Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,367

and Blade took a step backwards. He envied the cat as she cuddled it to her bosom.

“Harriet, I reminded you to keep Sir Lancelot in your room. You know how cats make Blade’s face swell up and break into hives,” Trello all but barked.

“I’m sure Harriet didn’t do it on purpose,” but her stare didn’t confirm that thought. Really? He understood she was probably feeling out of sorts at his sudden interest in marriage without even courting her. It was arrogant of him to expect her to fall into his arms within a day. He just needed time alone with her to explain. Last Christmas he’d almost proposed, and he was sure Harriet would have accepted. But he thought to let her shine in her first season this year. Little did he know he’d be engaged elsewhere and unable to court her properly.

Just then a sneeze tracked up his nose, and he knew it was time to take his leave. It was him or the cat. “I shall see you all at dinner.” With that, he bowed and left the room, Trello following behind.

“I hate to say this, Blade but somehow you have really angered Harriet.” He clapped Blade on his back. “Let’s go play some billiards and drink brandy while you explain to me what you’ve done to upset my sister.”

He had a suspicion he knew exactly what she was angry about. She was angry that he’d ignored her most of the season, and she believed the rumors about him and Lady Jane, and yet he was turning up at Christmas expecting her to agree to a match.

He would talk to her tonight whether or not she liked it. Getting her alone was the issue. He could hardly visit her room. The cat would see him break out in hives or worse, sometimes he could barely breathe. He would have to get her to come to him. No easy feat when she was avoiding him and it was too cold at night to venture outside.

Chapter Five

Dinner had been a trying affair with her father’s obvious matchmaking efforts making her want to plead illness and flee. To Blade’s credit, he had not gloated or played into her father’s innuendo, and that had bothered her more. What was he up to?

Now Harriet had escaped to the library, while her brothers and Blade had made their way to the billiard room once again. Ariane had retired early, tired after her long journey, but Harriet couldn’t sleep. She should go to bed and rest. It would be a long tiring night tomorrow, having to smile and take all the knowing looks from their guests. They knew why Blade was here. Her father had not been discreet, it would appear. Everyone would expect an announcement tomorrow night.

She rubbed her temples and tried to fight off the pounding headache about to set in. She pushed her slippers off with her toes and lay down on the settee. Every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was the image of Blade’s naked chest as he’d stood with water sluicing over every defined muscle in the hot pool. Was it only a day ago? Now, her body seemed to be aflame each time she saw him, knowing what lay beneath the clothes. She wondered if he dreamed of her naked and in his arms?

She hated that she longed to be naked and in his arms, even if she was second best and merely met requirements on a list.

As if he’d sensed her thoughts, she looked up and Blade was standing in the doorway. His face was shadowed but she could feel the heat in his gaze. She swung her legs off the settee and sat up. She wanted to say don’t come near, but her throat closed as he sauntered towards where she sat near the fire, as if he owned the night.

“We need to talk.”

She didn’t want to talk. Not here in the firelight where the shadows caressed his face and made her want to do the same.

“I’m not sure we have anything to discuss.”

An audible sigh filled the air as he took the large wingback chair across from her. “I have some explaining to do and an apology to make.”

That caught her attention.

He carried on. “You want to know about Lady Jane.”

“I’m sure I am not in the least bit interested in your—affairs.”

“If you expect honesty, then you must be honest with me too.” Her face flushed with color. “Lady Jane meant nothing to