The Duke's Christmas Greetings (Regency Christmas Summons Book 3) (28 page)

This time Jane’s words were the equivalent of a pianoforte being pushed down the staircase. “You're right.” Daphne already knew that, but to hear Jane put voice to it made her mind reel in every direction.

“Can I tell you a secret?”

Daphne started. “Of course.”

Jane lowered her hand to her abdomen. “Gareth and I haven't told anyone, but next year at this time we'll be a family of three.”

“You will?”

Smiling, Jane said, “I wouldn't have Gareth or the joy of having a new life grow inside of me if Gareth hadn't told Michael to go hang, he was marrying me.”

Shame flooded Daphne for her resistance of Aaron and the feelings she had for him. “Thank you, Jane,” she said softly. “I know exactly what I must do.”

Later that Night

At the Ball

Not for the first time since Aaron had told Daphne the extent of his feelings, he was tempted to regret having told her. Not that it mattered so much, he'd lain his heart at her feet and she'd trampled it. It would have happened the same way either here or in London had he waited to pursue her then, he supposed. He nearly snorted, which would have been quite painful since he'd just taken in a deep sip of his champagne punch.

It all mattered not. What was done was done. It was over between them. Sure last night, he'd noticed her looking in his direction, but she'd never come up to talk to him or even gestured him to come to her. He sighed. That wouldn't be happening any more than ladies of the
ton
would stop their matchmaking schemes.

“How have you enjoyed your visit?” The duke's voice caught him unaware.

Aaron swallowed his discomfort and forced a smile. How ironic the only gentleman he'd ever known to play matchmaker had to pick this very moment to appear. “Very much so. Thank you for inviting me.”

“I'm glad to hear it.”

“Ah, love has been in the air this trip, my boy.” Danby said, idly rubbing his hands together.

“Do I need to perform a wedding tomorrow?” Aaron fought the tension in his shoulders. When the duke didn't respond, Aaron added, “Two?”

Danby shook his head, a slight smile on his lips.

“Three? Four?” Aaron stared at the still smiling man. Gads, how many of his grandchildren had he unwillingly shoved into holy matrimony? “I draw the line at five, Your Grace. Your hospitality was good, but not
that
good.” Aaron half-expected the man to at least chuckle at that. He did not.

“And what of the company?” Danby wondered as he looked out over the crush of finely dressed people congregated in his ballroom.

“You have a very nice family.”

At that, the duke did laugh. Loudly. “And I'd wager you'd like to become part of my very nice family.”

Aaron fisted his hands in his pockets and forced a shrug.

“Come, boy,” the duke said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I have matters to discuss with you.”

As if by sheer will of their own, Aaron's heavy feet followed the duke out of the ballroom and down a dimly lit hall. “Couldn't we have discussed this in the ballroom,” Aaron wondered aloud as they passed another sconce that hadn't been lit.

“No.” The duke thumped his cane on the hardwood floor. “This matter is of the utmost importance and must be discussed in private.”

Aaron doubted that. Well, only a little. It wouldn't surprise him if one or two of the people on the list of potential bridegrooms didn't know of his own fate yet. A twinge of disappointment settled in Aaron's chest. He wouldn't have minded if his name had made that list… No, he wouldn't even think of that.

“Keep up, Mr. Lentz. We're almost there.”

Aaron frowned. Where was there? He was certain the duke's study was on the other side of Danby Castle.

“Let's go out here.” Danby opened the large door to the front of the castle and threw a skeptical glance over each of his shoulders before poking his head out the open front door and craned his neck to do a slow sweep of the porch.

Aaron stared at the man. Perhaps age was becoming his own undoing. The man's mechanisms weren't
that
private. Besides what man who still had his wits about him would bother to eavesdrop on the front porch during such bone chilling weather? Not Aaron.

“Out here, boy. Plans for weddings and love everlasting don't make themselves.”

Repressing a grumble that was on the tip of his tongue, Aaron stepped past the threshold of the door and then came to an abrupt halt when he realized the duke had led him to the most delicious sight he'd ever seen: Daphne, dressed in a shimmery blue ball gown, with a fur coat draped over here, gaping in the middle...standing under the mistletoe…

Daphne had never been so nervous in all of her life. That
should
be a ridiculous notion. Aaron had always been so forward and obvious about his feelings for her. He wouldn't reject her now that she'd come to her senses, would he? She hadn't actually thought of that before, but now that she stood like a simpleton underneath a large bough of mistletoe and she glimpsed him standing lifeless in the door as Danby wordlessly excused himself, the very real possibility was foremost in her mind.

“Aaron?” she said quietly.

