. “In we go.”
“I’m not a child,” she told him.
Then came Mrs. Maple with her dressing gown. “Then you shouldn’t do childish things, going out there to catch your death. If you don’t fall ill, it’ll be a miracle. Do get yourself warm, Your Grace.”
Isabel sighed but let Sebastian take her cloak, shawl, hat, scarf, and mittens. A maid appeared with her slippers so she switched off her boots. Finally, the dressing gown was put over her clothes and someone was leading her into the drawing room.
“I’m not in distress,” she told her housekeeper.
“Your hands are shaking, and you were out there for nigh over an hour. Perhaps you’re not in distress now, but another minute might have turned the tables for you,” the older woman pointed out firmly.
A tray was presented to Isabel as she sat in a chair by the fireplace, a small table set there for her ease. She took up the steaming cup of peppermint tea but paused as Sebastian arrived to set something else on the table.
“What is this?” She asked him, eyeing the velvet box.
He stepped back. “It’s a gift. It’s Christmas.”
Her lips twitched and she offered a nod. “I suppose it is.”
“It’s tradition to exchange gifts, is it not?” He asked her and then worked his jaw. “Well, to offer gifts should you care to. But you needn’t offer me anything.”
