A Kiss at Midnight

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Drawing to her full height as she stepped into the room, the woman could tower over many a man. Her height inherited from Alexander. A hat in the shade of taupe, its wide brim upturned at the front to reveal the sable black curls pinned beneath. While the back of her hat was trimmed with a khaki green ribbon. One curl having escaped its hairpin, brushed the soft roundness of one cheek. Plump lips to draw the eye away from her eyes, a ring of silver to grace the irises of earthy brown. Her voluptuous figure draped in a blouse of marine blue and a skirt of caramel. The hem of her skirt to meet leather boots of beige while cuffs of camel brown adorned her wrists.

"Willa," Ilona squealed in delight.

Wilhelmina smiled, holding out her arms as she crossed the room to her cousin. "Ilona, darling. It has been too long."

She perched herself with care on the bed and enveloped Ilona into a hug. The scent of rose and bergamot to embrace her cousin too.

"I missed you, Willa. We were planning to visit Grandma, would you care to join us?"

Wilhelmina's voice to soften. "I would love nothing more than to do so."
Her gaze flickered to Ilona's attire, her lips becoming pursed. "Really cousin, this will not do," she said, gesturing with one hand.

Anna pressed a finger to her lips to conceal her smile at the look upon her daughter's face. "I think I shall leave you two to it."

The words barely left her lips when Ilona fired her retort. "Oh cousin, your hair is looking a little windswept, did you fly here?" A tsk, tsk sound to accompany her words.

Anna's niece laughed, a deep rumbling sound befitting of her true nature. "Touché."

Willa turned her head to her aunt. "I do believe I left a Victorian sponge with your husband. How long do you think it will last?"

This time it was Ilona who hid her smile as she saw her mother's pace quickened. As the door close behind Ilona's mother, Wilhelmina turned her attention back to her cousin. "So, this roguish gentleman of yours, why wasn't I informed about him?"

"Because Carrick wasn't mine during your last visit," Ilona replied, realising that Annalise must have told her cousin the reason for her absence.

"Is he yours now or am I to believe that you spent the past few nights with a wall of pillows between you two?"

"I may have used him as a pillow on occasion." A blush crept up Ilona's neck, her lips falling silent.

A gleam in her cousin's eyes. "Oh no, cousin you don't get to deliver that delicious tidbit and leave it there. Do tell while I choose some more suitable attire for you to wear."

"Willa?"

"Hmm." The doors of the wardrobe welcoming Wilhelmina's perusal.

"Before I do, how is Hugh?" Ilona asked, referring to Willa's husband.

Hugh Dimitrescu was the second son of House Dimitrescu. Wilhelmina and he had a rocky start to their marriage. Danika dying of influenza and fearing for her granddaughter's life after learning Victor under the instructions of the exiled Voivode of Wallachia was looking for her, struck a deal with Ethan Dimitrescu. He would use his family name to protect Danika's granddaughter if Willa would help raise his grandson, Lucas. Hugh having lost Lady Charlotte, his wife and Lucas' mother to an ague two years previously, was furious with the match made on his behalf. He wanted nothing to do with the match at first but eventually he grew to care a great deal about Wilhelmina. Lucas adored his stepmother and she loved her son dearly. Then to the surprise of everyone, Willa gave birth to a daughter eight years ago, Mallory.