His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time) (17 page)

He
pulled off his coat, waistcoat, boots, and breeches and tossed them into a
pile.
 
There was a slight chill to the
room, and he shivered as he strode to the armoire to gather new clothing.
 

At
least Miss Valentine was not injured, and that was really what was most
important. Noah wasn’t sure he could have forgiven himself if she had
been.
 
He should have never allowed her
to climb the ladder.

What
had he been thinking?

He
stood before the fire and pulled on his clothing. The only bright spot on the
disaster was when she landed on him. Her soft form molded about him, and the
snow cushioned his back. He could have easily lay there for several moments
with her legs tangled with his, and her breasts pushed against his chest.
 
His arms had automatically gone around her,
and it was all he could do not to pull her tightly against him, roll them both
so that he was over her, and then kiss her.
 
Had they been alone, that is precisely what he could have done.

Walking
to the mirror, Noah tied the cravat around his neck. It wasn’t as neat as what
his valet would produce, but it didn’t matter.
 
This was not a formal event and if he could, he would go without the
cravat altogether. The things were a nuisance.

He
settled into a chair and pulled on a dry pair of boots glad that he had thought
to bring a second pair with him.

With
a sigh he settled back against the cushions.
 
Under the tree wasn’t the only place he could have kissed Miss Valentine
but at the top of the stairs as well.
 
He
was just about to when Lady Jillian called up to them.
 
Had she arrived but a moment later, she would
have found the two of them locked in an embrace. At least that was what he
wanted when Miss Valentine had placed her hand over his.
 
Thank goodness he hadn’t, or Miss Valentine
could have been ruined at yet another house party, and he would be to blame.

He
stood and shook the wrinkles from his clothes and strode for the door.
 

Except
in this case, if Miss Valentine found herself ruined, he would gladly marry
her.

Noah
paused as that thought settled.
 
Yes, he
would happily marry Miss Valentine, and the idea didn’t unsettle him in the
least.
 
Then again, a few days ago he
thought he could be content married to Lady Jillian.

The
idea continued to churn in his mind as he exited his chamber at the same moment
as Miss Valentine.
 
She had changed into
a light blue gown which made her sapphire eyes all the darker and enhanced the
rose of her cheeks.
 
She was lovely
indeed.

“Shall
we join the others?” He offered his arm.
 

With
a slight smile, she slid her hand into the crook of his arm, and they descended
the stairs and returned to the gathering.
 

Lady
Meadows stood at the end of the room with a list, and Lady Jillian beckoned
Noah and Miss Valentine to where she and her brother were. The basket sat on
the floor at her feet.

“Whoever
has gathered the most correct items will be our winners,” Lady Meadows
announced. “For the gentlemen, it will be a bottle of brandy. For the ladies, a
comb.”
 
She held the list up to read.
“The items are either the King of Hearts or King of Diamonds, a comb, a quill,
a toy soldier, yellow ribbon, mistletoe.” She looked up from her list and
looked towards Noah and Miss Valentine.
 
“In hindsight that was probably not the best option.”

“We
retrieved mistletoe,” Mr. Parker announced.

“You
also returned too late,” Lord Meadows laughed.

“The
last item was
The Complete Fairytales by
Charles Perrault
,” Lady Meadows grinned. “In French.”

Lady
Jillian jumped to her feet. “We have everything but the mistletoe,” she said
proudly as if she had been an active participant in the contest.

“As
there is only one copy of the book in this house, that would make you the
winners,” Lord Meadows announced holding up two bottles of brandy.
 

Noah
walked forward and accepted his as did Broadridge.
 

As
he returned to his place in the room, Noah considered he might just be drinking
from it tonight once he was alone in his chamber.
 
There were many things he needed to consider
with most of his thoughts settled on Miss Valentine.

Lady
Jillian marched across the room and accepted the hair comb from Lady Meadows as
did Miss Valentine.
 
Where Lady Jillian
simply glanced at it before slipping it into a pocket, Lady Valentine, sweetly
thanked Lady Meadows and cradled the prized as if it were gold.

Though
the comb wasn’t jewel incrusted like the one Lady Jillian had offered for their
use earlier in the day, it was adorned rather prettily and would look lovely in
Miss Valentine’s auburn tresses. She wore her hair pulled away from her face most
of the time and should have silver combs with sapphires to match her eyes and
diamonds that sparkled in the candlelight.

* * *

Rosalind
studied the comb after she returned to her seat. It was silver with delicate
and intricately carved flowers at the top.
 
She had never owned anything so lovely and would keep it in a safe place
only to be worn with her best dresses and on special occasions.
 
She couldn’t wait to show it to her sisters
and had no doubt they would wish to borrow it on occasion perhaps when they
attended assemblies at home.
 
As Rosalind
would not be attending any herself, possibly she should gift it to the next
sister, Isabella, if she promised to share it with her sisters when the occasion
called for it. As Rosalind didn’t anticipate any change in her profession, she
had no reason to wear such a lovely object while attending four-year-old twins.

The
guests began to mill about and gathered into small groups.
 
It would be supper time soon, and no further
activities had been planned.
 
Lady
Jillian had moved to a place on the settee near Lord Felding, and Broadridge
came to her side.

“I
hope you are uninjured from this afternoon,” he asked with concern.

This
was the first time the man had engaged her in conversation since their first
introduction. “I am unharmed,” Rosalind smiled up at him.

