His Mistress By Christmas (2 page)

“Those least likely to bend . . .”

“Are most likely to snap. Yes, yes, you’ve said it before, but it’s utter nonsense.” Portia scoffed. “I have no intention of bending or snapping.”

“Of course not,” Veronica said. “You’re quite content with your uneventful life.”

Portia nodded. “Indeed I am.”

Veronica knew better. It struck her on occasion as both odd and remarkable that she and Portia, along with Julia, Lady Winterset, knew one another as well as they did given they hadn’t known each other at all until a few years ago. It was chance that they had happened to meet at Fenwick and Sons, Booksellers, but no doubt fate that they had become fast friends. They had each lost their husbands some three years ago to accident or illness or mishap and had met at a time when each needed a friend who was not tied to her loss. While not one given to overt displays of piety, Veronica often thanked God she had found these friends, in truth, these
sisters
she’d never had nor ever missed. Now she could not envision her life without them.

“Aside from Sebastian, we are quite a proper, well-behaved family,” Portia said firmly, although Veronica did wonder how a proper, well-behaved family could produce a man who wandered the far reaches of the earth. Or perhaps it was only a proper, well-behaved family that could.

“He certainly doesn’t look the least bit well behaved.” In truth, with his rugged good looks, Sir Sebastian looked like a hero from a novel. “He looks like a man who plunges headfirst into adventure.”

“It’s the scar.” Portia studied her cousin. “It makes him look like, well, exactly what he is.”

“No doubt a souvenir from one of his expeditions.”

“I suspect he likes people to think that.” Portia chuckled. “The truth is he fell out of a tree when he was a boy.” The closer they got to Sir Sebastian, the slower the crowd moved. They were scarcely walking at all now. Portia tapped her foot in impatience.

“I gather it’s been some time since you’ve seen him.”

“He’s been back in England for several months, according to the rest of the family. But he’s yet to make an appearance at any one of the gatherings they have subjected me to of late. Although with Christmas less than a month away, those gatherings will become even more frequent and Sebastian is certain to attend.” Portia craned her neck to see around the crowd. “I understand he’s purchased a house in the country.”

“Oh?” A casual note sounded in Veronica’s voice. “Do you think he intends to stay in one place for a while, then?”

“I have no idea what he intends, but I will certainly ask him if we ever get close enough. Why are you asking questions about Sebastian?” Her eyes narrowed. “And you never answered me. What did you mean by he’s the one you want? The one you want for what?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

A break appeared in the crowd in front of them, and Veronica urged Portia forward.

Portia stood her ground. “Veronica Smithson, I don’t believe you have ever lied to me before.”

“Nonsense, Portia.” Veronica shrugged. “I have lied to you on any number of occasions.”

“And I have never known you to be undecided about anything.”

“Ah, well, there’s always a first time.”

“What are you planning?”

Veronica peered around her. “There’s a path opening behind you.”

“I don’t care!” Portia’s eyes widened. “If you are interested in pursuing Sebastian, I should warn you, he is not interested in marriage.”

“Nor am I, as I believe we have already established.” Veronica took her arm, turned her, and started steering her toward Sebastian.

“Then what do you want?” Portia pulled up short and refused to budge.

“You won’t like it.”

“No doubt.”

“It really isn’t any of your concern.”

“He is my cousin and you are my friend, so it most certainly is my concern.”

“You may rest easy, then. I have no desire to become your cousin’s wife.” Veronica focused her gaze on Sebastian and smiled. “I intend to be his mistress.”

Portia stared in disbelief. “You what?”

“You heard me.”

“I hoped I was mistaken. Or I’d gone deaf. That is the sort of thing that would strike any decent person deaf. There are warnings about things like that, you know.” Portia’s brows drew together. “You can’t possibly be serious.”

“I’ve never been more serious,” Veronica said, her gaze lingering on Sir Sebastian. He was a fine figure of a man.

“Well, I won’t have it! And I cannot believe you would suggest such a thing. I know you pay no heed to matters of this nature, but this is . . . ,” Portia sputtered. “It’s immoral. That’s what it is. Beyond that.” Portia squared her shoulders and met Veronica’s gaze directly. “It’s scandalous! And I will not permit it!” Several heads turned in their direction.

