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

her. She was wearing a bright, pretty violet-colored gown, and her dark hair was piled atop her head, a few tendrils left to stroke her porcelain cheeks. He made his way over to her.
    “Miss Blake?”
    She glanced up and swallowed. Had he frightened her?
    “Your grace?” she replied, glancing nervously around at the other ladies who were all watching him with adoring eyes. Bloody uncomfortable, that.
    “May I have a word, Miss Blake?” he asked. Of course, such a display would do nothing to quell the rumors that they had an affinity for one another, but that was exactly what Oliver wanted.
    Miss Blake stood and made her excuses.
    He nearly dragged her into the corner he was so eager. He turned to face her. “I have a proposal for you.”
    She glanced over her shoulder as if she wondered if he were speaking to someone else. “A proposal? So soon? Why, your grace, you flatter me.” She laughed and he gave her a sarcastic eyebrow raise.
    “Not funny?” she asked.
    He shook his head.
    “Very well, then,” she said. “What is this proposal of yours?”
    He leaned a shoulder against the wall next to her, effectively blocking off the view to the rest of the drawing room. “I heard a rumor today. One that’s going ‘round the house party.”
    Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip. “Enjoy gossip, do you?”
    She was relentless. He gave her another sarcastic eyebrow quirk. “Endlessly.”
    “Go on,” she offered.
    “The rumor is that you and I are courting.”
    Her mouth fell wide. “Pardon?”
    “You and I are supposedly courting,” he repeated.
    She looked almost horrified. “And I suppose us being seen together over here in the corner talking quietly is not helping matters.” She made a move to step around him, but he placed a hand on her arm. A sharp spark passed between them. She stepped back.
    “Wait,” he said. “Listen.”
    She looked a bit like a hare trapped by a fox but she stayed. “Yes?” Her breathing had increased and her chest rose and fell. It was distracting and he had to force himself to keep from looking at her enticing décolletage.
    “I have an idea. One I hope you’ll agree to.”
    She eyed him cautiously but she appeared intrigued. She crossed her arms over her chest. More distracting. “I’m listening.”
    “I was thinking about it. You’re being pursued by unwanted gentlemen, correct?”
    She nodded. “Correct.”
    “And I’m being pursued by unwanted ladies.” He glanced back to the room at large where Lady Selina stood eagerly watching him. He turned back to face Miss Blake.
    She nodded, a slight smile on her lips. She also eyed the lady who stood behind them. “Seems so,” she agreed.
    “What if we didn’t want to stop the rumors?”
    Her eyes narrowed on him. “I’m not entirely sure I follow.”
    “Perhaps we want to encourage them.”
    “Encourage them? What exactly are you saying, your grace?”
    He kept a smile on his face. “I’m proposing that we pretend to be courting in an effort to keep our suitors at bay. For the remainder of the house party, that is. We’ll be left alone, at least more so than we are at present.”
    Miss Blake’s lovely green eyes momentarily clouded, but she appeared to be contemplating the matter. She bit the end of a fingernail. What she was thinking? The plan had merit, did it not? The more he considered it, the more merit he saw in it actually. The arrangement seemed perfect. He enjoyed her company and he believed she felt the same way. Not to mention, he was intrigued by her. More intrigued than he’d been with a young lady the entire time he’d been looking for a wife. She appeared to be the only woman he’d ever met who didn’t give a toss that he was a duke. A rare quality to be certain.
    But he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Couldn’t tell, that was, until she smiled brightly and said, “Why, I think that is a perfect idea.”
    *   *   *
    Cerian’s stomach dropped. A perfect idea ? Had she truly