The Cynfell Brothers Collection

by Samantha Holt

  “Nonsense. Your uncle enjoys the opera, even if it is just a small local show.”

  She bit back a groan. The opera. She could tolerate it usually, but when it was some of the local amateurs, she’d rather have her eyes gouged out or her fingernails pulled off. It would be the group from Warwick who fancied themselves as good as any shining opera star. They certainly put a lot of gusto into their performance, she would give them that.

  Pinching the bridge of her nose, she focused on the slowly brightening spring day outside whilst her mother continued on about wedding nerves and how happy she was that Cleo would finally be married.

  At least someone was happy, she supposed.

  Chapter Three

  Why was it so hard? Being with his family should be the easiest thing in the world. Yet here he was, surrounded by his brothers and their wives along with some of the surrounding neighbours, and he had never felt more out of place.

  Perhaps because, although they might not be aware of it, Gideon was all too mindful of that fact he did not really belong with them. What would his brothers think if they knew the truth?

  The dining table stretched the length of the room. Decorated entirely in cream and gold, everything seemed to shimmer. He’d never much appreciated this room as a child, mostly because he had not been allowed to play in it, but with the table decorated with flowers and crystal and the large chandeliers polished to perfection, he had a new appreciation for it.

  A laugh from opposite drew his attention. He’d been seated next to Josephine and Evelyn, two of his brothers’ wives and they were excellent company. Josephine was an artist, and Evelyn was the wealthy older woman who had somehow forced his gambling brother onto the straight and narrow. Neither of them could be considered dull.

  Yet he could not help wish he was sitting next to Cleo. And between her and damned Harper. Though Cleo laughed, he recognised it for what it was—a fake one. The mirth did not reach her eyes or crease the corners of them. Her wide lips were pulled into a tight smile. The woman was bored, and that rankled him.

  A chink of glass and they all paused their discussion whilst his eldest brother Julian, The Marquess of Lockwood, stood.

  “Thank you all for joining us here today. You know it’s a rare occasion that so many of the county’s families are gathered in one place so I am grateful for your attendance. I’d like to toast my wife Viola and of course the birth of my son.”

  They raised a toast and Julian sat once more. He could not help but shake his head.

  “What amuses you?” asked Josephine.

  “Once upon a time my brother loathed guests.”

  “Oh yes, Dante said he was quite the ogre once. In fact, I do not remember him being quite so excellent at hosting in the first year of our marriage. But it just goes to show what the right woman will do for a man.”

  It was true. When Viola had burst into his brother’s life, she’d had quite the effect on him. Gideon had been too young and busy studying to be particularly interested in his brother’s love affairs at the time, but he’d come to appreciate how her American ways had impacted on the stiffness of his brother and life at Lockwood. Hell, even his mother had improved in character since their marriage.

  “Is there a right woman for you, Gideon?” Evelyn asked.

  And this was one of the reasons he loathed family gatherings. As the last unmarried Cynfell, he was becoming quite the interesting hobby for his sisters-in-law.

  “Perhaps I do not need a right woman. Perhaps I am just perfect as I am.”

  Josephine laughed. “Well, you will get no disagreement from any of us. We think all the Cynfell men are perfect. But what about being happy? Surely you do not plan to spend the rest of your life alone?”

  He shrugged. “I may well do.”

  Evelyn leaned in. “Darling, I once planned the same and let me tell you, it’s a bore.”

  “I quite enjoy my own company,” he said stiffly.

  “Oh, Gideon, don’t get huffy. We’re only teasing,” said Josephine, giving him a little nudge.

  He gave a reluctant smile. The truth was, he was terribly fond of all of his new sisters and some were closer to his age than his brothers, but they were a constant reminder of how little he fit in. It had been bad enough before but now he was the only unmarried one, it was getting a little ridiculous.

  He took a sip of wine. Still, after all this debacle was over, he would take a trip up north perhaps. Or down to Kent if no one was using the summer house. He might even attend a ball or two in London and find some nice female company. Just as long as he didn’t have to stay there for too long.

  His attention slipped to Cleo again. Pierce was on the other side of her, regaling her with some tale. Hopefully not of the one where he met Evelyn whilst he was entirely naked on the side of the road. Whatever it was, she found it amusing.

  He didn’t like that.

  Gideon didn’t seem to like anyone at present. Apart from Cleo. Since their meeting, he’d found himself thinking of her more often. Recalling the days they had spent together as children and remembering the times they met as adults. Because their families were close and they were the same age, they spent a fair bit of time with each other throughout their lives. Really, the last year had been the longest time they’d been apart.

  And the first time they’d been truly alone for a long time. He hungered for it again. It was an odd sensation really, but he could only conclude it was because she was his first friend and one of the few he still considered to be one. With Cleo, he had always been able to be himself, and he hoped she felt the same.

  Damned Harper would get in the way of that though. Once she married, he’d be lucky to see much of her.

  Jellies and ice cream were brought to the table, along with his favourite—Chester Pudding. He motioned to the footman to add extra and caught Cleo grinning at him.

  Greedy, she mouthed.

  He waited until the footman on her side brought around dessert and noted with satisfaction that she too had a large helping.

