His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (27 page)

“Thank you.” With a nervous glance at Jeffrey, who seemed completely dazed, Yvette removed her coat, handed it to Dennings, and took a seat in an overstuffed armchair. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your visit.”

The Duke of Rathmore laughed jovially. “Oh, you’re not intruding, my dear. Jeffrey wasn’t expecting us today either. We surprised him this afternoon by our arrival.”

Yvette glanced again at Jeffrey, who seemed not at all himself.

“Oh, they surprised me all right,” Jeffrey said sardonically, folding his arms across his chest. “Today must be my lucky day for surprises.”

“Well, it’s a wonderful surprise to see you here, Miss Hamilton,” Janet Rutherford said, ignoring her son’s remark. “You’re even prettier than I’ve been told.”

“I told you she was beautiful, didn’t I?” the duke asked, quite gleeful in his manner. “And there’s four more of them! Each one a beauty.”

“That’s very kind of you to say about my sisters and me,” Yvette murmured to the duke before turning her attention to Jeffrey’s mother. She was quite curious about this woman. “Are you in town long, Miss Rutherford? Jeffrey mentioned that you live outside London.”

Janet Rutherford hesitated before answering. “Actually, I’ve been in town all week.”

“And she’ll be staying permanently,” Maxwell Eddington added with an emphatic nod. He looked happy enough to burst, his face beaming. As he moved to stand beside Jeffrey’s mother, he took her hand in his. “Janet has agreed to marry me. We were just telling Jeffrey the good news.”

Yvette was speechless. She stared at them and then dared a glance at Jeffrey.

“Yes, it seems my parents are getting married.” Jeffrey smiled in spite of himself.

Astonished at the unexpected news, Yvette cried, “Oh, how wonderful! Congratulations to you both!”

“Now that Miss Hamilton is here, we must have a proper celebration! A little party! Come, Jeffrey, let’s go to your wine cellar and choose the best bottle of champagne you’ve got!” Maxwell Eddington moved toward his son, prompting him to follow.

“Isn’t it a little early in the day for champagne?” Jeffrey asked.

“Nonsense!” Maxwell winked at them. “It’s never too early for champagne.”

Jeffrey looked helplessly at Yvette. “You’ll stay?”

“Of course.” She grinned at him, enjoying that Jeffrey wasn’t in control of the situation for once. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“We’ll be right back,” he called over his shoulder.

The two men exited the room and Yvette was left alone with Jeffrey’s mother. Even though no one could dispute that Jeffrey was Maxwell Eddington’s son, for they were spitting images of each other, something about Janet Rutherford’s expression reminded Yvette even more of Jeffrey than his father did.

“So, while the boys are seeking some champagne, we can have a nice little chat alone, Miss Hamilton,” Janet Rutherford said lightly.

“Yes, I’d enjoy that,” Yvette responded with enthusiasm, instantly liking the woman. Her earnest and friendly manner made Yvette feel comfortable. Yvette had a dozen questions at least that she wanted to ask about Jeffrey’s childhood and what he was like as a little boy. But first things first. “This is such exciting news about your marriage to the duke. You must be very happy.”

“I am. Quite happy.” The woman sighed. “It’s been a long time coming for Maxwell and me and it’s rather late to right such an old wrong. Better late than never, I suppose.” She paused and gave Yvette a knowing look. “I’m sure you’ve heard the whole story by now.”

Yvette nodded her head in sympathy. “Well, one does hear things, but Jeffrey doesn’t talk very much about himself. I only know that he cares deeply for you and his father. I’m sure your marriage will make him very happy.”

“If the shock of it doesn’t kill him first.” She laughed, a winsome smile on her elegant face. “But the reasons that kept his father and I apart all those years ago no longer exist or no longer matter so much at our age. Oh, some people will still be outraged by our decision, of course, and our marrying will revive the old scandal, no doubt. But Maxwell is determined to wed me at long last. Once that man makes up his mind, it’s difficult to sway him, and at our age we don’t have time to waste.”

“Well, I think it’s lovely,” Yvette said. “And very romantic.”

“It wasn’t romantic at the time, I can assure you, my dear,” Janet said with a regretful sigh. “There was much damage done to innocent people. But it’s been over thirty years now and Maxwell is still the greatest love of my life . . . and I am his. We’re simply a couple of old fools.”

