His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time) (26 page)

“What
are you about?” He hissed low enough for only Penelope to hear.

“This
is the perfect time to get Lady Jillian alone and advise her that the two of
you will not suit.”

Noah
stared at her aghast. “I am not sure I need say anything.
 
The party will end the day after tomorrow. I
will have a word with Broadridge to advise him that I will not be speaking with
His Grace, and we will all return to our homes.”
 
It was the plan that had come to him last
night as he lay in his bed trying not to think of Rosalind.
 
It wasn’t as if he had made an offer for Lady
Jillian. He had simply told Broadridge, only after he asked, that he wished to
become better acquainted with Lady Jillian. If the man read more into the
matter than Noah intended, that was Broadridge’s own fault. And, if he had
mentioned Noah’s words to Lady Jillian, then she should learn not to assume a
match if the gentleman in question had not spoken to her directly.

“I
believe you do need to inform him. How else can you court Rosalind with Lady
Jillian constantly by your side?”

Noah
blew out a breath and looked around.
 
“I
thought to court Rosalind after we returned home away from gossip and prying
eyes.”

“You
are going to take up residence in Phoebe’s home?” Penelope asked with a smirk.

“If
necessary,” Noah grudgingly admitted.

“It
is a good thing we are all sharing a coach when we leave. It will give you more
time with Rosalind.”

“And
you,” Noah reminded Penelope. It wasn’t as if he would be alone with Rosalind
or in a position to court her on their journey.

“And
Demetrius.” She grinned.

Noah
frowned. “He will be traveling with us?”
 
Why wasn’t the man returning to London unless he thought to visit his
family first?
 
From what he gathered, it
had been months since Demetrius had been home, and as Rosalind’s older brother,
Noah would seek his permission to court Rosalind if he didn’t have a chance to
speak with her uncle first.
 

Why
was his sister smiling when she mentioned Demetrius?
 
Noah narrowed his eyes at Penelope. Was she
smitten with the man? Not that it would matter to Noah.
 
Demetrius was an honorable man in a worthy
profession though Noah had assumed Penelope would one day marry a peer.
 
Of course, he thought to marry within society
as well and hadn’t found his match. Penelope had been out for two years now,
and perhaps she had come to the same conclusion. “Do you have a tender for
Demetrius Valentine?”

Penelope
laughed. “Heavens no. He is almost another brother to me.”

His
sister may feel that way toward Demetrius, but Noah’s emotions were far from
brotherly where Rosalind was concerned.
 
He narrowed his eyes on Penelope.
 
“The two of you aren’t intending to play matchmaker I hope.” He didn’t
need any assistance in his courtship of Rosalind.

“On
the contrary, I fear we are working at cross purposes.”

Noah
straightened. “How so?” he demanded.

“Demetrius
doesn’t think the two of you would suit nor does he believe you will ask for
Rosalind’s hand. He is coming along to see me proved wrong.”

Alarm
shot through him. “Does Demetrius know of the kiss and what you have
seen?”
 
He placed his hands on her upper
arms. “Please tell me that you didn’t share this with him.”

Penelope
pulled back and laughed. “I want to see you married not shot.”

Noah
blew out a breath and let go of her arms.
 
“Why does Demetrius believe that Rosalind and I won’t suit?”

She
sighed. “Demetrius insists you are from two different worlds despite being
neighbors and knowing one another since childhood, and that you will not offer
for Rosalind even if you wished to.” She paused and bit her lip studying Noah.
“And, if you did happen to ask, Rosalind would reject your offer.”

His
heart stilled for a moment, and he glanced at Rosalind sitting prettily on the
log laughing at those who were finding it difficult to negotiate the ice on
skates.
  

“Don’t
think on it now,” Penelope said brightly. “I have more faith than
Demetrius.”
 
With that, she turned and
marched toward the lake stopping only long enough to tie blades to her boots.

Why
would Rosalind turn down his suit? Had he misread what was developing between
them?
 
Had he somehow misinterpreted the
passion that flared when they had been alone? Was he the only one aching with
need? “Damn and blast,” he muttered. What to do?

“Oh,
Lord Felding,” Lady Jillian called. “Do come join us.”

She
stood at the edge of the lake skates already on her boots.
 
With a heavy sigh, Noah marched toward her,
grabbed a set of blades and fastened them before making his way to the
ice.
 
Why was she even skating if she
didn’t enjoy it?

“I
hope you will offer your arm,” she smiled coyly up at him.
 
“I am a bit shaky.”

As
she managed to remain upright until he reached her side, Noah highly doubted
she lacked the ability to skate on her own. He cocked his elbow for her to
latch onto, and they pushed off the ice.

She
had more balance than he anticipated, and Noah eyed her askance. When had she
learned to skate? He assumed this was an activity her mother would have
prohibited. “You skate well, Lady Jillian.”

She
smiled brightly. “Thank you, Lord Felding.”

The
toe of her skate hit a bump in the ice, and she floundered for a moment with
her free arm flying out in order to gain her balance. Noah grasped hold of her
waist to keep her from falling on the ice.

She
straightened and looked up at him from beneath her lashes. “Thank you.”

Noah
relaxed his hold at her waist and was removing his hand so that she could link
her arm with his again, but her hand stilled his. “Please keep hold. I don’t
wish to almost fall again.”

Noah
sighed.
 
