A Yuletide Invitation: The Mistletoe Wager / The Harlot's Daughter

‘Divorce is by no means a sure thing,’ he hedged. ‘I would have to declare myself in court as her lover. And even then it might amount to nothing. But it would drag the whole affair into the public eye.’

‘Do you have issues with the scandal of it?’

He shrugged. ‘If I did, then I would be a fool to escort her now. It is no less scandalous to partner with her while she is still married.’

‘Would you think less of her should she be free? Would she be beneath you? Because that would put things back to the way they were before I spoiled them.’ She sighed, and dropped her hands to her sides, remembering the look in her brother’s eyes when he had seen his wife in the doorway. ‘Although it would hurt Harry most awfully.’

Nicholas gave her a tired look, and stretched out on the couch with his feet up and a hand over his eyes. ‘There is nothing wrong with Elise, and no reason that I would find her unfit to marry if she were free. Save one.’ He looked as though the words were being wrenched out of him. ‘I do not love her.’

‘You do not …’ Rosalind looked confused. ‘But she has come back to you again, after all these years. And when I spoke to her, she seemed to think …’

‘What she understands to be true is in some ways different from what I have come to believe.’ He turned his head to her, and there was a look of obvious puzzlement on his face. ‘At one time I would have liked nothing better than to meet her in church and unite our futures. But in the years since she turned me down in favour of Harry?’ He shrugged. ‘Much time has passed. I still find her beautiful, and very desirable—for, while I am circumspect, I am not blind to her charms. I enjoy her company, and I value her friendship above all things. But I seriously doubt, should we marry, that I will be a more satisfactory husband than the one she already has. Once the novelty began to pale she would find many aspects of my character are wanting. And for my part? She broke my heart most thoroughly the first time she chose another. But I doubt when she leaves me this time that it will cause similar damage.’

‘How utterly perfect!’ Rosalind reached out and pulled his boots onto the floor, forcing him to sit up.

‘Oh, really?’ He was eyeing her suspiciously. ‘And just why would you say that?’

She sat down on the couch beside him, in the space his legs had occupied, trying to disguise her obvious relief. ‘I will explain shortly, if you can but answer a few more questions to my satisfaction. If you do not want her, then why did you take her back?’

He scratched his head. ‘I am not sure. But I suspect that force of habit brought her to me, and force of habit keeps me at her side.’

‘That does not sound very romantic.’

‘I thought at first that it was lust. A desire to taste the pleasures that I was once denied.’ He gave her a significant look. ‘But our relationship has not yet progressed to such a stage, and I find myself most content with things as they are.’

‘You two are not …? You do not …?’ Rosalind took her most worldly tone with him, and hoped he could not tell that she lacked the understanding to ask the rest of the question. For she was unsure just what should be happening if the relationship had ‘progressed’. But she had wondered, all the same.

‘We are not, and we do not.’ He was staring at her in surprise now. ‘Are you seeking vicarious pleasure in the details of Elise’s infidelity? For you are most curious on the subject.’

‘Not really.’ She gave him a critical appraisal in return. ‘I think it is quite horrid that she left Harry, and even worse that you took her in. But if it was all for an ember of true love that smouldered for years, though untended, it would give me some measure of understanding. And I would find it in my heart to forgive her.’

‘But not me?’ he asked.

‘I would suspect you of being an unrepentant rogue, Tremaine, as I do in any case. For you seem ready to ruin my brother’s marriage not because you love deeply, but because you are too lazy to send Elise home.’

He flinched at her gibe. ‘It will probably spoil your low opinion of me, but here is the real reason I encouraged her to remain in London. I recognise a friend in dire need, and I want to help her. She is lost, Miss Morley. She will find her way right again, I am sure. But until that time better that she be lost with me than with some other man who does not understand the situation and chooses to take advantage of her weakness.’

‘You are carrying on a public affair with my sister-in-law for her own good?’

Tremaine smiled. ‘And now please explain it to your brother for me. I am sure he will be relieved to hear it.’

‘I think Harry doubts your good intentions.’

