The Yuletide Engagement & A Yuletide Seduction (14 page)

“I said there would be no fighting in here, Gareth!” Ellie told him firmly as he took a threatening step towards Patrick.

Gareth turned a furious blue gaze on her. “As for you—”

“I believe I told you to leave Ellie out of this,” Patrick reminded him in a dangerously soft voice.

The younger man's hands were clenched into fists at his sides. “From what I can tell she's already in this up to her pretty neck!” Gareth rasped, his gaze raking over her scathingly. “I hope you realise he'll never marry you, Ellie,” he taunted with hard derision. “The McGraths and the Delacortes believe themselves far too good for the likes of you and me!” he added bitterly.

Ellie swallowed hard as she felt the colour drain from her cheeks, at the same time desperately hoping that neither of these men had seen just how much Gareth's last remark had hurt her. Of course Patrick would never consider marrying her; it wasn't even a possibility. But she could well have done without having that fact thrown in her face. Especially by a man she so utterly despised.

“How do you work that one out, Davies?” Patrick was the one to answer the other man scornfully. “Tonight we're celebrating the engagement of Ellie's brother and my sister!”

“An engagement isn't a marriage,” the other man came back derisively, before turning to look pityingly at Ellie once again. “An affair even less so,” he warned her mockingly.

“Get out,” she told Gareth shakily.

“Oh, I'm going,” he assured her, raising a hand to his bruised jaw. “But I'll be back,” he added softly.

“In that case, make sure it's me you come back at; come near Ellie again and you'll find out how it feels to be on the wrong side in a court of law,” Patrick warned him coldly. “Which I don't think would do a great deal for the furtherance of your legal career,” he added challengingly.

Gareth's cheeks flushed angrily. “Don't threaten me, McGrath,” he rasped.

But his tone held little conviction, Ellie noted; the possibility of ending up as the defendant in a court of law rather than the prosecuting lawyer—for what charge was anybody's guess!—obviously didn't appeal to Gareth one little bit, if the suddenly wary expression on his face was anything to go by.

A fact which, by his next comment, Patrick had obviously noticed too. “Davies, I think the best thing for everyone is for you to just disappear back down whatever sewer you came out of,” he advised dismissively.

The ugly flush deepened in Gareth's cheeks as he turned to direct his next insult at Ellie. “Give me a call when he's finished with you—you never know; I just might be interested in continuing where we left off!” With one last contemptuous glare in Patrick's direction he exited the room, the back door slamming noisily behind him seconds later as he left the house.

The awkward silence that followed his abrupt exit made Ellie squirm…!

What must Patrick think of her now?

“I
S IT
my imagination, or does Patrick have what looks to be the beginnings of a very black eye?”

Ellie turned sharply at the sound of Sarah's voice. She had been looking at Patrick herself until that moment, as he stood across the room talking with one of his numerous aunts; Ellie had quickly learnt, on their arrival at the party an hour ago, that the McGrath family was a large one, and Patrick a particular favourite with all of them.

She looked up warily at Sarah now. “Sorry?” she prompted guardedly.

Sarah's smile was a little strained, but other than that she looked as beautiful as ever in a short, figure-hugging red dress. “Don't look so apprehensive about seeing me, please, Ellie.” She reached out and gave Ellie's arm a reassuring squeeze. “After all, I believe we've both recently made a very lucky escape?” She quirked self-derisive brows.

Ellie grimaced. The problem was, she still didn't really have any idea what had happened to end Sarah's engagement to Gareth. It had been well after eight o'clock by the time Gareth made his furious exit from her house, and, other than pausing briefly to collect an ice-pack to place on Patrick's rapidly bruising eye, the two of them had come straight to the engagement party. Although, as
Sarah had so astutely noticed, the ice pack didn't seem to have worked too well; Patrick definitely had the start of bruising that would be a very black eye!

“Yes,” she confirmed huskily. “And, yes, Patrick does have a black eye.” She grimaced. In fact, by tomorrow, it would probably rival the bruises on her arm for all the colours of the rainbow! Gareth, when thwarted, really was a very violent man.

Sarah frowned across at her cousin. “I suppose it's too much to hope that Gareth had nothing to do with it?”

Ellie sighed. “I'm afraid it is.” She nodded.

Sarah shook her head, her gaze troubled as she looked at Ellie. “How could two such accomplished women as us ever have been so stupid where Gareth was concerned?” she muttered disgustedly.

Ellie couldn't help it; she laughed. And, after several stunned seconds, so did Sarah, the two women falling weakly into each others arms as they laughed together.

“‘Two such accomplished women as us'?” Ellie repeated as she finally straightened, aware that their laughter had a slightly hysterical edge to it. Also aware that they were attracting a certain amount of attention.

Sarah took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, handing one to Ellie. “To liberation,” she toasted determinedly.

