A Christmas Affair (27 page)

Amanda blinked rapidly, trying to still the swift beating of her heart. “I . . . Amelia, ’tis not what you think,” she began automatically, and then shot Justin a helpless look.

“We will discuss this later,” Justin said, suddenly grateful for
the costume’s padding. “In the meanwhile, I think I can count upon your good sense not to make mention of this to any of our guests.”

“B-but you were kissing her,” Amelia stammered a weak protest, still staring at her sister in obvious confusion.

“I said we will discuss this later,” Justin repeated, infusing his voice with steely command. He had finally regained control of his senses and was anxious to put all of this farce behind him. The sooner he severed his engagement to Amelia, the sooner he and Amanda could be wed, a circumstance he found himself anticipating with increasing hunger. If the heated kiss they had just exchanged was any indication, marriage to his little hellcat was going to prove most satisfactory. Most satisfactory indeed.

“In love?” Amelia exclaimed, her eyes flicking from Justin’s controlled expression to Amanda’s averted face. “But how can this be? I thought the two of you could barely tolerate each other!”

“That is what we thought too,” Justin replied, giving Amanda a loving smile. “But all of that changed last night; did it not, my sweet?”

She winced at the endearment, silently wishing the floor would open up and swallow her. Justin had given her no warning of his intentions, and she was almost as shocked as Stephen and Amelia when he declared himself passionately in love with her and pleaded with Amelia to release him from their engagement. She was agreeable to their being forced into marriage, but to attempt to carry this thing off as a love match . . . whatever could the wretch have been thinking?

“Amanda, aren’t you going to answer Justin’s question?” Stephen’s voice was surprisingly deep as he gazed solemnly at her. He had insisted upon being included in the interview, a courtesy Justin had wisely granted him.

“Er . . . yes, last night we finally recognized our true feel
ings for each other,” she stammered shooting her “beloved” a sickly smile. “We are mad for each other.”

There was an awkward silence in the room as Stephen and Amelia exchanged uneasy looks. “This is bound to cause a scandal,” he said at last, shifting restlessly in his chair. “I do not like that my sisters should be made the object of unpleasant talk.”

“Nor do I,” Justin returned, impressed by the lad’s maturity. “That is why I propose Amanda and I marry immediately upon our arrival in London. The sooner we are wed, the less damage such gossip can cause. My engagement to Amelia is not widely known, and if anyone should say anything, we can always hint that they are mistaken about the names.”

There was another uncomfortable silence, and then suddenly Amelia was laughing. “I knew it!” she exclaimed leaping to her feet and rushing to her sister’s side to envelop her in a fond hug. “Dearest Amanda! Did I not always say you were better suited to Justin than I?”

“So you did, my love,” Amanda agreed, hating that she should deceive her sister so. Unfortunately she could see no other choice but to follow Justin’s lead. As abhorrent as she found such prevaricating, it was obvious her family was delighted. She could not bear that they should ever learn the
real
reason for the sudden change of brides. Blinking back her tears, she turned her head to study Justin.

“Although I still say he is insufferably high in the instep,” she added in what she hoped was a loving voice.

“And you are a shrew without equal,” he answered with a wide grin, “so I would say that we are well-suited. Do you not agree, Stephen?”

“Yes, my lord,” Stephen agreed with alacrity, silently relieved things had worked themselves out so nicely. He’d had visions of being forced to challenge the colonel to a duel, a rather daunting prospect for a fifteen-year-old lad who’d only shot at rabbits to date. He should have known his hero would not fail him, he thought, giving Justin an admiring look.

“Well, what is to be done now?” Amelia asked, returning to sit beside her brother. “I gather we will be leaving in two days’ time as planned?”

“Actually, I thought to leave sooner; tomorrow in fact,” Justin surprised them all by saying. “We will pack up just enough to see us on the journey, and the servants can see to the rest.”

“But what about our neighbors?” Amanda protested, thinking of Amelia and Charles. “They already know of your engagement to Amelia. Should they not be told?”

Justin’s broad shoulders moved in an elegant shrug. “Let them read about it in the
Times,”
he said indifferently. “It really does not matter as we shan’t be returning. But speaking of your neighbors puts me in mind of Daniel’s friend . . . what was his name again?”

