The Price of Pleasure (Sutherland Brothers 2)

Cammy saw her eyeing the tray, and blushed. "It's just all so good. I don't think I've ever tasted like I do now. The food textures are so vivid."

"I'm proud of you! Let's set a goal to clean Whitestone out of food," she said with a laugh. "Do you feel up for a walk?"

"Yes, I believe I do."

"Good. We can walk the halls. The house is as large as"--her brows drew together--"well, it's big."

"I was thinking outside," Cammy said.

Tori had been getting increasingly restless and felt a jolt of excitement at the idea. She walked to the window and opened the heavy damask curtains. "There's snow."

"I used to love the snow," Cammy admitted. "I miss the odd, hollow quiet of it."

"I don't know if this is a good idea."

Cammy's tone became brisk. "Tori, it'll either cure me or kill me, and frankly, I'm ready for a decision to be rendered!"

Half an hour later, Nicole was making sure they were bundled in cloaks, scarves, and gloves, entreating them to take a nice long walk. They wanted Nicole to join them, would've insisted on it, but she seemed very excited about staying. Little wonder. Lady Stanhope was with Geoffrey in her apartments. Grant had disappeared and Nicole's two guests were setting off for the morning. Tori would have laid odds that Nicole found her husband directly after their departure.

So Cammy and Tori strolled the grounds, Cammy pointing out a few trees or birds unfamiliar to Tori, but she confessed she'd forgotten most of them herself. They came to a small hill, small to Tori, but Cammy was sizing it up as if they'd met a mountain.

"I think I can do it."

"But you might--"

"Then it's settled," Cammy interjected as she started forward.

I know the ending to this story. Tori rolled her eyes and had no choice but to follow. She could hear Cammy's labored breathing, but Tori knew she had a determination unparalleled. When Cammy took the last slow step to the top, her color was high, but she didn't look the worse for it. She appeared...triumphant.

"Oh, look, there's Grant," Cammy said between breaths.

Tori's head whipped around. She spotted him on a huge horse, just emerging from a snow-covered orchard in the distance. He directed his horse to the riverbank and then appeared to give it free rein.

"And look at that orchard. Would've been nice to have on the island, wouldn't it?"

Tori dimly heard her. She was rapt, watching him.

"Tori, it's clear your feelings haven't faded."

"Hmmm?" She dragged her gaze from Grant. "What was that?"

"Your feelings for Grant. Still as powerful as before?"

"More's the pity." Tori sighed. "Unrequited hurts."

Cammy shook her head. "No, he's in love with you. Anyone with eyes can see that."

Tori gave her a cheerless smile. "He made his feelings toward me more than clear."

"When Ian comes to visit, you should ask him about it," Cammy suggested.

"I will, but I think in this case, the reality is as simple as it appears," she said sadly, then turned to descend.

On the return to the manor, they came upon the head gardener's children playing fetch with a bounding, white dog. Their laughter and play trickled over Tori, easily altering her mood, and soon she was rolling in the snow with them, learning to make snow angels. Cammy clapped when the dog rolled with them, making his own rendition.

When Cammy grew chilled, Tori escorted her back. The cold hadn't bothered Tori as she'd expected. She found it bracing and loved that her breath came out as smoke. She could happily go run about some more.

They met Grant at the front entrance to the house, and his brows shot up at her appearance. It was only then that she noticed her hat was askew and her hair had fallen from what had once been a bun. The back of her coat was wet and white fur layered the front of her dark skirt. Something suspiciously like dog drool coated her sleeves. But he didn't remark on it. Instead, he asked politely, "Did you enjoy your walk?"

Cammy looked to Tori to answer.

"Very much," she said, making her tone civil. What was she saying? Civil was getting easier, while wistful was proving a problem. "How was your ride?"

"I missed the land," he said simply.

Tori thought back to what Ian had said. Did Grant miss the responsibility, the protection of so many people? Looking at him now, his eyes so clear and direct, she felt that Ian was right--that was why Grant wanted the Court. Not to have a place to own, but to find a place to belong....

