His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (25 page)

No, Yvette had no idea what Jeffrey felt about her.

“I suppose no one can fault you for wanting to kiss Jeffrey. He has that way about him that makes women want to do things they shouldn’t,” Paulette murmured in understanding. “I’m just surprised that he wanted to kiss
you
.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say.”

Paulette laughed a little. “I’m sorry, that didn’t come out how I meant it. Of course any man would
want
to kiss you, Yvette. It’s the fact that Jeffrey is just so protective of the five of us that makes it hard to believe. You have no idea how angry he was with Declan for becoming involved with me at the beginning. Jeffrey is like our older brother. He would never do anything to hurt one of us.”

“I know that. The problem is,” Yvette began, “that when William Weatherly kisses me I feel absolutely nothing. And when Jeffrey kisses me . . . I forget to breathe, I can’t think, I can’t see. All I want to do is drown in his kisses and forget about everything else.”

Paulette let out a long breath. “Oh,Yvette, that is a problem.”

“What am I going to do?” Yvette wailed in desperation. “How can I feel nothing with the man I’m supposed to marry, yet feel everything with the man who is supposed to be like an older brother to me?”

“He’s not really our brother,” Paulette pointed out softly.

“Yes, I am very much aware of that fact, thank you.”

Paulette gave her a long look. “Do you love Jeffrey?”

“Of course I love Jeffrey! I have loved him for years. He’s always been so good to me. He’s funny and charming and handsome. I adore him.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Paulette shook her blond head. “I love Jeffrey too. We all do. But are you
in love
with him?”

“The thought of marrying Jeffrey is ridiculous. He’ll never marry anyone. He has said so himself. Besides, I’m going to be the next Duchess of Lansdowne.” Yvette suddenly wondered if she had said those words aloud to convince her sister or to convince herself.

“Yes.” Paulette nodded slowly. “So you say. But do you think it’s possible that Jeffrey has romantic feelings for you?”

“I don’t know.”

Yet she recalled the sweet words he had said to her that had tugged at her heart.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you, Yvette. You’re perfect. I want you to feel something only when I kiss you
. There was the tender way he cared for her. How he had held her in his arms and comforted her when she cried and slept beside her all that long, terrible night.
Could
Jeffrey have feelings for her? Lord knew the feelings she had for him were more than a little confusing and unsettling.

Was it possible he felt the same way about her? Confused and conflicted? Surely not! Jeffrey was not the type to lose his head over a silly girl like her. He was simply quite skilled at kissing women and had worked his brand of magic on her. He did not possess romantic feelings for her. The thought was utterly ridiculous.

“Are you certain?” Paulette asked once more.

“Yes,” Yvette answered her sister with more conviction than she felt, but she spoke the truth. Jeffrey hadn’t said he was in love with her. He hadn’t declared any feelings for her in words. None whatsoever.

“Then if you are still intent on marrying Lord Shelley, there’s only one thing for you to do, Yvette.”

“What’s that?”

“You must stop kissing Jeffrey.”

Yvette grew quiet.

“You mustn’t kiss him again,” Paulette advised. “You must think only of Lord Shelley.”

Her sister was quite right. It would solve all Yvette’s problems if she simply steered clear of Jeffrey. She needed to cease playing these silly games with him and focus on her future husband. She was about to be engaged to the future Duke of Lansdowne and he deserved better from her than how she had behaved so far. Cringing at the thought of William’s reaction if he found out she had been kissing Jeffrey, Yvette agreed with her sister’s straightforward plan. “Yes. That would be best.”

“At least we are all home now and there is no reason for you to be alone with Jeffrey again.” Paulette pointed out this fact with her usual practicality.

“No, there’s no reason at all.” There was not a single reason for her to be alone with Jeffrey Eddington again. No reason, except that she wanted to be alone with him. At times it was all she could think about.

But kissing Jeffrey was wrong and it could not happen again. She was so close to achieving her dream of becoming a duchess. She couldn’t squander it all on kisses with Jeffrey Eddington, no matter how wonderfully delicious and breathtaking those kisses were.

No, she would not be alone with Jeffrey again.

Suddenly a great sadness filled her heart at such a prospect.

