His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (30 page)

The old butler didn’t blink an eye at Colette’s announcement, perhaps because he’d served them alone in the sitting room for too many nights to count. He’d obviously suspected something all along. He smiled broadly at her and Jeffrey. “That’s wonderful news! I shall return with champagne for everyone.”

“Well now, I’d love to hear how all this came about between the two of you,” Colette said to them. “And I’m sure I’m not the only one curious!”

“I’ll take the children upstairs now,” Juliette announced, her eyes dark. “It’s time they were in bed.” She hurriedly gathered the four children, who were quite reluctant to retire, and left the room, her discontent clear.

Yvette’s heart sank at Juliette’s reaction. She hadn’t expected her sister to be so displeased with the news.

“I don’t think Juliette’s taking this very well,” Jeffrey remarked wryly.

“I daresay she’ll get over it,” Paulette chimed in, ever the pragmatist.

“Well, I think it’s wonderful!” Colette drew them to the sofa and everyone gathered around. “Now let’s hear what happened while we were away.”

“I still don’t understand how this transpired right under my nose and I didn’t notice anything,” Lisette said, shaking her head.

Yvette, suddenly shy, looked to Jeffrey and then back at her family. “I don’t know quite how it all happened.”

“It’s all Lucien’s fault, really,” Jeffrey said with a grin, looking at his friend most pointedly.

29

December Night

“I asked you to watch over her, not marry her, Jeffrey.”

Later that evening Jeffrey finally found himself alone with Lucien Sinclair, his oldest friend, in Lucien’s private study. Paulette and Declan had returned to their London townhouse, as had Lisette and Quinton. Mrs. Hamilton had been brought back upstairs to her rooms. Juliette and Colette were putting their little ones to bed. Yvette, exhausted from the long carriage journey that day, had retired for the night as well. Drinks in hand, Jeffrey and Lucien sat before the fire in the large leather armchairs, just as they had back in September.

Jeffrey shook his head. “I assure you, it was not my intention to marry her at the outset.”

“What the hell happened?” Lucien asked. He still looked baffled by the news.

“I don’t know. I simply fell in love with her. I can’t explain it.”

“I don’t understand it. She’s just a girl.”

“She’s almost twenty-one and quite grown up, Lucien. You know that as well as I do.”

“I can’t get my head around it.”

“Neither can Juliette, apparently.”

Lucien chuckled with glee. “It’s a rare treat to see our Juliette so rattled.”

“Isn’t it, though?” Jeffrey grinned in agreement. Then he grew thoughtful. “I wish she had taken it better.”

“To think the whole thing was Harrison’s idea,” Lucien said absently, shaking his head. “Juliette and I were against it from the beginning.”

“What?” Jeffrey was thoroughly confused.

Lucien laughed again. “While we were still in America, Colette read Yvette’s letter about their mother being ill and said what a comfort you’d been to Yvette. Then Harrison remarked, wouldn’t it be perfect if you and Yvette married?”

Stunned, Jeffrey said, “He didn’t!”

“Yes. Looking back now, it was quite a prediction on his part.” Lucien drank his bourbon. “Colette was in favor of such a match, but Juliette and I, in a rare show of solidarity, were against it.”

Jeffrey grew quiet before asking, “May I ask why you’re against Yvette marrying me?”

Lucien tossed his friend an apologetic look. “I can’t really say. There’s truly nothing I have against you, Jeffrey, you know that as well as I do. You’re a good man, a fine man, and my closest friend. I’d trust you with my life. It was just my initial reaction, perhaps because I still think of Yvette as a child and I’m protective of her.”

“I can understand that. And I expected you to feel this way, to tell you the truth. I even told Yvette you’d more than likely hit me.”

“What did she say?” Lucien raised a brow.

“She told me to hit you back.”

Lucien laughed again. “That’s my little Yvette.”

“She’s my Yvette now,” Jeffrey pointed out.

“Yes, I suppose she is,” Lucien said thoughtfully. “I’m happy for you both. Honestly.”

“Thank you.” Jeffrey felt relieved. Lucien’s acceptance meant a great deal to him. Now he only had to contend with Juliette.

Lucien continued, “You and Yvette marrying is actually a good thing, the more I think about it. Now I don’t have to make friends with old Shelley.”

It was Jeffrey’s turn to laugh. “I almost feel sorry for the man.”

“Me too.”

