Page 12 of A Lady's Christmas
For the next four days, Gwen avoids Theo and keeps Lady Chervil close. Whatever his game is, she has a job to do and he’s not going to distract her. The ball is only two days away and after that, she’ll return to London and he’ll do whatever it is he wishes and they’ll never see each other again. Why does that thought create a lump in her chest?
She’s meant to go to the study to finalize the guest list, but clutching the list in her hand, she bolts into the garden and watches the snow fall lightly and cover the grass.
Ignoring the cold, she dashes a tear away. Why did he change and why now? She knew how to deal with surly and rude. But a kind and gentlemanly Theo is dangerous.
The warm soft fur of her cloak closes over her shoulders. Theo’s hands remain at her neck. “You’ll catch a cold.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you avoiding me?”
Lying isn’t in her nature. “Yes.”
His breath tickles her temple as he wraps his strong arms around her from behind. “Because of the kiss?”
“You are not acting normally and it’s confusing. I’ll be leaving in a few days. Then you can find a proper duchess, and I’ll make my life as an Everton Lady. We shouldn’t repeat the kiss and you shouldn’t be holding me like this.” The words sound like a scolding, but her voice is soft and tears are very close to the surface. She makes no move to get away from him.
His lips press against her temple. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for many years, Gwendolyn. I’m sorry if my acting on a long-held desire has upset you.”
Her mind reels with the idea that he’d ever thought of kissing her while he behaved so atrociously. “I don’t believe you. How can you have wanted to kiss me when you were constantly criticizing me for one thing or another.” She pulls away from his embrace and immediately misses the warmth and comfort of his body.
“I have many flaws and should explain myself better. I don’t think I knew exactly how I felt until you left, promising never to return.” He looks from her to the snowy garden. “May I change the subject?”
“Please.” Sorrow and relief flood her. She wants to know what explanation he could possibly have, but at the same time, is terrified of her own growing attraction to him.
“I went out this morning with several of the men from the town. We found the pack of wild dogs. They have been captured. The baker identified one as Mr. Ferrier’s hound and said the man had passed a couple of years ago. There were four other dogs with him and a litter of seven pups.”
Heart in her throat, Gwen’s emotions over Theo are so close to the surface that she’ll surely burst into tears when he tells her the dogs have been disposed of. She forces her hand away from her throat and makes a fist. “You killed them all.” A tear escapes.
He cocks his head, his gaze never wavering from hers. “No. We brought them to Mr. Pickering’s farm. The townsmen will try to turn them back into hunting dogs if that’s possible. At the very least they’ll find a home for the pups once they’re weened. I’ve talked to Mrs. Hampton about sending scraps over to feed them. That should help keep them away from the livestock.”
Gwen is full of shame for thinking the worst of him. “I’m sorry.”
Shrugging, he says, “No need.” His eyes show that she’d hurt him.
Mrs. Hampton calls from the back door. “Miss Carter is needed in the kitchen. Cook is beside himself over a large chicken or some such nonsense.”
Maybe she should let cook rant for a while and hear everything Theo has to say. Her lack of faith in his honesty, along with outright fear, have her running as far away from him as she can. Like a coward, she runs inside and to the kitchen.
* * *
Once Gwen sorts out the party food issues, she sneaks up to her room and flops on the bed.
“What happened?” Honoria asks.
She pops up with her hand clutching her chest. “You scared the life out of me.”
Honoria raises her eyebrows and stares from the chair near the fireplace. “Quite jumpy, Gwen.”
“I’ve just been dealing with the cook and came up for a rest.” It was the truth, at least, most of it.
Honoria rises and flounces around the room, holding her white gloves in one hand and running her other hand over them. “I’ve noticed that you have been avoiding the duke for the last few days. I also noticed that he has been observing you with more interest and a bit of alookin his eyes.”
“I always avoid him.” Gwen crosses her arms over her chest. “What kind of look?”
Wagging her finger, Honoria shakes her head. “Not so fast. Tell me what happened between the two of you.”
For the first time, Gwen thinks her inability to lie is a flaw. “The solicitor who came for the position was rude to me, and I expected Theo to take the man’s part.”
