Devil by Daylight by Christi Caldwell

Author:Christi Caldwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Regency
Publisher: Christi Caldwell
Published: 2022-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

It’d been two days. Two days since he’d discussed his past with Honoria, and two days since she’d taken her leave, offended and embarrassed and hurt.

Was it a wonder she didn’t wish to see him?

Not that Tormund blamed her. Not that she’d reached the conclusion she had. Not that she believed his intentions towards hers had always pertained to his work and he’d duped her into remaining in his household so he could probe for secrets.

He, on the other hand, he was filled with the same, all-powerful need to see her.

It was a humbling way to find himself—drawn to a person who so clearly disliked him and wanted nothing to do with him.

And yet, there it was.

It was also why at that very moment, he found himself hovering outside the music room, silently and secretly observing the lady playing the pianoforte with Sara at her side.

“Aye, and therefore be you merry,

Rejoice and be merry,

She wasn’t skilled upon the instrument. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Her finger work was clumsy, with more than the occasional error played.

“Set sorrow aside;

Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide…”

Only…the joy with which she pounded away at those keyboards and joined her somewhat pitchy but exuberant voice to that music proved more riveting than any opera he’d witnessed on the greatest stages of Europe.

She welled forth a contagious cheer. It had spilled over to the little girl who joined her voice with Honoria’s, and it reached Tormund from across the room.

“But, when they had entered the city so fair

A number of people so mighty was there,”

He’d missed her these past days.

Then presently after the Shepherds did spy

A number of Angels that stood in the sky;

He missed seeing her.

Who joyfully talked and sweetly did sing,

He missed talking to her.

To God be all glory our—

“Uncle Tormund!”

Honoria’s fingers slid, and the song came to an abrupt cessation as she looked up, her expression that of a startled deer.

Sara jumped up and Honoria belatedly stood beside the girl.

As his niece took flight across the room, his gaze locked with Honoria’s. Her cheeks bloomed with the same bright color that had filled them from the winter’s chill two days earlier, back when he’d joined her and Sara in a child’s game.

He’d missed Honoria. He admitted that to himself even now.

A small something slipped into his hand, and he glanced down.

Sara twined her hand with his and squeezed lightly.

“You were listening,” she said happily.

“How could I not?” he murmured.

“This is true,” Sara said with a pleased nod. “Isn’t Honoria a wonderful singer and pianoforte player?”

He glanced up. Honoria’s cheeks had gone five shades of red deeper. “Sara is just being kind,” she demurred.

“She is being truthful.”

Honoria laughed. Her eyes twinkled, glittering brighter than the celestial stars she’d sung of, holding him spellbound.

“Were you perchance listening to the same carol I’d been singing, my lord?”

“I was,” he said solemnly.

Through her mirth, she eyed him like he’d sprung two heads.

“Then I suspect either you were incapable of only hearing

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