Merry Misrule - St. Clair, Ellie Page 0,38

it just a harmless flirtation, or should I be concerned?”

Joanna bit her lip, unsure of how much she should share.

“It is likely best you ask Caroline.”

“I would, if I could find her,” he said, “but besides dinner last night, she’s been a ghost. What is she doing? You are her closest friend, invited to this house party where you don’t know anyone else, and yet she leaves you alone.”

“It’s not her fault,” Joanna said, knowing he was right but unable to help the loyalty to Caroline.

“It is, though,” Elijah said. “Please tell me — should I be concerned?”

“I don’t think concerned is the right word,” Joanna said carefully, her heart unable to resist the despair in his dark eyes. “But I do think that what she feels for Thatcher should not be dismissed lightly. Her feelings for him are strong.”

He sighed heavily. “That’s what I was afraid of.” He began pacing the pink and green Aubusson carpet that lined the room. “I don’t even know anything about the man.”

“You don’t?” Joanna said, surprised. “He’s been with your family for years — long before you left for the war.”

“He has?” he said, stopping and looking at her, before a mask covered his face. “Of course he has. I knew that.”

“Did you though?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. “What’s wrong, Eli?” she asked softly, and for a moment, she thought that he was going to tell her, to open up to her and reveal whatever it was that had happened to him. But then the moment was gone and his face was shuttered once more.

“Nothing at all,” he said with a forced smile. “Just reacquainting myself with my life here. Now,” he crossed the room toward her, placing his hands on the arms of her chair, trapping her within it, “come sledding with us.”

“I don’t know,” she said, disappointment invading, for the thought did sound rather wonderful. “I have so much to do. I really shouldn’t.”

He rolled his eyes. “And what is going to happen if you don’t finish these costumes? Cecily will be upset with you? I honestly don’t think that should matter at all.”

She considered his words. She did feel an obligation to complete the work, but at the same time… he was right.

“Very well,” she said, putting her work to the side. “Let’s go.”

“That’s the spirit,” he said, pulling her to her feet and kissing her long and hard, his lips firmly on hers. It lacked the passion of his previous kiss, but held plenty of intention. “We’ll have fun — I promise.”

His eyes glinted, and she looked up at him, hoping for more but unsure just how to say it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.

“I…” her heart beat hard in her chest, “I’d like, ah, that is—” she swallowed hard. She shouldn’t ask. She should leave their relationship as it was, for there was no promise of anything more than a bit of fun, and she didn’t trust her heart to leave it at that.

But it didn’t seem she had a choice any longer. “Kiss me again?”

“Gladly.” He grinned, his eyes lighting in pleased surprise, and then his lips were on hers once more, his hands coming to her back as she placed hers on his chest, slipping her fingers over the top of his waistcoat. Today he tasted like coffee, whisky, and trouble.

Trouble she wanted more of.

Trouble she had always run from.

Trouble she could no longer ignore.

Chapter 14

Elijah had spent a great deal of the past few years outdoors.

But battlefields and camps didn’t count, he decided as he took a great inhalation of the winter air.

Nothing compared to home, to the grounds of Briercrest, to the scents of pine and snow and fresh crispness.

All made better by the rosy-cheeked woman beside him.

He had finally wrenched himself away from her after their kiss in her bedroom. How he was going to make it through the rest of this Christmastide without taking her to the end of satisfaction, he had no idea. Never had a woman tempted him so, and he wanted nothing more than to convince her that she should be forever promised to him.

The thought should scare him. He had never been one to be particularly concerned with finding a woman and marrying. He had an older brother, who had a son of his own, and before Christopher, if anything had happened to Elijah, there had always been Alex.

But then Joanna had returned to his life, and the thought of marriage was no