“It
was rather impressive how you determined which each clue meant.”

Rosalind
blushed and glanced away embarrassed by the compliment. “I’ve played many games
with my siblings and am rather competitive.”

“So
I noticed,” he chuckled.
 
“I do hope that
if there are more games as such, we can be partnered.
 
I could learn much from you, Miss Valentine.”

She
wasn’t sure what to say to the odd compliment.
 
The clues were not that difficult to decipher. Had the gentleman never
played a game before?
 
“What games do you
enjoy, Lord Broadridge?”

His
brow puckered with a frown. “I’ve never played many parlor games,” he admitted
after a moment.
 
“I am not sure I enjoy
them.”

He
certainly didn’t seem to enjoy the scavenger hunt, but perhaps he just wasn’t
sure how to go about it. “Hopefully you will enjoy the rest of the
entertainments Lady Meadows has planned.”

He
smiled down at her his green eyes darkening. “I am sure I will if you are my
partner,” he said in a low tone.

Goodness!
Whatever did he mean by that?
 
Was it
because he decided she was good with games, or was there more meaning behind
his words.

She
glanced over to where Lord Felding sat beside Lady Jillian. Neither was
speaking to the other nor were they conversing with others.
 
Felding’s jaw was tight, and his body ridged.
Odd, she would have thought him to be more relaxed around the lady he was
intent on courting.
 
Lady Jillian, on the
other hand, seemed quite comfortable and revealed a smug smile as she glanced
at Felding beneath her eyelashes.

“Felding
has shown an interest in my sister,” Broadridge whispered in Rosalind’s ear.

Rosalind
didn’t need to be reminded but forced a smile.

“I
anticipate Felding will be seeking me out very shortly asking to court
Jillian.”

Rosalind
was rather surprised Felding had not already sought permission. His main focus
for this holiday was to begin a courtship, wasn’t it? “I wish them happy.”

The
events that were transpiring should not be a surprise, and if Rosalind thought
she was prepared for this outcome, she was not.
 
She had let herself forget that Felding was meant for Lady Jillian while
they were on the scavenger hunt today.
 
She should have never come to this house party and insisted on remaining
at the Sandlin home.
 
Lady Penelope did
not need her and all this visit had accomplished was to make her want Felding
more.
 
Goodness, in the library today all
she wanted to do was kiss him. And the same thing had occurred when they had
gone upstairs, and he expressed his displeasure in the lack of assistance from
Lady Jillian and her brother.
 

Felding
would never think of her as anything more than a servant or sister of a friend.
She was someone he had known a good portion of her life while she only fell
further in love with him the more they were in each other’s company.

Weariness
came over her, and Rosalind wasn’t sure she could endure the rest of the night
with a smile on her face.
 
Her heart
ached too much.

Why
should she remain?
 
Penelope’s health was
improving but would not leave her bed until tomorrow.
 
Rosalind should not leave her alone for the
evening.

She
smiled up at Lord Broadridge. “Please excuse me. I must speak with Lady
Meadows.” With that she crossed the room and requested that when supper was
served that a tray be delivered to the chamber for both her and Penelope.

“You
won’t be joining us this evening?” Lady Meadows asked with a frown.

“Though
I wish to, I think I shall rest. Falling from the tree seemed to have taken a
bit out of me,” she laughed lightly.
 
It
was the only excuse Rosalind could come up with though she was suffering no
ill-effects from the fall.

Lady
Meadow’s eyebrows rose in alarm. “I thought you were unhurt?”

“I
am,” Rosalind quickly assured her.
 
“Perhaps
a bit sore, but I will recover and be fine tomorrow.
 
However, tonight I would like to rest, and
since Penelope is feeling better, I am sure she would like the company.”

“Of
course, but do let me know if you need anything.”

“I
will,” Rosalind assured her then turned toward the door.
 
She glanced back one last time to Felding and
Lady Jillian.
 
His eyes were on her, and
Lady Jillian was watching Felding.
 
He
should be more attentive to the lady if he intended on making her his wife.

The
mere thought was painful, and Rosalind turned and left the room.
 
The two would probably be married before
spring, and she would just have to come to terms with her own feelings and
accept that Felding would never be hers. She always knew such would be the
case, but that didn’t mean she wanted to see him with another.

When
she entered the chamber, Penelope was resting against pillows reading and
glanced up in surprise. “Why are you here and not at supper?”

“I
am going to dine with you tonight.”

Penelope
frowned. “You should be with the others.”

Rosalind
sighed. “If it is all the same to you, I would rather be away from them for the
rest of the evening.”

Penelope
closed the book and looked at her with concern.
 

“I
am tired.”

“Are
you sure there isn’t something more?” Penelope asked with suspicion.

Rosaline
would love to confide in the young woman, but as Felding was her older brother,
she didn’t dare. It was best nobody knew what lay in her heart. “I promise
there is no other reason.” She settled into the chair beside the window.
 

Penelope
still studied her, and Rosalind prayed Penelope didn’t suspect the truth or
question her further.

They
were interrupted by a scratch at the door, and Rosalind rose to answer it. It
was a maid carrying a tray with their meal which Rosalind directed her to place
on the table.
 
“I will serve Lady
Penelope,” Rosalind instructed.
 
The maid
bobbed a curtsey and withdrew from the room.