How to Marry a Rake in Ten Days: A Victorian Christmas Story by Holt Samantha

Author:Holt, Samantha [Holt, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-11-30T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Miss Manners says...

It can be easy, my dears, to have one’s attention drawn to inappropriate members of the opposite sex. Do not be naive when entering society. There are many men who are entirely unsuitable for you but will be devastatingly handsome and ridiculously charming. Stay strong and remember to seek that hidden gem. Charm alone will not carry you through a relationship. Consider the quiet men, the men who are not quick with their compliments, even those who cannot dance. Those men will make steadfast and excellent companions. Keep your head, my dears, and you will do well.

The pain in Benedict’s wrist intensified as they brought out the kickshaws. Even having taken a fair amount of Collis Browne’s vile concoction and having his wrist strapped up didn’t help. Not when he kept trying to ball his fist.

And he wouldn’t be balling his fist if he wasn’t having to be witness to Angelina fawning over Sutherland.

What the devil kind of game was she playing? Why did that dry old stick interest her? Apparently they had a friendship of sorts but she really was paying him far too much attention and he suspected people were beginning to notice. He took a long sip of wine and placed the glass down with too heavy a hand. Angelina’s head whipped his way.

“You should not drink too much. Not after taking Chlorodyne.”

“You’re not my mother,” he grumbled.

A brow arched. “Thank goodness.”

He pressed his lips together and tried not to inhale her scent or admire the way her golden hair was piled in an artful hairstyle. Tiny pearl clips had been scattered amongst the curls, catching the light every now and then and the ridiculous part of him kept likening her to a fairy or an angel. He almost snorted at himself.

They dined in a secondary hall. A vaulted ceiling was lined with ancient beams. Flags hung from them while wrought iron chandeliers dropped on long chains to sit above their table. There was just under thirty in their party but the table could seat at least forty by his reckoning. The marquess and marchioness were not far from him, just in earshot, but other members of the party were well out of his hearing. He glanced up at the ceiling, down the length of the table and back to Angelina.

Aware his charms were failing him, he drew in a breath and aided her with the kickshaws while Sutherland made some remark to her that had her giggling. What could he possibly be saying that could be so funny? The man had no sense of humour. Angie needed a man who could make her laugh properly. One who could make her blush too. He’d managed that. He might have been addled on laudanum on Christmas Day and the day after, but he’d made her blush.

Really, he wanted to do it again. It wasn’t the best time to admit to his feelings for her, even subtly. He’d approached Fairfax already this evening but found himself distracted by Angelina’s proximity.

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