His Mistress By Christmas (21 page)

Veronica smiled. “Well, it is Christmas, after all.”

Bianca smiled in an oddly satisfied way, and they continued toward the house.

The moment they entered the door, the bedlam they had glimpsed from the drive engulfed them. Three little boys and a slightly younger girl seemed to be going in a dozen directions at once, trailed by nannies or governesses or probably one of each. Miranda stood in the middle of it all, looking as if she wasn’t sure in which direction to go first. A woman a few years older than Veronica, obviously Diana, stood halfway up the stairs and directed the servants carrying in their bags while issuing instructions to the nannies and admonishing her children to behave. It was impressive and distinctly reminiscent of a circus juggler.

“Diana!” Bianca called.

“Bianca!” Diana waved and gracefully descended the stairs, sidestepping servants with baggage and at least one scrambling child.

“You must be Veronica.” Diana took her hands and beamed at her. “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to meet you. Why, the very idea that Sebastian has at last—”

“Diana!” Bianca flung her arms around her sister. “I am so glad to see you here!”

“You needn’t sound so surprised.” Diana raised a brow. “We had dis—”

“And all of us here for Christmas!” Miranda said with a smile. “How delightful!”

“Delightful,” Veronica murmured. Indeed, it couldn’t possibly get any more delightful without another dozen or so people. “Has anyone seen Sebastian?”

“He and my husband have gone off somewhere.” Diana waved in an offhand manner. “They would have been less than worthless here, anyway. You there,” she called to a footman, then neatly stepped around another servant juggling several bags. “There is a box of ornaments here somewhere that should be put . . .”

Miranda pulled Veronica aside. “We are best in small doses. It can be somewhat overwhelming if one isn’t used to it.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Veronica said with a smile.

Miranda studied her for a moment. “A morning with Bianca can be overwhelming as well, and exhausting, if one isn’t used to her. If you wish to retire to your room for a while to rest and”-- she glanced around the entry hall--“rescue your sanity, no one would think ill of you.”

“I was thinking the same thing myself.” Veronica breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought I would wait until there was a distraction, then slip away.”

“I daresay you won’t have to wait—”

As if on cue, a crash sounded from another room. Miranda grinned and waved her off. “I’ll have a luncheon tray sent up.”

Veronica didn’t so much as hesitate. It wasn’t that she didn’t like children; she did. And it wasn’t that there were more of Sebastian’s relations in this one house than she had in her entire family. That wasn’t the least bit unnerving. They were very nice, after all. It had simply been a long, tiring day already on the heels of a fairly sleepless night filled with all sorts of questions she hadn’t expected. She hadn’t realized how tired she was until she lay down.

And tried to ignore the voice in her head that kept repeating Bianca’s words like an insistent melody:
alone and independent.

Their numbers had increased by three by the time Veronica came down for dinner. Lord and Lady Waterston, Sebastian’s oldest brother, Adrian, and his wife, Evelyn, along with his brother Hugh, had also decided to join them for Christmas. They were as welcoming as Diana had been.

The adults gathered in a drawing room in anticipation of dinner, and again, everyone was most genial and behaved toward her as if she were a member of the family. It was at once gratifying and confusing.

“One can only be grateful it is not the season for frogs,” Evelyn, Lady Waterston, said under her breath. Veronica sat beside her on the sofa in the drawing room and tried not to laugh.

In the corridor the squeals of Sebastian’s nephews, who had been allowed to come downstairs to bid their parents a good night before being herded back to their beds by long-suffering nannies, still lingered in the air. Their mother gave the servants last-minute instructions, her voice fading as she apparently followed them up the stairs. His lone niece, and the youngest of the children, was already safely in bed.

Veronica drew her brows together. “Frogs?”

Evelyn nodded. “Diana’s boys have a passion for frogs, but unfortunately, they also have a tendency to misplace them. When they visited Waterston Abbey last summer, one never knew where one might encounter an errant frog.” In spite of her words, an amused smile curved her lips. “It was unnerving, to say the least.”

“I can imagine.” The scene in the entry today with the addition of frogs flashed through Veronica’s mind.

Evelyn laughed. “Diana’s children are, the boys, that is . . .”

