His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (3 page)

“I’m not chasing after him,” she protested heatedly. Yvette never chased after any man. Or at least it never looked that way. Lord Shelley must have gone to the card room. Perhaps she should linger in the hallway for a little while and just happen to be there when he returned. “I simply wondered where he had gone is all.”

Kate gave her a skeptical glance, her freckled face looking a bit amused. “Don’t worry though. Your competition, Jane Fairmont, is over there dancing with Lord Calvert.”

Yvette spied her rival and then relaxed knowing that the girl was not with Lord Shelley either. Yvette had worked too hard to gain favor with the most eligible bachelor in all of London to lose him to the likes of Jane Fairmont.

“I wasn’t worried really,” Yvette murmured to her friend. “Simply curious.”

“I don’t know why you’re throwing yourself at Lord Shelley when there are dozens of handsome men who would die to marry you.” Kate gave her an exasperated look.

“I am not throwing myself at him. Honestly, Kate! You know me better than that. And I have explained all of this to you before. It’s quite simple. Lord Shelley will be the Duke of Lansdowne when his father passes away.”

In Yvette’s eyes, there was no need to say more. She had longed for an opportunity like this her whole life. Nothing could be more romantic than marrying a duke and becoming a duchess! To be considered important and grand. To be a stylish and elegant lady, admired by all. Lord Shelley was able to give her the title that would allow everyone to call her Your Grace. No one could deny her significance then.

At almost twenty-one years of age, Yvette would be entering her third Season next spring. She should be married by now for heaven’s sake!

It wasn’t from a lack of offers. That was most definitely not the case. Yvette had been the toast of her first Season and again in her second. She had been practically drowning in proposals from fine young gentlemen from good families with excellent prospects, and even a few from those of questionable standing in society. She could have been satisfied with any of them as her husband.

But she was not.

She wanted something more. Something romantic and dramatic. Something quite special and exceptionally wonderful. Something her older sisters didn’t already have. As the youngest of five sisters, Yvette had watched each of her siblings marry in thrilling and dramatic ways, being swept off their feet by romance, head-over-heels in love with dashing husbands who adored them.

Yet, after two Seasons and a few stolen kisses, she had not encountered anyone who made her feel the way she believed she ought to feel. Not one single man had captivated her with his charm or enchanted her with his being. Her heart had not been stolen by a good-looking rogue, nor had she been swept off her feet by a handsome, dark-eyed stranger. Yvette was beginning to fear romance and adventure would never happen for her. Weary of waiting for something dreamy and magical to happen, she had decided to pursue her own romantic dreams instead. Yvette had her sights set on making the most brilliant match she could.

And what was more brilliant and romantic than a handsome duke?

She wasn’t bold or brazen enough to think she could snare a prince, even though two of Queen Victoria’s sons were still unmarried. But as luck would have it, earlier that summer she had met William Weatherly, Marquis of Shelley, Earl of Cheshire, and best of all, the future Duke of Lansdowne. Handsome and distinguished, Lord Shelley had been traveling abroad for several years, and having just returned home, he was now in the market for a wife, his future duchess.

The competition for his attentions had been quite fierce all summer long, for a prize such as Lord Shelley was rare indeed. But as summer turned to fall, Yvette had emerged as one of his favorites, and she had become determined to win him over. Her hope was to be his by Christmas, which gave her only three more months to win over and become affianced to the handsome Lord Shelley.

“Oh, here comes your future duke now,” Kate whispered with a conspiratorial giggle. “I shall leave the two of you alone. Good luck!”

Her loyal friend fled the scene just as Lord Shelley arrived at Yvette’s side.

“As usual, you are looking quite lovely this evening, Miss Hamilton,” he said. A warm smile lit his face.

“So you tell me every time I see you, my lord.” She cast a flirtatious eye around the ballroom, as if she had already tired of him, and fluttered her new lace fan, which matched her elegant, rosebud-pink silk gown with lace edging. Acting a bit unattainable had been her strategy with him from the start. Lord Shelley was an attractive and powerful gentleman accustomed to having women fall at his feet. Yvette refused to be one of them.

Lord Shelley whispered close to her ear, “That is because I can think of nothing else but your beauty when I look at you.”

