His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (10 page)

What the hell
had
happened to him? Jeffrey wasn’t even sure. Seeing Yvette looking the way she had in that gown had addled his wits, and he’d spent the rest of the night brooding over it. He couldn’t tell Jennie that though.

“I simply have a lot on my mind and at the risk of sounding like a cad, I have a splitting headache. I apologize for not sending you a message. It was terribly thoughtless of me.” He gave her a rueful grin.

Jennie took his hand and led him to the leather sofa in front of the fireplace. “Come, darling. Let’s sit and you can tell me all about it. Let’s see if I can make you feel better.”

Jeffrey sat obediently. Jennie let the fur wrap slip from her shoulders to reveal that underneath she was clad in only a red silk nightgown. The outline of her curvaceous figure usually aroused him in an instant. Tonight he didn’t seem to care at all. She curled up beside him on the sofa and began to massage his head with her long fingers, running them through his hair and easing the tension and pressure from his neck. She placed soft kisses on his cheek.

“Now, what is it, Jeffrey?”

“I don’t know. I’m just tired, I suppose.” He sighed, relaxing a bit as her fingers worked their delicate magic on his scalp.

“So you’re not hurt?”

“No.”

“And nothing is wrong?”

“Not in the least.”

“There was no emergency this evening?”

“No. Everything is fine, Jennie.”

It wasn’t as if he could tell her that he was thinking illicit thoughts about another woman. A woman he shouldn’t be thinking of in the first place. His jaw grew slack and he closed his eyes as he lost himself to Jennie’s wonderful massaging fingers. The woman did have a way with her hands, God love her. It was one of his favorite things about her.

Her soft voice whispered in his ear, “So you simply forgot to come see me even though we had arranged to meet at my house at midnight?”

“Yes,” he admitted reluctantly, “I’m afraid so, darling.”

The stinging slap that met his cheek shocked him. The abrupt change from pleasure to pain caused his eyes to fly open and he stared open-mouthed at Jennie, who now stood before him as angry as a fury. He sputtered, “What the hell—?”

“How dare you, Jeffrey Eddington?” she screamed, with her hands on her hips. “How dare you
forget
me? No man has
ever
forgotten to meet me! I have scores of men wishing they could be with me, begging to be with me!”

He rose from the sofa, still stunned by her violent mood swing. “Jennie, please calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she shouted, her voice wavering with emotion. “There’s every reason for me to be angry with you!”

“It just slipped my mind. Honestly, I apologize.”

“I’m not the type of woman who slips a man’s mind, Jeffrey, if you hadn’t noticed!”

He’d never seen Jennie this enraged, and he understood her feelings were hurt. “I know that and, again, I’m very sorry.”

Her dark green eyes flashed at him. “The only thing that would make me angrier right now is if I had discovered you with another woman when I arrived here. And knowing your reputation, that is exactly what I expected to find!”

“Then you should be relieved!” Jeffrey shot back, his own temper rising. “I’m not with another woman! I was here. Alone!”

“But don’t you see?” she cried, nearing hysteria. “That makes it even worse!”

He bunched his fists at his sides. It made no sense. She made no sense. “Why?”

“Because you forgot about me!” She grew silent for a moment and her expression turned from anger to sadness. She then said wearily, “After all we’ve done together the last few months, I wasn’t even a thought in your head tonight. You used to rush to be with me when we were in Paris, but you’ve changed. Very much so.” She held up her hands to silence his protests. “Don’t deny it. We’ve seen each other less and less since we came to London. You’ve become distant and preoccupied. And now you’ve forgotten about me. I’m not a fool and I don’t appreciate being treated like one. This is just the beginning of the end and I detest long goodbyes. It is over between us, Jeffrey.” She reached down and picked up her fur wrap, allowing him a tempting view of her full breasts straining against the red silk as she did so.

“You are completely overreacting. Stop it.” He offered his hand to her.

She slapped him away, her words like ice. “Don’t touch me.”

“Jennie, come now.... Please don’t be this way. You know how I feel about you.” He smiled at her seductively. “Let’s go upstairs and forget all about this nonsense.” Then he would make love to her and everything would be fine between them again.

