Page 95 of Yielding to Love

Camellia sat in the parlor with Alice, who was sewing a dress for her baby. Alice made neat, tiny stitches effortlessly. She hardly even seemed to be paying attention to her work. Camellia was sewing also, turning a hem on one of her chemises, while her heart ached for little Neville.

“Nobody is in London,” Alice complained. “I don’t mind missing our meeting since half the ladies have escaped to the country, but if Haz can go out—”

“He doesn’t want you to slip and fall.”

“Yes, well, I don’t want him to slip and fall either.” Alice made a face, then set down her sewing. “I hope you don’t think Haz and I are quarreling.”

“If you were, it would be none of my business.”

Alice scowled. “Well, we are,” she confessed. “Jasper has invited us all to Chaumbers, but Haz doesn’t think we should go.”

“Your confinement will be in early January?”

“Yes. Which is why I think we should go now, while I can still comfortably travel. Everyone will be there for Christmas, and I want my…my family around when the time comes.”

“And what does Hazard want?”

“He wants to wrap me in cotton wool and prevent me from moving for the next two months.”

“My dear,” Hazard said from the doorway. They both jumped. “You are exaggerating. Moreover, I think you will change your mind about Chaumbers.”

“What are you doing here?” Alice demanded.

“This is my home.”

She snorted. “You were going to Brooks’s.”

“I changed my mind. See how easy it is?” He leaned against the doorjamb.

“Well, I won’t change mine about going to Chaumbers. Everyone will be there!”

“Ah, no.” Hazard waved a piece of paper at them. “I just received the post. No one will be at Chaumbers this Christmas.”

Alice stared. Then in a small, frightened voice, she asked, “Why not? Is something wrong?”

“It appears Crispin has finally put his Binnings cottage in order and is summoning us all there.”

Camellia was glad Alice whooped, because it drew attention away from her own gasp.

Alice asked, “Oh, Haz, please! Will you allow us to go?”

“Are you certain you feel up to it? Binnings is a three-day journey.”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

Camellia held her breath.

“That decides it.” He let go of the doorjamb and brushed imaginary dirt from the front of his jacket. “Crispin’s first family reunion at Binnings? I wouldn’t miss it. And I would feel a true villain if I left you behind.”

Alice hopped up and ran over to her husband. He wrapped his arms around her, and she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. Then she looked over her shoulder at Camellia. “You must come with us. Please say you will.”

Camellia’s heart raced with a mix of excitement and dread, but she managed to say calmly, “Of course. If you’d like me to, I will.”