Whatever had happened to cause Sarah to break her engagement, Ellie was pleased to see that on the surface at least Sarah seemed to be recovering rapidly from the disappointment.

She couldn't help admiring the younger woman; it couldn't have been easy for Sarah to come here this evening. The announcement of her own engagement had
only been made days ago—an engagement that had now been abruptly terminated.

“Liberation,” Ellie echoed just as firmly, before taking a sip of the bubbly wine. “Sarah—”

“It really is all right, Ellie,” Sarah assured her with a smile that didn't quite light up her eyes. “I'm still a little shell-shocked, obviously, but I'll get over it. How about you?”

Ellie shuddered. “I got over Gareth months ago!” Only to fall irrevocably in love with Patrick!

“Hmm.” Sarah nodded ruefully. “I believe I was mostly to blame for what happened to you—for—for—”

“Gareth dumping me?” Ellie finished dismissively. “Yes, you were—thank goodness.” She gave a shake of her head. “Gareth didn't—he didn't hurt you in any way, did he?” She frowned her concern.

The younger woman gave a humourless laugh. “My pride,” she grimaced. “I can't believe now that I ever thought he was so wonderful! Boy, did his true colours come out when I told him about the designs I had sent Jacques, and that I would like to delay the wedding for a while so that I could return to Paris for six months.” She gave a disgusted shake of her head. “He seemed to think that you and Patrick had had a hand in it somewhere, which I found extremely puzzling to start with. But he kept going on about ‘a woman scorned'—that you would say and do anything to try and break the two of us up. The penny finally dropped, and I realised that you and he must have been dating until I came back to England a couple of months ago. Why didn't you tell me, Ellie?” she chided gently. “In your shoes, I would have wanted to scratch the other woman's eyes out!”

Ellie gave a shake of her head. “I knew what Gareth
was really like by then, and if anything I wanted to try and warn you off him.”

Sarah took a sip of her champagne. “So why didn't you?” she prompted curiously.

She glanced across to where Patrick was now in conversation with his parents. “Patrick convinced me that you probably wouldn't believe me.” She grimaced.

“He did?” Sarah looked across at her cousin, blonde brows raised speculatively.

“Mmm.” Ellie nodded. “So what did happen to—to change your mind about Gareth?”

Sarah gave another grimace. “Well, I wasn't too happy with the things he said about you and Patrick. As you've probably realized, Patrick is a particular favourite with me, and, although we haven't seen a lot of each other this last year, you and I have been friends for a long time too,” she said. “The things he said about the two of you were bad enough, but it was when he started insulting my father that I took exception!”

Ellie looked up at her disbelievingly. “Your father?” Was Gareth completely stupid? Or, more to the point, so arrogant he didn't realise when he was stepping on dangerous ground?

Sarah gave a rueful smile. “Never, ever insult the girl's father ought to be the first rule any man should learn about courtship!” She gave a self-conscious shake of her head. “Ellie, I adore my father—”

“It's reciprocated,” she confirmed affectionately.

Sarah nodded. “Gareth was obviously too stupid to realise that,” she dismissed hardly. “And all because he couldn't have his own way about the wedding!”

“You do realize why now, though?” Ellie prompted cautiously.

“Oh, yes,” Sarah acknowledged self-disgustedly. “Don't worry, Ellie, my eyes are wide open now where Gareth Davies is concerned!”

“I'm very glad to hear it!” Patrick announced with satisfaction as he joined the two of them.

Ellie gave a nervous start, having been completely unaware of his approach. She looked up at him as he came to stand beside her. Yes, his eye was now turning a rather nice shade of purple.

He returned her gaze unblinkingly. “How about you, Ellie, are your eyes wide open now too?”

About Gareth? Or did he mean something else…?

“I think we should put some raw steak on that eye,” she answered instead.

Sarah winced as she looked at him. “Does it hurt?”

Patrick shrugged. “Not as much as Davies's jaw, I expect,” he said with satisfaction.

His young cousin laughed. “I hope you gave him a punch from me!”

Patrick grimaced. “I think he may have a little trouble eating for a few days.”

“Good,” Sarah bit out firmly, before turning to Ellie and lightly squeezing her arm. “I'm really glad the two of us have had this little chat together. But now, if the two of you will excuse me, I think I'll go over and tell my father how wonderful he is!” She gave a glowing smile.

“I'm sure Uncle George will be pleased about that,” Patrick encouraged huskily.

“I hope so.” Sarah laughed softly. “I'll see you both later.”

There was a silence after Sarah had left to weave her way through the crowd to where her father stood talking
to Patrick's parents. Although it wasn't a particularly awkward silence. More, Ellie decided, an expectant one…

“I'm sure there will be something in the fridge in the kitchen that I can put on this eye.” Patrick finally spoke huskily at Ellie's side. “Care to come with me?”

Why not? The engagement had already been announced, and Toby and Teresa were the centre of attention as everyone stood around laughing and talking. The buffet supper was to be served in an hour's time.