“No.” She draped the fur over her shoulders and walked to the door of the study.

“Jennie . . . don’t leave like this. . . .” He took a step toward her, but he didn’t try to stop her.

She looked back at him when she opened the door. Her green eyes were hard. “I don’t wish to see you again, Lord Eddington. Good night.”

The door closed with a final
click
.

Dumbstruck, Jeffrey scratched his head, trying to take in what had just happened with Jennie Webb.

Yes, he was supposed to have met her at her townhouse at midnight, but he had stayed later at the ball than he had intended because he could not leave Yvette alone in that damned dress with dozens of men ogling her. Once she had safely left with her aunt and uncle, he was free to go as well. But instead of going to Jennie’s little townhouse, without thinking, he’d come straight home. He hadn’t realized he’d spent two hours sitting here thinking so much about Yvette that he had completely forgotten about Jennie until she’d shown up on his doorstep.

Rubbing his cheek, Jeffrey sighed and flopped back down on the sofa.

It was over with Jennie.

Strange, he felt oddly relieved and not at all saddened by her unexpected departure. Was she right then? Had tonight just been the beginning of the end of things with her? Perhaps it was. Now that he thought about it, their relationship
had
changed once they had returned to London. Their time together was not as frequent or as passionate as it had been in Paris. Things had just run their course.

It was a damned shame though. He liked Jennie a great deal and could use the distraction of her considerable charms. He supposed he would soon find another mistress to keep him occupied. It wasn’t as though he lacked other options.

But somehow he hadn’t the heart for such matters now.

All he could think about was a petite, beautiful blonde in a sapphire gown waltzing in his arms.

And he shouldn’t be thinking of her at all.

9

All That Glitters

November 1878

Lansdowne Manor

“Well, what do you think?” the Duchess of Lansdowne asked.

Yvette Hamilton smiled in awe as she gazed out the large glass window overlooking the rolling green fields that surrounded the grand manor house. “The view is simply breathtaking, Your Grace.”

She had been invited to meet Lord Shelley’s mother and asked to visit his ancestral home, Lansdowne Manor. Although Yvette had almost lost her mind the week before when she learned that Jane Fairmont had already been to visit William and his mother. Filled with despair, she had thought all her hopes to be the next Duchess of Lansdowne were dashed. She could barely get out of bed for two days so distraught had she been.

Then a letter had arrived at Devon House from William’s mother, Wilhelmina Weatherly, the Duchess of Lansdowne, inviting her and her mother to tea at Lansdowne Manor.

Genevieve, in her usual frustrating manner, had pled illness and headache and refused to venture from Devon House, leaving Yvette with her aunt for a chaperone. Aunt Cecilia had practically licked her chops at the possibility of Yvette snaring a future duke and jumped at the chance to accompany her to Lansdowne Manor that afternoon a week later.

So Yvette, dressed in her finest tea gown of rose damask, found herself seated in the formal drawing room of the Duchess of Lansdowne with Aunt Cecilia beside her. William’s mother seemed a very sweet and charming lady and Yvette liked her immediately. The house itself was beautiful and grand on the scale that Yvette would have expected of such a distinguished family.

“When our little lake freezes over, we shall host a skating party,” the Duchess said happily. “It’s been so cold recently that it shouldn’t be much longer until it’s ready. You shall have to join us, Miss Hamilton.”

“Oh, thank you, that sounds like such fun!” Yvette exclaimed with a smile. The Duchess liked her enough to invite her back! Yet she couldn’t help but wonder if Jane Fairmont had also been invited to return to Lansdowne Manor.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” Lord Shelley entered the drawing room. “How was tea?” He kissed his mother’s cheek, greeted Cecilia Hamilton, and bestowed a smile upon Yvette, before sitting on the arm of the oversized chair upon which his mother was seated.

“We had a delightful time, William, dear,” his mother said, her expression pleased. “Miss Hamilton was just telling me about her family. You must take me to visit one of their bookshops.”

“Yes, they are quite innovative stores, Mother. I’ve visited both of them and I believe you would like them.”

“You’ve been to our bookshops, my lord?” Yvette asked in surprise. He had never mentioned that before! When had he been to Hamilton’s? Was he looking them over to see if her family was respectable enough?

