His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (9 page)

“Well, I doubt that, but as long as you don’t think I look too scandalous.”

“It’s almost scandalous,” Kate added. “I think someone else wearing that dress could look unchaste and loose. But you . . . you don’t. You make the dress look elegant and sophisticated and the dress makes you look stunning.”

“Oh, Kate, thank you!” Relief flooded Yvette at her friend’s words knowing that Kate would only tell her the truth. “My goal in wearing it is to outshine Jane Fairmont.”

“I’ve no doubt that you will have accomplished that by the end of the evening!” Kate cried. “You will outshine every woman here. Has Lord Shelley seen you yet?”

Yvette shook her head. “No, not yet.” If William Weatherly did not show up this evening, she would have worn this dress for nothing.

“Well, I promise that he won’t be able to keep his eyes off of you, once he does see you!” Kate predicted with glee.

Giggling, she and Kate returned to the ballroom and Yvette danced a few more dances before she finally saw Lord Shelley for the first time that evening. He looked tall and handsome, and he glanced around the room as if looking for someone. Was it her? Their eyes met briefly as she did the galop with a young baron. She gave Lord Shelley a light smile and continued dancing with quick, even steps.

When the dance ended Yvette did not rush to Lord Shelley’s side. Not even when she saw Jane Fairmont do just that. Her rival looked very pretty in a demure gown of primrose with her dark hair cascading around her face. Smiling, Yvette turned and accepted another dance with the infamous Earl of Babey, who flirted with her outrageously. At the end of that dance, just as she thanked her partner, Lord Shelley suddenly appeared at her side.

“Good evening, Miss Hamilton. Would you honor me with this next dance?”

“Why, Lord Shelley, I would be delighted.”

William Weatherly held her close as the orchestra played a familiar waltz, and they stepped in time to the music. Yvette was struck by a tension around his mouth. It seemed almost as if he were displeased with her.

“I have the distinct feeling, Miss Hamilton,” he said in a low voice that was slightly scolding, “that you have been ignoring me this evening.”

“Why on earth would I ignore you, my lord, of all people?”

“You seemed quite occupied with your many admirers. Especially Lord Babey. I saw you dancing with him.”

Oh, my! He was jealous! Yvette hid the undeniable triumph that surged through her with a mask of calm. “I so enjoy dancing, my lord, and he was simply kind enough to ask me.”

“I see.” The tense lines around his mouth lightened and his hazel eyes raked across her chest, lingering above her décolletage. “Miss Hamilton, you look more beautiful than ever this evening.”

Yvette flushed slightly at his bold gaze, knowing her gown was achieving its desired purpose. “Thank you, my lord. You look wonderful too. Have you been enjoying the ball?”

“Yes, now that I’m dancing with you, Miss Hamilton.” His fingers pressed against her waist and she could swear he pulled her a bit closer to him. “You do seem to have many admirers, and I confess that I must count myself as one of them.”

“You do me a great honor, Lord Shelley.” Yvette cast her eyes demurely downward.

“Might I hold out a hope that I stand apart from your other admirers in your affections?”

Now her eyes met his, and Yvette was a little taken aback by the intense desire she saw within their hazel depths. “Yes, you might hope,” was all she said.

An unexpected smile lit his face, making him look much younger than his years. His hazel eyes gleamed. “You’ve just made me very happy, Miss Hamilton. Very happy, indeed.”

In spite of a giddy sense of victory at his words, Yvette still wanted to know if he had asked Jane Fairmont that same question. The two of them had danced together earlier, she had noted.

She wondered if he would attempt to get her alone this evening. She had not been alone with him since last month when they walked on the terrace together and even then there had been people about. They had followed this same pattern for weeks, where he sought her out at balls and parties and paid her compliments, but nothing definite progressed beyond that and he had never rescheduled their carriage ride. It was most frustrating! Perhaps she should endeavor to be alone with him this evening? And allow him to kiss her?

The music played on, and Lord Shelley moved and spun her about the dance floor with graceful ease. He was quite a good dancer and she always enjoyed dancing with him.

Yvette smiled, just as the music came to an end and he bowed to her. “Thank you for a lovely dance,” she said.