“If you think I can be of help,” Ellie agreed.

Patrick gave her a considering look. “I'm not really sure you're ready to hear what I'm thinking right now, Ellie.”

She looked up at him searchingly. Could she be mistaken, or had there been a wistful note in his voice just now?

She drew in a deep breath, swallowing hard before speaking. “Patrick, exactly why did you come to my house this evening?”

He shrugged. “Because I knew, once I was made aware that Sarah had finished things with Davies, that his next move would be to pay you a call.”

She had already worked that part out for herself! “And?” she prompted huskily.

“Ellie, do you think we could get out of this crush of people before I answer that?” he asked impatiently, not waiting for her answer but taking a firm hold of her arm to guide her out of the sitting room, through the hallway—beautifully decorated with boughs of holly and red ribbons—into the kitchen at the back of the house.

As Ellie had expected, the McGrath house was equally as grand as the Delacortes'. The huge kitchen
was of mellow oak, with a dozen or more copper saucepans hanging from the rack over the work table in the centre of the room, and a green Aga giving the room its warmth.

Patrick grimaced as he saw there were several members of the household staff bustling around the room, preparing the last of the buffet supper. “Is there nowhere in this house that we can be alone?”

He scowled his displeasure, whereas Ellie felt heartened by the fact that he wanted to talk to her alone!

“They've almost finished, Patrick,” she soothed lightly, giving one of the maids a sympathetic look as she glanced at them curiously. “Why don't you see if there's any red meat in the fridge we can put on your eye?”

“Damn my eye!” he dismissed impatiently, grasping hold of her hand to pull her out of the room, back down the corridor and into another room off the hallway. “Ah,” he said with satisfaction as he saw this room—probably his father's study, judging by the desk and book-lined walls—was empty. He closed the door behind them decisively, and the two of them were instantly surrounded by blessed silence.

Ellie eyed Patrick quizzically for several seconds. “And?” she finally reminded him huskily.

He grimaced. “I came over to your house this evening because—because—”

“Yes?” Ellie prompted breathlessly, a cautious excitement starting to build up inside her.

Patrick drew in a harsh breath. “Because if Davies had come over to see you with the intention of hurting you in any way I intended stopping him,” he bit out determinedly, grimacing as Ellie continued to look at
him wordlessly. “Because if he'd come to see you with any intention of persuading you into taking him back into your life I intended stopping him from doing that too! As I told you I would,” he concluded impatiently, grey gaze challenging.

It was a challenge Ellie had no intention of answering. A hope was welling up inside her now, so intense that she could barely breathe, let alone speak.

“Ellie, don't you want to know the reason why?” Patrick finally asked harshly.

She thought—hoped!—she knew the reason why. But she wasn't sure…

“Ellie, will you please say something?” Patrick demanded at her continued silence.

Was there a time and place to lose that pride she had been trying so desperately to hang on to? And was this the time and place?

“For days now I've had trouble stopping you from saying things I
didn't
want to hear, and now I want you to say something—anything—you've been struck dumb!” he muttered frustratedly. “Ellie, I'm tired of waiting for you to come to your senses. And I swear, if you don't soon say something I'm going to pick up my father's favourite whisky decanter and throw it out the window!”

Once again Ellie couldn't help it; she laughed. “And what good will that do?” she finally sobered enough to ask. “Except break a perfectly beautiful decanter and let in all the frosty air from outside!”

“It's preferable to the overwhelming urge I have right now to wring your beautiful neck!” Patrick rasped.

Tears filled her eyes now. But they were tears of joy,
not sadness. “Patrick— Oh, Patrick—” It was no good. She couldn't talk through the emotion that choked her.

His expression softened slightly before he moved to wrap her fiercely in his arms. “Ellie, I can't stand this any more! I love you,” he told her forcefully. “I've loved you for so long, it seems—since the moment I called at your house in the summer, walked round to the garden and saw you lying there—”

“Patrick!” she protested as once again he reminded her of the embarrassment of being caught out bathing topless. Only to become very still in his arms as his words fully penetrated her heightened emotions. “I— Patrick, did you just say that you love me?” She stared up at him unbelievingly.

He nodded, his mouth twisting into a smile as he looked down at her. “For all the good it's done me!” He sighed heavily. “I was always under the impression that falling in love would be a joyful experience—not make me feel as if I had been pole-axed!” he muttered disgustedly. “Of course it might have helped if the woman I fell in love with felt the same way about me, but as it is—”

“Oh, but she does,” Ellie cut in eagerly, her hands tightly gripping his arms as she gazed up at him, a feeling of such joy welling up inside her she felt as if she might burst. “I mean—I do,” she corrected awkwardly.

“You do?” Patrick repeated slowly.

She smiled shyly. “I do,” she confirmed huskily.

He looked at her uncertainly now. “But the other night, when Davies left so abruptly, you were crying—”