A set of six stone steps fronted the double doors. They narrowed as they went up, and at either side was a curved balustrade made of Bath stone. He was assaulted by memories of climbing on them as a carefree child, his mother running behind him and telling him to get down.
William cleared his throat and again indicated the door. When Maxim finally paid heed, he found three young women. Each stood perfectly straight, shoulders back, head high, and each had dressed meticulously.
The younger two seemed to buzz with excited happiness, even if Maxim detected a few nerves in there, too. But the older one intrigued him the most. She looked cold and stern. As welcoming parties went, she did not present the most welcoming of fronts!
He was surprised, then, by the visceral reaction he had at seeing her. Austere though she may have looked, she had an eternal beauty about her, with thick black hair and skin so white it could have been marble. In her strength, she was almost handsome, but her eyes shone with intelligence and wit, and he suspected her pretty mouth held a clever word or two.
His lips fell open as he admired her, and he found himself drawn to her in that same way he had been drawn to those women who had gotten him into trouble before.
“Three of them,” William said, leaning in close to whisper. “But where’s the boy?”
Good question.
Maxim narrowed his eyes, considering his next move, then he trotted up the steps with his warmest smile, his top hat wedged underneath his arm, and bowed to them. The younger two giggled, but the elder—the beauty—merely watched, calm and in control. Even her stare enticed him—it was a challenge if ever he had seen one.
“Stop it,” she whispered to the younger two. “We’re supposed to be on our best behavior, remember?”
“Good morning, ladies,” he said. “It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Maxim Steele, your new guardian. You may call me Maxim, since we are to be living together.”
He offered them a chuckle, hoping to come across as friendly, even lighthearted. He wanted them to know there was no need for formalities, for standing on ceremony—partly because he had never liked such a thing, but partly because he felt it would make them warm to him more quickly. He really did hope they could be friends. But the eldest, wearing a black cotton gown, stepped forward with her hand out to shake as a man might.
“Lady Theodora Cary,” she said. “And these are my sisters, Ladies Charlotte and Grace.”
Maxim was taken aback by her boldness, but with a single eyebrow raised, he took her hand and shook it. The flesh of her palm was soft and warm, and he wondered how it would feel upon his chest.
And though seemed cold initially, her voice was full of warmth and softness. He could already see there was so much more to her than met the eye, and he was looking forward to discovering more. He wondered it this attitude of hers was a front, a façade for a brighter, happier young lady underneath.
“Theodora, you say? Is that, by any chance, Theo for short?”
“That’s quite correct.” Her lips were pursed, giving her otherwise beautiful face something of a sour expression, and Maxim had to push his own lips together to stop himself from laughing. That explained why ‘Theo’ had not become Gideon’s heir.
He looked at her more carefully, not daring to allow his eyes to drift down to her body. It seemed she was determined not to like him, and that made him all the more determined to win her over. He would find a brightness in her that matched the beauty on her exterior, for how beautiful she was.
His gaze scanned her face again—pale but somehow full of life, with eyes the depth of the ocean and freckles that danced as she moved. Her lips fascinated him the most, though—thick and plump and deep red.
How delightful it would be to feel them upon mine.
He felt himself stir, his loins awakening at the sight of her. Some might think her shrew, but he could see that wasn’t the case. Defensive, maybe; protective, most definitely. She was surreptitious about it, but he could see her eyeing him curiously. She wanted to get to know him, even as she pretended she wanted nothing to do with him.
“You are not quite what I expected, I must say,” he said finally, his eyes satiated for the time being.
“I am certain I do not know what you mean, my lord.” She turned her nose up like a determined child, but the cracks in her demeanor were already beginning to show. Her lips almost twitched into a smile.
Almost.
“Maxim, please. Call me Maxim.”
“Welcome to Winterheath, my lord,” she said, putting emphasis on the formal address.
Very well. That was a nut he could crack at another time. Maxim merely chuckled and pushed past her to meet her sisters, knowing how it would drive her to distraction.
“Let me guess,” he said with every ounce of charm he could muster. “You must be Charlotte, and you’re Grace. Am I correct?”
The two girls giggled.
“Yes, my lord,” the youngest declared.
“And how old are you, if I may ask?”
“Did the solicitor not tell you any of this?” Theo asked, but he ignored her. The longer he didn’t look at her, the more he could feel her eyes on her. His lack of attention would bother her, and he knew it. It always worked, every single time.
“I’m eight-and-ten,” Charlotte said. “And Grace is five-and-ten.”
“Ah, beautiful, tender ages. I am looking forward to getting to know you all better. Now, is my aunt home?”
“Lady Kingsbury is in Paris with your cousin, Lady Rosaline, and her fiancé. They are due to return home tomorrow. And if you don’t mind, I would prefer to maintain our formalities, at least for a while. You may have, by chance, become our legal guardian, Earl Kingsbury, but you are still a stranger in our midst.”
Maxim looked at her with surprise, but then, with a smirk on his face, he bowed with great exaggeration. If that was how she wanted to play this game, he would humor her.
“Whatever you wish, Lady Theodora!”
She rolled his eyes as he straightened, but even he could see the twinkle of amusement that moved across her expression. Their gaze met and held, stuck on one another for a moment. It was probably not more than a second, but he felt himself tumble into his desire for her, and he heard her beg for it in her silence.
His lips fell open, his chest rising and falling quickly, and he knew in that instant he would have her. She knew it, too, though there would be an amusing game to play beforehand. The idea drew him, but he wouldn’t show her that. It was a game he could play equally well—if not better.
He turned and darted into the house, calling to her from over his shoulder.
“Come, then, my lady. Without my aunt here—so sorry, Lady Kingsbury—it is your duty to make the introductions!”
