His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time) (5 page)

Lady Jillian frowned. “Valentine House?”
she questioned.

“I don’t know why but we started calling
it Valentine House,” Noah laughed. “Probably because it had been overrun by
Valentines.”

Demetrius laughed with him. “Overrun is
an apt term.”

Lady Jillian looked from Noah and back
to Demetrius. “Why wouldn’t it be called Valentine House?” she asked slowly.
“It is the family name.”

“Because most would refer to it as the
vicarage,” Noah answered.

Her face paled further, and her smile
dipped a bit.
 

“Let me get you inside. It is too cold
to be out here for long.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Noah turned from the group and led Lady
Jillian back inside.
 
Why was she
disturbed from the discussion involving Valentine House?
 
Her hand seemed to tremble on his sleeve. Was
it simply the cold or something else entirely?
 

Noah glanced back to Broadridge. He
appeared unaffected.
 
Lady Jillian was
probably freezing from being outside too long. Soon he would have her before a
roaring fire to take the chill from her body. The color would return to her
cheeks, and she would stop shivering.

“I don’t recall meeting any of the
Valentines previously,” Lady Jillian said as the passed through the door.

“You would not have,” Noah answered.
“Their parents were missionaries who died in India.
 
The children were sent to Vicar Grant and his
wife to raise.”

She bit her bottom lip and nodded.
 
“Yet they are friends of yours?”

Noah studied her. Did Lady Jillian have
an objection to him having friends that were not considered of their
status?
 
“Yes. I hold the entire family
in high regard.”

Again she nodded and said nothing else
as they stopped before the fire, and she pulled her hand from his arm and
warmed it before the flames.
 
A footman
came forward and relieved her of her wrap.

“Would you care for a cup of tea, Lady
Jillian?”

She looked up at the servant concern
marring her brow. “No thank you. I believe I will retire and rest before
dinner.”

She inclined her head to Noah and quit the
room.
 
What was bothering Lady
Jillian?
 
And what did it have to do with
the Valentines?

Four

Rosalind did her best to concentrate on
the conversation occurring around her, but as she did not know anyone seated
with her at the foot of the table other than Demetrius. It was easy to simply
answer questions politely and listen to the others.
 
At the head of the table, seated near their
hosts, Felding was to the right of Lady Jillian. The two made a handsome couple
both with blond hair and blue eyes.
 
Felding’s
hair was darker than Lady Jillian’s, but they both carried the confident air of
being of society and knowing their place in the world. Not a hair was out of
place on Lady Jillian’s golden head, and the jewels at her throat sparkled and
danced in the candlelight.

Felding was relaxed and at ease. This
was the world they were both born to.

The last service had been removed, and
Rosalind bade her time until Lady Meadows rose to direct the ladies to the
parlor so the gentlemen could enjoy their port.
 
She stifled a sigh and followed the other ladies from the room.
 
Penelope came up to her side and linked an
arm with hers.
 
It did much too calm
Rosalind’s nerves of being in an unfamiliar position.
 
Lady Penelope would always accept her for who
she was, and at least she had one friend among the guests.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Lady
Penelope asked with exuberance.

“Yes, I am,” Rosalind answered even
though it was only a half truth.

“What do you think of my brother’s
apparent attachment to Lady Jillian?” Lady Penelope whispered in Rosalind’s
ear.
 

“She is very beautiful,” Rosalind
answered.

“While that is true, beauty only carries
you so far,” Lady Penelope stated wisely.
 
“What do you think of her?”

In truth, Rosalind didn’t know what to
think.
 
She had only spoken to the woman
for a moment and doubted they would converse again.
 
Rosalind did not like her, but that was pure
jealousy on her part and had nothing to do with the lady or her personality.
 
If Lady Jillian did not hold Felding’s
affection, Rosalind might be able to look upon her more objectively.

“She seems pleasant,” Rosalind finally
answered.

They entered the parlor, and most of the
female guests had already taken seats. Lady Penelope led Rosalind to the
blazing fire.
 
“I can’t seem to shake this
chill.” Lady Penelope rubbed her arms.

It was late November, and there was cold
and dampness in the air this evening unlike the crisp weather of this
afternoon.
 
Rosalind wouldn’t be
surprised if it snowed in a day or two given the humid air.

The heat from the fire did offer a
comfort, and Rosalind was glad to be standing before it with Lady Penelope and
not across the room with the other ladies discussing the latest news of those
in Society.
 
Rosalind didn’t know anyone
they gossiped about and was often lost in the conversations.
 
Lady Penelope sat beside Lady Meadows and
Mrs. Chambers smiling sweetly and making comments when necessary.
 