  Pig, he mouthed back.

  She stuck her tongue out at him and her cheeks blossomed red when Josephine gave a giggle.

  Gideon caught up with her after they’d finished desserts and were to move into separate rooms until later in the evening.

  “I take it you enjoyed your dessert?”

  “I did indeed. As did you, I saw.”

  “Your portion was bigger.”

  “And yet I am skinnier.”

  He chuckled. “That is true. You always were a beanpole.”

  Cleo arched a cinnamon eyebrow. “Jealous, Cynfell?”

  “Never.”

  Harper came to her side and eased her away before whispering something in her ear.

  Gideon clenched his teeth. Never.

  ***

  When the men returned to the drawing room, the simultaneous sensation of her stomach dropping and then leaping nearly made Cleo sick. Niall approached. He’d been attentive throughout dinner. Many women could say worse of their dinner companions and goodness knows, she’d been next to some very dry old men at her father’s table. But no matter how hard she tried to summon some interest in him, she failed.

  He was a good man, she assured herself. He would never hurt her or be cruel. What more could a woman ask for?

  The other reason for her insides bouncing around drew her attention.

  Gideon Cynfell.

  A smile tugged at her lips as he stopped to talk to Pierce and Jasper. He always had been a tease, and she liked it. It brought a welcome relief from the stilted conversation coming from Niall. Whilst Pierce had been charming and funny, she couldn’t relax with him as much as she could with Gideon. All the other Cynfell brothers had been too old for her and hadn’t really acknowledged her until she was much older.

  Why Gideon made her stomach bounce though, she did not know. Certainly he was dashing in his evening wear, and he had always been a handsome man. She’d been aware of that for a while. Indeed, i
t had been something that had been growing upon her recently, perhaps due to the approaching inevitability of her marriage. It had made her look at every man of her acquaintance in a new light. She found herself weighing them up. Would they make a good husband? What would it be like to spend her life with them? Were they more or less handsome than Niall?

  That was not a hard question to answer with Gideon. Harper was hardly the most attractive of men, but Gideon would defeat even the most handsome.

  His hair was lighter than the rest of his brothers, just by a shade or two. Light brown with hints of gold. It curled slightly and looked far too touchable.

  And his profile was all Cynfell. Strong, long nose, powerful jaw and piercing eyes. They were different to the other brothers too. He was the only one with blue eyes—the only good thing to have inherited from his mother he always claimed.

  Naturally, he was built beautifully too. Her mother would scold her for noticing but it was hard not to. He liked to run—always had really—and it kept him in perfect shape with wide shoulders and a flat abdomen. Not to mention a rather beautifully shaped—

  “Are you looking forward to the opera?”

  Cleo forced a smile and ensured her attention was on Niall. “Yes, of course. What are they performing? I cannot recall.”

  “Semiramide, I believe.”

  She was prevented from responding by the approach of Gideon. She did not think she had ever been so grateful for an interruption.

  “Good evening, Harpy.” He placed himself next to Cleo on the sofa.

  He was hardly close to her, and yet she could not help slip her gaze down to his rather thick thigh and note that if she only moved a few inches, their legs would touch. It created a ridiculous awareness in her and made her mindful of each breath she took. They felt heavy and loud. But then, who would not be tense when sandwiched between two men who had never liked one another.

  “Good evening, Gideon.” Niall stiffened, drawing up his chin. Likely readying himself for battle.

  He would lose, of course. Niall had always been the blustering type. Once he’d come back from college, he’d been a little less rough around the edges but he was still excellent at saying the wrong thing and at the wrong time. Cleo supposed someone might find it endearing. She mostly found it irritating which she knew made her horribly uncharitable.

  “I didn’t know you were in Warwickshire.”

  “Harp—Niall has been attending to things for his father,” Cleo put in. She could hardly let Gideon insult the man whilst his father was sick. “Lord Harper is none too well.”

  “Ah, I am sorry. You must be incredibly busy then. I’m surprised you found the time to come tonight. Surely you are much in demand elsewhere?”

  The tiny smirk on Gideon’s face made her want to slap him. He knew well that Niall rarely received invitations. The pale, awkward man had quickly become infamous for his ineptness once entering society. Many people declared him an outright bore. He also had a horrible tendency to compliment people in the most backward manner.

  Just tonight she had heard him declare that Viola hardly looked like she had carried a baby at all. Which had been a fine enough compliment, if a little outrageous to be commenting on her body. But then he had gone on to compare her with an elephant--discussing how long those creatures carried babies, which was apparently an eternity. By the end of the conversation she had felt sorry for the elephant, Viola, and Niall. Thankfully the Cynfells were used to his terrible lack of grace.

  But she would have to continue to suffer it—up close—if she married him.

  She bit back a sigh.

  “I find myself quite at my leisure,” Niall replied. “For that I am grateful as I would not have wanted to miss such an occasion. The world has been blessed with another Cynfell man. You must be thrilled.”

  “Not as thrilled as my brother, but I always welcome another niece or nephew. They’re a darned sight more fun than some adults I find.”

