Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,292

shrugged. “I don’t care. Wherever you like.”

Anne felt her eyes go round before she looked at Leonora, who appeared equally shocked. “You heard her say it, too; didn’t you?”

Leonora nodded. “Are you serious?” she asked her sister. “Why would you agree to kiss someone you detest?”

“Because I want to see her happy,” Louisa told her sister with a sideways glance at Anne, “and I’m convinced she’ll never be happy with another. As I’m unable to convince her of it, I suppose this is the only way to get her to agree.” She turned to Anne, holding out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Swallowing, Anne stared at her cousin. “You’d do that for me?”

Louisa smiled at her. “Of course. I may not appear as the most compassionate person, but I do love you, dear cousin, and I want to see you matched with the man who holds your heart.” She sighed, “If you believe nothing else, can you at least believe that?”

Blinking back tears, Anne nodded. Then she grasped Louisa’s hand. “Deal.”

With rather unblinking eyes, Leonora looked back and forth between them. “I think we could all do with a bit of a distraction. Do you not agree?”

Both nodded before Louisa smiled that rather disconcerting smile of hers. “Perfect because I believe I just glimpsed Lord Gillingham enter the drawing room.”

Anne barely managed to stifle the groan that wanted to escape her lips. “Well, then, let’s have some tea. I admit I’m rather parched.”

Louisa snickered before she drew Anne’s arm through the crook of hers, and the three of them headed down the corridor to join the other guests as well as Grandma Edie in the drawing room.

Oh, dear, what had she just agreed to?

Chapter Five ~ Simply Kiss the Girl

The sound of laughter echoed up the stairs to the first floor as Tobias and his brother left their chambers and made to head downstairs to join the other guests. Was Anne among them? Tobias wondered. At the thought of seeing her, his heart skipped a beat. Had it always done that? Had he simply never noticed? Or had something changed over the course of the past year?

Ever since that ball when they’d hidden together behind that row of potted plants, something had been different.

Felt different.

“I’ve glimpsed at least three sprigs of mistletoe thus far,” Phineas remarked with a chuckle as they made their way downstairs. “Would I be wrong to assume that you do not have any immediate plans of collecting a few kisses? At least not by a variety of ladies?” His brows rose inquisitively as he looked at Tobias.

“Why would you assume that?” Admittedly, the thought of kissing Anne was overwhelmingly enchanting! Of course, beyond that, his brother was right.

Phineas chuckled, “Do you truly need me to say it, Brother?” They stepped off the last stair and turned toward the drawing room. Stopping in the doorway, Phineas leaned in conspiratorially. “A blind man could see how utterly besotted you are with our little Annie.”

Tobias cringed at his brother’s observation−not that he could fault it, for his gaze instantly found and settled upon the enchanting woman with the deep blue eyes who’d been nothing more than his dearest friend since the day they’d first met.

Now, however, he felt his palms grow moist with nervous excitement at the thought of addressing her. Not long ago, they’d conversed with such ease about every subject imaginable, and now? Now, it seemed a simple greeting might tie up his tongue.

“Ah!” Phineas exclaimed in a hushed tone. “The competitor!”

“What?” Frowning, Tobias looked at his brother before turning in the direction Phineas indicated with a subtle nod of his head. His eyes fell on Lord Gillingham as he greeted Anne and her cousins, bowing formally to all three ladies. His gaze, however, remained locked on Anne.

Tobias’s insides twisted painfully.

“He seems to have taken a special interest in our little Annie,” Phineas mumbled with a smirk on his face. “Would you say they’re suited to one another?” He turned to look at his brother.

Tobias wanted to kick him. “Why are you doing this?” he hissed under his breath.

Phineas shrugged. “I’m only trying to help you along, dear Brother. After all, there is no point in me pointing out charming ladies to you when your heart has already chosen. Would you not agree?” His brows rose in question.

Gritting his teeth, Tobias remained quiet, uncertain what to do or say. After all, Phineas tended to act without thinking, and the last thing Tobias wanted was for his