25

Twelve Days of Christmas

Jeffrey Eddington smiled, outwardly calm, yet he continued to look at the large grandfather clock at the end of the spacious and comfortable library in Devon House. It was only three minutes past nine. It would be a few more hours before Yvette returned home and he didn’t know how he would stand the wait.

“Shall we shoot some billiards?” Lucien Sinclair asked.

“No,” Declan Reeves said, his Irish brogue quite strong. “I’d prefer to sit here a while before the girls come back and force us to play charades.”

Quinton Roxbury laughed at that. “Then I suggest we have another drink.”

“I agree with Quinton,” Harrison Fleming said. “While you’re up, will you get me one?”

“Would you like another as well, Jeffrey?” Quinton asked.

“Yes, please.” Jeffrey glanced at the clock again. It was now four minutes past nine. He had joined the family for supper that evening, hoping to see Yvette. When he’d arrived, he’d discovered that she’d gone to the theater with Lord Shelley and her aunt and uncle and his heart sank, fearing that William Weatherly would propose to Yvette before he had time to intervene.

He had to do something soon, although just what that something was, he wasn’t sure. And after his behavior with her the other night, he didn’t know if Yvette was even speaking to him.

Jeffrey could barely keep his mouth closed throughout the meal as Yvette’s sisters and brothers-in-law all raved about how wonderful Lord Shelley was and how lucky Yvette was to have made such a match. Everything had gone so well when they’d met him and all seemed to be going along swimmingly.

Jeffrey felt sick to his stomach.

He simply couldn’t let Yvette marry the man. He had to alter their course. If she came home this evening, announcing that Shelley had proposed to her and she accepted, Jeffrey didn’t know what he’d do.

Taking the glass filled with fine bourbon from Quinton, Jeffrey looked to the other men. “So, what did you all really think of Lord Shelley?”

The four Hamilton brothers-in-law exchanged covert glances.

Quinton spoke first. “I thought he was nice enough, if a little formal.”

“There’s nothing to fault the man for,” Declan added softly. “He seems a good sort.”

Harrison sighed. “I don’t think I know him well enough yet to decide if I like him or not.”

“As long as Yvette is happy with him, that is all that matters,” Lucien said resolutely. “We must simply get accustomed to having him around.”

Jeffrey was relieved to hear that his friends were not overjoyed about Yvette’s prospective husband. Yvette’s prospective husband . . . Lord Shelley could have already proposed to her. He took a swig of his bourbon.

“Well, as the only single man left among us, Jeffrey, how is life treating you?” Harrison asked, a mischievous smile on his face.

Jeffrey glanced at the clock—seven minutes past nine. “What do you want to know, Harrison?” He took another sip of his drink.

Lucien laughed heartily. “Harrison wants to know who your current mistress is.”

“Yes, it’s difficult to keep up with your women, Jeffrey,” Quinton pointed out, returning to his seat by the fire. “So tell us, who is your latest?”

“He’s seeing the lovely actress Jennie Webb. He brought her back with him from Paris,” Lucien stated. “Or at least that’s who it was before I left for America.”

“Oh, an actress again, is it?” Declan asked, with a raised brow.

Jeffrey looked blankly at the other four men. He had completely forgotten about Jennie Webb and how things had ended between them. He hadn’t even entertained the idea of another woman since the night she left. All he could think about was Yvette. And those were thoughts he should not be having.

“Jeffrey?” Harrison called to get his attention.

“Oh, I ended things with her a while back.” Jeffrey sipped his bourbon, feeling the burn in his throat.

“Well, who is it now?” Quinton asked.

With another quick glance at the clock, Jeffrey shook his head. “No one.”

All four men echoed him in utter disbelief. “No one?”

Jeffrey shrugged. “Not at the moment, no.”

“Oh, Jeffrey, you disappoint me,” Harrison laughed.

Lucien gave him a curious look. “It’s really so unlike you.”

“I’ve been preoccupied.”

“With what?” Quinton asked.

At that moment, the door to the library opened and Paulette and Juliette entered.

“Good evening, gentlemen.” Juliette, looking lovely in a gown of amber, announced with devilish glee, “Colette’s quite anxious for a game of charades when she comes back downstairs.”