“M-Maxfield” Amelia replied, blushing at the mention of his name. “Charles Maxfield.”

“Ah, yes.” Justin nodded thoughtfully. “He is with the Twelveth Regiment, is he not?”

“Y-yes.”

“I wonder if he would be agreeable to accompanying us to London. These are uncertain times, and I should welcome his escort.” He gave Amelia an innocent look. “Do you think you might send him a note? I would normally write him myself, but with so much to be done, I fear I shan’t have the time.”

Amelia’s eyes glowed at the joy it would give her to write such a missive. “Ill send it at once,” she said, rising quickly to her feet. “Do you think one of the footmen might take it right away?”

“I’m sure something can be arranged,” Amanda assured her quietly. At least some good would come of this, she thought, studying Amelia’s ecstatic expression. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her sister looking so happy.

Amelia left almost at once, and Stephen, displaying his new-found maturity, soon followed. When they were alone, Amanda turned to Justin. “Neatly done, my lord,” she said with a half-smile. “It never occurred to me you meant ours to
be a lovematch, and I must own I was somewhat taken aback. Couldn’t you have given me some inkling of what you were planning?”

“ ‘He travels swiftest who travels alone,’”Justin intoned, although his light brown eyes were bright with mischief. “Besides, I’d only just thought of it myself. You must admit it worked; neither of them suspect a thing.”

“That is so,” she admitted, wondering if she should protest the fact he was still sitting beside her on the settee. The memory of the kiss they’d exchanged earlier was uppermost in her mind, and it was all she could do not to blush like a schoolgirl.

“Are you sure you want to leave on the morrow?” she asked, shifting slightly away from him. “I don’t think you understand the logistics involved in relocating a family of seven.”

“It can’t be any more difficult than taking an army across the Peninsula,” he said, hiding his amusement at her subtle move. “If I managed that, I think I can survive a trip to London. And as I said, we’ll only be taking our clothes and very little else. The servants can see to the rest of it.”

Amanda considered his words and then shook her head. “I think it might be better if we kept to our original schedule,” she said decisively. “Even if we’re only taking our clothes, there is still much to be done. I must see to the packing, and meet with Mrs. Hatcher and—”

“Amanda” he interrupted, laying a gentle hand on her arm,“I think there is something we should make clear from the start.”

“What is that?” His careful tones warned her that what he was about to say was serious, and that she was certain not to like it.

“I know you’re accustomed to making all the decisions where your family is concerned, and you’ve done an admirable job so far. However, there can be but one commander in any enterprise, and I think for all our sakes it would be best if it is agreed that
I
am that commander. Do you not agree?”

Amanda blinked at him in surprise. “But running the
household has always been the woman’s responsibility” she protested. “Surely you do not expect me to relinquish everything to you?”

“Not everything, but certainly I expect you to obey me when I make a simple request,” he replied bluntly. “I have my reasons for leaving tomorrow, and all I desire in return is that you be ready. Is that too much to ask?”

Put that way, her actions did seem churlish, Amanda admitted, shooting him a resentful glare. Looking at him now she thought how easy it would be to brush aside his protests as unimportant; that is, until one saw the hardness shimmering just beneath his handsome exterior. The years of command in life or death situations had clearly left their stamp on him, and suddenly the reasons for her defiance seemed foolish.

“No,” she said, glancing away from him to study the bright dance of the flames, “if that is what you want.” She rose to her feet with a weary sigh and turned toward the door.

“Wait.” Justin caught her hand staying her. “Where are you going?”

“To pack,” she replied perplexed. “I told you, there is much left to be done.”

“And I told you, let the servants see to it,” he replied, using his hold on her hand to pull her down beside him. “I’m not yet done talking to you.”

“Indeed?” She couldn’t help but be amused at his arrogant tone. “And pray, sir, what other orders do you have for me? Do you wish to inspect the troops before we move out? Or perhaps you’d like to have us march about the house a time or two? We are, of course, yours to command.”

“Brat.”Justin’s lips curved in a delighted smile as he reached up to brush back a lock of hair that had fallen across her cheeks. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about London.”

