His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time) (23 page)

“Lady
Jillian is a dainty young woman,” Rosalind finally said.

“She
and Felding do make a striking couple,” Broadridge said as he watched after the
couple. “I am certain my father will grant Felding’s request.”

Her
heart stilled for a moment, and Rosalind turned more fully toward Broadridge.
“Request?”

“Oh
dear.” He placed the teacup back in the saucer and placed it on the table
before leaning closer. “I really shouldn’t have said anything, but I assumed
you knew.”

“Perhaps
I do,” Rosalind said quietly.
 
She was
just as certain she didn’t, but he might tell her something she did already
know. So in that case, it wasn’t so much of a lie.

“As
you are close friends with the family, surely you are aware that Felding
intends to ask for my sister.”

Her
chest tightened and for a moment Rosalind feared she might not be able to
breathe.
 
She couldn’t speak nor could
she think. All she could do was nod hoping he would take that as her having
already known Felding’s plans.

“Though
we should say nothing, I am sure you understand.”

“Oh,
of course,” Rosalind managed to get out.

Broadridge
picked up his cup and turned in his seat once again and watched those in the
room. More importantly he kept an eye on his sister.
 
Rosalind found herself doing the same except
it was Felding she looked at.
 
Though
Lady Jillian had her arm linked with his, as was often the case since her
arrival, neither was speaking to the other.
 
Lady Jillian smiled prettily and smugly, but Felding could only be
described as stoic and sober.
 
If he was
not happy to be beside Lady Jillian, why was he going to marry her?

Felding
glanced in her direction, and their eyes locked for a moment. His were dark and
intense. Why had he kissed her today when he was intent on marrying another?

Rosalind
swallowed and looked away. She couldn’t be in the room now. She couldn’t be
anywhere near Felding. If she sat here much longer, she just might cry.
 
The ache began deep and the more she tried to
ignore it, the stronger it became. He was marrying another.
 
Even though it shouldn’t be a surprise, it
would have been easier to accept if she hadn’t fallen onto his lap today and
allowed him to thoroughly kiss her.

Tears
stung her eyes. She needed to get out of the room

Rosalind
placed her cup and saucer on the table and stood immediately regretting the
action. She had forgotten about her ankle. Though it didn’t pain her much,
putting her full weight on it was not a pleasant experience.
 
She glanced up.
 
Felding moved in her direction his brow
etched with worry.

Lady
Jillian held tight to his arm and said. “Mr. Valentine, I believe your sister
needs your assistance.”

Demetrius’
head jerked up from the discussion he was having with Mr. Parker and came to
Rosalind’s side.
 
“What is wrong?”

“My
ankle is sorer than I realized,” she whispered. “I think I would like to go
upstairs and lie down for a bit.”

“Of
course.”
 
He slid his hand about her
waist and helped her walk from the room though it was more of a limp.
 
When they reached the stairs Rosalind
groaned.
 
Her ankle would be throbbing by
the time she got to the next floor.

Demetrius
bent and picked her up, much as he had done when she was a child, and carried
her to her room.
 
She hated this weakness
and needing to rely on others unless if it was Felding carrying her. She
wouldn’t have minded in the least. That was another matter entirely, however,
and she could never allow him to do so again.

Her
brother placed her on the side of the bed and stood over her.
 
“Do you need to see a doctor?”

“No,
I think I just need to remain off of it for the night.” With any luck, Rosalind
could claim it was too tender for the remainder of the stay and not have to see
Felding and Lady Jillian together.
 
Lying
in bed and crying her eyes out for a few days suited her perfectly.

Nineteen

Noah
wanted to go after Rosalind. Her face was pale, mouth pinched, and eyes dark
with pain.
 
He should have insisted she
rest and stay off of her ankle, and it was clearly more painful than she let
on.
 
Lady Jillian kept him from doing as
he wished by the hold on his arm. He could have yanked it away from her but
didn’t wish to cause a scene.
 

He
tried to relax. Perhaps it was best that Demetrius carried her upstairs. Had
Noah done so, he might not have returned to the gathering but remained with
Rosalind in the intimate bedroom just the two of them.
 
That would never do because he wasn’t sure he
could control his desire enough not to kiss her again. And if he started
kissing her while she lay in bed, it would be too easy to simply disrobe and
make love to her.
 

He
shouldn’t have even kissed her and certainly not with such passion.

His
body warmed at the memory, and he glanced down at the lady clinging to his arm.
Whatever possessed him to think Lady Jillian would be an acceptable wife?
 

Demetrius
returned a moment later. “If you will excuse me, Lady Jillian, I need to speak
with Mr. Valentine.”

She
smiled up at him, and her eyes hardened. What warmth that developed from the
memory of Rosalind’s kiss quickly chilled.
 

“I
will accompany you,” she offered with a false smile.

He
stared at her dumbfounded. When a person excused themselves, the other person
remained behind. If anyone was knowledgeable about etiquette, it was Lady
Jillian.
 

“I
will only be a moment,” he insisted.

“I
don’t mind.”

Was
the woman mad?

Instead
of arguing, Noah led her across the room to Demetrius.
 
“How is Miss Valentine?”

Demetrius
thrust his fingers through his hair.
 
“Her ankle pains her but she will recover.”

“Are
you certain she doesn’t need a doctor?” Noah demanded.

Lady
Jillian stiffened and Demetrius looked at him with surprise. Perhaps he should
have kept his tone more conversational.

“If
Rosalind believes she needs one, she will let me know.”