Jeffrey sipped his drink. “So why is Juliette so put out?” Lucien sighed. “Probably not for the same reasons I was. But give her time. It’s an unexpected adjustment. You’ll have to talk to her about it, smooth things over. I’m sure she’ll come around. You know Juliette.”

“Yes, I know Juliette.” Jeffrey smiled wistfully, thinking back on all the time he had spent with her that summer, once he’d finally caught up with her in New York after she had run off. They had had their fair share of heated arguments as well. But that was the nature of his friendship with Juliette Hamilton.

“I thought I’d find you two still in here.” Colette smiled at them as she slipped quietly into the study. She walked over to Lucien and he pulled her onto his lap.

“Colette might know,” Lucien said, hugging his wife.

“Colette might know what?” she asked with a light laugh.

Jeffrey answered, “Why Juliette is so put out with me for wanting to marry Yvette.”

Colette gave him a warm smile. “I don’t know, really. You’ll have to ask her that. As I said earlier, I couldn’t be happier for you both.”

“Thank you.” It meant a great deal to him that Colette was pleased by his love for her sister.

“Now we get to keep you in the family, Jeffrey,” Colette declared happily.

“Was I going somewhere?” He arched an eyebrow.

“No, but if Yvette married Lord Shelley and then you eventually married someone else, then naturally you’d spend more time with her family and we wouldn’t get to see you anymore.”

He quipped wryly, “I can see you’ve thought this through a great deal.” Still, he was touched that she wanted him as a permanent member of the family. That inclusion mattered more to him than anyone knew. Except maybe Yvette.

“I have. And now you will truly be our brother and we won’t lose you to someone else! It’s perfect. I said so from the start, didn’t I, Lucien?”

“Yes, you did,” Lucien agreed. “Juliette and I were the holdouts.”

“Did I just hear my name?” Juliette asked.

Jeffrey looked up to see that Juliette and Harrison stood in the doorway of the study.

“Come in and join us.” Lucien waved his hand. “We were just talking about you, Juliette.”

She and Harrison took seats on the sofa. “Yes, that’s what I heard.”

“Jeffrey and I want to know why you’re so upset about him and Yvette.” Colette folded her arms across her chest and gave a questioning look to her sister.

“I can’t explain it,” Juliette said rather mutinously.

Jeffrey arched a brow at her. “Do try.”

Juliette looked with an appeal toward Lucien. “A little help here?”

“Oh, no. Don’t look at me to save you,” Lucien said with a shake of his head. “I’ve already thrown in my cap and made peace with it all.”

“Traitor.” Juliette frowned at him.

“Come now, Juliette,” Harrison chided his wife lightly. “What’s so bad about it? We love Yvette and want the best for her. We all love Jeffrey. The two of them together make perfect sense.”

“Thank you, Harrison.” Jeffrey grinned at his old friend, grateful for his support. He and Lucien had become friends with Harrison Fleming over ten years ago when they had gone into the shipping business together. Never could they have imagined then that they would each marry into the same family. Three sisters. It was almost ridiculous.

“I’m sorry, Jeffrey,” Juliette began rather haltingly. “It’s just that you were
my
friend first. Yvette’s just a child and I—”

“She’s not a child anymore.” The heat in his own voice surprised Jeffrey. “And I love her.”

The room grew silent.

“Yes,” Juliette said softly at last, her eyes wide. “You’re quite right. She’s no longer a child. But it’s just that I’ve known you a long time and I happen to know a little about the women you have known in the past and I . . .”

“Don’t, Juliette.” Jeffrey stopped her from saying any more. “They can’t even compare to your sister, so don’t do it.”

“I wasn’t comparing, I just don’t see why . . .” Juliette’s voice faded. “Never mind.”

“Jeffrey, as you well know, my wife can be a little possessive in her friendships,” Harrison pointed out in a conciliatory tone. “I think she may be afraid of losing yours.”

Jeffrey stared at Juliette. “Did I lose your friendship when you married Harrison?”

“No,” she admitted. “But you were ours and now you’ll be Yvette’s.”

“Yes,” he said, liking the sound of that. Belonging to Yvette.

“I don’t know about anybody else, but I’d like another drink.” Lucien stood and went to the bar, refilling his glass with bourbon.

“I’ll take one of those while you’re up,” Harrison called out.

While Lucien fixed the drinks, Jeffrey caught Juliette’s eyes again.

“I’m sorry, Jeffrey. I’ve been a terrible brat tonight, haven’t I?” Juliette asked.

