The Yuletide Engagement & A Yuletide Seduction

by Carole Mortimer

  The warmth in her cheeks seemed to be becoming a permanent fixture! “I really wouldn’t know anything about that,” Ellie told him sharply; he probably had more experience with clandestine weekends away than she did. How could he not? Her own experience in that direction was precisely nil! “I just need to check round the house once more before I leave to make sure I’ve switched everything off.” It really wouldn’t do for the house to burn down in her three-day absence!

  Patrick nodded. “I’ll put your things in the car while you do that.”

  Ellie breathed more easily once he had left the room, moving slowly to double-check that she had switched off all the Christmas lights. As usual the tree looked starkly gaudy without its glittering lights. Ellie gazed up at it sadly as she accepted that by the time she returned to the house in three days’ time Christmas would effectively be over.

  It was strange to think—

  What on earth was that?

  She could hear raised voices outside, and they certainly didn’t sound like the happy revellers she had been hearing the last few evenings; these voices sounded distinctly angry.

  They also, she realised incredulously, sounded like Patrick and Gareth!

  Ellie hurried from the sitting room, through the kitchen and out onto the driveway—arriving just in time to see Patrick punch Gareth on the chin!

  She came to an abrupt halt, staring in horrified fascination as Gareth reeled from the blow but remained standing on his feet, only to swing his own fist up and land a punch in Patrick’s right eye.

  What on earth—?

  Patrick also remained standing on his feet, his expression cold with fury as his arm swung once again.

  “Patrick!” Ellie cried out in alarm. The sound of her voice caught both men off-guard and they turned to look at her.

  But not quickly enough to stop Patrick’s fist once again making contact with Gareth’s chin. And this time he went down, falling heavily onto the concreted driveway, despite the thin layer of snow that still partially covered it.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” She hurried over to both men. The air seemed to pulse with their fury as she looked from one to the other of them.

  Gareth still sat on the driveway, his hand raised to his bruised chin as he glared up balefully at the other man. Patrick was standing over him, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

  Ellie drew in a ragged breath, still not quite able to believe this was happening. “I said—”

  “Don’t try and pretend you aren’t as much a part of this as your boyfriend!” Gareth scorned, getting slowly to his feet now, dusting the snow from his denims as he did so.

  “Leave Ellie out of it,” Patrick rasped harshly. “In fact, why don’t you just leave?” he added scathingly.

  Gareth shook his head, his eyes narrowed with dislike as he looked at the older man. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said slowly.

  “No, you’re not, are you?” Patrick acknowledged with satisfaction.

  Ellie looked at both men as she felt the tension rising between them once more; any minute now they were going to start hitting each other again! “Would someone please tell me exactly what is going on?” she demanded determinedly.

  Gareth’s mouth twisted derisively. “Did the two of you think I would just take this lying down? Because, if you did, I can assure you—”

  “You seemed to be doing a fair imitation of doing exactly that a few seconds ago!”

  Patrick was antagonizing him. Almost as if, Ellie realised dazedly, he wanted the other man to take another swing at him—just so that he had a good excuse to hit Gareth again!

  An angry red tide of colour moved into Gareth’s cheeks. “You—”

  “Will you both stop this?” Ellie ordered impatiently. “This happens to be my home. And, if nothing else, you’re giving my neighbours something to gossip about all over Christmas!”

  She had already seen the curtains twitching in the house opposite, the couple that lived there no doubt alerted to the fight outside by the sound of raised voices. As she had been…

  “If you really must continue this—argument,” she bit out caustically, “then at least come inside and do it. But don’t even think about hitting each other again once we’re in the house,” she warned as she turned to go inside. “I don’t want anything of mine broken!” Anything else of hers broken; her heart was already in pieces!

  She still had no idea what had caused this flare-up in the ongoing dislike the two men had of each other, but she certainly intended getting an explanation—from one of them!—before the evening was over.

