by Bree Wolf
“I cannot wait for the Season to begin,” she beamed, delighted with the distraction such an event would bring. “I need a completely new wardrobe, for these days I feel as though I have nothing to wear.”
Wesley chuckled as his eyes swept over her in a fairly intimate fashion that reminded her of their entertaining banter at Sanford Manor. “If only that were true.”
Unlike her, the brothers’ mother was less than amused and completely failed to see the hilarity of the situation. “Wesley!” she chided. “Please refrain from such crude remarks at my table.”
Clearing his throat, Wesley dropped his gaze. However, the tinge of red that came to his cheeks had Christine’s heart hammering in her chest. “I apologise, Mother.”
Guiding the conversation back to the Christmas Ball, Christine noticed with barely contained glee the absent look in William’s eyes as he pretended not to stare at Catherine, who sat rather slumped in her chair, a touch of sorrow in her eyes. “We need to make a quick choice,” she said, and his head snapped up as he noticed her looking at him. Ignoring the flustered expression that came to his face, she continued, “Thank goodness, we have our own seamstress in the house or we’d never have everything ready in time. We’ll pick the masks first and then match the evening wear to them.”
“Masks?” William croaked.
A hint of mischief in his eyes, Wesley frowned−so he had noticed as well, Christine thought. “Surely you remember that. After all, the earl’s Christmas Ball has been a masque ball these past ten years.”
“Yes, of course,” William agreed. “Why do you not choose the masks?” he asked, turning to look at her. “My choice would probably not be well-received.”
“Gladly,” Christine agreed as happiness filled her heart, and for a moment, she closed her eyes in delight. “I cannot wait to dance the night away.”
“Dancing,” William whispered before he froze as all eyes turned to him. Clearing his throat, he straightened in his chair.
“Is something wrong?” his mother asked.
William shook his head. “I was simply wondering−with everything that I’ve forgotten−do I remember how to dance?”
Suppressing a chuckle, Christine smiled at him. What a glorious opportunity! “Do not worry, Dear. We’ll practise. How about tomorrow?” She glanced at Wesley as well as her sister and rejoiced when no one objected. “How wonderful! Finally something to do!”
This was even more perfect than even she could have planned!
Chapter Eleven − Dance Practise
For once, Wesley had to admit, Christine’s plan truly had merit!
Although doubtful at first, he had instantly seen the familiar look of love shining in his brother’s eyes whenever they fell on Catherine. To an outside observer, it was unmistakable! Could his brother be truly unaware of his feelings? Should they not simply tell him?
However, Christine had insisted that it would be too soon since they could not be certain how deep William’s feelings were as of yet. Therefore, she had devised yet another plan to assure that William would fall in love with his wife all over again.
“Do you understand what you need to do?” Christine asked, eyeing him with a hint of doubt shining in her sparkling eyes.
Snorting, Wesley stepped in her path. “It’s a simple enough plan.”
“And yet, you didn’t think of it,” Christine mocked, a triumphant smile on her face as she took a step toward him, her chin raised. “Does this bother you?”
Delighted with the lightness that had returned to their communication−what had he been thinking confessing his love to her?−Wesley held her gaze. “Not at all,” he said before his voice dropped to a whisper. “But do you believe it wise to have us dancing?” A frown came to her face. “Won’t that make it harder for you to keep your hands off me?”
More or less all the women of his acquaintance would have blushed to the roots of their hair at such a remark, but not Christine. Instead, an amused smile came to her face before laughter spilled from her mouth. “Thank you for warning me,” she whispered, her eyes daring him to say more. “I suppose your mother would be quite put out if I seduced you right there on the dance floor.”
Wesley laughed. “I suppose it might be all she needed to finally disinherit me.”
“Disinherit you?” Christine asked, a look of pure innocence on her face. “Why you? After all, you are just the innocent victim in this.”
Shaking his head, he grinned at her, then took a step closer and his hands slid around her waist as though they belonged there.
A small gasp escaped her lips before the muscles in her jaw tensed and her eyes hardened. “Not now, Wes,” she said teasingly, and yet, a touch of painful longing shook her voice. “You’ve made your choice, remember?” Stepping back, she pushed him away. “Now, go and make yourself useful. Get your brother and bring him to the ballroom.” Then she turned on her heel and headed toward Catherine’s bedchamber, mumbling, “Men! Unable to make up their minds! What is this world coming to?”
A wistful smile on his face, Wesley watched her disappear into her sister’s room. Had he truly offended her by refusing her proposal? Was there any way for him to fix whatever had gone wrong between them? If only…
By now, there were too many if only’s. Wesley couldn’t even begin to sort through them, and so he turned down the other side of the corridor and retrieved his brother. Maybe if he helped with her plan, she would not think of him in an antagonistic way.
“I’m not certain that this is a good idea,” William said some time later as he nervously danced from one foot onto the other. Meanwhile, their mother had taken her seat at the pianoforte in the large ballroom, her fingers flying over the keys.