“Daphne.” He took a step toward her, then another. In daylight he was handsome, but in the moonlight he was absolutely breathtaking. Strong and broad, his sculptured face was cloaked in shadows, making him only that much more attractive.

Daphne licked her lips as he closed the gap between them. “Aaron,” she breathed.

He came to a stop directly in front of her, but didn't say anything.

“I've been thinking about you,” she confessed.

His expression didn't change. “Good things?”

“That might depend on who you ask...”

“You.”

“Well, in that case...” she bit her lip and lifted her eyebrows— “
I'd
say they're good.” She relaxed her face and took a deep breath. “But you might not agree.”

Aaron's hands found hers. “A beautiful young lady is standing in front of me—under a large sprig of mistletoe, I might add—saying she's been thinking about me, thoughts which she'd considered good.” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “How could I possibly disagree?”

Nervous excitement and a sudden crippling doubt warred within her. “I—I don't know. You might have changed your mind.”

“Changed my mind?” He gently tugged on her hands. “What would I change my mind about?”

“Me,” she breathed.

Aaron released one of her hands, and brought his free hand up to her face. The fingers of his gloved hand, reached into the thick, red scarf that was wrapped around the bottom of her face. “I haven't changed my mind.” A small, reassuring smile took his lips and he brushed his thumb over her cheek. “But have you?”

She nodded, unable to speak. “I wouldn't say I changed my mind. It's more like I saw reason.”

He grinned.

Not trusting her voice again, Daphne tilted her head up to indicate she'd purposely positioned herself under the mistletoe and was ready for his kiss—were he still inclined toward her that way.

His smile faded and his Adam's apple worked in his throat. Then, without another word or warning, he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to hers.

Warmth radiated from within her and went to the ends of her fingers and the tips of her toes and everywhere in between.

“Mmm,” she murmured when he pulled back.

But he only pulled back for a moment before his lips were back on hers. Harder this time, but not uncomfortable, just more delicious pressure. His lips moved on top of hers, around hers and she melted into his embrace.

Aaron placed one last, searing kiss on her lips, then pulled back, two lines forming between his eyebrows. “Does this mean?” His ragged words made her want to pull him closer to her and never let him go.

“Are you asking if I'll allow you to court me?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “If you're willing to kiss me out here where anyone could see, I'd hope you'd be willing to at least allow me to court you.” Because if she didn't allow him to court her after kissing him that way, he just might die with want of her!

“Court me?” Daphne's sparkling amber eyes grew round and she twisted her lips. “No, I don't think so.”

Aaron's heart skipped a beat or three. “No?”

“No,” she confirmed.

Instinctively, Aaron pulled away. If she wasn't going to allow him to court her, he'd better let her go now. It was already too late, but now that he'd kissed her even a moment longer would just torment him more and prolong his agony. “We need to return back inside before someone finds us.” He noted the way she winced at the sharp edge of his words, but he
couldn't
care. He'd be damned if he had to marry yet another lady who didn't want him.

“Can we stay out here for just a few more minutes?”

“No.” He pulled away from her, walls of ice building up around his heart faster than he could breathe.

“Please, Aaron,” she said, reaching for him. Something akin to panic was in her voice, but he couldn't be certain if that was really her who was panicking or him. “Can you give me just a few minutes?”

“I already have.”

“Yes, you have,” she conceded, pulling her hands back from him. She took in a deep breath and her eyes glistened with what appeared to be tears. “But what about a few decades?”

“Decades?” He knew he sounded like a fool repeating everything she said, he just didn't care as his mind raced to make sense of exactly what she was saying.

“Yes, decades.” Daphne moved closer to him and looped her arms around his neck. “The way I see it, we could have at least four together.” She placed a kiss on his lips. “And if you behave yourself perhaps five.”

“That's a lot of sleigh rides and card tricks.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Are you sure you're ready for that?”

“Yes.”

“But yesterday you—”

“I was scared.”

Aaron lightly massaged her back with thumbs. “Is my company that bad?”

“No.” She lowered her eyes, her body going rigid. “I was afraid of what others might think.”

He could understand that and he silently said a prayer of thanksgiving for whoever helped Daphne see the reason she claimed to have been helped to discover. “And now?”

She met his eyes again, hers shining with more unshed tears. “I only care what you think.”

“I think five decades of card tricks, sleigh rides and conservatory picnics sounds like heaven as long as it's with you.”

“And don't forget meetings under the mistletoe,” she added, coming up on her toes to kiss him again.

Aaron caught her lower lip between his and ran his tongue along the edge. At her gasp, he pushed his tongue inside. She gasped again and melted into him. He would never tire of this. Never.

And it would seem as if he wouldn't have to.