While it wasn’t proper to hold a
young woman in such a manner, many gentlemen were doing so to simply keep the
young ladies from landing on their bum.
 
He just hoped Lady Jillian didn’t read anymore into the action than was
meant by it.
 

He
glanced toward the shore and hoped Rosalind didn’t suspect there was more to
the situation.
 
She was watching them her
smile no longer bright as it once had been.
 

Broadridge
handed Rosalind a cup before settling on the log beside her.
 
It took all of Noah’s effort not to leave
Lady Jillian standing alone on the ice and
march
to
the shore.
 
He did not like the attention
Broadridge had begun giving Rosalind one bit.
 
He should be the one seeing to her comfort and keeping her company since
she could not skate. Not the likes of Broadridge.

Could
it be that he was simply jealous?

They
executed a turn and Noah’s back was now to Rosalind and Broadridge.
 

“This
is delightful,” Lady Jillian exclaimed.

Noah
returned his attention to the woman beside him.
 
Her face was lit with happiness, and her cheeks were rosy from the cool
air.
 
This was probably the most sincere
and open he had ever seen Lady Jillian. It was a shame she didn’t allow herself
pleasures more often, but Noah suspected that once she returned home or even
before they were at supper tonight, the Lady Jillian he had become accustomed
to would reappear. Not that it mattered to him. It was she who was missing out
by holding herself above and apart from everyone else.

* * *

Rosalind
picked at the dessert on her plate and tried to eat, but her stomach was in
knots.
 
Despite Penelope’s assurances
that Felding had no intention of courting Lady Jillian, appearances spoke
differently.
 
They skated together for
nearly an hour with his hand at her waist, and now they sat side by side at the
head of the table.
 

On
the other side of Lady Jillian, closest to the head of the table was
Broadridge, the future duke.
 
What was
Broadridge about, and why had he seemed to single her out earlier?
 
He could have been skating with any of the
young misses in need of a partner, but sat by her instead. He even retrieved
tea for her from the servants who had brought refreshments to the lake.
 
He was ever so solicitous toward her, and
Rosalind couldn’t begin to understand why.
 
It wasn’t as if they shared much in conversation. There were comments on
the weather, and they laughed at the follies of other on the ice.
 
In fact, in the hour they sat side by side
barely any words were spoken.
 
It was
very odd.

Was
it because Broadridge believed Felding was courting Lady Jillian and since she
was a family friend, thought to come to know her better?
 
If he wished to know more about Felding, why
wasn’t he entertaining Penelope? That is the person Broadridge would come to
know if Felding did decide to marry Lady Jillian.

Yet,
Penelope insisted that Felding wanted nothing to do with Lady Jillian. If that
was the case, why was he spending so much time with her today? Even now they
were conversing quietly.
 
Had Felding
simply let Penelope believe there would be no match so that Penelope would
leave him alone?
 

Rosalind’s
head began to pound, and she resisted the urge to rub her temples.

She
wished she could concentrate enough to converse with those on either side of
her, but she barely knew the mister to her left who was engaged in conversation
with the miss on his left.
 
Demetrius was
to her right, but he was speaking with others.
 
It was rather a relief not to have to carry on a conversation because
she wasn’t sure what she could offer. They were all from a world she did not
know.
 
She hadn’t been in London since
she was a child, and the places they were speaking of were far from where she
and her family had lived.

Lady
Meadows rose from her seat, and Rosalind blew out a sigh of relief.
 
The most uncomfortable part of the evening
was behind her, and now she could relax in the salon until it was time to
retire. Tomorrow was the last day and after that, she would return to the
nursery in Sandlin Manor where she belonged.

Penelope
drew up to her side, linked arms with Rosalind, and walk with her to the salon.
Instead of taking seats with the others, Penelope continued until they were
before the windows on the far side of the room.

“What
is it?” Rosalind asked. “Don’t you wish to be with the others?”

“Frankly,
I don’t.
 
It isn’t as fun as I had
hoped,” she admitted.

Rosalind
glanced at the women who were animated in their conversations.
 
“Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.”

“That
is because the ones that are married are with their husbands, and most of the
misses have their eye set on one of the bachelors and are using this gathering
to further their goals.”

“You
have not set your cap on anyone?” Rosalind questioned.
 
Penelope had already completed two seasons,
but Rosalind had not heard of Penelope even being courted. How very odd.
 
Not only was Penelope born to the peerage,
but she was beautiful and pleasant company.
 
Were the lords of England daft?

“I
have not found a gentleman who can hold my interest above an hour, if you must
know.” She confessed. “If there was even one who was of similar mind and
personality as Noah’s friends, I would give that gentleman more consideration.”

“Felding’s
friends?”
 
Rosalind knew there were a
handful of gentlemen that he was particularly close to but didn’t know who
exactly though she had her suspicions.

“Sandlin,
Meadows, Parker, Lavins, and Chambers,” Penelope answered.
 
“The six of them have been close since
Eton.”
 
She tilted her head. “I wonder
what became of Lord Anscom though. He and Noah had been great friends, but I
had not heard my brother speak his name since shortly after my father’s
funeral.”

“The
gentlemen must have finished their port and cigars quickly to join the ladies
so soon,” Rosalind observed as the gentlemen entered the room.

“It
is because they only need to spend a short time with us,” Penelope explained. “Tonight
they are for billiards, cards, gambling, and drinking, and the women are to
entertain ourselves.”