His smile widened to a grin. ‘I know he does. I think he invited me down here for the express purpose of keeping me away from Elise during the holiday. To the susceptible, Christmas can be a rather romantic season. I believe we both know what can happen in the proximity of wine and mistletoe.’

He looked at the ceiling and whistled, while she glared steadfastly towards the floor.

‘Do you know how he attempted to trick me into this visit? By offering to divorce his wife if I won his silly bet. He probably thought I could not resist the challenge of besting him. Little did he suspect that I would tell Elise all, and she would insist on coming as well. It must gall him no end to see the two of us here.’

Rosalind cleared her throat. ‘I think you would be surprised at how much he might know on that matter. But pray continue.’

Tremaine laughed. ‘For my part, were I a jealous man, I would be enraged at the amount of energy my supposed intended spends in trying to attract her husband’s attention by courting mine. She means to go back to him, and he is dying to have her back. There is nothing more to be said on the matter.’

‘I will agree with that,’ said Rosalind. ‘For I have never met a couple better suited, no matter what they might think.’

He nodded. ‘We agree that they belong together. And she does want to come home to him, since he did not come to London and get her. So be damned to Harry’s machinations for the holidays. I have devised a plan of my own.’

‘Really?’ Someone else with a plan? She could not decide if she should meet the news with eagerness or dread.

‘Harry’s scheme, whatever it might be, requires my eagerness to win his wife away from him. In this he does not have my co-operation. I have kept her safe from interlopers for two months now, but it is time she returned home. I was hoping to find my host, lose the bet, and make a hasty escape before Elise realised what had happened. In no time, I would have been back in London. And she would have been back here with Harry, where she belongs.’

She shook her head. ‘Until such time as Harry loaned her a coach so that she could leave him again. Which he will do, the moment she asks. It will do no good at all if you leave only to have Elise following in your wake.’

Tremaine grimaced in disgust. ‘Why on earth would Harry lend her a coach? I have brought her as far as Lincolnshire. If he lacks the sense to hold on to her once he has her again then you can hardly expect me to do more.’

Rosalind replied, ‘Elise’s main argument with the man seems to be that he is too agreeable. And he has admitted to me that he would deny her nothing. If she wished to leave, he would not stop her.’

‘Damn Harry and his agreeable nature,’ he said. ‘In any case, the snow is keeping me from the execution of my plan, since it required a rapid getaway and that appears to be impossible.’ He stared at her for a moment. ‘But finding you here adds an interesting ripple to the proceedings. Considering our history together, and the results that came of it, I thought perhaps …’

‘That I would allow you to dishonour me again to precipitate another falling-out with Elise?’ She gave him a sceptical glare. ‘While I cannot fault you for the deviousness of it, I do not see what good it would do. You might have escaped marriage to me once, but I expect Harry would call you out if you refused me now.’

He glared at her. ‘Very well, Miss Morley. You have proved my plans to be non-starters. I shall fall back on my last resort, of taking all my meals in this room and avoiding both the lord and the lady of the house until I can leave. Unless you have a better idea?’ The challenge hung in the air.

She smiled back. ‘I was hoping you would ask. For I have a far superior plan.’ Or rather Harry had, if she could get Tremaine to agree with it. It would be quite hopeless if he meant to hide in the library the whole visit.

He favoured her with a dry expression, and reached for his teacup to take a fortifying sip. ‘Do you, now?’

‘Of course. You admit you are concerned with Elise’s welfare. And, while I wish her well, I am more worried about Harry. If we are in agreement that what they need for mutual happiness is each other, then it makes sense that we pool our resources and work together to solve their difficulties.’

‘Because we have had such good luck together in the past?’

She sniffed in disapproval. ‘I would not be expecting you to do anything more than you have done already. Pay courteous attention to Elise. Be her confidant, her escort, her friend. But to do that you must come out of this room, participate in the activities I have planned, and see that she does as well. Your mere presence may be enough to goad Harry to action on the matter, if he is the one who must apologise.’

‘That is exactly what I fear.’ Tremaine shuddered theatrically. ‘Although Harry seems to be a mild-mannered chap, I’ve found in the past that this type of fellow can be the most dangerous, when finally “goaded to action”. If your plan involves me meeting with violence at the hands of an irate husband …’

‘I doubt it will come to that.’