“Darling, you have nothing to say about it. However . . .” Veronica leaned closer. “It would be considerably less scandalous if you refrained from announcing it to the entire world.”

“I don’t care!” Regardless, Portia cared more than anyone Veronica knew about scandal, and she lowered her voice. “I know you always do precisely as you please, but this is entirely too much, even for you. It’s wrong, Veronica. And it’s . . .” Portia searched for the right word. “It’s selfish. That’s what it is. Selfish.”

Veronica raised an amused brow. “How on earth is it selfish?”

“You’re thinking only of yourself. Think of the scandal. How it will affect your friends and your family. Your father and your grandmother and your aunt.” Portia cast a reproving look at Lotte, still making her way toward Sebastian. “Perhaps not your aunt but . . . Harrison.” Portia sucked in a sharp breath at the thought of the overly proper brother of Veronica’s late husband. “Harrison would be appalled.”

“Harrison is far less concerned about scandal than he once was. Besides, he’s now married to Julia and scandal is what brought them together. I daresay my dear brother-in-law now understands the benefits of a certain amount of scandal.”

“Well, I don’t!” Portia snapped.

“I shall make you a promise, Portia dear. I shall be wonderfully discreet in all matters pertaining to any”—she cleared her th roat—”
arrangement
I may come to with your cousin. Which was my intention all along. If you will do me one small, insignificant favor.”

“Humph.” Portia glared. “And what favor would that be?”

“Introduce me to him, of course.”

“That’s right.” Portia brightened. “You haven’t even met him. Why, there’s every possibility he won’t be the least bit interested in you.”

“I can’t imagine such a thing.” Veronica drew her brows together. “Nor, do I think, can you.”

“Admittedly, you’re not unattractive.” Portia cast an assessing eye over her friend. “Although not as pretty as Julia.”

“Yes, well, then I shall simply have to try harder,” Veronica said in a firm manner. She knew better than to let anything Portia said annoy her. Although she was never deliberately unkind, Portia did have an alarming tendency to speak without either hesitation or thought.

Portia had made no secret of the fact that, among the three friends, she thought Julia was the pretty one, Veronica was the clever one, and she herself was the most proper of the group. It was absurd. It would be most immodest to admit it aloud, but Veronica considered herself every bit as pretty as Julia, perhaps even more so.

While Julia was the epitome of blond English beauty, one could tell just by looking at Veronica that she was no ordinary creature. If she did not have men falling at her feet, it was not a result of her appearance but rather her nature. She had always been independent and outspoken and had never hidden the fact of her intelligence, qualities she had long ago accepted as not being especially appealing to men. And didn’t her mirror confirm that, with her dark red hair and tall stature, her deep brown eyes that flashed more often than not with amusement as well as intelligence, she was striking and very nearly unforgettable? Julia was the pretty one, indeed.

“Why are you frowning at me like that?” Suspicion sounded in Portia’s voice.

“Was I?” Veronica favored her friend with her sweetest smile. “My apologies. A random thought captured my attention for a moment. It was nothing of significance.”

“I have a random thought of my own.” Portia’s voice was cool. “I cannot condone anything as depraved as you attempting to seduce—”

Veronica laughed.

Portia ignored her. “—my cousin, even if Sebastian himself would no doubt be amenable to the idea. He has a certain reputation, you know.”

“One of many reasons why I have selected him.”

“However—”

“I don’t believe I mentioned seduction.”

Portia glared. “You wish to become his mistress. I assume there will be a certain element of seduction involved.”

“I hadn’t thought of it quite like that, but you’re right.” Veronica bit back a grin. “I daresay there are any number of other concerns I have not yet thought of.”

“Perhaps you have not given this proposal of yours due consideration.”

“I thought I had, but I may well be mistaken. If you have any other, oh, suggestions or recommendations, or notice any impediments that I have not thought of—aside from the question of scandal or propriety—I should be delighted to hear them. Do go on.”

Portia studied her for a moment. “As I was saying, while seduction does not have my approval—”

Veronica choked back another laugh.