Her thoughts were interrupted by the clomping of hooves on the gravel drive as a stately carriage pulled in. Nicole and Amanda walked out shortly after to greet their unexpected visitors. Of course, Tori thought, the Sutherlands would receive guests just when she appeared to have been mauled by a mad dog who slavered instead of bit.

"Oh, it's Lavinia," Lady Stanhope muttered. "And Lady Bainbridge. I've spent the last eleven months around those tabbies, and then when I visit my family for just a few weeks, they track me here."

As the carriage halted, Grant helped two extravagantly dressed women down and made introductions. Tori and Cammy were styled "distant cousins."

The new pair gaped at Tori. Even after they'd recovered from their surprise, they stared, and Tori nearly flushed with embarrassment. Then her eyes narrowed. As Tori studied them studying her, she recognized something she could hardly believe.

They were jealous.

The two looked at her like women in England used to look at Tori's mother. Well, not exactly. Most women fawned over Mother--she was a future countess--but underlying it was always a jealousy that Anne would soon leave on yet another journey to roam, explore, and live utterly free.

To break the silence, Tori said, "We just had the most delightful time! I learned to make snow angels, and Cammy and I practiced the intricacies of the perfect snowball. Just delightful, wasn't it?"

Cammy's forced, tight smile for the ladies softened, and she answered with obvious honesty, "I can't remember the last time I had so much fun."

Nicole beamed at them, and Lady Stanhope grinned. Not surprisingly, Grant's brows slanted in a deep frown.

"Well, if you'll excuse us," Tori said. "We're about to have a feast. Laughing like that builds such an appetite." She looped her arm through Cammy's. "It was a pleasure to meet you!"

Inside, she and Cammy divested layers of clothing and their overboots, chuckling the entire time at the women's pinched expressions. They agreed to wash up and change, then meet in Cammy's room for a late luncheon.

When they sat down to their meal of steaming game stew and hot buttered bread, Cammy remarked, "You reminded me of your mother down there."

The compliment made Tori pause. "I was thinking of her," she admitted with a smile, then motioned for Cammy to begin their meal.

"The walk made me famished," Cammy said between bites. "I think I can fit three more bowls in. Isn't that awful?"

"It's fantastic!" Tori said, and raised her glass to Cammy. "I don't think I've ever seen you eat like this."

"I just feel like my body's growing and screaming for nourishment. My mind, too. It's like my clarity is directly proportional to how hungry I'll be later."

How could Tori express the relief she felt without letting Cammy know how afraid she'd been? "Then we shall make you plump by Easter."

After they finished, Cammy patted her belly, yawned, and lay down, planning to sleep for hours. Clean, crisp clothing didn't prevent Tori from going right back outside, but she failed to find any of her new friends. She settled on a bench under a sprawling oak near the manor, and some time later, Nicole found her still there, studying the birds that had gathered near her feet hoping for food.

"Oh, dear, it looks like you've given in to contemplation," Nicole quipped with a grin.

Tori smiled, happy for the company.

"I've come to announce the tabbies' departure," Nicole said with flourish before sitting beside her. "And look what I've brought." She lifted a bag of bird feed in one hand and a bag of sweets in the other. "Bird feed and lady feed."

"I'll just pass on the sweets," Tori said in a pained tone. "I bought a bag of them in Cape Town, ate them in one day, and nearly made myself sick."

Nicole chuckled and handed her the bag of seed. "You handled them perfectly today, by the way."

"I'm glad you approve," she answered honestly.

"So, aside from snobby women, how do you like being back in England?"

Tori scratched her ear. "It's not what I remembered."

"A very diplomatic answer. But you can tell me the truth. I'm not a native."

Tori frowned. "It's rather bewildering. The city was frightful in places, especially since I'm so unused to noise and people." Tori dug in and spread food for the suddenly animated group of birds. "But Whitestone is like a fairyland you read about. I'm happy to have seen it. Do you like it here?"

"I love this place," Nicole answered. "When Derek first brought me here, I felt I was coming home."