“Believe me, it is,” Wesley objected. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing the two sisters in its frame. Striding toward them, Wesley greeted them with a formal bow. While Catherine smiled at him graciously, Christine rolled her eyes at him in a way that made him want to kiss her breathless. Instead, he said, “William appears rather nervous.”
“Nervous?” Catherine asked, glancing at her husband, a hint of concern drawing down her brows. “Do you believe he truly forgot how to dance?”
Wesley smiled, then shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. I assure you his nervousness has nothing to do with dancing.”
Looking up at him, Catherine took a slow breath as a joyous smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Truly?”
“Truly,” Wesley assured her.
As they walked over to William, Wesley found Christine step around him, her hand slightly brushing his arm. “Thank you,” she whispered as their eyes met, and he could see her appreciation for what he had done.
Before long, awkward silence once more lingered in the room until Christine called for a country dance and Wesley found himself standing up with Catherine as his mother began to play.
“Do not worry,” Wesley counselled as he found Catherine’s eyes stray to her husband again and again. “Your sister has a plan.”
Laughing, Catherine turned her eyes to him. “As far as I can remember you’ve always been rather critical of her,” she remarked, her dark green eyes searching his face. “You seem to have grown fond of her.”
Wesley swallowed. “Well, she’s…she’s like no one else I’ve ever met.”
A knowing smile came to Catherine’s lips as they continued to twirl across the dance floor. They rehearsed dance after dance until toward the end of the cotillion, Christine’s angry voice echoed across the dance floor. “Wesley!” Then she stormed toward him. “Wesley Everett, you are unbelievable!”
Momentarily stunned, Wesley swallowed before he remembered her plan as well as his role in it. Shrugging his shoulders, he apologised to Catherine all the while looking as embarrassed as he possibly could.
Lightning bolts shot from Christine’s eyes as she fixed him with an icy stare; and yet, he thought to see a twinkle of amusement in her green depths. “My sister’s poor feet! H
ow can you be such a clumsy oaf?”
Forcing his face to remain unaffected by the amusement bubbling up in his chest, Wesley bowed his head in shame, watching Christine approach his brother as planned. “Dear,” she said, her voice slightly apologetic. “I cannot have your brother continue to trample my sister’s feet. Would you mind if we switched? I’m much more resilient in these matters.”
Gritting his teeth, Wesley forced the laughter back down his throat. She was truly an actress to be admired!
“Certainly,” his brother croaked, unspeakable relief shining in his eyes as he turned them to Catherine. How could anyone doubt the love he felt for her? Why was Christine insisting on continuing this charade?
“Splendid!” Coming toward him, a victorious smile on her face, Christine whispered, “This is going exactly as planned.”
Again, they stood up for a cotillion.
“Clumsy oaf?” Wesley asked with raised brows as the steps brought them together.
“What?” Pretending to frown at him, Christine pressed her lips together as the corners of her mouth strove upward. “It was the spur of the moment. You are not truly saying that I’ve offended you, are you? I had no idea you were so sensitive where your dancing skills are concerned.”
Shaking his head, Wesley laughed before he remembered where he was. However, neither William nor Catherine seemed to be aware of anything but each other. Only his mother cast him a disapproving frown.
When the music finally came to an end, Wesley waited, eyes expectantly trained on Christine. After all, she was the master mind behind this plan.
“How about a waltz?” she suggested, the look in her eyes an open challenge to his self-control.
Wesley swallowed, then glanced at his mother as she grumbled something unintelligible.
Unaffected, Christine strode over to the pianoforte, and after exchanging a few quick words, his mother turned back to the instrument and began to play.
Smiling at Christine in admiration, Wesley offered her his hand. As she took it, he pulled her close, delighted with the soft gasp that escaped her. “Have you thought this through?” he asked as he led her around the ballroom.
“Although you might not believe me,” she snapped, a hint of annoyance in her voice, “my plans are always thought through. I do not make them up on a whim.”
Smiling, Wesley shook his head. “I didn’t mean your plan.”
For a second, a frown drew down her brows before a disarming smile curled up her lips. “I see. Well, then let’s just say I am willing to sacrifice my comfort in order to ensure my sister’s happiness. Is that enough of an answer for you?”
“Your comfort?” Wesley mocked. “Is it such a burden to dance with me?”
Smiling, she shook her head at him. “What kind of an answer were you hoping for, Wes? That the feel of your hands on me is robbing me of every sense of right and wrong? That I’m about to lose control?”
Holding her gaze, Wesley shrugged. “Why not? It’s how I feel.” Then he froze. Had he truly just said that? Good God, what would she think of him now?
***
Staring up into Wesley’s eyes, unguarded and brutally honest, Christine felt her knees go weak, and for a moment, she thought she would stumble. However, his arms held her, safe and warm, and guided her around the room without effort.
