His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time) (38 page)

One
of the twins yawned and rubbed their eyes, and Rosalind bent forward to pick
the child up.
 
“I should take Heather up
for her nap.”

“You
are no longer in my employee, Miss Valentine,” Sandlin announced.

Rosalind’s
face fell, and she looked to the floor. “I understand.”
 
She settled Heather back beside her brother.

“I
don’t think you do,” Sandlin laughed.

She
eyed him askance.

“I
can’t have Felding’s betrothed working as our nursery maid.”

A
small smile formed on her lips, and Rosalind’s shoulders appeared to
relax.
 

“But
what are we to do?” Phoebe whined. “The children do love her.”

“And
I love them.” Rosalind scooped Heather back in her arms.
 
“Let me take them upstairs.
 
I will return for Campbell in a moment.”

Noah
wanted to call her back. They had a painting to find.
 
Instead he picked Campbell up and followed
Rosalind to the nursery.
 
The twins
settled into their beds without a fuss and closed their eyes, and Noah pulled
Rosalind from the room.

“I
love you,” he whispered.

“And
I love you,” she returned.

He
took her lips with his.
 
When they broke,
he stared down at her. “This will all be over soon, and then we can wed.”

“I
am afraid it will not be as easy as all that.”

He
frowned. “Perhaps not, but in the end we will be together.”

The
smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, but Noah knew it would take time before she
ceased worrying about what anyone would think of her family.
 
He didn’t give a bloody damn if all of
society knew the truth. He had found love, and it was much more important than
doing as society dictates and being miserable for the remainder of his life.

“I
shouldn’t leave them alone,” Rosalind gesture back to the nursery.

A
maid turned the corner at the top of the stairs. “You won’t.”

Rosalind
turned as the maid came upon them. “Lady Sandlin sent me up to care for the
children.”

“Thank
you,” Noah said and escorted Rosalind to where the others had gathered. The
room was dark because heavy curtains were pulled to protect the paintings from
the sunlight. Noah suspected they had not been opened in years.
 
His family was looking through stacks of
paintings that were leaned against every available space along the walls.
 
He had not been in here in ages. How had his
sister collected so many, and what did she plan to do with them? Besides the
ones that were purchased, there were several Phillipa had painted before she
decided to learn to sculpt.
 
Those works
of art were on shelves bracketed along the walls.

“Where
to begin?” Rosalind asked in awe.

“At
the stack right beside us, I suppose.”

There
were landscapes, buildings, flowers, and people with no connection.
 
Noah couldn’t understand what his sister saw
in these pieces, but if it was what gave her pleasure, who was he to deny her.

“I
think I found it,” Patience said as her face turning a rosy hue.

Phillipa
limped over to peer down at the canvas in the middle of the stack leaning
against the wall.
 
“I knew I had seen her
face before,” she said triumphantly.

The
others gathered, and Sandlin reached in pulling the painting out so everyone
could view it. There was a collective gasp throughout the room.

Noah
found himself grinning, and it had nothing to do with what he was viewing in
the painting. He was now free of Lady Jillian.

“Do
you think she posed for it, or did someone else put her face to the body?” Lady
Sandlin asked.

“I
can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing?” Sandlin said.

“I
can’t imagine Lady Jillian posing for such a painting,” Penelope retorted.

“Perhaps
she posed for a portrait, but the artist took liberties,” Rosalind suggested.

“She
appears younger than she does now. I wonder how long ago it was painted,”
Patience observed.

It
didn’t matter how it came to be or when. Here was something Lady Jillian would
not want the world to view. Whatever had possessed her to lounge on a settee in
only her shift exposing a stockinged calve with the straps of her chemise
dipped dangerously low on her shoulder so as to reveal the hint of a nipple
while she stared straight ahead with a seductive title to her lips?
 

“Why
did you buy this painting, Phillipa?” Phoebe looked at her sister in confusion.
It was something a man would want not a young lady.

“Because
it is beautiful,” Phillipa sighed.
 
“The
lines, shading, and coloring.
 
The person
who painted this is very talented, and I thought the woman stunning.”

Noah
studied the painting. He knew nothing about art, but it was a lovely portrait
of Lady Jillian even if a bit risqué.
 

“What
do you plan to do with all of these paintings?” Sandlin gestured to the stacks
around the room.

Phillipa
bit her bottom lip and looked away from everyone. “I wish to open a museum of
sorts,” she said quietly. “I wish to exhibit this artwork for others to enjoy.”

Noah
had no idea his sister was considering such an idea.

“Where?”
He couldn’t imagine her wanting to do so in their small town.

Phillipa
blinked up at him and worry lines formed between her eyes.
 
“In London.”

He
simply stared at her.
 

“I
know it isn’t proper, but why should I keep all of this to myself?
 
These artists are unknown, for the most part,
and their work deserves to be seen.”

Art
was the one thing Phillipa was truly passionate about. While other ladies could
ride, dance, and simply stroll through Hyde Park without issue, his youngest
sister could do none of those things. He would find a way to give her what she
wished.

But
first, they needed to deal with Lady Jillian.

“Put
that aside and cover it.
 
I will reveal
it to Lady Jillian when the time is appropriate.” He withdrew the watch from
inside of his pocket.
 
“Supper will be
served shortly.”

“Oh
dear, I hope our guests haven’t arrived.” Patience moved toward the door.

“Guests?”
Noah demanded.
 