‘You doubt? Miss Morley, that is hardly encouraging.’ He spread his hands in front of him, as though admiring a portrait. ‘I can see it all now. You and the other guests look on in approval as Harry beats me to a bloody pulp. And then, Elise falls into his arms. While I wish them all the best, I fail to see the advantages to me in this scenario.’

‘Do not be ridiculous, sir. I doubt Harry is capable of such a level of violence.’ She considered. ‘Although, if you could see your way clear to letting him plant you a facer …’

‘No, I could not,’ He stared at her in curiosity. ‘Tell me, Miss Morley, are all your ideas this daft, or only those plans that concern me?’

‘There is nothing the least bit daft about it. It is no more foolish than taking a lover in an effort to get her to return to her husband.’ She stared back at him. ‘You will pardon me for saying it, but if that is the projected result of an affair with you, it does not speak well of your romantic abilities.’

‘I have the utmost confidence in my “romantic abilities”. But if you doubt them, I would be only too happy to demonstrate.’

She cleared her throat. ‘Not necessary, Tremaine. But, since you are concerned for your safety, we will find a way to make Harry jealous that involves no personal harm to you. Is that satisfactory?’

‘Why must we make him jealous at all? If I stay clear of him, and we allow time to pass and nature to take its course …’

‘Spoken as a true city-dweller, Tremaine. If you had ever taken the time to observe nature, you would have found that it moves with incredible slowness. The majestic glaciers are called to mind. So deliberate as to show no movement at all. And as cold as that idea.’

He shook his head. ‘Spoken by someone who has never seen the ruins of Pompeii. They are a far better example of what happens when natural passions are allowed their sway. Death and destruction for all who stand in the way. Which is why I prefer to keep my distance.’

‘You have seen them?’ she asked eagerly.

‘Harry and Elise? Of course. And I suspect that, although they do not show it outright—’

‘No. The ruins of Pompeii.’

He stopped, confused by the sudden turn in the conversation. ‘Of course. I took the Grand Tour. It is not so unusual.’

She leaned forward on the couch. ‘Were they as amazing as some have said?’

‘Well, yes. I suppose. I did not give it much thought at the time.’

She groaned in frustration. ‘I have spent my whole life sequestered in the country, drawing the same watercolours of the same spring flowers, year after year. And you have seen the world. But you did not think on it.’

‘You are sequestered in the country because you cannot be trusted out of sight of home,’ he snapped.

‘Because of one mistake. With you.’ She pointed a finger. ‘But I notice you are to be trusted to go wherever you like.’

‘That is because I am a man. You are a girl. It is an entirely different thing.’

‘Please cease referring to me as a girl. I am fully grown, and have been for some time.’ She glared up at him. ‘My diminutive stature has nothing to do with youth, and should not render me less than worthy—despite what Elise might have to say on the subject of what constitutes a good match.’

He was staring at her with a dazed expression. ‘Indeed. You are quite tall enough, I am sure. And what does Elise have to do with it?’

‘She was speaking on the subject of her marriage to Harry,’ Rosalind admitted. ‘I still find it very hard to understand, but she seemed to think it important that Harry was tall.’

Tremaine furrowed his brow, and took another sip from his cup. ‘That makes no sense. He is no taller than I, certainly. Perhaps even a little shorter.’

‘But just right in the eyes of Elise, I assure you. She made a point of assuring me that physically he is a magnificent specimen, and that they are very well suited.’

Tremaine choked on his tea.

‘Is something the matter?’

‘Not at all. It is just I think you have misunderstood her.’

‘Whatever else could she mean?’

He was looking at her in a most unusual way. ‘Perhaps at another time we can discuss that matter in more detail. But for now, do not concern yourself with it. I suspect it means that there are parts of married life that she is eager to resume. And that I have brought her home not a moment too soon. We need not concern ourselves with Harry’s good qualities. If we wish success, we would be better served to improve on his deficiencies. And, much as I dislike the risks involved, we must do what is necessary to make him reclaim his wife’s affection.’

