Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem: A Bluestocking Belles Collection

by Mariana Gabrielle

  "Yes, that would suit me well… if you have no objections, that is." He lightly rapped his knuckles upon the oak arm of the chair, and she noticed a slight frown beneath the artfully tousled sweep of hair that fell across his brow. "Tessa, I know this is not easy for you. That because of my impulsive and unchivalrous actions last night, we have both been forced into a situation neither of us could have anticipated. And for that, I offer you my sincerest apology." He sat forward, and his gaze trapped hers. "I truly believe that you and I could forge an amicable partnership, and toward that end…" He reached into an inner pocket of his coat and withdrew a small, square box covered in crimson velvet. "While it is not customary to do so, I would like to present you with this small token of… my commitment to you. To us."

  Tessa reached out a trembling hand and took the case from him. "Thank you, my lord," she said with a stiffness that must seem ungracious. She had not expected anything like this. Part of her appreciated the gesture, while another part was suspicious of Lord Arlington's agenda. An amicable partnership, he'd said. In theory, that sounded perfect, but in practice, what did Lord Arlington really mean? Did he simply want a docile wife to parade about when the occasion called for it? Did he think gifts would gain her compliance? Entice her into his bed with a minimum of fuss? Like all men of his class, he would want an heir and a spare, at the very least.

  She lifted the lid and sucked in a sharp breath. Resting on a bed of ivory satin lay a demi-parure of exquisite ruby and diamond jewelry—a pair of earrings and a ring. A betrothal ring. Tessa swallowed and placed the box very carefully upon the occasional table before her. "They're beautiful."

  Christopher hadn't exaggerated when he'd said Lord Arlington was generous. But Tessa couldn't help thinking that he was probably generous with most of the women he was trying to charm or seduce. Like Lady Montagu. She closed the lid and met Lord Arlington's expectant gaze. "I'm sorry if I seem ungrateful, but I cannot accept them."

  Lord Arlington frowned. "Oh. Are they not to your taste, perhaps? I suppose when I think of you, the color red springs to mind." His gaze fell briefly to her lips before returning to eye level. "It suits you well."

  Tessa clenched her hands together, willing herself not to blush. The way Lord Arlington's gaze had skimmed over her mouth made her think of nothing else but the hot brush of his lips, the wet glide of his tongue against hers… How wayward she had become in such a short space of time. It appeared she wouldn't need any sort of extravagant gift to entice her into Lord Arlington's arms after all. She cleared her throat and drew in a steadying breath before attempting to speak again. "Thank you. I will confess that red is my favorite color, but," she dragged her gaze back to his face, "I am not the sort of woman who wears jewelry. I'm afraid my tastes are rather simple."

  "I see. However, for the sake of my humble pride, I would ask you to at least keep them, even if you do not choose to wear them."

  "As you wish." Tessa straightened in her seat and forced herself to continue looking the earl in the eye. "Lord Arlington, I am grateful that you have made your views on marriage very clear. And I wondered if I might do the same."

  "Yes. Of course. Only, please, if I am to use your Christian name, you must do the same and call me Jasper."

  "Jasper…" His name on her tongue felt almost too intimate, especially when he flashed a devilish smile at her. Tamping down another wave of shyness, she pushed on and said, "I gather you are aware of my age, that I am not fresh out of the schoolroom?"

  "Yes. Your brother shared that information with me last night. I hope you do not mind."

  "No, of course not. We are to be married after all."

  Lord Arlington smiled. "I am eight and twenty, in case you have been wondering."

  Tessa inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Thank you. It seems there is much we need to learn about each other."

  "I'm very much looking forward to getting to know every little thing about you, Tessa."

  Curse the man, she was blushing again. Tessa clasped her hands together more tightly, trying to regain a measure of control, so she could reassemble her scattered thoughts. "Now, as I was saying… For some years, I have been fortunate enough to be in a position to pursue many of my own interests. I paint—mainly portraits—but sometimes landscapes as well."

  "I have seen some of your work. It is very good."

  "Thank you. I also sell my work, and any income I receive from that—and also from the twice-weekly art classes I run at a young ladies' academy—I donate to charity. A charity that support women's causes, The Benevolent Society for the Women of Whitechapel."