“Of course I have.” Lord Shelley laughed in amusement. “I do read books, Miss Hamilton.”

“The Hamiltons seem like a charming family,” the Duchess continued pleasantly. “I’m still trying to learn all of the sisters’ names and who is married to whom. Imagine five sisters! I always wanted to have a sister.” She turned to Yvette. “Are all of your sisters as pretty as you are, Miss Hamilton?”

“Yes, they are,” Aunt Cecilia chimed in, pleased as punch that they were making such a good impression on the duchess. “They have varying shades of hair and eye colors yet all five girls look remarkably alike. So much so that some people have difficulty telling my nieces apart. Just wait until you meet them, then you shall see what I mean.”

“That is something I am looking most forward to, I must admit.” Lord Shelley’s gaze lingered on Yvette.

She smiled warmly at him. “They should all be returning home for Christmas in a matter of weeks, my lord. Although I daresay, you might be overwhelmed when seeing all of us girls at once.”

He laughed again. “I don’t believe I would mind that experience!”

His mother swatted his arm and scolded him mockingly. “William! Really!”

Yvette marveled at how relaxed he was. Lord Shelley was usually quite formal and she found she liked this more casual side of him.

“Lady Hamilton, would you mind if I took your niece for a short walk about the grounds before you take your leave?” he asked, quite solicitously.

Aunt Cecilia fairly burst with excitement. “I wouldn’t mind in the least, my lord. Please enjoy yourselves.”

He looked toward Yvette. “Miss Hamilton? Shall we get your wrap?”

Yvette nodded and followed him to the grand entry hall, where a footman was waiting with her fur-trimmed pelisse and matching muff.

It was an overcast day and the clouds hung low in the sky that November afternoon. A winter chill was definitely in the air and Yvette hugged the muff to her for warmth. They walked side by side along the garden path, the gravel crunching under their feet.

“Thank you for visiting with my mother, Miss Hamilton.”

“It was an honor for me to visit with her and see your childhood home, my lord.”

“Would you do me the honor of calling me by my given name? William? I don’t wish to be so formal with you.” His expression was soft.

“Why, yes. Thank you.”

“And may I address you as Yvette? It’s too pretty a name not to use.” Again, he smiled so warmly at her that she barely felt the cold.

She gazed up at him as they walked the shrub-lined path toward the dormant flower gardens. “I would like that very much, William.”

“It makes me very happy to hear my name on your lips, Yvette.”

Yvette wanted to dance for joy. The day couldn’t be going any better! His mother liked her and had invited her back to go skating and wished to meet her sisters. And now Lord Shelley had asked to use their given names. It was just too perfect. He was moving toward a declaration of his feelings for her and that could only lead to a proposal.

They continued walking the length of the garden, the chilly November wind buffeting them along the gravel path.

Lord Shelley began, “I didn’t intend to drag you out here in the cold, but I did wish for a few moments alone with you, Yvette. There is something I would like to discuss with you.”

“Yes, William?” Yvette held her breath in excitement. Her heart was about to burst from her chest. Was he going to declare his love for her right now?

“It cannot have escaped your notice that I have singled you out with my attentions of late.”

She laughed a little. “No, it hasn’t escaped my notice.”

He laughed with her for a moment. He then stopped walking and turned her so they faced each other. His tone grew serious. “Are you also aware that I am seeking a wife and that you have emerged as my chosen favorite?”

She nodded somberly. “You do me a great honor, William.” Oh, heavens! He was going to propose now! It was happening! Yvette imagined announcing the news to her sisters. They would be so surprised!

“I find you irresistibly beautiful, Yvette.” With his deep hazel eyes on hers, he stepped closer, his arms encircling her shoulders. He leaned down, his mouth near her cheek, and whispered, “May I?”

“Yes.” Yvette tilted her face to his to allow him to kiss her, thrilled at this sudden development. For weeks she had been waiting in vain, hoping he would try to steal a kiss from her at one of the balls or musicales they attended, but he had always been too proper. He’d never even made an attempt to get her alone. And now . . . now she was about to get a kiss from him. Finally!