A thrill of delight raced through her and Yvette tallied his compliment to the growing list she kept in her head to mark her progress with him. Although Lord Shelley as yet had not shown her any more attention than he had to the other girls, Yvette sensed a subtle change in his behavior. One by one, the young ladies vying for his attentions all summer had fallen out of favor with him, leaving only Yvette and her greatest rival, Jane Fairmont, left to battle it out.

Yvette was quite determined that she would win her romantic ideal in the end. It was the reason she had refused to accompany Colette and Lucien to America. She simply could not leave London now, not when she was so close to taking serious steps forward with Lord Shelley. Through single-minded perseverance and much cajoling on her part, she had somehow managed to convince them to let her stay. So she remained in town, while her sister, brother-in-law, and nephews had set sail across the Atlantic the day before. Yvette was free to pursue her dream of becoming the next Duchess of Lansdowne.

Now Yvette turned and gazed into Lord Shelley’s thoughtful hazel eyes, which had been giving her quite intent stares of late, she had been pleased to note. With fair hair, almost silver in color, William Weatherly was a very good-looking man, despite his maturity. She guessed he was close to forty years old but wasn’t certain of his exact age. Always clean-shaven, he had straight teeth, a well-proportioned nose, and a strong jaw. He was muscular and taller than average height, but his title and position added to the powerful air about him. His good-natured charm and dashing manner appealed to her. He looked the epitome of a duke and all the girls were mad for him.

“You are very kind, my lord.” She cast her eyes down at his second compliment.

“I confess that I am very happy to see you here tonight.”

“I wasn’t sure if I could manage to attend at all. My aunt and uncle were escorting me this evening and my aunt was not feeling well,” Yvette said.

“I would have been very disappointed had you not been here, Miss Hamilton.”

She glanced up at him with an indulgent smile. “I am happy to save you from such disappointment then, my lord.”

“As am I.” His eyes twinkled at her. “It’s rather warm in here. Are you thirsty, Miss Hamilton? May I get you something to drink?” he asked.

“Oh, that would be quite nice. Thank you very much.”

“I shall return to you shortly.” Lord Shelley walked off toward the refreshment area and Yvette watched him make his way through the crowd.

How positively wonderful! He would have been disappointed not to see her! She could barely contain her excitement at his confession.

Kate hurried back to Yvette’s side as Lord Shelley disappeared into the dining room. Her friend asked, “So, how is it progressing this evening?”

Yvette grinned, pleased with her evening’s endeavors. “I believe quite well, Kate. Quite well. He’s coming back with punch.”

Kate’s freckled face wrinkled in amusement. “Really, Yvette, I don’t understand why you’re in such a rush to marry him.”

Yvette remained silent for she could not quite put into words why she felt such a need to hurry or why she had chosen Christmas as a goal for herself. But she just knew that if she became a duchess her life would instantly change for the better. She would lead society and host the most fashionable parties and events. She would wear the most stylish clothes. Everyone would love and admire her. Being married to a duke would be the most romantic thing that could happen to her.

“If I were you, I’d try for Lord Eddington,” Kate continued in a voice full of utter longing. “He’s the most dashing gentleman I’ve ever met. He’s the one you ought to marry, Yvette.”

Yvette laughed at the absurdity of such a prospect. “Lord Eddington? I could never marry him!”

“Why ever not? He is so devastatingly handsome and charming. He’s terribly rich too. And he’s known to have made all the ladies swoon. You know what they say about him . . .” Kate gave a little sigh and fluttered her fan.

“Putting aside the fact that he’s been like a brother to me, he’s . . . he’s . . .” Yvette struggled to find the proper words.

Yes, Jeffrey Eddington
was
indeed all of the things Kate had said. He was also funny, sweet, and unfailingly loyal. In fact, he was quite dear to her. Yvette had to admit that he held a special place in her heart. He had been a part of her life since she was a young girl and she could hardly recall a time when she had not known him. But as for marriage? To Jeffrey Eddington? It was completely ridiculous!

“I know you used to be sweet on him, Yvette.”

She paused. Perhaps she had nursed a childish infatuation for Jeffrey years ago, but as a mature woman of almost twenty-one she had quite outgrown such juvenile illusions. “Well, I was a silly little girl then. Besides Jeffrey is not what one would call marriage material.”