Rosalind smiled at his use of the word ‘we’. Perhaps they were working towards the same end, after all. ‘My thoughts exactly.’

He returned her smile. ‘Well, then. What does she want from him that we can help her achieve?’

‘I know from experience that Harry can be the most frustrating of men.’ She frowned. ‘If he does not wish you to know, it is very hard to divine what it is that he is thinking. Hence our current predicament. I have no doubt that he adores Elise. But she cannot see it, even after all these years.’

Tremaine frowned in return. ‘Can she not see what is obvious to the rest of us?’

‘I think she wishes him to be more demonstrative.’

‘Which will be damned difficult, you will pardon the expression, with her hanging upon my arm. If he has never made any attempt to dislodge her from it, I fail to see what I could do to change things.’

She patted him on the arm in question. ‘You have hit on the problem exactly. She wishes him to do something about you.’

Tremaine ran a hand over his brow. ‘And I would rather he did not. Is there anything else?’

‘She wishes he would talk to her so that she could better understand him.’

He furrowed his brow. ‘They have passed the last five years in silence? That cannot be. I would swear that I have heard him utter words in her presence. Is it a difficulty of language? For I have found Elise’s comprehension of English to be almost flawless.’

Rosalind closed her eyes for a moment, attempting to gather strength. ‘She wishes him to speak about important matters.’

‘Matters of state, perhaps? How odd. She has shown no interest in them when speaking to me.’

Rosalind burst forth in impatience. ‘This has nothing to do with English lessons or a sudden interest in politics, Tremaine. Elise wishes Harry to speak openly about matters that are important to her.’

‘Oh.’ He slumped in defeat. ‘Then it is quite hopeless. For he would have no idea what that would be. The minds of women are a depth that we gentlemen have not been able to plumb, I’m afraid.’

‘Don’t be an idiot,’ she snapped. ‘There is nothing so terribly difficult to understand about women, if you make an effort. We two are conversing well enough, aren’t we? You do not require the assistance of a guide to understand me?’

He paused for a moment and answered politely, ‘Of course not. But you are more direct in your communication than Elise.’

She smiled graciously, preparing to blush and accept the compliment.

Then he said, ‘Almost masculine.’ He paused again. ‘And why do you persist in calling me just Tremaine, and not Mister? If you prefer, you may call me Nicholas.’

‘I do not.’ She stood up and moved away from him. ‘Nor do I think your behaviour proves you worthy of an honorific. Tremaine will do. And you may continue to call me Miss Morley. And now that we have got that out of the way, are we in agreement about the matter of Elise and Harry? Will you help me?’

‘Since it is likely to be the only way you will allow me any peace? Yes, I will help you, Miss Morley. Now, go about your business and let me return to my nap.’

CHAPTER NINE

HARRY sighed in satisfaction as he climbed the stairs towards his bed. The day had gone well enough, he supposed. The house had buzzed with activity. Wherever he went he had found people playing at cards or games, eating, drinking and merrymaking, with Rosalind presiding over all with an air of hospitable exasperation. The only faces that had seemed to be absent from the mix were those of Tremaine and his wife.

The thought troubled him, for he suspected that they might be together, wherever they were, enjoying each other’s company. And it would be too obvious of him to pound upon his wife’s door and admit that he wished to know if she was alone.

He almost sighed in relief as he saw her in the window seat at the top of the stairs. She was just where she might have been if there had been no trouble between them, sitting in her favourite place and looking out onto the snow falling into the moonlit park below.

He stepped up beside her, speaking quietly so as not to disturb her mood. ‘Beautiful, is it not?’

‘Yes.’ She sighed. But it was a happy, contented sigh, and it made him smile.

‘I expect it will make tomorrow’s trip into the trees a difficult one.’

‘You still mean to go?’ She looked at him in obvious surprise.

‘Of course. It will be the morning of Christmas Eve. We went out into the woods together often enough that I have come to think of it as a family tradition. Would you like to accompany me?’

She looked excited at the prospect, and then dropped her gaze and shook her head. ‘I doubt that would be a good idea.’