Nobody had told him there
were to be others this evening, and he didn’t wish for even more people to
expect a betrothal to Lady Jillian. The more who anticipated it the more
uncomfortable it would be in the spring when he arrived for the Season with
Rosalind, his wife, on his arm.

“Mother
invited the Valentines,” Phillipa advised him. “She knew Rosalind would have to
come here for the twins, and as all of them are in residence in anticipation
for Christmas, she invited the family.”

The
Valentines? When Noah told Lady Jillian they were expected, he said it only to
remind her of her place and his friendship. He had not actually thought a
dinner could be arranged for the short time Lady Jillian was visiting.

“Everyone?”
Rosalind questioned.
 
“Even Benedick?”

“Yes,”
Phillipa beamed. “He arrived this morning and came by to accept the
invitation.”

Her
smile grew wide, and Noah knew it would be good for Rosalind to see her family
and it would give him the opportunity to speak with Vicar Grant. Not that he
could ask for Rosalind’s hand while Lady Jillian and her brother were here, but
soon, very soon, he would be able to.
 
Now, if Meadows could only obtain the special license and have it
delivered, his Christmas would be perfect.

They
left the storage room, and Phillipa locked the door before handing the key to
Noah as they made their way to their separate chambers to prepare for supper.

Thirty-Three

Rosalind
rushed through her toilet to be downstairs in time for her family to
arrive.
 
The only clothing with her were
the dresses Lady Sandlin had allowed her to borrow, and Rosalind found the blue
one Penelope admired laid out ready for her to wear. Had the maid chosen the
gown, or had Penelope left instructions for her? It didn’t matter. Tonight she
would see her aunt, uncle, and siblings. She hadn’t been with everyone at once
in almost a year. As all of Noah’s family was in residence, it would be just
like when they were younger when the boys would come down from school except
Noah’s father wouldn’t be here.
 

Sadness
washed over her for a moment. The former Lord Felding had been a good man. She
had always believed so and even more so with the knowledge that he knew the
truth of her family and still accepted them. It was a shame he wasn’t still
alive. Would he have accepted her as a daughter-in-law for the heir? Rosalind
liked to think he would have.

A
maid entered as soon as she was dressed and set Rosalind at a dressing table
and quickly arranged her hair.
 
Rosalind
tried not to fidget, anxious to join the others, but calmed when she was told
her family had not yet arrived.
 
The
moments stretched, and when the maid pushed the last pin into her curls,
Rosalind jumped from the seat and hurried out of the room.
 

She
stopped at the entrance to the largest sitting room at the front of the house
and across from the formal dining room. This is where they usually gathered
when the Valentines visited because of its size and ability to accommodate them
all.
 
Only Lady Jillian and Lord
Broadridge were present.
 

“Were
you looking for Lord and Lady Sandlin?” Lady Jillian inquired. “They have not
come down as of yet.”

Rosalind
took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “No, I am not.”
 
She walked into the room and a footman
approached.
 

“Would
you care for a glass of wine before supper, Miss Valentine?”

“Yes,
please, Thomas.”
 
She knew each servant
by name. They were the same ones who had been here since she could remember.

“Aren’t
you to see to the children?” Lady Jillian asked with censure.

Rosalind
accepted the wine and moved to sit across from Lady Jillian. Rosalind was not
going to let her ruin this evening for her. “I will be joining the family this
evening. A maid is seeing to the twins.”

She
glanced across to Broadridge who glowered at her.
 
She hadn’t spared that gentleman a glance
since he accosted her in the gazebo. Not even when they dined while
traveling.
 
The cut on his head was healing,
but an ugly bruise of purples and dark blue spread across his forehead.
 
He had brushed his hair forward to cover most
of the injury, but it could still be seen.
 
Rosalind found she had no sympathy for him.

“I
am glad we have a moment alone, Lady Jillian.”

The
woman arched an eyebrow.

“I
assume your brother knows how the match between you and Lord Felding came
about?”
 

Lady
Jillian narrowed her eyes at Rosalind. “He understands that Lord Felding and I
have discussed an agreement that will be finalized after he speaks with my
father.”

Rosalind
glanced at Broadridge who studied his sister. A hint of confusion crossed his
face. So, Broadridge wasn’t aware of the blackmail. As Rosalind only spoke in
the most general terms, Lady Jillian couldn’t be certain Rosalind knew what she
was using to force Noah to do her bidding.
 

As
much as Rosalind wished to tell Lady Jillian exactly what she thought of her,
Rosalind would not. With any luck, Noah would be free of this woman shortly,
and the fewer people who knew of the blackmail and her family history the
better.

She
forced a smile.
 
“I wish you well.”

Lady
Jillian offered her a cold smile. “That is rather magnanimous of you, Miss
Valentine, given the circumstances.”

Rosalind
hitched a brow. If Lady Jillian wished to reveal her desperation of what means
she would go to, Rosalind would let her. “How so?”

“Clearly
you are in love with Lord Felding.” She leaned forward. “You never thought he
would actually marry someone like you?”

“Me?”
Rosalind questioned innocently.

“You
are the daughter of missionaries. Your uncle is a vicar. Lord Felding is a
marquess. His wife and mother of his heirs must be a lady.
 
Surely you understand.”

Rosalind
took a sip of her wine.
 
“I have a great
deal of respect for Lord Felding and his family, and I am well aware of what he
requires in a wife.”
 
She would not
acknowledge her feelings for Felding to Lady Jillian as it was none of her
concern. “I only wish to see him happy.”