  "Very admirable. And I gather you would like the freedom to continue some, if not all of your pursuits."

  "Yes." Tessa's reply emerged on a breathless rush. Could Lord Arlington—Jasper—truly be that understanding?

  "Well." Jasper stroked his chin with one long, well-shaped finger as he regarded her with a thoughtful expression. "I see no reason at all that you shouldn't continue to paint, or support worthwhile charities. Indeed, I myself donate to a number of causes supporting wounded soldiers. But, I'm afraid that continuing to sell your artwork and teach art classes would not befit your station as my wife, the Countess of Arlington, and in time, the mother of my children. And then there is the simple matter of geography. I'm sure you appreciate that Arlington Abbey, my ancestral home, is quite some hours away from London. And as I intend to spend… pardon me, I should say we will spend much of our time there, it will be difficult for you to offer your services as an art tutor at your young ladies' academy on anything but an irregular basis."

  Tessa's heart sank, and a defeated sigh escaped her. She thought as much. It seemed the amount of money she would be able to donate to her charity would be considerably smaller.

  "You look crestfallen, my dear Tessa, and I hate to see you so. Would it help to ease the blow of giving up your work if I mentioned I intend to provide you with a sizeable allowance? Whatever income you have been receiving from teaching and selling your paintings, I shall double it. Does that sound fair?"

  "Oh, heavens, yes." Tessa raised a hand to her throat where her pulse beat wildly. "Thank you so much, Lord Arling—Jasper. You have no idea how much your generous offer means to me, and to the women and children who rely on The Benevolent Society's charity. Especially at this time of year."

  "Think nothing of it. If it makes you happy, I am in full favor of it. As I said before, I wish for our marriage to be an amicable one, at the very least."

  Amicable. That word again. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to marry. And especially not to someone as overwhelmingly male and devastatingly attractive as Lord Arlington. Jasper. She certainly didn't expect this to be a love match. But then Jasper had just said he wanted their relationship to be amicable, at the very least…

  His choice of words suggested that perhaps he was open to more. But was he just alluding to her conjugal obligations? He was a passionate man, of that there was no doubt. However, once she produced the requisite number of offspring, would he seek feminine 'companionship' elsewhere? Her parents' marriage had followed that pattern. Her mother had never spoken of such things—that Father had kept a mistress—but during her adolescence, Tessa had sensed the tension in her parents' relationship. It was obvious her mother had been lonely, that she had cared for her husband more than he had ever cared for her. To see someone you love being wounded, time and time again, was heart-breaking to witness. No, Tessa could never abide living like that.

  So, it was best she kept her head, performed her wifely duties, and in her spare time, she would devote herself to all the things that brought her personal satisfaction. She couldn't afford to fall in love with Jasper. He was nothing but a scoundrel with a roving eye and a smooth tongue, who had already demonstrated his fast-and-loose tendencies right under her very nose. To expect him to be faithful to a woman he didn't love was the stuff of fantasies.

  "Tessa…"

  She looked up to find Jasper watchi
ng her, his expression intent. She knew that look. It was the look he wore last night, right before he kissed her. The look of a practiced rake with seduction on his mind. Oh, dear… She wasn't ready for this. Her heart began to race in earnest. She really wished it wouldn't.

  Jasper moved to the edge of his seat as if he were about to stand, and at that very moment, there came a knock at the door.

  "Come in," she called out in a high, breathy voice that was anything but calm and ladylike. "The tea," she added, quite unnecessarily, as a pair of footmen entered, bearing trays, which they placed on the mahogany tea table before her. Heavens, she sounded positively feather-headed. "Would you care for some, my lord?"

  Jasper nodded. "Yes, thank you, Miss Penrose. I take it strong and black with one lump of sugar."

  Black with one lump of sugar. You can do this, Tessa. Unclasping her gloved hands, she leaned forward and reached for the silver urn of hot water.

  ***

  Jasper watched Tessa reach for the urn with hands that were clearly shaking within her cream kid gloves. He frowned. He didn't like to think that he made her that uneasy. It also struck him how odd it was that she hadn't removed her gloves.