Portia had always said her family was extremely proper. For them to treat Sebastian’s mistress so cordially was surprisingly open-minded and modern of them. Veronica hadn’t expected that, but then, she hadn’t expected to meet Sebastian’s family so soon, if ever. What was the etiquette regarding the introduction of one’s mistress to one’s family, if indeed there were rules regarding this sort of thing at all? This wasn’t the type of situation typically covered in finishing school. Indeed, Veronica herself would be hard-pressed to gracefully cope with a social quandary of this nature. Beyond that, she hadn’t expected it, had never even considered it, but here, in the midst of this family, she was vaguely ill at ease. Veronica Smithson had always known her place, her position,
who
she was. Yet now she had the oddest sensation of being undefined. It was most disquieting.

Why hadn’t she considered this? Certainly, she had planned to be discreet in her relationship with Sebastian. She had no intention of announcing to the world that she was his mistress. Although, in truth, as of yet they had shared nothing more than a few kisses. One could honestly argue she wasn’t his mistress at all but simply a . . . a friend. A friend he wished to marry. A friend who preferred not to wed but wanted him nonetheless. She did wonder how Sebastian had explained her.

“Don’t you think so?”

“My apologies.” Veronica shook her head. “I’m afraid my mind wandered for a moment.”

“I’m not surprised.” Evelyn’s gaze drifted over the room. Diana’s husband sat chatting with Miranda, while Sebastian and his older brothers stood conversing near the fireplace. They were a handsome lot, tall and broad shouldered. They did seem to be enjoying themselves, although every time Veronica glanced in Sebastian’s direction, his uneasy gaze met hers. Odd, as whenever she glanced at either Miranda or Bianca, they, too, seemed to be watching her. Sebastian and his younger sisters were definitely concerned about something, although, thus far, it was a most convivial gathering.

“This can be a rather intimidating group for one who isn’t used to them,” Evelyn said with a sigh. “Especially if one’s family is significantly smaller.”

Veronica smiled. “There do seem to be quite a few of them.”

“And we are missing Adrian’s mother, as well as Portia,” Evelyn said. “Pity, they decided to go to Italy. Lady Waterston will not be at all pleased to have missed this gathering.”

“Nor will Portia.” Veronica paused. “Have you been married long?”

“A bit over two years, actually.” Evelyn cast an affectionate look at her husband. “I never thought I would marry at all. For years I had no desire to do so.”

“One gets used to one’s independence.”

“Yes, I suppose.” She studied Veronica for a moment. “But you have been married before.”

Veronica nodded.

“Forgive me if I am being forward, but I couldn’t help but notice—”

“Emma wishes you to come upstairs so that she may say good evening to her favorite aunt,” Bianca interrupted, startling them both. “Emma is Diana’s daughter,” she said to Veronica.

Evelyn raised a brow. “I am her favorite aunt?”

“Absolutely,” Bianca said staunchly.

“How interesting. And she wishes me to come upstairs?”

Bianca nodded. “You should hurry before she falls asleep.”

Evelyn’s brow furrowed. “How do you know?”

“One of the maids was sent to fetch you and confused the two of us.” She glanced at Veronica. “We can be most confusing.”

Evelyn studied Bianca. “I didn’t see a maid.”

“You must have missed her,” Bianca said blithely. “It scarcely matters, as you would hate to disappoint a child.”

Evelyn rose to her feet and looked at Veronica. “Would you care to join me? I may be the favorite aunt today, but Emma will no doubt chose someone else tomorrow.”

Veronica laughed and stood. “I would love to.”

“As would I,” Bianca said quickly. “Besides, I had always thought I was the favorite aunt.”

Stokes entered the room and announced dinner.

“On the other hand,” Bianca said quickly, “as dinner is ready, Emma can certainly wait.” She shook her head in a mournful manner. “It would be most inconsiderate of us to be tardy.”

“Nonsense. Being a favorite carries some responsibility,” Evelyn said firmly. “I shall be back before the first course is served.” She cast Veronica a supportive smile and left the room.

“Shall we go into dinner, then?” Bianca said brightly.

“Yes, shall we?” Sebastian said behind Veronica.

She turned and considered him curiously. “Is something wrong?” He scoffed. “What could possibly be wrong?”

Bianca cautiously edged away. Veronica lowered her voice. “Oh, I don’t know. A houseful of unexpected guests perhaps?”

“Ah yes, that.” He offered his arm. “It shall be a splendid Christmas.” A determined note rang in his voice, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as her.