  There it was again, that horrible smirk. It made him so unattractive. She glared at Gideon, but he ignored her.

  “Yes, children are always a delight. I am looking forward to the day I can start a family of my own.” He gave Cleo an affectionate smile. “Soon I hope.”

  Heaviness weighed in her stomach. Of course she wanted children. She had seen many of her friends settle down and have children long ago. It seemed sometimes she was one of the only woman left in the world without any. But with Niall...?

  “What about you, Gideon? Any likelihood of you settling down in the near future? You cannot want to be the only unmarried Cynfell, surely?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “I find I enjoy my own company.”

  That much was true. With the exception of being accompanied by her, Gideon had always relished time spent alone. She would often come across him in the woods or wandering along the fields far from his home. She often felt the same. Sometimes she just needed to be quiet and alone to let her mind settle. But together, as children, they had often found a different sort of peace together. They really had been quite alike.

  She wasn’t so sure they were now, however, not when he was attempting to tease Niall.

  “Of course,” Gideon continued, “I would have to find a woman who would have me. It can be quite the struggle, can it not, Harper?”

  “It is not easy to find the right woman that I will admit. But I think I have managed.”

  His gaze set on her. Heat rushed into her cheeks. She swung her gaze back to Gideon whose eyes had darkened.

  “But can you keep such a woman in happiness? That is the question. Women are a lot of work. They won’t stomach your love of weeds for long.”

  “Women are not a lot of work!” She snapped, unable to take anymore. “We are quite able to entertain ourselves, thank you. And some quite enjoy looking at nature.”

  Gideon lifted a brow and even Niall looked a little taken aback by her outburst. But honestly, how long was she meant to sit there and listen to Gideon bully the man? Niall might not have even noticed Gideon was trying to but it didn’t matter. It was shameful behaviour.

  With timely manners, one of the women came to the piano and started up a tune. Whilst this ridiculous argument had been occurring, the furniture had been pushed back and Viola was demanding they dance.

  Cleo snatched Niall’s hand and near dragged him to the dancing area. Tables and chairs had been pushed flush against the pale blue walls, making plenty of room for several couples. The other brothers joined them with their wives, with the exception of Anna who was extremely pregnant, Viola who likely needed rest and Evelyn who seemed far too preoccupied with whispering to her husband. From the smug grin on the man’s face, it was something interesting indeed.

  Gideon stared at her from his seat as they moved into position. She lifted her chin and ignored him, instead offering Niall a brilliant smile.

  “Shall we?”

  “Um, yes. Of course.”

  He took her hand and rested a palm against her waist. She looked into the pale eyes of a man who would soon be kissing her, holding her closer, sharing her bed. Even...making love to her. She managed not to shake her head.

  Somehow, she could not picture it. He declared he wanted children, but she could not imagine Niall even knowing his way around a woman’s body. Whatever happened between them would likely be perfunctory and as exciting as the man himself. It would not be how her friend had once described it—like the earth moved.

  They began to step around the room. She couldn’t recall ever dancing with him before which was odd because she distinctly remembered her mother telling her in the early days of her time in society that one should always dance with a man before marrying them. One can always learn much about their suitability as a husband from a dance, her mother had said.

  The only things Cleo learned was that he was just as clumsy as she had always thought, and that she would need thicker shoes if she was to marry this man. Her poor toes were going to be red and swollen by the end of the nig
ht.

  “May I?”

  Whether her heart swooped from relief or something else when Gideon cut in after the dance, she was not sure. Maybe a little of both. Harpy gave her up with grace, but Gideon wasted no time in taking her in his arms as though Harpy might threaten to fight him for her.

  They danced in silence for a few moments. Cleo took the moment to acclimatize to being in his arms. It wasn’t the first time they had danced, but it was the first time she’d been terribly aware of his palm upon her spine and the way her small hand fit perfectly in his.

  She noticed the scent of him—a hint of spicy cologne. Though she was that much smaller than he—she was smaller than everyone if the truth be told—her gaze kept landing on his necktie. From there it traitorously skimmed up, over his Adam’s apple and the smooth skin there, higher to where she could see the tiniest bit of stubble.

  In the morning Gideon was likely a man like her father. In need of a good shave. What would it be like to see that? To touch that? This hint of masculinity made her aware that she was no longer in the arms of a boy, or even a friend. Gideon was a man, through and through. But why had it taken her so long to realise that?

  She shook her head to herself. Why was she letting herself be distracted was more the point?

  “What is it?”

  “What?” She skimmed her gaze up and though she had looked into his eyes many, many times before, the proximity and intensity of them stole her breath. Had they always been so intense in shade? And with that tiny ring of darker blue around the outside?

  “You shook your head.”

  “Oh.” Cleo swallowed. “I was thinking of your behaviour with Niall.”

  “And?”

  “It was not very pleasant.”

  “I meant no harm.”

  She secured him with a stern look whilst he took her around the room, carefully avoiding the other couples. “Do not take me for a fool, Gideon.”

  “He knows I’m teasing. It was harmless.”

  “And it was low of you. I never thought you to be a petty man. Just because you do not like him does not mean you should stoop to such behaviour. A little civility would not go amiss.”