  Thankfully the two men followed her into the house, and Ellie looked at them frowningly once they all stood in the sitting room. Gareth’s expression was belligerent as he glared at the other man; Patrick’s was one of quiet satisfaction. It was that latter expression that roused Ellie’s curiosity the most… But it was to Gareth she expressed her next remark.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Even if she and Patrick left for the party right now they were going to arrive well past the given time of eight o’clock; Gareth, wearing denims and a thick Aran jumper, wasn’t even dressed to go out for the evening yet.

  “Letting your boyfriend know that as far as I’m concerned this is far from over,” Gareth answered, his jaw clenched.

  Ellie really wished he would stop referring to Patrick as her boyfriend…!

  Patrick eyed the younger man derisively. “In what way is it not over, Davies?” he prompted challengingly. “Unless I’m mistaken, George has given you three months’ notice at Delacorte, Delacorte and Delacorte. Notice he has waived in lieu of never having to set eyes on you again! I believe your engagement to Sarah is likewise terminated. Permanently!”

  His satisfaction was no longer quiet!

  Ellie’s eyes widened. When on earth had all this happened? Four days ago Gareth had definitely still been a junior partner with Delacorte, Delacorte and Delacorte, and his engagement to Sarah had seemed unshakeable too…

  But there was no mistaking the fact that Gareth certainly wasn’t wearing the right sort of clothes to attend Toby and Teresa’s engagement party this evening…

  Gareth’s mouth twisted contemptuously. “You both think you’ve been so clever, don’t you? Did you really think I would just go quietly?” he scorned, shaking his head. “For one thing, George has no reason to dismiss me other than a personal one, which in a court of law—”

  “He doesn’t need one,” Patrick cut in confidently. “I’m surprised at you, Davies; you really should have read the small print on your contract of employment,” he taunted. “It clearly states that three months’ notice can be given, on either side, without prejudice, during your first year of employment. You’ve been with Delacorte, Delacorte and Delacorte how long now…?” he prompted pointedly.

  Ellie could see by Gareth’s stunned expression that he really hadn’t been aware of that particular clause in his contract of employment.

  “As for your engagement to Sarah,” Patrick continued derisively, “I believe it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind?”

  Gareth’s expression was ugly now. “With a lot of help from her interfering family!” he rasped.

  “Maybe.” Patrick shrugged unconcernedly. “It doesn’t change the fact that Sarah has changed her mind.”

  The relief Ellie felt on hearing this completely dispelled any doubts she might have had about having the two men fighting in her driveway in full view of her neighbours. She didn’t care how Patrick had achieved it. All that mattered was that Sarah had escaped Gareth’s mercenary clutches!

  But Gareth’s feelings about the broken engagement were obviously different, and as he turned on the other man. “You self-satisfied—”

  “I said there would be no fighting in here, Gareth!” Ellie told him firmly as he took a threatening step towards Patrick.

  Gareth turned a furious blue gaze on her. “As for you—”

  “I believe
I told you to leave Ellie out of this,” Patrick reminded him in a dangerously soft voice.

  The younger man’s hands were clenched into fists at his sides. “From what I can tell she’s already in this up to her pretty neck!” Gareth rasped, his gaze raking over her scathingly. “I hope you realise he’ll never marry you, Ellie,” he taunted with hard derision. “The McGraths and the Delacortes believe themselves far too good for the likes of you and me!” he added bitterly.

  Ellie swallowed hard as she felt the colour drain from her cheeks, at the same time desperately hoping that neither of these men had seen just how much Gareth’s last remark had hurt her. Of course Patrick would never consider marrying her; it wasn’t even a possibility. But she could well have done without having that fact thrown in her face. Especially by a man she so utterly despised.

  “How do you work that one out, Davies?” Patrick was the one to answer the other man scornfully. “Tonight we’re celebrating the engagement of Ellie’s brother and my sister!”

  “An engagement isn’t a marriage,” the other man came back derisively, before turning to look pityingly at Ellie once again. “An affair even less so,” he warned her mockingly.

