Wildfire Kiss (Sir Edward 1)

“I am so sorry for arriving at such an hour … but Aunt Jane insisted …” Corrine said softly as they went up the stairs.

“Yes, poor Maudly. I am certain she had already gone to bed, as we never expect her to wait up on us.” Babs smiled. “But no one can control Aunt Jane. It is why my father and she rarely visit one another.” She gave the newcomer an open appraisal. “Now tell me, how is it we have never met before?”

“Long story,” Corrine answered and sighed.

Babs opened the door to Corrine’s room and said, “I do hope you will be comfortable here. It is a lovely room of mauve and greens, is it not?”

Babs stood back and watched her cousin with a soft smile as Corrine moved about and said with pleasure, “Lovely.”

Babs put up a finger. “Wait a moment … I’ll go to Aunt’s room and fetch us some little biscuits and tea … Go on, sit and be comfortable.”

A moment later they were seated and sipping tea while Babs set Corrine at ease by recanting an anecdote about her aunt in previous years.

This immediately set the girls giggling together.

Babs set down her empty cup and then went about the room, showing her cousin where to store her things and babbling on, hoping to set her at ease, for she could sense a certain reserve about Corrine Bretton.

“Now,” said Babs, plopping in all her finery upon the large bed and patting a place beside her. “Take off your spencer and bonnet and be comfortable, and we shall have a very short and more intimate chat before I let you sleep.”

“Oh, that would be nice, for now I am quite awake and not ready to sleep at all,” said Corrine, finally taking off her bonnet. She placed it, along with the spencer she shrugged off, on a nearby chair.

She sat on the bed, and found Babs’ dark eyes on her and asked with a smile, “What?”

“You look as though you think I am going to eat you alive.” Babs giggled. “I am not such a terror.”

“It is not that at all … it is, well, I have been closeted in a closed coach with Aunt Jane all day …”

“Oh my word! No need to go on—I quite understand,” Babs said with a laugh. “So why precisely is she here? To curb my wayward ways?”

Corrine smiled. “I think so, yes … are they wayward?”

“Oh most definitely. But, I want to know about you …”

Thus, Corrine found herself spilling not only all her history but her points of views, her hopes, and her fears. The next hour ended with them hugging one another fiercely.

Corrine sighed and plopped onto her back on the bed. “And Auntie wants to launch me … look at me, Babs … I am too tall, too thin, nowhere as exquisite as you—”

“Stop!” Babs exclaimed, making her sit up. “Listen to me—you are beautiful! Just look at your hair … a mixture of auburn and this tawny color, quite unique … all it needs is a snip and a curl. I shall have my own dear Bess, who is very handy with such things, put it right. Your figure is delicious—and tall is what I have always wanted to be. We are going to Bond Street tomorrow and set off your height and figure with just the right things. I don’t think they knew what they were doing in New York … with such clothes …” Babs chin swept the air in the direction of Corrine’s traveling ensemble.

“Oh, these are not from New York but from a small town near my finishing school … and I haven’t shopped for gowns in ages …”

“Never mind all that. We shall set it to rights, and there is also the fact that you are an heiress to catch the eye of the beau monde—”

“I am not!” said Corrine hurriedly and with a shocked expression.

“You have inherited, have you not?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“But nothing—we are going to set the ton on fire!”

“Yes, but I don’t want men to chase me for my inheritance!” Corrine wailed.

“They will, but you will lead them a dance, and you will see through them all to the one man you must have …”

Corrine laughed. “I see now why Aunt is here—you do need a controlling hand.”

“I do, I really do.” Babs laughed. “However, I shall leave that to you, for I already adore you, Corry.”