“Oh, I don’t think so at all!” Yvette thought it was sweet that they were finally able to marry now that the duke’s wife had passed away. There was something oddly poetic about it. “You are Jeffrey’s parents and it’s right that you should be married.”

“Yes, I’m happy for Jeffrey’s sake, although he is more surprised than I expected him to be. I’m afraid our situation has been much harder on Jeffrey than on anyone else even though he’d never admit it.”

“Yes, I’ve thought that as well,” Yvette agreed with her. She believed the shame of illegitimacy had hurt Jeffrey in ways she couldn’t even begin to imagine. “Please tell me, Miss Rutherford, what was he like as a little boy?”

“Oh, he was simply adorable!” Janet Rutherford’s face lit up while talking about her son. “A handsome little scamp he was, but so loving and dear too. Everyone loved him. It was impossible to ever scold him when he misbehaved, because he inherited all of his father’s charm and could smile his way out of anything.”

Yvette gave a little laugh. “That’s exactly how I imagined him to be!”

“Yes, he was quite special. It’s a miracle he turned out as fine as he did with how terribly we spoiled him as a child. But in spite of all the heartache and dreadful scandal surrounding his birth, I never regretted having him for one second. He’s been the joy of my life.” Janet paused and gave her a meaningful look. “And I wish to thank you and your sisters.”

“Thank us?” Yvette was confused. “Whatever for?”

“Yes, I thank you. For you and your sisters have given Jeffrey a sense of family that his father and I were never able to give him. He adores all of you girls. He’s very protective of you.”

Touched by her words, Yvette had never quite realized how much her family meant to Jeffrey before. “Well, he is wonderful and we all adore him. We treat him like he is our brother.”

Janet looked pensive. “Jeffrey is a very sensitive and thoughtful man, in spite of his rather careless demeanor.”

“Yes, I think I’ve learned that about him.” Yvette nodded in agreement. “He never lets on that things bother him, but I believe he feels things quite deeply.”

“Yes, he does,” Janet Rutherford said pointedly, “and Jeffrey is very much in love with you, my dear.”

Yvette almost fell out of her chair. “I beg your pardon?”

His mother looked apologetic and asked softly, “Oh, you had no idea, did you? I can tell by your expression.”

Rendered speechless, Yvette tried to catch her breath. Jeffrey? In love with her? Well, they kept kissing each other lately and it had been most passionate between them. They had become very intimate during the last weeks, certainly. But in love? With her? Her head spun and she gripped the arms of the chair for support.

“I see the surprise on your face, my dear, but yes, I believe I’m certain of this. He talks about you all the time,” Janet explained. “And I saw it quite clearly on his face when you arrived just now. It’s most obvious.”

“No, he can’t be.” Yvette’s stomach somersaulted. It was impossible and she refused to believe it. Jeffrey could not be in love with someone like her. She was not at all like the sort of woman he romanced.

“Yes, he is.” Janet Rutherford gazed at her in sympathy. “He’s never been in love before and I don’t think he knows what to do about it. You’ve won his heart and you must treat him gently.”

In shock, Yvette stared at Jeffrey’s mother, still uncomprehending what she was saying to her.
Won his heart? Treat him gently?

“From what I gather, my dear, you are about to be engaged to someone else?”

Yvette nodded mutely in response.

“Jeffrey is not happy about that at all, and he thinks you are making a dreadful mistake.” His mother gave her a knowing look. “He says this only because he’s in love with you.”

With her heart racing, Yvette finally opened her mouth. She closed it. Then she opened it again. “Oh, Miss Rutherford, do you think it is possible that—”

Their intimate conversation abruptly ended as Jeffrey and the duke returned to the parlor. Dennings, the butler, trailed behind them, carrying a silver tray with four crystal champagne flutes.

The duke held up a green bottle in triumph. “I knew my son would have the finest champagne in town!”

They popped the cork and set to filling the flutes with the sparkling wine. Breathless, Yvette took a glass when it was handed to her, still stunned by Janet Rutherford’s revelation. She rose to her feet when the others stood to make a toast to Jeffrey’s parents and lifted her glass as if in a trance. His mother said Jeffrey was in love with her. Was he? Her heart raced wildly in her chest.

“To my mother and father.” Jeffrey made the toast. Then he shook his head in disbelief. “After all these years.”

“Hear, hear!” the Duke of Rathmore called as they clinked their glasses together. “Better late than never.”

