Savannah's affair. Lovely though she was, there was no denying that she was spoiled and had a nasty temper. Perhaps she and Winthrop deserved each other after all.
Aaron was another matter. As far as Jason was concerned, his older brother did not merit someone as loyal and loving as Lucinda, no matter how plain of face she was. To look at the two men, one could not guess that he and Aaron were brothers. Jason had inherited the best from both his parents, taking on his father's strong features, but tempering them with his late mother's fine, aristocratic lines. There was no doubt that he was considered quite handsome by the ladies in the county.
Aaron's features, on the other hand, were thick, rather than strong, and his face lacked the strength of character that was evident in Morgan's face. Aaron had inherited his mother's rather weak chin and his father's broad cheeks, wide nose, and high forehead.
And while Jason's broad chest was reminiscent of his father, his tapering waist and narrow hips certainly were not. Aaron's waist was not that much smaller than his chest, and he had none of the stature of his father and younger brother. Indeed, in his stockinged feet he was only two inches taller than Savannah.
Jason poured himself a glass of wine, suddenly feeling a need to be fortified for this gathering. He raised the glass to his lips as he glanced at the three already seated at the table. He downed the ruby liquid quickly. The momentary sting it created felt good, warming his bones. Behind him, he heard hurried footsteps. Undoubtedly Lucinda, he mused, worried about being late and offending the old man.
Glass still in hand, he turned toward the entrance, and Lucinda came rushing in, her face flushed, her manner flustered. Jason smiled and nodded a greeting. In truth, he thought, Lucinda is not all that unattractive. Though she dresses plainly, she has her own style of beauty. And she cares about other people, about their feelings. It was her meekness that made one forget her features once she was out of sight. Savannah, he was sorry to acknowledge, cared about no one but herself.
As he took his seat across from Savannah and next to Lucinda, he thought it sad that one could not pick one's relations.
Aaron glared at Jason. "Certainly took your time getting back." He was about to continue his criticism of his younger brother's behavior when he chanced to look toward the doorway. The flow of words abruptly dried on his tongue as his mouth hung open.
Everyone in the room turned to see what had caught Aaron so unprepared. Jason knew before he glanced up.
My God , he thought, she is breathtaking .
Without being fully aware of his actions, he rose and crossed to the doorway, offering her his elbow. She had the air of a queen condescending to visit the peasants.
Krystyna had had barely twenty minutes to make herself presentable, but she took great pride in being swift. She had never seen a reason to spend a great deal of time preparing herself to greet company, and nature had been very kind to her. Little was needed to make her look as comely as possible.
Using some of what Lucinda had left on the bureau for her, Krystyna had arranged her hair on top of her head and had secured it with two pearl-clustered combs. And the gown Lucinda had given her fit as if it had been made for her. It adhered pleasingly to the curves of her body and made Jason vividly remember the other night and the way she had felt in his arms. He felt a demanding ache fill his body again.
Krystyna could hardly keep her eyes from him. At first, when he came toward her, it was his walk and his eyes that she recognized, not his face. Without his beard, his face was appealingly rugged and handsome, enhanced by an olive complexion and a cleft chin. When he smiled, as he did now, his face lit up and his eyes sparkled. Thick, black hair covered his ears and brushed the top of his collar. She remembered how soft it had felt when her hands had tangled in it.
Aaron was another matter. As far as Jason was concerned, his older brother did not merit someone as loyal and loving as Lucinda, no matter how plain of face she was. To look at the two men, one could not guess that he and Aaron were brothers. Jason had inherited the best from both his parents, taking on his father's strong features, but tempering them with his late mother's fine, aristocratic lines. There was no doubt that he was considered quite handsome by the ladies in the county.
Aaron's features, on the other hand, were thick, rather than strong, and his face lacked the strength of character that was evident in Morgan's face. Aaron had inherited his mother's rather weak chin and his father's broad cheeks, wide nose, and high forehead.
And while Jason's broad chest was reminiscent of his father, his tapering waist and narrow hips certainly were not. Aaron's waist was not that much smaller than his chest, and he had none of the stature of his father and younger brother. Indeed, in his stockinged feet he was only two inches taller than Savannah.
Jason poured himself a glass of wine, suddenly feeling a need to be fortified for this gathering. He raised the glass to his lips as he glanced at the three already seated at the table. He downed the ruby liquid quickly. The momentary sting it created felt good, warming his bones. Behind him, he heard hurried footsteps. Undoubtedly Lucinda, he mused, worried about being late and offending the old man.
Glass still in hand, he turned toward the entrance, and Lucinda came rushing in, her face flushed, her manner flustered. Jason smiled and nodded a greeting. In truth, he thought, Lucinda is not all that unattractive. Though she dresses plainly, she has her own style of beauty. And she cares about other people, about their feelings. It was her meekness that made one forget her features once she was out of sight. Savannah, he was sorry to acknowledge, cared about no one but herself.
As he took his seat across from Savannah and next to Lucinda, he thought it sad that one could not pick one's relations.
Aaron glared at Jason. "Certainly took your time getting back." He was about to continue his criticism of his younger brother's behavior when he chanced to look toward the doorway. The flow of words abruptly dried on his tongue as his mouth hung open.
Everyone in the room turned to see what had caught Aaron so unprepared. Jason knew before he glanced up.
My God , he thought, she is breathtaking .
Without being fully aware of his actions, he rose and crossed to the doorway, offering her his elbow. She had the air of a queen condescending to visit the peasants.
Krystyna had had barely twenty minutes to make herself presentable, but she took great pride in being swift. She had never seen a reason to spend a great deal of time preparing herself to greet company, and nature had been very kind to her. Little was needed to make her look as comely as possible.
Using some of what Lucinda had left on the bureau for her, Krystyna had arranged her hair on top of her head and had secured it with two pearl-clustered combs. And the gown Lucinda had given her fit as if it had been made for her. It adhered pleasingly to the curves of her body and made Jason vividly remember the other night and the way she had felt in his arms. He felt a demanding ache fill his body again.
Krystyna could hardly keep her eyes from him. At first, when he came toward her, it was his walk and his eyes that she recognized, not his face. Without his beard, his face was appealingly rugged and handsome, enhanced by an olive complexion and a cleft chin. When he smiled, as he did now, his face lit up and his eyes sparkled. Thick, black hair covered his ears and brushed the top of his collar. She remembered how soft it had felt when her hands had tangled in it.
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