by Amelia Grey
He’d expected that they would have heard about his and Lillian’s rendezvous in the upstairs sitting room. If they had, surely they would have been looking at him as if he were the devil incarnate every night at dinner, but they were always pleasant. He decided that if they knew, they agreed with him that she should have simply agreed to marry him. That would have certainly made everything a lot easier for him.
Seth chuckled to himself as he continued to watch the play outside. Lillian would never make anything easy for him. That was all right. He enjoyed a good challenge. And, if all his plans worked out, come Christmas night, Lillian would be his.
Chapter 9
Christmas dinner was always a spectacular affair of food, drink, and conversation in the brightly lit formal dining room of Hurst. A white linen cloth covered the long table that was set for more than twenty people. An array of burning candelabras lit the room with a golden glow and gleamed prisms off the crystal glasses and polished silver. Arrangements of winter greenery and holly berries intertwined with a smattering of mistletoe were neatly placed on each end of the table. A goose that had been roasted to a perfected golden brown was the crowning centerpiece. The room was warm and filled with the scents of cedar and spruce and the tempting aromas of baked bread and cooked fruit.
Outside it was a clear, cold night. Perfect for what Seth had in mind for the guests after dinner.
The duchess had asked that Fallon and Heron be allowed to dine with them because Christmas dinner was a time for family and friends to come together in the spirit of the occasion no matter of the age. The lads had been excited but a little nervous too. Every once in a while, Seth would look down the table at them. They were being perfect little gentlemen with hands folded in their laps.
He grinned at them and they reciprocated.
Lillian had been seated on the opposite side of the table from Seth and two chairs down. While he talked to her sister Louisa, the Duchess of Drakestone, who was seated on his left, he gave more of his attention to Lady Fieldingham, who was on his right. Looking at the Viscountess gave him the perfect angle to keep an eye on Lillian.
All evening he’d seen her smile at everyone—including him. He already knew she wasn’t the kind of person who could stay angry with someone for long. That gave him some hope that the evening would go well. She was a vision of loveliness in a gown of dark ivory velvet. Shiny beads and pearls had been sewn onto the bodice, but the sparkle on the gown couldn’t match the sparkle in her eyes. She kept trying her best not to look at him (too often), but she couldn’t keep her gaze from straying toward him anymore than he could have stopped staring at her.
The soup, fish, game, and meat courses had already been served, when one of the servers accidently knocked Seth’s shoulder with his elbow while removing Lady Fieldingham’s plate. Several green peas fell off the plate onto the white linen.
The man shivered in horror at what he’d done and nervously said, “Excuse me, my lord. I apologize. I’ll clean that up immediately.”
“No harm done,” Seth said, brushing aside the man’s concern that he’d be chastised. “I’ll get them for you.” Seth brushed the peas into the palm of his hand, intent on putting them onto the plate for the server, but then he glanced over at Lillian. She gave him a slight nod and a hint of a smile, obviously approving of his helping out the servant. Instead of dropping all of the peas back onto the plate the server held, Seth kept three or four of them in his palm.
Lillian probably thought he’d never done a mischievous thing in his life. It was best she not know all he did in his youth. But tonight Lillian was about to see that he could have a little amusement at someone else’s expense too.
When Mr. Nash rose to give a toast, Seth knew it would be a long-winded speech. Crispin’s uncle couldn’t say the short version of anything. This would be a perfect foil. When it appeared everyone was attentive to the old man’s colorful story, Seth cautiously and quickly tossed a pea at Lillian. It hit near her collarbone and fell to her napkin. Blinking with confusion, she stared at the pea before looking up directly at Seth.
“Marry me,” he mouthed.
Her eyes widened for a second before she set her lips in a line and returned her attention back to Mr. Nash who was continuing his long tale about Crispin. As soon as she did, Seth threw another pea. This one plopped into Lord Fieldingham’s glass of wine, which happened to be sitting closer to Lillian than to the viscount.
That time, she frowned and gave Seth the evil eye as she mouthed, “What are you doing?”
Silently he again mouthed, “Marry me.”
She shook her head and once again turned her attention back to Crispin’s uncle. The next pea hit on the table in front of her, and unfortunately Lady Fieldingham saw it land too. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
Seth grimaced innocently, peering up and down the length of table as if he was trying to find out who in the world would be so brash and ill-mannered to have done such an inappropriate thing as throw a pea at the duke’s dinner table. He leaned forward, paying close attention to Fallon and Heron as if to ascertain if the offending object could have come from one of them. Both lads had their hands in their laps and were staring at Mr. Nash. No one could accuse his little gentlemen of tossing the pea. Deciding not to test his luck further, he slid the last pea into his coat pocket.
After desserts were served, and conversations were waning, Seth knew it was time to give his tribute to his host and hostess and while doing so, convince Lillian to marry him.
He rose, pushed his chair back, and took a step away from the table. After giving an appropriate toast of appreciation to Crispin, he turned to Gwen and said, “Duchess, the first time I met your sister, Miss Prim, she hit me in the face with a ball of snow.”