  “Get out,” she told Gareth shakily.

  “Oh, I’m going,” he assured her, raising a hand to his bruised jaw. “But I’ll be back,” he added softly.

  “In that case, make sure it’s me you come back at; come near Ellie again and you’ll find out how it feels to be on the wrong side in a court of law,” Patrick warned him coldly. “Which I don’t think would do a great deal for the furtherance of your legal career,” he added challengingly.

  Gareth’s cheeks flushed angrily. “Don’t threaten me, McGrath,” he rasped.

  But his tone held little conviction, Ellie noted; the possibility of ending up as the defendant in a court of law rather than the prosecuting lawyer—for what charge was anybody’s guess!—obviously didn’t appeal to Gareth one little bit, if the suddenly wary expression on his face was anything to go by.

  A fact which, by his next comment, Patrick had obviously noticed too. “Davies, I think the best thing for everyone is for you to just disappear back down whatever sewer you came out of,” he advised dismissively.

  The ugly flush deepened in Gareth’s cheeks as he turned to direct his next insult at Ellie. “Give me a call when he’s finished with you—you never know; I just might be interested in continuing where we left off!” With one last contemptuous glare in Patrick’s direction he exited the room, the back door slamming noisily behind him seconds later as he left the house.

  The awkward silence that followed his abrupt exit made Ellie squirm…!

  What must Patrick think of her now?

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “IS IT my imagination, or does Patrick have what looks to be the beginnings of a very black eye?”

  Ellie turned sharply at the sound of Sarah’s voice. She had been looking at Patrick herself until that moment, as he stood across the room talking with one of his numerous aunts; Ellie had quickly learnt, on their arrival at the party an hour ago, that the McGrath family was a large one, and Patrick a particular favourite with all of them.

  She looked up warily at Sarah now. “Sorry?” she prompted guardedly.

  Sarah’s smile was a little strained, but other than that she looked as beautiful as ever in a short, figure-hugging red dress. “Don’t look so apprehensive about seeing me, please, Ellie.” She reached out and gave Ellie’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “After all, I believe we’ve both recently made a very lucky escape?” She quirked self-derisive brows.

  Ellie grimaced. The problem was, she still didn’t really have any idea what had happened to end Sarah’s engagement to Gareth. It had been well after eight o’clock by the time Gareth made his furious exit from her house, and, other than pausing briefly to collect an ice-pack to place on Patrick’s rapidly bruising eye, the two of them had come straight to the engagement party. Although, as Sarah had so astutely noticed, the ice pack didn’t seem to have worked too well; Patrick definitely had the start of bruising that would be a very black eye!

  “Yes,” she confirmed huskily. “And, yes, Patrick does have a black eye.” She grimaced. In fact, by tomorrow, it would probably rival the bruises on her arm for all the colours of the rainbow! Gareth, when thwarted, really was a very violent man.

  Sarah frowned across at her cousin. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that Gareth had nothing to do with it?”

  Ellie sighed. “I’m afraid it is.” She nodded.

  Sarah shook her head, her gaze troubled as she looked at Ellie. “How could two such accomplished women as us ever have been so stupid where Gareth was concerned?” she muttered disgustedly.

  Ellie couldn’t help it; she laughed. And, after several stunned seconds, so did Sarah, the two women falling weakly into each others arms as they laughed together.

  “‘Two such accomplished women as us’?” Ellie repeated as she finally straightened, aware that their laughter had a slightly hysterical edge to it. Also aware that they were attracting a certain amount of attention.

  Sarah took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, handing one to Ellie. “To liberation,” she toasted determinedly.

  Whatever had happened to cause Sarah to break her engagement, Ellie was pleased to see that on the surface at least Sarah seemed to be recovering rapidly from the disappointment.

  She couldn’t help admiring the younger woman; it couldn’t have been easy for Sarah to come here this evening. The announcement of her own engagement had only been made days ago—an engagement that had now been abruptly terminated.

