It Happened Under the Mistletoe: A Holiday Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

Miss Blake was innocent. And she obviously wasn’t accustomed to the ways of the ton . In the ton , a lady touching a gentleman, even for a moment was the makings of a scandal or at least the start of a good gossip. He wondered if she did that a lot at home, touch young men she was flirting with. It made him a bit uncomfortable to think of her laughing and talking like this with another man.
    “The irony is I’m on my way back to bed myself,” she said.
    He cleared his throat. “What’s that?”
    “Mama insists I take a nap every afternoon. She claims it’s good for the complexion. I have my doubts.” She stood and clutched her book against her chest.
    She was wrong. Her complexion was flawless. “And do you? Take a nap, I mean?”
    “Oh no. I read novels under the covers.” She winked at him and his stomach flipped.
    “Novels? No more Shakespeare?” he asked.
    “Not at all.” She gave him a conspiratorial grin. She glanced toward the door. “I’d better go or Mama will come looking for me. I live in fear of her causing a scene.”
    “Surely she wouldn’t do that if she hopes to make a good match for you.”
    Miss Blake laughed. “You don’t know Mama very well. She cannot help herself. She’s a bit loud and … unconventional.”
    Oliver nodded toward the door. “Go, then, and if your Mama comes looking for you, I’ll inform her that the last time I saw you, you were headed to bed intent on your beauty rest.”
    Was that a blush that lit her cheeks? The slight pink tint was captivating.
    “Thank you, very kindly, your grace,” she said with a laugh.
    “Will I see you at dinner?”
    “You will indeed,” she replied. Then she turned in a swirl of bright yellow skirts and jauntily made her way from the library.
    *   *   *
    After Miss Blake left, Oliver stood and made his way back to the shelves where he replaced the copy of Much Ado and began half-interestedly looking about for something else to read. Perhaps he should try a novel. He smiled to himself and shook his head. He made his way around the large mahogany bookcases and found himself in the back of the room, obscured by an entire set of shelves. He’d been quietly perusing the selection there when a pair of voices drifted across the room to him.
    “Did you see Markingham and that Blake girl?” said a woman’s voice he didn’t recognize.
    “I did. Seemed to be quite friendly if you ask me,” answered another woman’s voice.
    “Who’d have thought for a moment that those two would have an affinity for one another? Why it defies convention. I cannot believe it,” the first voice replied.
    “She may be a nobody from Wales but she’s a pretty chit, you must allow that,” the second voice answered.
    Oliver had to nod.
    “No doubt why the duke is interested,” the first voice answered. “They appear to be courting.”
    Oliver nearly choked. Courting? Based on one conversation? Wasn’t that just like two gossiping matrons of the ton , starting rumors out of thin air?
    The second voice added, “If those two keep up their acquaintance for the duration of the house party, I fear there will be many a thwarted young woman and her mama here.”
    “You’re absolutely right about that,” the first voice replied.
    The two matrons’ conversation drifted away as they left the room, and Oliver rested a hand against the bookshelf next to him. He smiled and drummed his fingers along the wood. Hmmm. They didn’t know it, but those two ladies had just given him a brilliant idea.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Whist. Whist was the after-dinner amusement the ladies were participating in when the gentleman joined them after drinks.
    Oliver’s gaze scanned the room for Miss Blake. He was eager to tell her his plan. Well, eager for her reaction to it, that was. He’d found himself looking forward to their conversation all afternoon actually.
    Luckily, Miss Blake was just tossing in her hand of cards on a table toward the back of the room when he spotted