Gasps sounded around the table, none louder than Lillian’s. It was rather bold of him to admit that to anyone at any time, let alone to more than twenty people sitting around the Duke’s Christmas dinner table. But making Lillian see that Seth loved her and that they were meant to be together were the only things that mattered.
“And it was right on his nose,” Fallon piped up and said, then followed it by a snicker. Muffled laughter followed from almost everyone in the room, including the servants.
“Thank you for adding that unnecessary bit of information.” He smiled at his nephew. “On that same day Miss Prim issued me a challenge. I accepted the challenge. Now, with your permission, Duchess, I would like to issue a challenge to your sister.”
Gwen quickly looked down the table to Lillian. Thankfully, Lillian didn’t shake her head, so Gwen nodded for him to proceed.
Now that the time had come, Seth realized his plan had more risk than he’d allowed himself to believe. But perhaps there was something to the old adage There can’t be great reward without great risk.
“The challenge is this, Miss Prim. If I can make two of your dreams come true right now, you will agree to marry me.”
“Marry you?” She rose from her chair. “What are you saying? I’ve told you why we wouldn’t suit. And, and furthermore, this is neither the time nor the place for this conversation, my lord.”
There were mumblings around the table. Some agreeing with him and some with Lillian, but Seth paid them no mind. His attention was on Lillian. “Christmas dinner with family and friends is the perfect time for me to announce to all that I love you.” Lillian gasped again, but he continued. “I want to marry you. So tell me, Miss Prim, are you are backing down and refusing to accept my challenge?”
Her distraught gaze swept from one sister’s face to another as if surely one of them would stand up and tell her what to say. They all remained quiet, and watchful. Finally she turned her attention back to him and stated, “I don’t know how you can know what my dreams are.”
“I know,” he said softly. “Accept my challenge. If I don’t get them right, I’ll leave Hurst at daybreak.”
Her silence continued longer than he expected. What else could he say? If she denied
him now, he would have to leave at first light. Without her. Seth sucked in a cold breath.
“Accept it,” one of the gentlemen at the table mumbled.
“You have nothing to lose,” another said.
“Go ahead,” a feminine voice whispered. “Say yes!”
Then as if they had planned it with him, her four sisters rose from their chairs and together said, “Say yes!”
Lillian remained tentative but said, “All right. Yes, my lord, I-I accept your challenge.”
Seth let out his deep breath. He couldn’t believe she had made him wait so long. He walked over to a footman who had just entered the dining room and took a long, narrow leather case from him. He strode over to Lillian.
Holding it out to her, he said, “Open it. I’ll hold it for you.”
She stared down, and unfastened three buckles, opened the case, and took out a telescope. Her eyes softened.
“You told me you enjoy watching the stars. Marry me, Miss Prim, and come watch the stars with me.” He dropped the empty case to the floor and, reaching into his coat pocket, pulled out two slips of paper. He handed them to her. “Passenger tickets for the fastest steamship that sails across the Atlantic. Marry me, Miss Prim, and come sail the seas with me.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “You remembered what I said.”
With all the love he was feeling, he said, “I remember everything you’ve said.”
“I can’t believe you are doing this here, now.”
“You left me no choice.” His voice lowered. “You must know doing all this wasn’t easy for a serious-minded person like myself, to propose in front of more than twenty people. I had to prove to you I know how to compromise. Marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I pledge my love to you and I will marry you.”
Clapping and shouts of “Hooray!” sounded around the table. Seth took hold of her hand holding the tickets and kissed the back of it. He bent close to tell her that a proper kiss would be coming shortly, but there was no time. Lillian was swamped by her four sisters. Fallon and Heron wrapped their small arms around Seth’s legs, almost toppling him while they hugged him.
Looking up with wide eyes, Fallon asked him, “Is Miss Prim going to be our governess now?”
He rubbed Fallon’s head. “Sorry to disappoint you about that, lad. Mrs. Barstaple will still be your governess, but once Miss Prim marries me, she will be with us all the time.”
“Good!” his nephew yelled. “That means we won’t have to study all the time.”
Seth looked up and caught Lillian’s gaze. “That’s exactly right. Now, go get your coats. The telescope is being set up on the back lawn so everyone can look at the stars this Christmas night.”
It took a few minutes, but everyone finally cleared the dining room, leaving Seth and Lillian alone. The candles had burned low. Discarded napkins and empty plates and glasses littered the once festive table, but Seth only saw the love sparkling in Lillian’s eyes.
She stood before him and said, “You threw peas at me. At the duke’s Christmas dinner table.”
“I was a little surprised by that myself. I’m glad I did something that you approve of.”
She laughed. “I don’t approve of that. It was outrageous. Though, I admit I thought about throwing peas at you one night last week.”
He smiled.
Concern edged the corners of her eyes suddenly. “How do we know we can continue to love each other and not one day be unhappy and bitter because of our differences?”
“That’s part of the challenge that faces us, Lillian. When our differences want to overtake us, one of us will have to remind us of this night—when we put our differences aside and our love for each other first.”
She raised her brows in humor. “Just so there will be no arguments later, my lord, I want you to know I will see to it our son knows how to engage in a little mischief.”
