It Happened Under the Mistletoe: A Holiday Novella (12 page)

“Be strong,” Lucy whispered, squeezing Cass’s shoulder lightly. “We’ll be right here.” She and Jane moved quietly back against the wall.

Cass took two brave, if shaky, steps forward to meet the duke upon his arrival. Lucy and Jane watched as the two spoke for a few moments and the next thing Lucy knew, the duke was leading Cass onto the dance floor.
Oh, Cass, no
. Lucy threw up her hands. She really did have a problem saying no to anyone or standing up for herself.

Lucy watched the two spin around the dance floor. Cass with her pretty white-blond hair and the duke with his striking dark features.

“Poor Cass,” Jane whispered. “If she wasn’t so in love with Julian, she and the duke might make a beautiful couple.”

“She’d be miserable with Claringdon,” Lucy said with a sigh. “Besides, I for one say she may well have a chance with Julian when and if he ever returns from the Continent.”

Jane arched a brow, giving her a highly skeptical look.

“One can always dream, can’t one?” Lucy replied, twisting her mouth into a half-smile.

Moments later, when Cass returned alone from the dance, Lucy and Jane snatched her into the corner.

“What did he say?” Lucy asked, her own voice taking on a high note this time.

Cass’s face was bright pink. She shook her head. “He paid me lovely compliments and said he should like very much to call on me tomorrow. Oh, what am I going to do? I want to discourage him, but the words just will not come out of my mouth. I simper like a fool when he speaks to me.”

Jane had pulled a pamphlet out of her reticule and was busily reading it, obviously no longer that interested in her friends’ antics. She pushed up her spectacles on her nose and nodded absently toward Lucy and Cass. “It’s too bad you two cannot switch personalities for the evening. I’ve every confidence that Lucy could set the duke back upon his heels in mere seconds.”

Lucy clapped her hands and Jane’s head snapped up from the pamphlet.

“That’s it!” Lucy cried.

“What’s it?” Cass asked, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip.

Lucy rubbed her gloved hands together with glee. “Jane’s perfectly right. Each of us is good at something different, correct?”

Jane eyed Lucy curiously. “I’m not entirely sure I’m following you.”

Lucy grabbed her friends’ hands and they formed a circle. “I’m adept at speaking my mind and being quite blunt. It’s the reason I’m still on the shelf after five seasons, I know. Mama’s told me often enough.”

“Yes, you’re very good at speaking your mind,” Cass agreed with a nod.

“And
you
are good at attracting gentlemen and looking stunning and befriending everyone you meet, Cass.”

Cass smiled at that. “I suppose I am.”

“And Jane is good at—”

“Oh, this I simply cannot
wait
to hear,” Jane replied with something of a smirk on her face.

“Stop it,” Lucy replied. “You’re good at being exceedingly clever and knowing things none of the rest of us know. Why, if you were allowed to be in Parliament, you would have negotiated the peace years ago and would have the taxes set to rights while you were at it.”

“Please tell that to my parents,” Jane said with a laugh. “They don’t quite see the merit in all my reading and writing.”

“I still don’t understand, Lucy,” Cass replied, her blue eyes cloudy with confusion.

“Don’t you see?” Lucy said. “We all must help each other. Help each other to get what we want. We’ll each do the thing the other cannot do and assist one another.”

“What do you mean?” Jane asked, looking more interested by the moment.

Lucy smiled brightly. “Well, I want to marry well. I don’t need love or any of that nonsense, but I’m expected to make a decent match and—” She drew in a breath. “To date, I’ve been a spectacular failure. I frighten gentlemen away. Cass can help me be more … attractive to men.”

“Go on,” Cass prompted, blinking rapidly.

“And Janie, you want to remain entirely unattached, do you not?”

“Absolutely!” Jane replied. “Entirely.”

“Repelling gentlemen is my specialty, I can help you immensely.” Lucy laughed.

Jane smiled at that. “And Cass?”

Lucy pulled them both closer. “I already have a plan. Cass wants to have her chance with Julian, correct? True love and all that. I’ll be your voice, Cass. I’ll tell you exactly what words to use to dissuade the duke from pursuing you.”

“You will?” Cass’s eyes were round.

“Yes,” Lucy replied. “I shall help you with the duke. Now, you must send him a note. Ask him to meet you tonight outside beside the hedgerow in the gardens. I’ll hide behind the bushes and whisper what you need to say and you’ll repeat it.”

A wide grin spread across Jane’s face. “You know, that plan is just mad enough that it might work.”

Cass shook her head. “No. No. It won’t work at all. He’s sure to hear you, Lucy.”

“We’ll just make sure he’s several paces away,” Lucy replied. “You’ll tell him not to come any closer. For propriety’s sake, of course. It’s perfect.”

Cass’s wide blue eyes turned to Jane. “Janie, what do you think?”

Her forgotten pamphlet shoved back into her reticule, Jane crossed her arms over her chest. “I think I’m going to be out in the garden hiding behind the hedge with Lucy so I don’t miss a moment of this.”

Cass wrinkled her nose. “But what if it
doesn’t
work?”

Jane patted her friend’s shoulder. “I’d say at this point, you’ve got nothing to lose. And if anyone can manage this feat, it’s our Lady Lucy here.”

Cass gulped. She eyed both her friends warily and took a moment to speak. “Very well. I’ll try it.”

Lucy smiled an enormous smile. “Excellent. Leave everything to me. I’ll set the arrogant duke back on his heels. Don’t you worry.”

Also by
VALERIE BOWMAN

SECRETS OF A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE

SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT

SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE

Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

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About the Author

Valerie Bowman
grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s the youngest) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her two rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.

Valerie loves to hear from readers. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at
www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

“It Happened Under the Mistletoe” copyright © 2013 by Valerie Bowman.

Excerpt from
The Unexpected Duchess
copyright © 2014 by Valerie Bowman.

All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover illustration © Steve Gardner

Author photo © Mary A Behre

eISBN 9781466847132

First eBook Edition: October 2013