“I could certainly approve of any and all attempts to embroil Sebastian in marriage.”

“Marriage?” Veronica’s brows rose, although she shouldn’t be at all surprised at Portia’s offer. “Dear, dear Portia, what a wonderfully charming and thoughtful offer, although I suspect your cousin wouldn’t agree.”

“Goodness no. Sebastian is not at all interested in marriage.” Portia cast a resigned glance at her cousin, who was still surrounded by admirers. Most of them female. “He is entirely too busy with his travels and his books and his lectures to be interested in marriage. But if anyone can lure him to the altar, I would wager it would be you.”

“That may well be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me. And don’t think your confidence in me is not appreciated, as is your offer of assistance, but”—she laid her hand on Portia’s arm—”do try not to be shocked. I want a man, darling, not a husband. I’ve had a husband, and while I have no regrets on that score, I have no desire to have another. I want adventure, not routine. I think I have already made that clear.”

“But—”

“However, I do want a man in my life for longer than the usual length of an
affaire de coeur.
I am not interested in a casual encounter.”

Portia winced.

“I would be an excellent mistress. I am unfailingly loyal, you know.”

Portia stared.

“I do plan to be faithful and would expect faithfulness in return.”

Portia’s mouth opened in stunned silence.

“I am an accomplished hostess, well spoken, and would certainly be a benefit to any man of ambition.” Veronica’s gaze strayed back to Sebastian.

Shock glazed Portia’s eyes.

“I am something of a catch, Portia. I can’t imagine any intelligent gentleman not realizing that. I should add that when it comes to more
intimate
concerns, well, I do not shock easily. Charles could be most . . . creative.”

Portia emitted a sort of strangled sound.

“And I don’t mind confessing that I find the idea of becoming a man’s mistress most, well . . .” Veronica adopted an innocent tone. “Seductive.”

Portia’s eyes widened. “What you want, Veronica Smithson, is all the trappings of marriage without the restrictions.”

Veronica considered her friend for a moment. “Why, yes, I suppose in many ways I do. What an excellent idea.”

“It’s not the least bit excellent. It’s deplorable. It’s depraved. It’s—”

“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.” Veronica beamed at her friend. “And so clever of you to think of it.”

“I didn’t think of it! I would never think of such a thing.”

“You deserve all the credit.”

“I don’t want it!” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re teasing me.”

Veronica grinned. “Only because it’s so much fun to do so.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Portia snapped, then drew a steadying breath. “Is there nothing I can do to dissuade you?”

“Goodness, Portia, you needn’t look so distraught. It’s not as if your cousin has placed an advertisement for a mistress and I am applying for the position.”

Portia scoffed. “That would be absurd.”

“I’m simply saying this is my intention. Why, nothing might happen between us at all. One never really knows. And we haven’t even met yet.”

“True.” Portia nodded. “And he might not like you.”

“I do wish you would stop saying that.” Veronica sighed. “More to the point,
I
might not like
him
.”

The likelihood of that was minimal. She had chosen Sir Sebastian carefully. Not only had Veronica read his books, but she’d had discreet inquiries made as to his financial stability and character. She might well sound flippant with Portia, but she was quite serious.

This was the man she wanted. This was the man she intended to have. If all went well.

“One more thing.”

Portia shook her head in a stubborn manner. “I have agreed to introduce you, but I refuse to lend any further assistance.”

“Oh, but you will.” She met the other woman’s gaze firmly. “I want your word that you won’t tell Sebastian, or anyone, for that matter, what we have discussed. Furthermore, should Sebastian and I, well . . .”

Portia raised a brow. “Yes?”

“Enter into any sort of an arrangement, I would prefer to keep it confidential.”

“A secret, you mean?”

Veronica shrugged. “It seems wise.”

“Why, Veronica Smithson, you are concerned with scandal, after all.”

“I would be selfish if I were not,” she said in a dry tone.

“I have never been good at secrets.”

“Then you shall have to work at it, dear.”

“However, as I would prefer no one know of this plan of yours, no matter how it develops, you have my word.” Portia thought for a moment. “And as you said, one never knows. Why, nothing might come of this at all.”