Who was this man? She wondered. Everything was fine, everything was going according to plan, and then he would say something like…and then she would feel as though…
Shaking her head to clear it, Christine forced a smile on her face. “Do not mock me, Wesley Everett,” she croaked, hoping that her voice sounded less affected to his ears than it did to her own. “You only seek to unsettle me because you never believed I could be right. And now that William and Catherine are so close to falling in love all over again, you feel the need to put me in my place. Is that not so?” Swallowing, she forced her eyes up.
A smirk came to his face as he looked down at her, the initial hint of shock gone, replaced by the usual twinkle of amusement. “I apologise,” he said, and her eyes narrowed. “Do not look so suspicious. Yes, you were right. There, I admit it. Can we move past this now? Not everything I say is meant as criticism. I wish you could believe that.”
“But−” About to object, Christine stopped when the music came to an end.
Wesley bowed to her formally, then turned his head, and a smile lit up his face as he found William and Catherine still twirling around the dance floor. “Will!” he called his brother’s name, who almost flinched before he turned around, eyes annoyed by the interruption. “What is it?” he snapped.
Wesley chuckled. “The music has stopped.” He stepped toward his brother, whose face turned pink with embarrassment. “From where I stand, you’re quite a talented dancer and in no need of further practise.”
Forgotten was her own confusion at Wesley’s renewed revelation as she watched her brother-in-law glance at her sister before his eyes shifted to her. He loved her. Christine knew it to be true the second he almost fled from the room.
Instantly, Wesley went after him.
“Is something wrong?” Catherine asked, her eyes big as she walked up to Christine. “I didn’t notice…What happened? I don’t understand. We were just dancing. Why would he−?”
Shaking her head, Christine hugged her sister. “The music had already ended, and you were still dancing.” She pulled back and looked at her. “You didn’t notice?”
Clasping both hands over her mouth, Catherine laughed. “I did not.”
“Neither did he,” Christine said. “Did I not tell you that you needed to dance with him? Mark my words: the Christmas Ball will solve all your problems.”
Catherine frowned. “The Christmas Ball? Why is that?”
“Let me worry about that,” Christine said, once again glancing at the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll see what’s going on.” Then she strode from the ballroom in search of the brothers. For some reason, she couldn’t keep still. She had to know what was going on.
As she came upon the parlour, voices echoed to her ear. Instantly, Christine stopped, then proceeded quietly until she stood with her ear pressed to the door that fortunately had been left ajar.
Inside, she could hear William pacing the floor, his shadow occasionally falling over the gap in the door. “Before we got married,” he began, his voice strained as though he was at the end of his rope, “did you court Catherine as well?”
Christine frowned. Why was William jealous of his brother?
“What?” Wesley’s voice cut through the room. “What gave you that idea?” Although he sounded honestly surprised, Christine thought to detect a hint of guilt in his voice.
“I don’t know. You look at her as though…”
A moment of silence hung over the room, and Christine finally realised that she had misunderstood. William accused his brother of having feelings for her, Christine, because he believed her, Christine, to be his wife and…Drat! This whole plan was truly confusing!
“As though what?” Wesley pressed, his voice calm once more.
Listening intently, Christine waited. What would Wesley tell his brother? He couldn’t possibly confess his feelings even if they were true? But were they? She couldn’t help but wonder.
“As though you care for her,” William finished, a clear question ringing in his voice.
“Of course, I care for her,” Wesley confirmed. “She’s family. She’s my sister-in-law.”
That was not exactly what Christine wanted to hear, and yet, she understood that he couldn’t possibly tell the truth. Whatever it was!
Again, William paced the floor. “You don’t look at her like a brother does,” he insisted. “You look at her the way I…” He broke off.
Another moment of silence hung about the room before hurried footsteps came toward her. By instinct, Christine jumped aside.
A moment later, William came storming out of the parlour. Not seeing her, he rushed up the stairs t
o his chamber.
Chapter Twelve − A Proposal Repeated
The next few days passed rather quickly as Christine was busy with preparations for the Christmas Ball. Since Catherine was too preoccupied with thoughts of her husband and neither of the brothers nor their mother showed any interest in readying their wardrobe for the night in question, Christine graciously took it upon herself to choose masks and matching gowns for her sister as well as herself.
Although the dowager countess was always well informed, she tended to stay indoors whenever the temperatures dropped to allow for snow and could not be persuaded to change her mind with regard to the Christmas Ball.
It was just as well. Christine thought. She’d rather not have the old woman’s watchful eyes criticising her every move.
Despite the general merriment of the season, Christine had to admit that the dream-like glow that had come to her sister’s face during the dance rehearsal was dimming. Although clearly falling in love with Catherine, William seemed to keep his distance, mostly avoiding their company wherever he could. In consequence, Catherine’s mood sank.
Until one morning.
Coming down the stairs, Christine found her sister at the pianoforte, playing a merry tune, an almost face-splitting smile on her lips. “What happened?” Christine asked, rushing over.
As Catherine’s glowing eyes turned to her, she felt certain that all would be well. “He kissed me,” her sister whispered, eyes shifting from side to side to ensure that they were alone.
“He did?” Christine gasped, then she pulled her sister into a tight embrace and held her close. “How? When?”