  Using both hands, Tessa tipped the urn, pouring the steaming liquid over the tea leaves in the porcelain teapot. None spilled, despite her trembling, and she smiled a little to herself, as if proud of her achievement.

  While the tea steeped, he took the opportunity to observe Tessa as she fussed about, arranging the teacups on saucers before offering him cakes and sandwiches. Last night, he had not fully appreciated how beautiful she really was. He'd thought she was raven-haired like her brother and younger sister, but in actual fact, the afternoon light filtering into the room revealed her hair to be more of a dark brown, with auburn highlights that reminded him of the glossy sheen of rosewood. His fingers suddenly itched to test the heavy silkiness of the curls clustered around her face. Her cheeks were flushed pink, most likely with nerves, but he liked to think she might even be a little attracted to him, perhaps excited by his presence; he was certainly attracted to her. His body positively thrummed with anticipation as he let his gaze fall to her wide, full mouth—her naturally cherry-red lips were made to be kissed. He wondered how far he could press her for more kisses this very afternoon.

  She poured his tea, placed the requested one lump of sugar in the cup, and passed it to him… with her left hand. He took it with a smile and a smooth thank you, all the while puzzling over that tiny detail. It probably meant nothing. Left-handedness was not unheard of, but still… When Tessa poured her own tea, again it was with her left hand. She kept her gloves on, and he noticed when she wasn't using her right hand, she buried it within the folds of her red shawl. Not the usual dress etiquette while drinking tea… Curious…

  "Jasper, is everything all right?"

  He raised his gaze to meet her large, brown eyes; her expression was wary, to say the least. But then he'd been rudely staring at her person. At the risk of provoking her ire, he ventured a pointed remark. "Yes, perfectly fine, thank you. I simply wondered if you were cold." He dropped his gaze to her gloved hand. "I could prod the fire, if you'd like."

  Her swallow was audible in the quiet room. "Yes… yes, thank you, my lord." She took a hasty sip of tea, raising her cup with her left hand, yet again. "The weather has been terribly inclement, but then, it has been all year, hasn't it?" she continued, her words spilling out in a nervous rush as he threw another log onto the grate and stirred the coals. "It is certainly the season for early snowfall and chilblains. I am looking forward to handing out woolen blankets, stockings, and mittens on Boxing Day to the women and children in The Benevolent Society's dormitory. Oh…" Jasper turned back just in time to see her face fall. "I won't be here." She offered him a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Never mind. As long as the children get what they need, that is the main thing."

  "Tessa." Jasper crossed the hearth rug and lowered himself onto the settee beside her. He took her cup and saucer from her and placed them on the nearby table, and her doe-like eyes widened. He really didn't want her to be so frightened around him. He was beginning to feel as if he were taking tea with a skittish deer. Perhaps if he kissed her, she'd melt in his arms again, and her edginess would dissipate. His gaze fell briefly to the tantalizing swell of bosom above the neckline of her gown before returning to her face. To her mouth. Yes, he most definitely wanted her in his arms.

  But he would have to proceed with caution, beguile her. "Tessa," he repeated gently, "I know there will be some adjustments to make on both our parts, and it will take some time for us to get to know each other. I suppose, what I am trying to say is, even though we only met last night, I think you are a remarkable young woman, spirited, talented, dedicated, intelligent, and," he reached for her hand, "beautiful."

  Tessa immediately snatched it away.

  Hell's bells.

  "Lord Arlington," she scolded. Her gaze had hardened; her indignation was clear. "You barely know me. And you are sadly mistaken if you think I am anything like Lady Montagu. I won't fall to my knees and swoon at your feet."

  "Swoon at my feet? Is that what you think—" It suddenly occurred to him that Tessa probably had no idea what Lady Montagu had been doing to him last night. His bride-to-be really was an innocent. He would have to proceed at a slower pace if he hoped to win her heart.

  Is that what he wanted? To win her heart?