  “Liberation,” Ellie echoed just as firmly, before taking a sip of the bubbly wine. “Sarah—”

  “It really is all right, Ellie,” Sarah assured her with a smile that didn’t quite light up her eyes. “I’m still a little shell-shocked, obviously, but I’ll get over it. How about you?”

  Ellie shuddered. “I got over Gareth months ago!” Only to fall irrevocably in love with Patrick!

  “Hmm.” Sarah nodded ruefully. “I believe I was mostly to blame for what happened to you—for—for—”

  “Gareth dumping me?” Ellie finished dismissively. “Yes, you were—thank goodness.” She gave a shake of her head. “Gareth didn’t—he didn’t hurt you in any way, did he?” She frowned her concern.

  The younger woman gave a humourless laugh. “My pride,” she grimaced. “I can’t believe now that I ever thought he was so wonderful! Boy, did his true colours come out when I told him about the designs I had sent Jacques, and that I would like to delay the wedding for a while so that I could return to Paris for six months.” She gave a disgusted shake of her head. “He seemed to think that you and Patrick had had a hand in it somewhere, which I found extremely puzzling to start with. But he kept going on about ‘a woman scorned’—that you would say and do anything to try and break the two of us up. The penny finally dropped, and I realised that you and he must have been dating until I came back to England a couple of months ago. Why didn’t you tell me, Ellie?” she chided gently. “In your shoes, I would have wanted to scratch the other woman’s eyes out!”

  Ellie gave a shake of her head. “I knew what Gareth was really like by then, and if anything I wanted to try and warn you off him.”

  Sarah took a sip of her champagne. “So why didn’t you?” she prompted curiously.

  She glanced across to where Patrick was now in conversation with his parents. “Patrick convinced me that you probably wouldn’t believe me.” She grimaced.

  “He did?” Sarah looked across at her cousin, blonde brows raised speculatively.

  “Mmm.” Ellie nodded. “So what did happen to—to change your mind about Gareth?”

  Sarah gave another grimace. “Well, I wasn’t too happy with the things he said about you and Patrick. As you’ve probably realized, Patrick is a particular favourite with me, and, although we haven’t seen a lot of each other this last year, you and I have
been friends for a long time too,” she said. “The things he said about the two of you were bad enough, but it was when he started insulting my father that I took exception!”

  Ellie looked up at her disbelievingly. “Your father?” Was Gareth completely stupid? Or, more to the point, so arrogant he didn’t realise when he was stepping on dangerous ground?

  Sarah gave a rueful smile. “Never, ever insult the girl’s father ought to be the first rule any man should learn about courtship!” She gave a self-conscious shake of her head. “Ellie, I adore my father—”

  “It’s reciprocated,” she confirmed affectionately.

  Sarah nodded. “Gareth was obviously too stupid to realise that,” she dismissed hardly. “And all because he couldn’t have his own way about the wedding!”

  “You do realize why now, though?” Ellie prompted cautiously.

  “Oh, yes,” Sarah acknowledged self-disgustedly. “Don’t worry, Ellie, my eyes are wide open now where Gareth Davies is concerned!”

  “I’m very glad to hear it!” Patrick announced with satisfaction as he joined the two of them.

  Ellie gave a nervous start, having been completely unaware of his approach. She looked up at him as he came to stand beside her. Yes, his eye was now turning a rather nice shade of purple.

  He returned her gaze unblinkingly. “How about you, Ellie, are your eyes wide open now too?”

  About Gareth? Or did he mean something else…?

  “I think we should put some raw steak on that eye,” she answered instead.

  Sarah winced as she looked at him. “Does it hurt?”

  Patrick shrugged. “Not as much as Davies’s jaw, I expect,” he said with satisfaction.

  His young cousin laughed. “I hope you gave him a punch from me!”

  Patrick grimaced. “I think he may have a little trouble eating for a few days.”