It Happened Under the Mistletoe: A Holiday Novella (7 page)

Her head snapped up. “Whatever could you mean?”

He blew a breath from his lips and it rippled the dark hair along his forehead. “Did you know that I only just acquired my title last year?”

She nodded readily. “Yes, Mama mentioned it, but I just assumed that your father—”

“My father was the second son of a duke who had an older brother and a strong healthy nephew.”

Cerian looked hopelessly confused. “I don’t understand.”

“The fact is that Kate was married to my cousin, the former duke.”

Still clutching the orchid, Cerian’s palms flew to her cheeks. “Kate’s husband was your cousin?”

Oliver nodded. “Yes. George. He was murdered, I’m afraid. It was quite a scandal, actually. I’m surprised your mother didn’t tell you.”

Her fingers were still pressed against her cheeks and the shocked look remained in her pretty eyes. “I feel like a complete idiot. Of course I should have known it. But I don’t pay much attention to titles and all of that. I knew Kate’s husband was a duke but I didn’t put together the family connection until now.”

“Did you know George was murdered by his valet and our dear Kate was blamed for a time?”

Cerian’s hands fell away from her face. She stared glumly at the mulched floor of the conservatory. “Yes. An awful business. I so wanted to come visit Kate when she was imprisoned in the Tower but Mama forbade it. I know how horrible Kate’s husband was to her. She was…” Cerian audibly gulped. “A duchess.”

Oliver laughed softly. “You say that word as if it’s an anathema.”

“Oh, it is, to me. I cannot imagine the responsibility such a title must bring. Or the scrutiny.”

“Believe me, I didn’t know it either. And I’m under added scrutiny actually.”

She twirled the orchid between her fingers. “More scrutiny than being a duke?”

Oliver braced his hands against his knees. “Yes, because I’m a duke who is living down a scandal associated with my family name. Everything I do is watched. I cannot go anywhere, do anything, have a moment’s peace. There are bets at the gentlemen’s clubs in London about who I’m expected to marry.”

“It must be awful,” Cerian added, shaking her head again. “More awful than I could even imagine.”

“It is. And I must make a decision quickly,” he said. “The sooner the better. The less scrutiny I’ll be under and the less conjecture. But it’s been nice, this week. You’ve helped me take the pressure off with our game. Thank you for that.”

Still seated, Cerian made a mock bow at the waist. “My pleasure, your grace. And … and I’m quite sorry that your cousin died.”

“Thank you. Though the truth is, while I certainly didn’t wish death on him, George and I weren’t exactly close, and you’re right, he was absolutely abominable to Kate.”

Cerian weaved her fingers together in her lap and looked at them. “So, you’re not a duke? That is to say … you were not raised to be a duke?”

“Not any more than you were.” He cracked a smile. “I had a comfortable life and a modest town house in London and now I’m not only heir to one of the oldest and most prestigious titles in England, I’m expected to marry posthaste and produce the next heir.”

“Did you … did you not intend to marry? Before you inherited the dukedom, that is?

He let out his breath. “I suppose I did. I’ve always been fond of children.” He glanced at her and Cerian blushed. “But I intended to marry a nice young lady who wanted me for me, not a power hungry young woman with visions of a duchy in her eyes.”

Cerian wrinkled her nose. “Like Lady Selina?”

“Exactly like Lady Selina.” He nodded.

Cerian sighed. “I know just what you mean. I’ve always wanted to marry too but all anyone sees is my dowry. And all Mama cares about is a title.”

“You don’t sound as if you relish Society one bit.”

“Oh, I don’t. It makes me so nervous. The minute I get around anyone with a title I feel completely awkward and awful and out of my element.”

He grinned. “I must say you seem to be doing fine here with me.”

She blushed. “That’s … you’re different.”

“How so?” He watched her intently.

“I don’t know.” She seemed to contemplate the matter for a moment. “I certainly hope you don’t take this as an insult, your grace, but you don’t seem a bit as if you have a title. Not to me, at least.”

He laughed so loudly he had to clap his hand over his mouth and hope no one undesirable heard him and came running. “Miss Blake, I actually take that as one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received. And please, call me Oliver.”

“Now you’re making fun of me,” she said with a small smile. “And you may call me Cerian.”

“Not at all. I’m entirely serious. Society has always been a part of my life but the title, well, the title is quite new.”

