His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) by Kaitlin O'Riley Read Free Book Online

and the adults had enjoyed their tea, Yvette noticed that the sky had cleared up considerably and the sun sparkled through the windows of Lisette’s parlor. She frowned at the sudden change of weather, which had ruined her original plans with Lord Shelley.
    “Why the sad face, Yvette?” Jeffrey asked, eyeing her intently.
    Before she could respond, her mother answered for her. “She is disappointed because the rain ruined her plans for riding in the park this afternoon. And now the sun has come out. Elle est déçue parce que la pluie l’a empéchée de voir un certain monsieur .”
    “Oh, who were you to go riding with, Yvette?” Her sister’s face suddenly lit up with interest.
    “Oh, no one you know. It really doesn’t matter,” Yvette said hurriedly, eager to change the subject. She was simply not ready to discuss it with them now, and she wished her mother had kept her mouth closed. It was entirely too soon. Yvette was still not sure of Lord Shelley’s intentions. “Would anyone care for more tea?”
    Jeffrey eyed her with an amused expression, his blue eyes dancing. Yvette blinked.
    “Are you keeping company with someone?” Lisette asked, her tone curious.
    “No, I’m not keeping anyone’s company at the moment,” Yvette said through gritted teeth. “I assure you that when I am, I will let you know.”
    “Come, Yvette. I can take you riding now if you like,” Jeffrey suggested brightly. “It’s cleared enough and the sunshine might cheer you up a bit.”
    “Oh, yes! Thank you, Jeffrey. That would be lovely.” Yvette rose from the sofa in eagerness to leave. Jeffrey. He understood how she needed to escape her mother and sister’s prying. He was such a dear at times!
    “Well, that might be just the thing she needs, Jeffrey. C’est une idée merveilleuse, mon garcon! Emmenez-la se promener en voiture. Vous savez comment lui remonter le moral. Good luck with her.” Genevieve waved them off with a smile.
    Oddly enough, it struck Yvette as quite humorous that she had begun the day thinking she would be riding with Lord Shelley and she was ending up in a carriage with Jeffrey Eddington instead!

5
    Secrets
    Once settled in his elegant black carriage, Jeffrey looked at Yvette with sympathy. “Where would you like to go, my girl?”
    “Anywhere.” She sighed heavily, resting her head against the cushioned leather seat. “Thank you for rescuing me from them.”
    “My pleasure.” He gave instructions to the driver and sat back beside Yvette.
    The carriage slowly made its way down the puddle-strewn cobblestone lane, toward the park, while the sun, hanging low in the September sky, peeked between gray clouds.
    Jeffrey looked at Yvette, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. There was no need to pretend with her. She knew that he knew. “You shall have to tell them all eventually.”
    “I realize that and I can’t wait to tell them,” she said, sounding somewhat weary. “I truly wish to tell them. I do. But I need to be certain I have something definite to share with them first.”
    “Something definite?”
    She hesitated. “Yes . . .”
    “You mean a proposal?” he asked, not really surprised.
    “From Lord Shelley?”
    Yvette’s soft cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink as she admitted, “Well . . . yes. Or at least close to a proposal.”
    “Do you think that is a possibility in your immediate future?”
    She nodded firmly, her dainty chin resolute. “I have every indication that it is.”
    “Then why not tell them now? They are your family. Your mother. Your sister. They love you and only want the best for you. May I ask why you are keeping your interest in Lord Shelley such a big secret?”
    Yvette’s robin’s-egg-blue eyes looked up at him, and for the first time, Jeffrey saw something in them he had not expected to see. They fairly glittered with determination, and something in his chest tightened at the sight.
    She said, “I’ve had marriage