Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,286

the young lord was perfectly amiable. There was no good reason for her to dislike him.

“Very well,” Louisa exclaimed, her gaze moving from Anne to Leo and back. “This is what we’ll do. Anne, you wait near a conveniently situated mistletoe. Leo, you then fetch Tobias while I make certain that no other gentleman interferes.”

Leonora frowned. “How?”

“I don’t know,” Louisa replied with a nonchalant shrug, not the slightest hint of doubt or concern in her voice. “I’ll think of something. If I must, I’ll trip them.”

For a second, Leonora looked horrified, her gaze momentarily darting to their sleeping grandmother seated beside her, before she inhaled a deep breath−clearly, her sister’s exaggerations were nothing new to her−and asked, “What would you say is a conveniently situated mistletoe?” The tip of her pencil came to rest on a blank page in her notebook, ready to jot down notes.

Unfortunately, Louisa merely shrugged. “I’ll know it when I see it.”

Leonora sighed in disappointment.

Leaning back in her seat, Anne looked out the window as she spotted a large estate on the horizon. It sat snugly surrounded by tall-growing trees on one side and wide open expanse on the other. Powdery snowflakes drifted down to settle upon the evergreen trees standing like sentinels around the cream-colored estate, its darker roof in stark contrast to the white landscape. The path leading up to the front of the house snaked in wide curves through the snowy blanket around them, and Anne spotted another carriage a little way ahead of them.

No doubt Lord Archibald’s house party would once again be well-attended, and the thought of countless people witnessing what would no doubt be one of the most embarrassing moments of her life made Anne contemplate flinging herself out of the moving carriage once again.

“Don’t even think about it!” Louisa warned, her eyes oddly penetrating as she looked at Anne.

Frowning, Anne turned to her cousin with an innocent face. “What? What are you talking about?”

“I can see what you’re thinking,” Louisa stated with confidence. “You’re thinking of running off, which is why I feel compelled to tell you that you won’t succeed.” A warm smile spread over her face before she reached out and gently patted Anne’s hand. “Don’t worry. We’re only doing this to help you.”

Anne sighed. “I simply don’t think−”

“Fine, try this,” Louisa interrupted. “Close your eyes and−” Her brows drew together in disapproval. “Close your eyes!” When Anne finally complied, she continued, “Now, imagine you’re standing in front of Lord Gillingham.”

A shudder shook Anne, but she forced her eyes to remain closed, knowing she would never hear the end of it if she didn’t.

“Now, picture him smiling at you, taking your hand,” Louisa whispered, her voice now soft and oddly melodious as though she sought to lull Anne into a deep slumber. Unfortunately, with the image of Lord Gillingham in mind, Anne couldn’t bring herself to relax. “Now, he’s leaning down, his lips aiming for yours and−”

“Ugh!” Anne couldn’t help it for the thought made her queasy. Her eyes flew open and she shook her head.

Again, Louisa’s brows rose in triumph. “I think that’s very telling.” She looked at Leonora. “Don’t you?”

Leonora nodded in agreement before she lowered her gaze to the notebook in her lap and began to write. “Indeed, that was very telling. A quite forceful reaction if I may say so.”

“Now, to compare,” Louisa continued, her green eyes sparkling as she looked at Anne. “Picture Tobias standing in front of you, holding your hand and−” When Anne failed to react, Louisa’s brows rose. “Well?”

“I was just thinking how sad it is that your family fell ill so short before Christmas,” Anne lamented perhaps a bit too forcefully. “Your parents always enjoyed the Archibald house party, and poor Grandma Edie.” She looked at the peacefully snoozing woman. Although of small stature, Grandma Edie was a force of nature, a no-nonsense kind of woman, who spoke her mind whenever it pleased her and turned a deaf ear just as often. “It must be hard to be away from home at such an advanced age, especially around Christmas. Will your family not miss you all? How will they make do without you?” She looked from one cousin to the other.

Leonora’s pencil paused, and her gaze rose. “Oh, they’ll be fine. Jules will see to them as she always does.” Indeed, the eldest Beaumont sister had all but taken on the role of companion for their elderly grandmother. She was the heart and soul of the family, always