Page 18 of A Rogue for Christmas
It seemed that this Christmas he’d be giving his mother her deepest desire. News that he would soon be marrying. Because itwasgoing to happen soon.
He just had to convince Iris she wouldn’t be making a big mistake in accepting his suit.
CHAPTER10
After their all-too-brief kisses in the library that morning, the world seemed bright and new. Exciting.
Iris managed to speak to her sister, and that discussion had gone better than she’d thought. She’d expected Lily to warn her to stay away from a man like Wentworth. Instead, she’d urged Iris to continue with caution—and to trust her own instincts.
Lily’s husband was proof that a rake could reform his ways and become a devoted husband, but Iris didn’t expect lightning to strike twice. Wentworth wasn’t going to fall in love with her, let alone want to marry her.
Still, she wanted to be with him. It wouldn’t take much for her to fall in love with him, and she expected they would only have these next few days together. Despite the logical part of her mind telling her that it would be safer to guard her heart, her intuition was telling her to enjoy whatever he was willing to share with her. She could deal with a bruised heart later.
Her decision made, she wanted nothing more than to speak to him again. Like yesterday, the women and men were kept apart for much of the day. She could tell that Celia and Lily were feeling much the same way as her and wanted nothing more than to suggest they sneak into the billiard room to see what the men were up to.
It wasn’t as though they didn’t know how to play, after all.
Finally, it was time to dress for dinner. But today Wentworth wasn’t waiting for her outside her bedchamber. Despite what he’d said in the library, she was beginning to worry about whether he’d changed his mind.
And then she saw him waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. She didn’t try to hold back her smile. The time for pretense was behind her.
Wentworth bowed over her hand and led her to the drawing room, which was already filled with guests. There was no privacy, but Iris didn’t mind. Because Wentworth was being attentive. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought that he was courting her.
It was impossible to miss the glances that were cast their way throughout dinner. She could all but read their thoughts as everyone tried to decipher what was happening between her and Wentworth. He was attentive but frustratingly circumspect.
Like yesterday evening, they were able to snatch a few minutes together.
“I hope it snows tomorrow,” Wentworth said when they were finally alone.
Or as alone as one could be in a room filled with people.
“Are you hoping we’ll be snowed in, my lord? I didn’t think you such a fan of house parties.”
The low timbre of his voice raced along her nerve endings when he leaned a little closer. “I am when you’re in attendance.”
She searched his face, telling herself that she would be a fool to search for any sign of emotional attachment from this man.
Women were gathering again by the pianoforte, and Iris’s heart was beginning to race. She’d be pulled into the group soon.
She took a deep breath and pitched her voice so that it was just above a whisper. “Come to my room later.”
She’d surprised him. But there was no time to hear his reply because Violet stopped in front of them.
“The two of you can chat later. Come and join us, Iris.” She started to turn but spun back, as though realizing that she’d just been rude. “Of course you’re also welcome to join us, my lord. We could use more men.”
Iris met his gaze. “Will you be joining us?”
He winced. “My singing voice hasn’t improved since the last time you asked. As for the other, nothing could keep me away.”
Iris floated through the rest of the night. After carols, several guests divided into groups to play whist, while a few of the other guests took turns on the pianoforte. Iris partnered with Wentworth against Lily and Seaford for a rubber of whist. She and Wentworth won only one of the three games, but they came close on the other two.
Finally, at long last, people started bidding each other good night. Nervousness warred with excitement within her as Wentworth did the same. He didn’t touch her, and nothing in his expression was untoward, but surely that in itself was a sign that he hadn’t changed his mind. He was being careful so no one would suspect the fact that he’d be visiting her bedchamber tonight.
One hour later, she was beginning to worry. She’d hurried her maid along, pretending that she was tired and looking forward to turning in. Then after the young woman had left, she’d begun to pace.
Then she’d sat down to read but found she couldn’t concentrate on the words.
Had Wentworth changed his mind? Or perhaps he’d been waylaid by another. What if Lily had told Seaford what might happen tonight? Her brother-in-law might have issued a warning for Wentworth to stay away.
