Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly Page A

you my feelings regarding the infantry, madam! It is but a fluke."
    She only smiled, then touched his arm as he started from the room. "I must apologize for my weakness a moment ago."
    He started to protest, but she shook her head. "My lord, Helen has said more this morning than she has since .. . well, in months. I do not know what magic you are working, but it makes me happy."
    "It is horse magic, madam, that is all," he said, keeping his voice light, even though he felt another lump rising in his throat. "And you have promised us a name."
    He could see tears threatening again, and he felt an absurd desire to pull her close and let her weep, but he did not. "And now I must shave. Excuse me, Mrs. Drew, or Felicity will become impatient."
    So that is it, Mrs. Drew, he thought as he mounted the stairs, untying his neckcloth. I wish I had time to be drawn into your little circle here in the North Riding. Too bad I do not.
    Felicity perched herself on the bed and watched as he pulled down his shirt and draped a towel around his shoulders. Her face was serious, her lovely eyes wide as he lathered up and began to shave himself. He propped his shaving mirror on the bureau, and watched her through it.
    When he was halfway done, another pair of brown eyes regarded him from the open doorway. "Felicity! Leave Lord Winn in peace!"
    "I do not mind, madam," he said as he tilted his face up to shave under his nose.
    "Mama! He is shaving himself! And he is standing up!" Felicity whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "Can you imagine?"
    He laughed and flicked some soap at her. "Of course I am, you absurd child! How else would I shave?" he said, and glanced at her mother. To his consternation, her eyes were filling with tears again. This time, she turned away and her shoulders began to shake. Quickly, he wiped the soap from his face, and picked up Felicity, depositing her outside the door and closing it behind him. Without another word, he took Mrs. Drew in his arms. She buried her face in the towel around his neck and sobbed.
    My God, what a strange family this is, he thought as she cried. He wasn't sure what to do, except put his arms around her and let her weep. Her tears seemed to come all the way up from her toes.
    In another moment, she pulled herself away from him and wiped her eyes on his towel. Her face was fiery red. "I am so ashamed of myself," she said at last.
    "Mrs. Drew, what happened? T don't understand," he asked, lathering up again to finish his face. “I wish you would tell me."
    "I used to shave my husband and Felicity always watched," she said, her words coming out in a rush. "In her young life, she has never seen a man shave himself while on his feet."
    "I had no idea," he murmured.
    "I know you did not, my lord. She never knew her father as a well man. Excuse my tears, please. I don't know what's the matter with me," she said as she opened the door. "I should be beyond this by now."
    Felicity came back in, her face cloudy with hurt feelings. Lord Winn set her back on the bed, took some lather off his face, and liberally deckled her cheek. To her delight, he laid the blunt side of his straight razor against her cheek and scraped it off. She shrieked with laughter and then ran from the room to show her sister. He looked around. Mrs. Drew was gone.
    To his disappointment, she did not reappear after he came downstairs again, dressed and ready. Helen held his riding coat by the front door.
    "I hope you are not upset, Lord Winn, but I led your horse to the front door."
    He grinned at her and opened the door, then picked her up and set her on his horse. "We'll come back for the saddle later," he said as he took the reins and walked alongside as his horse broke a trail from the dower house to the estate.
    "That's the door to the back entrance by the bookroom," Helen said.
    "Well and good, my dear, but let us go to the stables first," he said. "I feel certain you can show me where they are."
    The stables were substantial, but