“You must think I’m the biggest ninny you ever met, but Society frightens me horribly. It’s just so rigid and unforgiving, and Mama puts so much stake in it. If I’m not accepted, she’ll be devastated and I will be too. I hate myself for feeling that way, especially with people like Lady Selina skulking about, but I do.”

Oliver placed a hand over hers and squeezed. “You’re just being honest. And believe me you wouldn’t be the first person to feel that way. It’s not an easy group to join. And you should feel doubly sorry for me; I’m the one who will be forced to marry someone like Lady Selina. Imagine my horror.”

Cerian was able to crack a smile at that and Oliver felt as if he’d won a great victory. Making her smile and laugh the same way she made him do so was important to him for some reason.

“I just wish it weren’t so imperative to Mama for me to marry someone with a title.”

“Ah, Miss Blake, it’s imperative to all mamas, I’m afraid. Mine included.”

Her smile turned wistful. “I just cannot imagine myself marrying someone like Sir Gilliam. I’d rather return to Wales and marry a farmer, or a tradesman, someone who actually loves me.”

Oliver moved his hand over hers and squeezed it. She turned her head slightly, looked up at him with those wide green eyes.

His head moved toward hers, an inch, two. He didn’t know why. His mouth met hers slowly, tentatively. Her chin tilted up to make room. The kiss was soft, exploratory. She sighed a little and his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. At first, he wondered if she’d push him away but she didn’t. Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Then his lips moved with more urgency. She tasted like apple-spiced cider and the soft sounds she made in the back of her throat made Oliver shudder. His lips moved to her cheek, her neck, her ear. Her eyes closed and her head was thrown back. Her body bucked when his tongue touched the sensitive spot in her ear. And then his lips were back on hers, his tongue moved inside this time. She grabbed the lapels of his coat, holding onto him, braced against him. He kissed her again and again and again.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Cerian pulled away sharply and wiped a shaky hand across her lips. Oliver concentrated on restoring his breathing to rights and willing his overheated body back to normalcy.

“What was … that?” she asked, slowly pulling her fingertips away from her mouth.

“It was…” He couldn’t answer it either.

It was a rhetorical question and they both knew it, but Oliver couldn’t help but ask himself the same thing. What was that? This time there was no mistletoe, no excuse, no pretending in front of other people. They were alone, just the two of them now, and that had been the kind of kiss that made his cock throb. He blew out deeply through his nose and shook order back into his mind.

“It was nothing,” Cerian said, answering the question for both of them. “It’s Christmastide. It’s romantic. That’s all. Yes. Yes.”

“Christmastide?” Did his voice sound less sure than hers?

“Yes. That’s all. We mustn’t let our little game confuse us.”

“Our little game?” Christ. Now he definitely didn’t sound sure of himself.

“Yes. You know, pretending to be courting?” She cleared her throat and glanced away. “For the sake of the others.”

Oliver blinked. He sure as hell hadn’t just kissed her for the sake of the others or because he was playing a game. He’d kissed her because he wanted to, damn it. Wanted to badly. But Cerian seemed intent on relegating whatever had just happened between them to a mistake and Oliver wasn’t about to declare himself to a woman who thought kissing him was a blunder.

“Quite right,” he responded, steeling his resolve. “I forgot myself, forgive me.”

Cerian nodded. “I … we … It’s quite all right. We should simply be more careful henceforth.”

He glanced at her. She smoothed a hand over her hair and straightened her shoulders. She looked as prim and proper as someone’s fussy maiden aunt, nothing like the woman who’d just responded passionately in his arms. And she’d just used the word ‘henceforth’; no good could come of that. But it was another word she’d used that worried him.

“Careful?” he asked. What the hell was she talking about?

“You know? We should, well, perhaps we should stay away from each other.”

Oliver fought his groan. Cerian suggested they stay away from each other just when he relished her company the most.

*   *   *

“Dear, come for a walk with me in the conservatory.”

Cerian gulped. She couldn’t very well say no to Kate, but the conservatory was the last place she wanted to go. She’d spent the last hour trying to banish the memory of the kiss she’d shared with Oliver there earlier.

She smiled weakly at Kate. “Why don’t we walk down the corridor, instead?”

Kate gave her a broad smile. “Whatever you’d prefer.”