“Well . . .”

Harrison chimed in. “Yes, you have.”

Colette laughed a little. “Harrison’s right, Juliette. You behaved dreadfully.”

Looking almost defeated, Juliette hung her head. “I don’t know why you’re so happy about it, Colette. Don’t you think it’s a little . . . uncomfortable?”

Jeffrey stared at her. “The fact that I am marrying your sister is uncomfortable for you, Juliette?”

Juliette remained silent.

“Well, I think it’s perfect, Jeffrey.” Colette smiled. “And I had my suspicions that something was going on between the two of you that first afternoon I came home. You acted so funny when I mentioned Yvette.”

“Did I?” Jeffrey had not realized he had been so transparent.

Colette laughed. “Oh, yes. But the best part of it all is now we get to keep Jeffrey as one of our own.”

“And we don’t have to entertain Lord Shelley,” Lucien added with relief.

Colette eyed her husband carefully. “You really didn’t like him, did you?”

“I don’t
not
like him,” Lucien amended. “But I’d rather have Jeffrey as my brother-in-law than William Weatherly.”

“I heartily agree,” Harrison added. “I think it’s a wonderful turn of events.”

“I suppose it will just take some getting used to,” Juliette said slowly. “Again, I’m sorry for how I acted, Jeffrey.”

“You’re forgiven.” Jeffrey had to forgive Juliette. After so many years, he knew her too well and loved her too much to hold anything against her.

“Thank you.” Juliette gave him an apologetic smile.

“It’s going to be quite an eventful Christmas ball, what with your father’s momentous news and your engagement to Yvette,” Colette said with excitement.

“I don’t usually enjoy those types of social affairs, but I wouldn’t miss this one for the world,” Juliette added.

Jeffrey wondered just how much of the old scandal his parents’ marriage would resurrect. People didn’t tend to forgive and forget as easily as his father would like to think. He doubted his mother would be welcomed into society with open arms either. It would not be easy, but his father didn’t seem to care. Neither did Jeffrey, for his part. He did worry what effect the scandal would have on Yvette. She could marry the very respectable Lord Shelley and live a life in the upper echelons of society as an elegant duchess. Instead, Yvette was marrying the scandal-ridden bastard of a duke.

He wished he could do better by her.

“Well, I think it’s time we all go to sleep,” Colette announced with a little yawn. “It’s past midnight. Are you coming up with me, Lucien?” she asked her husband.

“Yes, I am,” Lucien said. “I’m quite tired myself.” They rose and said their good nights, leaving just Harrison, Juliette, and Jeffrey in the study.

“It’s still such a surprise to me Jeffrey . . . you and Yvette,” Juliette remarked with a heavy sigh. “When are you planning to marry?”

“We’re not sure yet, but sooner rather than later,” Jeffrey answered. “I’m getting a special license tomorrow and we might wed as soon as next week.”

“Next week?” Juliette suddenly looked horrified. “Oh God, you’re not in a hurry to get married because the two of you . . . Yvette isn’t—”

“No,” Jeffrey interrupted. He shook his head emphatically. That was not a rumor he wanted bandied about. “Absolutely not. I have not touched your sister.”

“Good lord, Juliette!” Harrison exclaimed, laughing in amusement. “You give yourself away asking such questions! Please forgive my wife, Jeffrey. She often speaks without thinking first.”

“Well, what was I to think?” Juliette protested. “I’d have thought Yvette would have wanted an extravagant and grand wedding with all the world invited. Besides, Jeffrey somehow knows everything about all of us. He understands why I’d ask such a question, don’t you, Jeffrey?”

“Yes. Yes, I do.” Jeffrey nodded with a slow, secret smile. He knew entirely too much about the Hamilton sisters, all because he’d been trying to protect them. Still, he didn’t feel comfortable talking to Juliette about his personal relations with her sister.

“You’re a good man, Eddington.” Harrison lifted his glass in tribute. “I wish you all the best with
your
Hamilton sister.”

Jeffrey raised his glass as well. “Thank you, and I wish you the best of luck with
yours
. You need the luck more than I do.” He winked at Juliette and she rolled her eyes at him.

The door to Lucien’s study opened again. This time Yvette walked in. She was dressed in a white silk nightgown, with a long fur-trimmed robe wrapped around her. Her blond hair hung completely loose. She looked like an angel, all ethereal and soft. Jeffrey’s mouth went dry at the sight of her.