“What about it?” She tried not to blush at his touch.

“I told you that you and your family will be staying with my aunt, Lady Lettita Varonne,” he continued, aware of the effect he was having on his bride. “She is the dowager countess of
Rayburne, and she’s an absolute lioness of society. She’ll be arranging your and Amelia’s coming out once you have been properly introduced.”

“Introduced!” Amanda exclaimed, dismayed at the thought of the expense such an undertaking would entail. “But surely there is no need for that! You-you are not in the social whirl . are you?” She looked at him askance, for such a possibility hadn’t occurred to her.

“As a second son?” He shook his head bitterly. “No. But Edward has made it plain that he doesn’t mean to marry, and with his death, either I or my son will inherit the title. Because of that I must plan ahead. I want my son — our son — to have all the advantages, and that means assuring him a proper place in society.”

“I-I hadn’t thought of it like that,” she said, much struck by the notion of her future son. What would he look like, she wondered. Would he have Justin’s dark hair and sherry-colored eyes, or would he be more like her in appearance? Perhaps he would be an interesting blend of them both. The very thought brought a warm glow to her eyes.

A son, she mused dreamily. Ever since her parents’ deaths she’d put all thoughts of having her own family firmly on the shelf. She’d convinced herself that it was unimportant, that she was content with her life the way it was. But now she knew she’d only been deluding herself. She
did
want a child, very much. But not just any child, she admitted with growing awareness. She wanted Justin’s child.

Chapter Fifteen

They set out early the next morning with the best wishes of the staff ringing in their ears. Justin and Amanda travelled in his carriage, ably chaperoned by Stephen and Joss, while Amelia and Charles and the other children followed in the Lawrence’s coach. The younger couple was now formally engaged, and a glum Jeremey predicted they’d spend the greater part of the trip

“billing and cooing,” as he put it.

A suspicious Joss asked if Amanda and Justin meant to behave in a similarly reprehensible fashion and Justin replied languidly, “We might lad. After all, we are engaged.”

“Well, if that is what one must do, then I shall never get engaged!” Joss retorted, his nose wrinkling in distaste. He was silent a few seconds, and then he turned to Amanda. “What about you?” he demanded, his tone faintly accusing. “I never knew you liked that sort of thing.”

Amanda blushed scarlet, aware of Justin’s obvious amusement. “That is not the sort of question a gendeman asks a lady, Jocelyn,” she informed him in her severest tones, “and I will thank you not to ask it again.”

Joss grumbled beneath his breath at the reprimand, but fortunately for Amanda’s equanimity, he didn’t pursue the
matter. They had travelled a little farther before Justin took pity and turned to face her.

“I suppose I should tell you something about where you’ll be staying,” he said his tone carefully neutral. “You know you’ll be staying with Lady Varonne?”

“Yes,” Amanda replied, grateful for the diversion. “I be lieve you said she is your aunt?”

“My mother’s youngest sister,” he answered with a nod.“She’s a delightful widgeon who managed to snare an earl almost thirty years her senior. He passed away after less than twelve years of marriage leaving her a very young and very wealthy widow.”

Amanda gave a start of surprise. She’d been expecting a formidable dragon with gray hair and a disapproving air, someone like Aunt Elizabeth, and since first hearing of the dowager countess she knew a stirring of hope. “How old is her ladyship?” she asked, her brown eyes sparkling with interest. “Oris that an indelicate question?”

“Doubtlessly Aunt would think so,” he replied with a low chuckle. “She is quite vain about her appearance and has been known to stretch the truth a trifle. But in answer to your question, I believe her to be forty-two. I was still at Eton when she married Lord Rayburne, and he has been dead at least twelve years by my reckoning.”

“And she has never remarried?” Amanda was intrigued.

“No.” Justin’s lips curled at the thought of his flighty aunt. “Her husband left her well-provided for, so she need not marry unless she chooses to. From what I have gathered, she rather enjoys her widowhood and the freedom that it brings.”

“Has she any children?”

“A boy, thankfully. Elliott must be almost nineteen now, and the last I heard, he had been booted out of Oxford and Cambridge both. Edward delights in the scamp, al
though God only knows why.”