Declan Reeves groaned audibly. “Must you torture me?” he asked while the others laughed.

“Oh, it will be good for you,” Paulette called to her husband with no mercy. “Try to have fun, Declan!”

Jeffrey watched the clock. It was twelve minutes past nine. He would go mad if Yvette didn’t come home soon. Then again, he would most likely go mad when she did come home. He looked up as Paulette Hamilton Reeves, now an elegant countess, came to sit beside him on the large leather sofa. The others were engaged in a conversation on the far side of the room.

“Jeffrey,” Paulette began softly, “I feel I haven’t really had a chance to chat with you since I arrived in London. I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of our mother while we were away.”

“It was my pleasure.” He hadn’t minded helping at all. It was the least he could do for this family who had given him a home to belong to. “I’m just happy that she’s recovered so well. And so quickly.”

“Yes, Dr. Carlisle is quite optimistic. He thinks she will be well enough to join us for Christmas dinner.”

“That’s what I’d heard from Juliette earlier.” He grinned at her. “It will be nice to see Mrs. Hamilton at dinner again.”

“And thank you for being so good to Yvette while we were gone. She spoke very highly of you.”

“Did she?” He liked hearing that Yvette talked about him when he was not there. And apparently she said good things about him. He wasn’t sure she would still say good things after the way he’d kissed her the other night.

“Yes.” Paulette arched a knowing eyebrow at him. “
Very
highly.”

Jeffrey blinked. Had Yvette told her sister that he had kissed her? Was
that
what Paulette, ever the little imp, was referring to?

“Oh, yes,” Paulette continued with a secret smile. “She said you were quite skilled.”

Christ! Yvette had definitely told Paulette. Jeffrey suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, knowing that Paulette knew he had kissed Yvette

“Listen, Paulette, I don’t know exactly what your sister told you, but I never—”

“Jeffrey.” Paulette placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a meaningful look. “You must know by now that we sisters tell each other everything eventually. You’ve helped me when I needed you and I would do anything for you, which is why I’m giving you this advice now.”

“What advice?”

Paulette looked at him with her pretty blue eyes, which were so like Yvette’s, yet not the same at all. “If you want her, you had better hurry and do something, or you’re going to lose her.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek very sweetly.

Jeffrey grew silent. Never had he felt in such a quandary as this. “What exactly did she tell you, Paulette?”

“Enough for me to have an idea of what’s going on between you two. I must say that I’m not sure what to make of it.”

He sighed heavily in resignation. No secrets were kept for long in this family, except the ones that Jeffrey kept for them. “Who else knows?”

“Just me. I think.” She gave him a guilty smile. “You know how sisters are.”

“What are you two whispering about over here?” Juliette Hamilton Fleming stood before them, an amused expression on her face and her hands on her hips.

Hastily, Paulette removed her hand from Jeffrey’s shoulder and sat up straight. “Nothing.”

“You never were a good liar, Paulette,” Juliette pointed out.

Jeffrey glanced up at the first Hamilton sister he had ever met. He and Juliette had been through some memorable adventures together, but he wasn’t at all sure how she would feel about his newfound affection for her youngest sister.

He gave Juliette a teasing glance. “Not every conversation needs to include you, Miss Master Plan.”

Juliette laughed in delight. “You haven’t called me that in years, Jeffrey!”

“Is that what you call her?” asked an inquisitive Paulette.

At that moment, Yvette walked into the library. Dressed in a sumptuous gown of deep amethyst and still wearing a black evening cape, she was a vision of loveliness. Elegant and sophisticated, her golden hair styled prettily atop her head, she stood in the doorway. Jeffrey had to stop himself from rushing to her.

“You’re home early,” Juliette remarked with a quizzical look.

Yvette remained still, an odd expression on her face. “Lord Shelley was suddenly taken ill and we had to leave the theater before we could see the show. Uncle Randall just brought me home.”

“Oh, that’s terrible. Will Lord Shelley be all right?” Paulette asked, her brows drawn together in concern.

“I hope so,” Yvette murmured absently, her eyes on Jeffrey.

“You must be disappointed,” Jeffrey said, staring back at her. Something flashed between them. Was it relief he saw in her blue eyes?