He laughed. ‘It is not as if we are planning an assignation. Only a sign of friendship. If we cannot be lovers we can at least be friends, can’t we?’

‘Friends?’ The word sounded hollow and empty coming from her. She was making no attempt to show the world that she was happy with their situation.

It gave him hope, and he continued. ‘Yes. We can have a truce. If you wish Tremaine to be your lover, then why can I not occupy the position he has vacated and be your trusted friend?’

‘You wish to be my friend?’ Now she looked truly puzzled.

‘If I can be nothing else. Let us go out tomorrow, as we have done in the past. We will take Tremaine with us, so that he can share in the fun. If he is what you want, then I wish to see him well settled in my place before I let you go. Tomorrow I will pass the torch.’

‘You will?’ If she wanted her freedom, his offer should give her a sense of relief. But there was nothing in her tone to indicate it.

‘Yes. I had not planned on your visit, but now that you are here it is a good thing. We cannot settle what is between us with you in London and me in the country. If you wish an end to things, then it is better if we deal with them face to face, without acrimony. Only then will you truly be free.’ He let the words sink in. ‘You do wish to be free of me, do you not?’

‘Yes …’

There was definitely doubt in her voice. He clung to that split second of hesitation as the happiest sound he had heard in months.

‘Very well, then. If there is nothing I can do that will make Tremaine lose the bet, on Twelfth Night I will honour my word and begin divorce proceedings. For above all I wish you to be happy. Merry Christmas, Elise.’

‘Thank you.’

She whispered it, and sounded so very sad that it was all he could do to keep from putting his arms around her and drawing her close, whispering back that he would never let her go.

‘Let us go to bed, then, for it will be an early morning.’

She stood and walked with him, towards their rooms.

Would it be so wrong to take her hand and pull her along after him to his door? Although her manner said that she might not be totally opposed to the idea, neither was there proof that she would be totally in favour of it. It would be best if he waited until he had a better idea of what she truly wanted.

He put his hands behind his back and cleared his throat.

‘About our disagreement of yesterday, over the arrangement of the rooms. After we had gone to bed, I realised how it must look to you. And I apologise if you took it as an effort to control your behaviour. You have made it clear enough to me that it is no longer any business of mine what occurs in your bedroom. If there is a reason that you might wish to lock the connecting door, I will allow you your privacy.’

‘For what reason would I wish privacy?’ She sounded confused by the idea. Perhaps even after two months Tremaine was an idle threat to their marriage. She shrugged as though nothing could occur to her, and gave a tired laugh. ‘In any case, what good would it do to lock the door against you? You have the key.’

He held his hands open in front of him. ‘I have all the keys, Elise. I could open the door of any room in which you slept. You must have realised that when you came home. But do you really think me such a villain that I mean to storm into your room without your permission and force myself upon you?’

She caught her breath and her eyes darkened. For a moment his threat held definite appeal.

Then he cleared his throat and continued, ‘Am I really the sort who would take you until you admitted that there was no place in the world that you belonged but in my arms and in my bed?’

She froze for a moment, and then glared at him. ‘No, Harry, you are not. On more careful consideration, I think that I have nothing to worry about. Goodnight.’

And, perhaps it was his imagination, but the way she carried herself could best be described as stomping off to her room. When the door shut, he suspected that the slam could be heard all over the house.

The next morning Harry was up well before dawn, had taken breakfast and dressed in clothes suitable for the weather before going to roust Tremaine. He could not help but smile as he pounded smartly on the door to the poor man’s bedroom. He could hear rustling, stumbling noises, and a low curse before the door in front of him creaked open.

Tremaine stood before him, bleary-eyed and still in his nightshirt. ‘Eh?’

‘Time to get up, old man.’

Tremaine squinted into the hall and croaked, ‘Is there a problem?’

‘No problem at all. Did I forget to tell you last night? So sorry. But you must be a part of today’s proceedings. Elise is expecting you.’

‘Then come for me in daylight.’

‘No, no. What we are about must be done at dawn. And on the morn of Christmas Eve. There is no better time. Pull on some clothes, man. Warm ones. Your true love is awaiting you in the hall.’