  Oh, God, I am turning into a love-sick moon calf. Bewitched by a luscious red mouth and a pair of chocolate-brown eyes. He couldn't have that. Too many sleepless nights and too much alcohol had obviously addled his brain. The jaded reprobate inside ordered him to take immediate action, to focus on taking whatever pleasure he could steal from Tessa right now. Even if they never felt anything more than affection for each other, he would dearly love a wife who was passionate in the bedroom.

  He summoned his most rakish smile and said in a velvet-soft voice, "A little swooning is permitted, surely." When the corner of Tessa's mouth twitched as if she was amused but trying to hide it, his smile widened. "We are engaged, after all."

  "Yes, we are." She sounded breathless rather than cross now. "But we are not yet wed."

  "True." He curled his hand lightly about her slender upper arm, and she leaned imperceptibly closer. "But aren't you dying to know if we are well-suited? I certainly thought we were last night. I think a thorough review is required, don't you?"

  He cupped her lovely, heart-shaped face and leaned into her slowly, giving her time to pull away. He half expected her to, but when she didn't protest, he was filled with a burst of triumph and some other softer emotion he didn't wish to name. Their lips met, brushed, and finally melded, and he was struck all over again how delicious Tessa tasted. This was how their first kiss should have been, a series of gentle, languid caresses. A thorough demonstration of how very sweet desire could be.

  Deciding to risk a more brazen maneuver, Jasper licked at her bottom lip. A hot thrill arrowed through him all the way to his loins when Tessa readily opened for him, a breathy moan escaping her as he entwined his tongue with hers. When she gripped his shoulders and pushed her breasts against his chest, he groaned his appreciation and increased the boldness of the kiss yet again, nipping and sucking at her full lower lip. Desire, thick and heavy, made his blood pound. Lord, it felt like forever since he'd felt this way about a woman. He really should slow down before he frightened her with the strength of his arousal. She might be enthusiastic, but she was still very much a virgin.

  He gently grasped her hands, encouraging her to release her tight hold on him. "Very well-suited, don't you agree, my sweet Tessa?" he murmured against her mouth before drawing back. Her eyes fluttered open, and they looked like pools of melted chocolate, soft and warm and liquid with desire. At first.

  She pulled away from him and retreated to the very edge of the settee. "I… You make my head spin with your kisses. But I suspect that was the idea, wasn't it? Just like last night
. Woo Miss Penrose into submission for the sake of expediency. An agreeable, biddable wife is what you want, after all, isn't it, Lord Arlington? A docile broodmare you can install at Arlington Abbey, so you can go about your business, as if I don't exist."

  He flinched at her stinging and completely unexpected rebuke. Damn. She was perceptive, and correct—up to a point. He was suddenly struck by how very adamant she was, how very angry. Christopher had said she'd never wished to marry and that she eschewed society. He wondered why. "Agreeable, yes," he said carefully, "but I certainly don't want a meek little mouse for a wife. And my wife—you—would never be just a broodmare to me."

  Tessa shrugged, her mouth a hard, angry line. "We shall see."

  Jasper moved closer and gently lifted her chin, so he could study her face. "Tell me, what do you really want, Tessa? A love match?"

  Her forehead creased with apparent confusion, and she shook her head, breaking free from his hold. "I hardly know. I… I've never given much thought to it." A bitter laugh escaped her. "As if you and I could ever fall—" Her cheeks flushed bright red. "I'm sorry. This… state of affairs has turned me upside down and inside out. An amicable partnership based on mutual respect seems… achievable, given our situation."

  He stroked the back of his fingers down her flushed cheek, enjoying the fact her color deepened and her breath caught. "Who knows what might be achieved in time, Tessa? I'm certainly looking forward to finding out." Before she could respond, he stood and bowed over her right hand. Poignant understanding pierced his heart when he felt her fingers, and he struggled to keep his expression pleasantly neutral. "I should go. But with your consent, I will call again tomorrow and, weather permitting, I shall take you for a promenade in the Park."

  He was surprised when Tessa's lush mouth curved into a small but seemingly genuine smile. Did she not realize he'd just discovered something very personal about her? Something she took great pains to conceal? But all she did was reply, "I should like that, Jasper," as she carefully withdrew her hand.