They hadn’t yet left the dance floor. Lord Shelley’s hand still held her arm and he gazed at her longingly. “Miss Hamilton, would you care to go—”

“There you are, Yvette. I’ve been waiting for you to be free all evening. Come dance with me!” Jeffrey Eddington was suddenly at her side. “You don’t mind do you, Shelley?”

His eyes said yes, he did mind, but Lord Shelley removed his hand from Yvette’s arm with great reluctance and gave a brief nod of assent. “Eddington.”

Yvette began to protest the interruption. “Why, Jeffrey, Lord Shelley and I were just about to—” Before she could continue, Jeffrey had her in his arms and was twirling her away to a waltz.

It had all happened so quickly that Lord Shelley was left standing alone with a somewhat stunned expression on his face.

“Really, Jeffrey, that was quite rude of you!” she scolded him in irritation. She was certain Lord Shelley had been about to ask her something important! Then Jeffrey had come along and spoiled it!

Grinning mischievously, he asked, “It was rude of me to ask the most beautiful woman in the room to dance with me?”

His charming, magnetic smile melted her, as she was sure he intended it to. Yvette shook her head in exasperation. It was impossible to stay angry with Jeffrey. And he was so handsome it was difficult to refuse him. He looked very dashing in his black evening clothes. But she was still piqued, for she was sure that Lord Shelley had been about to ask her to go outside for some air. “Thank you for the compliment, but I was in the middle of something with Lord Shelley.”

“It’s good to keep a man like him on his toes.” Jeffrey winked at her. “You shall thank me for it later.”

Perhaps Jeffrey, rogue that he was, was correct, she mused as they danced. Lord Shelley was already a bit jealous, so perhaps making him more so would spur him to greater action. All she could do now was hope that was the case.

Yvette began to enjoy the waltz and noted that Jeffrey did not hold her as tightly as Lord Shelley had, but he moved with greater confidence and she felt lighter and more secure in his arms. He guided her effortlessly across the floor in perfect time with the music. It suddenly occurred to her that she had never danced with him before. Why, Jeffrey was an expert dancing partner! Although it shouldn’t surprise her that he was, oddly enough it did.

“I believe that this is the first time we have ever danced together, Jeffrey.”

“Is it?” His expression was amused. “Then we must note the name of this waltz to remember the occasion and then it shall be our song.”

Yvette laughed at his suggestion. “Do you do this with all the women you consort with? Have a special song with them?”

His blue eyes met hers directly. “No. I do not.”

“Oh.” Yvette felt suddenly awkward with him, not sure what he meant by that.

The waltzing was heavenly, she had to admit. She even closed her eyes for a moment to enjoy it as she floated in his arms.

“Who the hell let you out of the house wearing this gown?”

Her eyes flew open to find Jeffrey’s expression of displeasure. “Whatever do you mean?” Her reddening cheeks belied her words.

“You know exactly what I mean.” He leveled her with his gaze. “It’s no mystery you have men falling over themselves to dance with you this evening. Surely your aunt must disapprove?”

Yvette defended her wardrobe choice. “Mother said it was fine and my
modiste
told me it was the height of fashion. Besides, Aunt Cecilia didn’t see it until we arrived here and I removed my cape.” She smiled wickedly. “It was too late then.”

He rolled his eyes at her.

“Don’t you like it?” she asked.

He gave her a wolfish grin. “Oh, I like it just fine. That’s the trouble. Because I’m certain every other man here tonight likes it as well. It’s a beautiful gown and you look ravishing in it.” The smile disappeared from his face. “But it’s too low for you, Yvette.”

“It’s not that low!” she pointed out heatedly. “And I’m not the only one wearing such a neckline.”

His eyes locked with hers. “I don’t care what anyone else is wearing.”

“I love this gown! It’s beautiful and elegant. Stop acting like an overbearing older brother.”

His blue eyes were piercing. “I am not your brother, Yvette. You’d do well to remember that.”

“Then stop acting like one.”

His eyes glittered. “So just what did your Lord Shelley say about your gown?”

She stiffened slightly in his arms. “He said I looked beautiful this evening.”

“That you most certainly do.”