Yvette sipped the cool champagne and met Jeffrey’s questioning gaze over the rim of the glass. She gave him a tentative smile and stared at him in wonder. Could his mother be right? Was Jeffrey Eddington in love with her? Her head spun.

“And to my beautiful bride who changed all my thoughts about marriage,” the duke added, kissing Janet Rutherford on the cheek. Janet blushed, her expression joyful.

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” Jeffrey muttered with a wry smile.

In an attempt to rejoin the conversation, Yvette managed to ask, “So when is the wedding to take place?” Yet her voice sounded hollow and far away.

“We are going to marry the day after tomorrow. Then I shall announce our marriage at my annual Christmas ball this Friday.” Maxwell laughed in gleeful delight. “It will cause quite the stir, don’t you think?”

“Yes, it will, Father. Quite a stir.” Jeffrey’s eyes flickered in droll amusement.

“It will be a small and very private ceremony in the chapel at Eddington Grove in Berkshire, with just Jeffrey, Maxwell, and me.” Janet Rutherford suddenly looked inspired, asking, “Oh, Miss Hamilton, will you please join us? I’m sure Jeffrey would love for you to be there.”

Yvette almost choked on her champagne. She dared a glance at Jeffrey. His handsome face was frozen, his expression unreadable.

“Oh, Mother, I’m sure Yvette doesn’t wish to travel all the way out there at this time of the year.” Jeffrey sounded a bit panic-stricken. “Besides, I’m certain she has other plans.”

The three of them turned their eyes to Yvette, waiting for her response.

Without even questioning why, Yvette instantly knew she wanted to be there with Jeffrey. Oh, there would no doubt be questions from Lucien and Colette that she did not wish to answer before she would be given permission for such an excursion, but she wanted to go anyway. A trip to Berkshire would mean a long journey out to the country with Jeffrey. They would surely have an opportunity to be alone together there for they would be away one night at least. Perhaps even two. But it was reckless of her to even consider such an invitation.

Yvette took a deep breath. “I would be honored and delighted to attend your wedding, Your Grace.”

Jeffrey’s jaw dropped.

“There! See? She does want to come.” The Duke of Rathmore kissed Yvette’s cheek. “I knew you were a smart girl as well as beautiful. It’s all settled then. I will make the necessary arrangements with Lucien Sinclair for you, Miss Hamilton. We shall leave together first thing tomorrow morning.”

Taking another sip of champagne, Yvette glanced nervously at Jeffrey. She suddenly had a feeling that she had just made an irrevocable decision.

27

A Winter Wonderland

A light snow began to fall as the carriage transporting Jeffrey Eddington, Yvette Hamilton, Janet Rutherford, and the Duke of Rathmore arrived at Eddington Grove. It was one of the smaller of Rathmore’s many properties, on a lush, wooded estate in Berkshire. They had left early from London that morning and reached the picturesque little house just at dusk.

“And here we are!” Maxwell Eddington exclaimed. “My favorite home.”

A second carriage that also conveyed their valets and ladies’ maids, pulled up behind them. As their luggage was being unloaded and taken inside, Jeffrey escorted Yvette into the charming stone cottage that was covered in green ivy. He had spent a great deal of time at Eddington Grove when he was a child and he had always preferred this place to the very grand but rather cold Rathmore Castle.

“Oh, it’s enchanting!” Yvette cried in delight at the cozy atmosphere and the warm and inviting rooms.

“Isn’t it perfect?” Janet Rutherford asked in agreement. “Maxwell and I spent some wonderful times together in this little house so many years ago. That’s why we wanted to be married here.”

Jeffrey still could not believe that his parents were getting married the next morning. Nor could he believe that he had Yvette Hamilton there to share the momentous event with him. Why she had even agreed to come along with them was still a mystery. But then nothing had made sense since his parents had showed up together at his townhouse yesterday with their astonishing announcement about marrying, followed by Yvette’s surprise visit.

There had been a bit of explaining to do and some hasty arrangements to be made before Colette and Lucien gave their consent for Yvette to accompany them to Eddington Grove. But Jeffrey’s father was quite persuasive when he wanted to be, and when he explained how much he wanted Yvette to be there, Lucien and Colette could hardly refuse, although they did seem a little bewildered by it all. Jeffrey had ignored the questioning looks Lucien cast in his direction and the oddly satisfied expression on Colette’s face as Yvette and her lady’s maid were bundled into the Rathmore carriages that morning.