“Admittedly, as it is Christmas, it does seem somewhat biblical.”

“No room at the inn?”

“Rather more like the return of the prodigal son, I would say.” She paused. “Why didn’t you tell me how long it has been since you were last here for Christmas?”

“It didn’t occur to me to tell you. As for your prodigal son analogy—appropriate, perhaps, but I was thinking more in terms of proportion,” he said under his breath and led her into the dining room. “Biblical, that is.”

He escorted her to her chair, and she met his gaze. “Tell me, are you embarrassed by my being here?”

“Embarrassed?” He frowned. “By you?”

“Yes.”

“Never. I would never be embarrassed by you.” He drew a deep breath and forced a smile. “I only hope you can always say the same.”

As firm as his tone was, she didn’t quite believe him. Or perhaps it was her own guilt making her imagine things that did not exist.

Guilt? Veronica sucked in a quick breath. Where had that come from? She had absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. At least, not yet. Still, there was the whole matter of intent, and her intent was certainly improper. Even sinful. Not that such concerns had bothered her before. Why they appeared to be bothering her now made no sense unless it had something to do with Christmas and family and . . . Oh, she had no idea. It was all most confusing.

She couldn’t possibly be wrong, could she? About Sebastian and what she wanted and what she didn’t. The very fact that doubt had arisen at all was unsettling and bore further consideration. She was never uncertain. There was much to think about, and questions nagged at Veronica throughout dinner, although it scarcely mattered. She could have had a bag over her head for all the difference it made. While she was not ignored, at any given moment there were at least two different conversations in progress around her.

Sebastian sat at the head of the table to her left, Miranda to her right, and Bianca directly across from her. Hugh was next to Bianca and beside Diana, with Adrian at the far end, flanked by Evelyn and Diana’s husband, James. There was scarcely a moment of silence throughout the meal, with family gossip mixed with discussions that touched on everything from politics to the weather. In spite of Veronica’s feelings of discomfort, it was a fascinating group to observe. There was affection here, of course, not overtly expressed but rather as an undercurrent. Something they all expected and accepted as their due. It was also apparent that no one in this family kept their opinions to themselves, nor did they hesitate to intrude in the affairs of their siblings.

The meal drew to a close, and at the far end of the table, Adrian stood to address the group. “First, I should like to thank my brother for so graciously welcoming us into his new home. Despite the fact that we took it upon ourselves to surprise him.”

“Christmas is always full of surprises,” Diana said firmly.

“And, given the sorts of surprises we have had in the past, I would think this is one of the best.” She cast her younger brother a chastising look. “It has been too long since you were with us for Christmas. And if it took us coming to you to remedy that, so be it.”

Sebastian stared at his older sister and smiled. “It’s not the worst surprise I’ve ever had.” He paused. “Thank you all for coming.”

Adrian nodded. “In spite of the fact that Miranda warned me that no one wanted a fuss made, I think anytime there is a wedding in this family, it should be noted.”

Was Miranda marrying again? Veronica smiled at the younger woman, who looked vaguely horrified.

“And, as the head of the family, it falls to me to do so. I would ask that we all lift our glasses.” Adrian raised his glass. “And welcome the newest member of the family.” Adrian’s gaze met hers. “Veronica, I realize intruding on newlyweds is perhaps not the best introduction and you must think us lacking in manners, but when we heard Sebastian had married—”

Veronica’s smile froze on her face.

“—on the heels of his purchasing this house and was, apparently, at last settling down, well, you can see why—”

“You’re not doing a good job of this.” Diana heaved a long-suffering sigh and turned toward Veronica. “Veronica, we cannot tell you how happy we are that you have rescued Sebastian from the wasteland of eternal bachelorhood.” She raised her glass. “Welcome, my dear. And may this be the beginning of many more Christmases together.”

Cries of “hear, hear” and “best wishes” echoed around the table.

At once, everything became clear. This family had treated her as one of them because they thought she was! Her gaze slid around the table. The look of horror still lingered on Miranda’s face, while Bianca appeared to be holding her breath. It was obvious from the conversation with Bianca on their trek to the village that both sisters were aware of the truth of the situation. Evelyn studied her curiously. As for Sebastian, the man looked very much as if he had just eaten something unexpectedly awful and wasn’t at all sure what the consequences might be.