Cerian entwined her arm through Kate’s and the two women began a leisurely stroll.

Cerian took a deep breath. “Kate … I…”

Kate glanced at her. “Yes, dear?”

“I wanted to thank you for inviting me here.”

Kate squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy you came.”

“And for … sponsoring me and introducing me to every one.”

Kate patted her hand. “You’re quite welcome, dear. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself.”

“Oh, I have, very much and I just…” She squeezed her hand into a fist and bit her knuckle.

Kate’s brow furrowed. “Go on. What is it, Cerian?”

“I just … Oh, Kate, I’m so sorry … about your husband.” She clapped a hand over her mouth, suddenly afraid she’d said the awful word too loudly as it echoed off the marble surfaces in the corridor.

Kate stopped and turned to face her, smoothing her hands over Cerian’s shoulders. “Oh, Cerian, dear, you’ve no reason to be sorry. That was all a long time ago.”

“It must have been a nightmare for you. And Mama wouldn’t let me come, and oh, Kate, you must have felt as if your family had abandoned you. I’m so sorry.”

Kate nodded. “Your mother would hardly be doing her duty as an apt chaperone if she’d allowed you to visit an accused murderess in prison. I should have written you myself, but I was just so embarrassed and ashamed.”

“I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been,” Cerian sobbed.

Kate tipped up Cerian’s chin and looked her in the eye. “I admit there were nights I went to bed praying that I wouldn’t wake up.”

Cerian gasped. “No! Kate.”

Kate smiled wanly. “But then I met James and George’s valet confessed to the murder and well, the truth is that my life is much happier now than it ever was when I was married to George. I spent many months feeling guilty for thinking that way, but it’s true.”

Cerian squeezed her cousin’s hand again. “I’m just glad you’re so happy now. Truly I am. I just didn’t know about you and His Grace … Oliver.”

Kate’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? What about Oliver?”

“I didn’t know that he wasn’t raised to be a duke. It’s just surprised me, that’s all.”

They resumed their stroll down the corridor. “I noticed you called Oliver by his Christian name,” Kate said.

Cerian blushed profusely. “Oh, I—”

Kate shook her head. “No need to explain. Oliver tells me you two are pretending to be courting.”

Cerian sucked in her breath. “He told you that?”

“James guessed actually and Oliver admitted it.”

Cerian glanced away, examining the faces of the Medford ancestors in the portraits that lined the walls of the hallway. “It’s true.”

“And how do you feel … about Oliver, I mean?”

“Feel about him? I barely know him.”

Kate gave her a skeptical look. “I heard about that kiss in the library. By all accounts it didn’t seem as if you two were pretending.”

Cerian hung her head. “Oh, Kate. Mama’s fondest dream would come true if I married a gentleman with a title. But you know as well as I that I’m not cut out to be in Society. I didn’t grow up in this world. I’d always be a horrible outsider.”

Kate tucked a curl behind Cerian’s ear. “May I give you some advice, dear?”

“Of course you may.”

“First, stay away from Sir Gilliam. We invited him because he’s one of James’s business associates but I’ve heard rumors that he’s in terrible debt.”

Cerian nodded. “No trouble on that score. I wondered if he was only sniffing after me because of my dowry. It certainly isn’t because we have much to talk about. Aside from his cousin’s foot ailments.”

“Ick.” Kate shook her head. Then she continued, “As for Oliver, remember that I wasn’t raised to be in Society either. I didn’t fit in for many years. But now, I couldn’t imagine my life without James.”

Cerian nodded and Kate continued, “You don’t want to marry just to suit your mother and I understand that perfectly. But be sure not to discard someone you may care deeply for just to spite your mother either.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

By the time Lady Selina’s mother, Lady Kinsey, sidled up to Oliver in the breakfast room, he’d already mentally planned his escape. He’d been reading the paper, clearly indicating he didn’t relish company and he’d just swallowed the last bit of his poached egg when the lady slid into the seat across from him.

“Good morning, your grace,” she said in a gratingly pleasant voice.

How did that woman manage to make his honorific sound dirty? He fought the urge to grind his teeth and eyed her warily. Lady Kinsey had been good-looking in her day, no question. But now she wore a bit too much rouge and, if rumors were true, she was a bit too free with her favors with men who were not her husband. “Good morning, Lady Kinsey. I was just about to—”