Seth caught her up in his arms and pulled her tightly, possessively, against him. “And just so you’ll know, I’ll see to it that he’ll be a marquis who loves books and knows how to study.” She smiled. “It was a very Merry Christmas, my love.”
He smiled, too and whispered, “It was a challenge and I’m glad I won.”
Seth kissed her tenderly. Lillian sighed into his mouth as their kisses continued, sealing them together for a lifetime of laughter and love.
Read on for an excerpt from
LAST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE
by Amelia Grey
The first in her new Rakes of St. James series
Available March 2017 from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
The time had come. No more delays were afforded her. She had to face Griffin. Inhaling a deep breath, she met his steady blue gaze. There was no anger or disappointment in his expression. He didn’t even look perplexed. He looked determined.
Very determined.
Quietly, almost softly, he said, “Would you join me in the book room, Esmeralda?”
Staring up into his gorgeous eyes, Esmeralda felt an unwavering strength come over her and settle in her bones. She was going to be all right. No matter how he chose to deal with this information, he would not cower her.
“Very well,” she said as she heard the door to Lady Vera’s room close upstairs.
Depending on her inner strength, she walked past him and headed down the corridor. If the duke decided to turn her off, she would manage. She had always managed.
There was no lamp burning, no fire on the grate when she walked into the chilled room. The only light was a faint yellow glow that spilled down from the vestibule, brightening only a few feet into the room. Welcoming the darkness, Esmeralda went farther into the shadows near the window before turning around.
Griffin stood in the doorway. Their gazes met across the room. In that instant she almost wilted. Backlit by the lamplight cast down the corridor, he looked magnificent, powerful, and commanding. All those things and so much more. This unattainable man had captured her heart and she had no idea how she was going to free it. There was no will inside her to do so.
Without a word said and with long, purposeful strides, Griffin strode over to her and, in a single fluid motion, slid his arms around her waist, caught her up in his arms, and quickly claimed her lips for his own. His startling and unexpected actions took her breath away, and frightened and thrilled her all at the same time. His lips were warm, smooth, and moist, moving slowly, surely, deftly over hers. A pleasure like she’d never known spiraled through her body, like fireworks shooting into the sky, and she surrendered into the bounty of his embrace.
The kiss was no brief, light brushing of his lips against hers as she’d imagined many times in her dreams. It was seeking, demanding, and savoring, continuing second after glorious second, making sure she knew he wanted to kiss her as much as she’d wanted him to.
Instinctively she parted her lips. His strong, firm arms pulled her more solidly to his wide chest and wrapped tighter around her back as if in fear someone would rip her from his grasp. His lips moved over and over hers in a hungry, greedy way that caused a tightening in her breasts, a quickening in the depths of her abdomen, and between her legs. Somehow she knew he wanted her to open her mouth and, when she did, his tongue slipped inside. She heard him swallow small gasps of pleasure as he explored the depths of her mouth.
Their kisses ebbed and flowed. At times they kissed long, hard, and generous. Some kisses were soft and quick. Their breaths, moans, and sighs mingled quietly and eagerly together, becoming one passionate sound.
Esmeralda lifted her arms and circled his neck, allowing him to press her closer to his hard, muscular body. Her hands cupped the back of his head and her fingers tangled in the rich thickness of his hair before exploring the width of his shoulders.
Griffin’s lips left hers and he kissed her cheek, her chin, and down to the crook of her neck before searching out her lips once again. With an urgent touch, his hand raked across her breast to her waist, her hip, and around to her bu
ttocks, lifting her tightly against him before finding her breast again.
“You are a beautifully shaped woman, Esmeralda,” he whispered against her lips. “You should never be hidden behind gray cloth.”
“It is best for me,” she answered quickly before her breaths were once again claimed by his kisses.
His caresses were eager yet tender and sure. She gasped from the onslaught of all the different sensations mounting inside her, and he breathed deeper, faster.
Griffin raised his head long enough to look into her eyes and whisper, “Not nearly enough,” before claiming her lips once more.
Her body trembled, but so did his.
His kisses moved from her lips to her cheeks, her chin, and her eyes, leaving no place on her face or neck untouched. Holding her close, his caresses were confident, commanding, as he molded her breast in his palm with one hand and pressed her backside against him with the other. Esmeralda felt a hard bulge beneath his trousers. Her breaths quickened again. She’d never felt anything like the sensations exploding inside her and without really knowing why or how, Esmeralda met his ardor with a surprising fervency of her own, pressing near him, clinging to him, and encouraging his touch.
With a long, desperate-sounding breath Griffin suddenly turned her loose. He expelled a short, humorless laugh and stepped away from her.
Dismayed by the abrupt end to their passion, slightly dizzy from her still-reeling senses, Esmeralda moistened her lips and swallowed. She’d had no idea that kissing would feel so amazingly wonderful, so satisfying, and yet leave her feeling that she wanted so much more. Surely Griffin couldn’t deny that he’d been enjoying her kisses as much as she’d relished his. She’d felt his desire for her beneath their clothing.
What would happen now? He’d said he couldn’t kiss her as long as she was in his employ? But now that he had, what would happen? Fear mounted inside her.