Suddenly shy with him again, she glanced away. He continued to waltz with her and Yvette wondered why this dance with Jeffrey seemed longer than any dance she’d had so far.

8

Unexpected Surprises

When Jeffrey finally made it home that night, he poured himself a good long drink. He figured he deserved it. Sipping the bourbon, he closed his eyes, but it did not block out the memory that taunted him.

Once again he had spent yet another evening watching Yvette Hamilton. He’d spent the last month following her from party to party, and had managed to remain calm. But seeing Yvette in that blasted gown with every man in Lady Abbott’s ballroom ogling her made him want to cover her with a blanket, throw her over his shoulder, and carry her out of there. What on earth had possessed the girl to wear a provocative dress like that? She was a walking temptation and he didn’t like thinking of her in that way.

When he’d first seen her, he’d almost had heart palpitations.

Lustful thoughts about Yvette Hamilton were completely wrong. It was his job to watch over her, not lust after her. But that low-cut sapphire gown displaying her luscious breasts had made it impossible to think of anything else.

He hadn’t been able to relax for one minute until he’d seen her safely leave the ball with her aunt and uncle.

Jeffrey had always regarded Yvette as a sweet young girl, as a little sister. The feelings he had while holding Yvette in his arms this evening had not been the least bit brotherly in nature. In fact they were quite the opposite and he had to fight them with all the power he could muster.

Blast Lucien Sinclair to perdition for making him promise to watch over the spoiled child!

But that was also the problem right there. Yvette Hamilton was no longer a child, but an extremely attractive woman. She looked like the goddess Venus herself in that dress. Radiant with her flawless skin and her golden blond hair cascading down her bare shoulders, that sapphire dress clinging to her every curve, she commanded the attention of every male in the room without even trying. She had, quite literally, taken his breath away.

And that Lord Shelley! The look on that man’s face when he was dancing with Yvette had made Jeffrey want to punch him. It had taken all of his wherewithal to keep from knocking the future Duke of Lansdowne senseless.

It was only October. And Jeffrey had to see it through. He didn’t know how he’d make it until Christmas when Lucien returned to London. Once again he pondered the irony of being cast into the role of her protector, when all he wanted to do was tear that gown from her body!

Jeffrey sighed heavily and took another drink of bourbon, thinking there wasn’t enough liquor in his house to drown out the wicked thoughts he was having about Yvette Hamilton.

He heard his front doorbell ring and his heart sank at the sound. A brief glance at the clock over the mantel told him it was half past two in the morning. There was only one person who could be calling on him at this hour of the night, and Jeffrey had completely forgotten he was supposed to go to her. She would not be very happy with him. He heard the voice of his butler, Dennings, low and muffled, and then two pairs of footsteps as they made their way toward his study.

Jeffrey braced himself as the door opened.

“I decided to come to you instead,” a soft female voice whispered from the doorway.

Reluctantly, he rose from his chair and faced the dark-haired beauty who stood before him. Dennings, used to late-night comings and goings, nodded discreetly at Jeffrey and left the two of them alone, closing the study door behind him.

“Jennie . . . what a wonderful surprise!” He mustered one of his smiles for her, but it was half-hearted at best. At least she wasn’t angry with him. Jennie had a bit of a temper and he was not in the mood to have a scene with her.

Wrapped in fur, she stepped toward him. Traces of the heavy stage makeup she wore when performing were still visible on her elegant face, but they did not mar her beauty. “I waited for you, and then when you didn’t show and there was no note or message from you, I feared that something terrible had happened to you.”

She had been worried about him. He relaxed, then pulled her into his arms and hugged her. Breathing in her familiar rosewater scent, he whispered, “I’m so sorry. Forgive me.”

Jeffrey wondered at his thoughtlessness. He’d never forgotten to meet a woman before. Especially one as desirable as Jennie Webb, with her long dark hair, deep green eyes, and full red lips. He had met her while in Paris a few months ago when she was acting in a stage show, and she’d returned to London with him.

She pressed her lips against his and he kissed her back, feeling a gnawing emptiness in his gut. Trying to ignore it, he kissed her harder.

Jennie pulled away and stared up at him, her green eyes wide. “What happened, Jeffrey? It’s not like you to leave me waiting.”