Gifts of the Season: A Gift Most Rare\Christmas Charade\The Virtuous Widow by Miranda Jarrett

Author:Miranda Jarrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

“I wish Father had not insisted we go to the Marstons’ this evening,” Beth said. She tugged down the skirt of Phemie’s hastily pressed gown so that it hung straight. “I had hoped we could leave in the morning as planned.” The snowfall had grown heavier during the evening hours and her father had decided to postpone their journey another day.

She did not want to see Jack so soon after their parting this afternoon.

“Well, I am glad to be going,” Phemie declared. “Colin hasn’t come up to scratch yet, but I almost have him there.”

“He and Jack aren’t likely to attend,” Beth told her. “Any party will be sparsely attended this late in the year. Almost everyone that isn’t in permanent residence here will have left for the country for Christmas. And there is the weather to consider.”

“Oh, they’ll be there,” Phemie assured her. “I sent word to Colin that we’ll be attending.”

“You did not!” Beth exclaimed in shock. “Oh, Phemie, that simply is not done! What will he think of you?”

“That I am hoping to see him tonight. I do swear you will lose Jack if you insist on playing by society’s rules, Beth.”

If Phemie only knew the rules Beth had been so eager to discard, she would be horrified. “For your information, I do not mind losing Jack, as you put it. You know very well I am not in the market for a husband. And you will wreck your own chance at Colin if you continue to chase the poor fellow like a hound after a hare.”

Phemie grinned. “Ah, but the hare’s slowing these past few days. Methinks he wants to be caught.”

“And the hound is salivating,” Beth muttered to herself. But who was she to throw stones at Phemie after last evening and this afternoon? Beth had done considerably worse than send ’round a note announcing her intention to attend a party.

So Jack would be there tonight after all. What on earth could she say to him after that passionate parting kiss he had given her? Why was she so powerfully drawn to the man? Her good sense flew right out the window every time he so much as looked at her.

Beth admitted her one real fear was that she would begin to entertain hopes that Jack would suit her as a husband after all. When she was apart from him, she could reason well enough and know that it would never work. But when he kissed her, held her and looked into her eyes, Beth’s resolve wavered.

Papa was waiting when they descended. He wore a special, tender expression when he looked at her tonight. She wondered why. Had he been maneuvering behind her back again with Lord Harnell? She hoped there would be no more harsh words between them about such things. She loved her father, hard head and all. But he said nothing, only escorted Beth, her mother and Phemie to their waiting conveyance.

The trip took less than a quarter hour since Marston House was very near their own.

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