An Heiress for All Seasons (The Debutante Files #1.5)(6)

The earl rounded the table and pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek. His steely blue eyes found hers over his mother’s head. “I decided I have been remiss in not properly socializing with our guests.”

“That’s very good of you to recognize that, my dear,” she sniffed.

Ha! Remiss, indeed! He merely wanted to witness her embarrassment after yesterday.

Lady Peregrine turned her attention to her son’s companion. “Maximus, so good of you to join us for the holiday, too.”

He bowed over her hand. “I would not have missed it, my lady.”

Lady Peregrine motioned to the two gentlemen, her gaze flitting from Violet to her mother. “Ladies, may I present my son, Lord Merlton. I told you he was not a ghost. Indeed he does exist. See for yourself. And this is Viscount Camden, our dear friend.”

Mama babbled some greeting that ran on far too long. Violet could look nowhere other than his face. Those eyes which fixed so steadily on her. As though they were the only two people in the room.

She wrenched her gaze away and focused on the plate of food a servant had placed before her, hardly able to focus on the kippers and eggs.

A shadow fell over her and she forced her gaze back up, startled to find him so very near.

What was he doing staring at her thusly?

“Miss Howard.” He reached for her hand where it rested limply beside her plate. “A pleasure to meet you.”

Blood rushed to her face as he brought her hand to his mouth for a brief kiss.

She snatched her hand back the moment he released it and tucked it under the table on her lap. Such gallantry. Did he toy with her? Lord Camden made no such move toward her. He merely watched, grinning in the same manner as everyone else. Well, except for the duke. He looked rather stunned, his lips pressed into a firm line. Like he did not know what possessed his cousin to lavish such attention on her.

Merlton seated himself across the table from her. She looked anywhere and everywhere but at him for the remainder of breakfast, listening mutely as Lady Peregrine discussed the Christmas festivities she had planned.

She imagined she felt the weight of his stare on more than one occasion, but dared not confirm her suspicion. Actually, it took a great deal of concentration to not look his way.

So much concentration, in fact, that she missed the thread of conversation entirely. She did not snap her attention from her plate until she heard her name repeated.

“Violet shall love to, won’t you, Violet? Violet?”

She blinked, zeroing in on Mama’s earnest face, nodding even though she was clueless as to what she was agreeing to.

“Splendid,” Lady Peregrine clapped her hands. “Then we shall all meet back here before luncheon. May the best couple win.”

Win? Couple?

Violet looked around then as everyone pushed back from the table with decided enthusiasm. Aurelia arched an eyebrow at her in bemusement. She leaned sideways to whisper, “You were woolgathering, weren’t you? You haven’t a clue what you just agreed to.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Violet nodded. “Yes,” she whispered back. “What’s happening?”

“You just agreed to partner with my brother on a quest for holly to decorate the house. Whoever gathers the most holly wins.”

Blood roared to her ears. A quest for holly that would put her in proximity with the earl again? Alone? “Oh, no, no, I cannot . . .”

Everyone was already pushing back from the table and departing the room.

“Don’t look so miserable. I’m stuck partnering with Camden, the scoundrel. I’ll likely do all the work myself while he sneaks off to tumble a maid.” At Violet’s gasp, Aurelia blinked mildly. “Oh, did I say that out loud?” She shrugged. “Just count yourself fortunate you’re paired with my brother. He knows every inch of this estate. He’ll lead you to all the best holly and you’ll be back here sipping chocolate while I’m still out there all by myself, finding nary a sprig.”

“Are you coming, Aurelia?” Lord Camden hovered near the threshold, his boot tapping the floor impatiently, looking about as excited at the prospect of a morning in Aurelia’s company as she was to be spending time with him.

Violet looked rather desperately at her mother as she departed the room arm in arm with Lady Peregrine, her face beaming, clearly thrilled that Violet had won a morning in the earl’s company.

The room cleared out and they were alone. Again.

Not really alone. Everyone was within earshot. Just beyond the dining room doors. Their voices and laughter floated on the air.

“Shall we?” he offered her his arm. She fought the impulse to rush from the room. It was one morning. It meant nothing. If anything, a morning spent in her company would make it clear to him just how disinclined she was to the notion of marriage. She would make him understand that this was all her mother’s idea—that she was not here with ambitions of becoming the Earl of Merlton’s bride.

With a stiff nod, she placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to lead her from the room.





CHAPTER THREE



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He pulled the sled over the snow-packed ground, looking over his shoulder to where Miss Howard—Violet—walked several strides behind. At first he thought he was walking too quickly, but he had slowed his pace enough for her to catch up with him. No. Every time he slowed down, so did she. She quite clearly did not want to walk beside him.