“See,
she will be fine,” Lady Jillian insisted. “It is kind of you to be concerned
about your friend’s sister.”

Rosalind
was far more than simply Demetrius’ sister, but Noah didn’t dare voice those
thoughts to Lady Jillian. Perhaps he should, and maybe she would let go of his
blasted arm.

“Noah,”
Penelope said as she drew up to him. “Could I have a moment of your time?”

He
breathed out a sigh of relief.
 
His
sister was here to rescue him.

“How
are you this evening, Lady Penelope,” Lady Jillian greeted.
 
“That gown is lovely on you.”

“Thank
you,” she replied.
 
“If you wouldn’t
mind, I need to speak with my brother. Alone.”

The
false smile slipped from Lady Jillian’s lips and the hold on Noah’s arm
loosened giving him the opportunity to slip free.
 
“I am sure Mr. Valentine will be pleased to
keep you company in my absence,” Noah said and executed a bow before turning to
his sister and held out an arm. “After you.”

Noah
followed his sister from the parlor and down the wide hall and into Meadows
library. She studied the room and looked around, and Noah assumed she wanted to
be assured they were alone before she shut the door.

Penelope
had encouraged him to go after Rosalind earlier. Did his sister really wish for
him to make a match with Rosalind? What of his other sisters and
step-mother?
 
Would they wish to have
Rosalind in the family?’

He
thrust his fingers threw his hair already knowing the answer. They had adored
Rosalind when they were children and no doubt still did.
 
He could not think of a better person to make
his wife.

But
what did Rosalind think of him?
 
He must
have shocked her this afternoon when he kissed her, but Noah couldn’t have let
an opportunity such as that pass him by.

He
narrowed his eyes on Penelope as she circled the room checking behind
furniture.
 
Should he ask for her help?
Would she be able to use the opportunity of sharing a chamber with Rosalind to
find out how she felt about him?

No.
It was best neither Penelope nor any of his sisters know what he was
considering. They would only make his pursuit more difficult by interfering
though they would call it being helpful.

Penelope
stopped in the center of the room and speared him with a glance.

“You
don’t really mean to offer for her, do you?” Penelope demanded with fists
planted on her hips.

Surely
Penelope didn’t know about what happened between him and Rosalind did
she
? How could she? Penelope had been in the house with the
others.

Noah
tilted his head and studied her.
 
“I am
surprised you would have an objection.”
 
The Valentines had been friends of the family for years, and Penelope
had wanted him to walk with Rosalind earlier.
 
Did she now find fault with Rosalind? Were there concerns that he should
know about?

Penelope
dropped her jaw and stared at him as if he were daft.
 
“She is the last person who could make you
happy.”

Though
Noah had been resigned to the fact that he might not have the love match his
friends were lucky enough to find, he could certainly see himself happy with
Rosalind. More than happy. There would be warmth and passion with the very good
possibility of love.
 

He
straightened.
 
It would be easy to love
Rosalind and perhaps he already did.
 
Would it be possible that she might one day return his feelings? “I
don’t understand. What is your objection exactly?” He hoped it wasn’t because
of Rosalind’s family being common though it would surprise him if Penelope held
such a narrow view.

“She
is cold.” Penelope held up on finger. “She is rude.”
 
Another finger raised. “And she is unkind to
others she feels are beneath her.”
 
Another finger raised.

Noah
frowned in confusion.
 
Since when was
Rosalind any of those things?

“And
she clings to you as if you are her very own life raft.”

“Cling?”
He muttered and then it dawned on him. “You mean Lady Jillian?”

“Of
course I mean her,” Penelope cried. “Who else could we be discussing?”

Noah
relaxed and then began to chuckle. “No, I have no intention of pursuing Lady
Jillian and wished she would forget I exist.”

Penelope
arched a brow and narrowed her eyes on him. “Then why did you speak with her
brother?”

How
the hell did Penelope know what he had been about?
 
Noah stomped to the sideboard and poured
himself a glass of whisky.
 
“That was
when we first arrived when I believed Lady Jillian and I would suit.” He turned
back toward his sister. “I simply informed the man that I wished to get to know
his sister better. I If I thought we would suit, I would call on His Grace and
request permission to court her.” He took a drink and the whiskey burned a path
down his throat. “I no longer believe it would be a good match.”

“You
haven’t given Broadridge a reason, or Lady Jillian for that matter, to believe
you have changed your mind,” Penelope pointed out.

Noah
sighed and thrust his fingers through his hair. “I’ve tried, but I don’t know
how to go about it without being an ass.” He leaned back against the desk.

Penelope’s
eyes crinkled with delight thought Noah could tell she was trying not to smile.
“So there is a chance you might be considering Rosalind?”

His
eyes shot up to meet hers.
 
Had he let on
his feelings somehow? No. It wasn’t possible. He was being very careful until
he could meet with Broadridge and so Rosalind’s reputation wasn’t damaged
further. . “What do you mean?” He asked slowly.

A
smile tugged at Penelope’s lips. “I saw you.”

He
straightened.
 
It wasn’t possible she saw
them this afternoon. Penelope must have seen something else and interpreted it
to mean one thing though Noah wasn’t sure how that was possible.

She
began pacing thoughtfully. “The first time was after the scavenger hunt.” She
turned toward him, and her smile broadened.
 
“You were at the top of the stairs, your hand on her cheek, and her hand
covered yours. I am quite certain that if Lady Jillian hadn’t called up, you
might have kissed Rosalind then and there.”