Rosalind could only hear a few of the words,
but apparently they were discussing a grand wedding at St. Paul’s.
 

“I need to get to know her better,” Lady
Penelope whispered a moment later. “I know nothing about her other than her
connections. If my brother is going to court her, I need to know more.”

 
“Do you think he will offer for her?” Rosalind
asked not sure if she wanted the answer.

“I am not certain, but I can’t allow him
to marry someone I don’t approve.”

Rosalind chuckled. “Isn’t it usually the
other way? Gentleman approve future husbands not sisters approving future
wives?”

Lady Penelope frowned. “True. And as much
as I want Noah settled, it still needs to be with the right lady.
 
It must be someone who loves him and will get
on well with his family.”

The tea cart was rolled into the room,
and Lady Meadows began directing the servants in pouring tea for the guests. A
maid delivered a cup to both Lady Penelope and Rosalind.
 
Instead of holding it by the handle, Lady
Penelope clasped it in both hands.
 
“Why
can’t I get warm?”

Her cheeks were slightly flushed which
gave Rosalind some concern.
 
“Are you
feeling unwell?”

“I am in perfect health.” Lady Penelope
grinned.

Rosalind accepted Lady Penelope’s answer
and glanced back across the room, looking at the ladies over the rim of her cup
as she sipped.
 
Would Lady Jillian love
Felding the way he deserved?
 
Would Lady Jillian
one day hold Felding’s heart?

She dearly hoped Lady Jillian returned
Felding’s affection because he was such a good man, kind and generous, and
deserved to be loved deeply.

The gentlemen sauntered into the room a
few moments later. Felding barely glanced in the direction of where Lady
Penelope and Rosalind stood and walked directly to the area where Lady Jillian
was sitting.
 

Lady Meadows stood. “Shall we all
adjourn to the music room?”

There were murmurs amongst the guests in
agreement, and they followed Lady Meadows into the hall.
 
Felding offered his hand to Lady Jillian and
assisted as she stood and then offered his arm.
 
Lady Jillian thanked him with a breathtaking smile and allowed him to
lead her from the room.

“I suppose we should follow,” Lady
Penelope grumbled as the last of the guests exited. “I do loathe to leave the
fire.”

Rosalind was perfectly content to remain
where she was away from the others. No doubt Lady Jillian had the voice of an
angel and played beautifully.

“If you wish to remain here, I will stay
with you.” Rosalind hoped Lady Penelope did decide to remain behind.

“We shouldn’t,” she sighed.
 
“We should probably follow them.”

“Would you like me to retrieve a shawl
for you?”

Lady Penelope gave her the oddest look.
“Rosalind, you are not my servant. If I wish for a shawl, I will retrieve it
myself or ask a maid to do so.”

“I don’t wish for you to be
uncomfortable.”

“I wish for you to behave as the guest
you are,” Lady Penelope chastised with a smile and linked her arm with
Rosalind’s and led her to the music room.

The guests were gathered around going
through the different music selections when they entered. Lady Penelope pulled
Rosalind across the room to stand before the fire again.
 

“You don’t wish to participate?”
Rosalind questioned her.

“No. I don’t sing well nor can I play an
instrument with any proficiency.”

Rosalind frowned.
 
She would have argued with the woman’s
talent, but in truth, she had never heard Lady Penelope sing or play.
 

“You should join in, however,” Lady
Penelope said after a moment.

“No, I couldn’t,” Rosalind
insisted.
 

Lady Penelope turned toward her. “Why
not? You play beautifully.”

Rosalind was shaking her head to
disagree.

“Tell that to someone who has not heard
you play in church.”

“Those were hymns and well-practiced.”

Lady Penelope snorted. “I’ve also heard
you in your home, and my own, and you’ve always played anything put in front of
you without a mistake.”

Heat crept into Rosalind’s cheeks.
 
“That was different.
 
I was only playing for my family and yours.”

Lady Penelope gestured to the gathering.
“They are no different.”

There was a vast difference between the
two, but Rosalind didn’t wish to argue. “I would rather not.”

Lady Penelope sighed. “Very well.”

* * *

Noah had no intention of participating
in the musical presentation but was anxious to learn if Lady Jillian sang,
played an instrument, or both.
 
He
usually avoided musicals during the Season because most of the time the
debutant being presented had little talent though mothers seemed to think their
daughters were the best vocalist to grace London in a decade.
 
He only had to attend those he was required
to because he was squiring a sister about Town.

Tonight was different, however. He
wanted to know if musical entertainment was something he and Lady Jillian might
enjoy in the future.

Once music was chosen, some of the
guests took seats while others stood in small groupings. Lady Jillian returned
to his side her song choice in hand.