“Is it . . . is it because he’s a . . . he’s a . . . he was born on the wrong side of the blanket?” Kate asked in a furtive whisper.

It was common knowledge in society that Lord Eddington was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Rathmore and a ballet dancer. Although the duke had long ago claimed Jeffrey as his son, no one ever forgot he was illegitimate.

“Well, yes . . .” Yvette responded, wondering why they were discussing this at all. “Besides I can’t very well marry Lord Eddington if I wish to become a duchess, now can I?”

“How are you enjoying the ball, Yvette?”

At the sound of a very deep familiar voice, Yvette’s heart raced as she turned in his direction. There stood the very subject of their conversation, Lord Jeffrey Eddington, and from the look on his face, Yvette was fairly certain he had heard everything she had just said.

“Oh, Lord Eddington!” Kate’s freckled face turned a deep shade of scarlet. “Good evening!”

“Jeffrey!” Yvette cried out in surprise. Fluttering her fan as if she hadn’t a care in the world, she murmured, “I didn’t know you were in attendance this evening.”

“I only just arrived. And here I find the two prettiest girls in London standing alone among the potted plants. How is such a thing possible?” He gave them his signature heart-melting grin, completely ignoring the fact that he had just overheard them gossiping about him.

It was so utterly Jeffrey to save them from embarrassment that Yvette wanted to hug him, in spite of her own feelings of discomfiture. Looking up at him, she could not deny that Jeffrey Eddington was an exceptionally handsome man. Tall with broad shoulders and hair the color of ebony and clear, deep blue eyes, he was muscular and strong, wearing his evening clothes with careless elegance. His classically sculpted, clean-shaven face had a devil-may-care allure that caused women to swoon when he looked their way. But now he was looking at Yvette with an intense gleam in those eyes and she felt unexpectedly warm.

“We’re very happy that you’re here now to keep us company, Lord Eddington,” Kate said with a tone in her voice that Yvette had never heard before. “I fear we have been quite bored so far this evening.”

Why, Kate was flirting with Jeffrey! Yvette struggled to contain her giggles. Levelheaded Kate, who was already engaged to her childhood sweetheart, looked about ready to swoon at Jeffrey’s feet.

“It would be my great pleasure to keep you amused, Lady Katherine,” Jeffrey said mischievously. And in rare form, he bowed over her hand in a gallant gesture.

Yvette tried not to roll her eyes at his flirtations. It was so typical of him. He had behaved the same way with her mother the night before last at Devon House when they had all gathered to say good-bye to Colette and Lucien.

At that moment, Lord Shelley returned with a cup of punch for Yvette.

“I’m afraid that took longer than I anticipated, Miss Hamilton,” Lord Shelley apologized, while handing her the crystal glass filled with a fruity concoction. He glanced to the others, his hazel eyes questioning Jeffrey’s presence. “Good evening.”

Yvette thanked him for the punch and introduced him to Lord Eddington. She added, “Lord Shelley, both you and Lord Eddington have been on extended trips abroad this year. Lord Eddington has just returned from France this week.”

Interested, Lord Shelley asked, “Is that so? I was in Paris a good part of last year. Were you there for business or recreation, Lord Eddington?”

Jeffrey favored the ladies with another mischievous look. “A little of both.”

Kate giggled and fluttered her fan. Yvette could not help but smile.

“I’m surprised we’ve not met before,” Lord Shelley stated, his eyes moving to Yvette. “How are you acquainted with Miss Hamilton?”

“Lord Eddington is a very close friend to my brother-in-law, Lord Stancliff,” Yvette explained with a calmness that belied her excitement. Thrilled with Lord Shelley’s obvious jealousy, she smiled at him. “Consequently Jeffrey has been a part of our family since Lord Stancliff married my sister, Colette.”

“I see.” Lord Shelley looked intrigued by this. “You must tell me more for I am most interested in everything about Yvette, Lord Eddington.”

“Yes, it’s true,” Jeffrey began in a light-hearted manner. “I’ve known Miss Hamilton since she was a bit of a thing, climbing ladders in her family’s bookshop. Although she always tried to act like a lady, she was a little mischievous. One Christmas I even caught her hiding behind a sofa, so she could get a peek at her presents.”