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

proposals before and turned them down because I simply was not interested. This time is different. It may sound silly to you, but I don’t wish to spoil anything by mentioning him too soon.”
    “But are you not completely certain of him?” He watched her carefully.
    She grudgingly admitted, “There is one obstacle.” After a moment of silence, Jeffrey prompted her. “And who would that be?”
    “Miss Jane Fairmont.”
    “Ah, so you do have some competition. . . .” He liked the sound of that, although for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine any man choosing another woman when he could have Yvette Hamilton.
    “It seems that way, yes.” Her tone was depressed.
    “I’ve met Miss Fairmont before. She’s a very pretty girl. Good family.”
    Sounding a bit deflated, Yvette agreed with his compliment. “Yes. I know.”
    “Are you in love with him?” Surprising himself with the question, Jeffrey could not stop the words from escaping his mouth.
    Yvette turned her gaze to the window. “I’m not sure yet.” Relief washed over him. She wasn’t in love with Lord Shelley! This fact only hardened his resolve to dissuade her from marrying the man. “You don’t love him, yet you wish to be his wife.” He paused before pointedly adding, “His duchess.”
    She did not hesitate in her firm reply. “Yes.”
    “I see.” But Jeffrey didn’t see. He couldn’t believe that his sweet little Yvette, now a grown woman sitting beside him, could be so deluded.
    “Well then,” he said. “It seems your mind is made up. Is there anything I can do to help?”
    “It’s too bad you couldn’t marry Jane Fairmont and get her out of the way,” Yvette remarked rather dryly.
    Jeffrey laughed in spite of himself. He had to give her credit for determination if nothing else. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Yvette, but the lovely Miss Fairmont is not my type.”
    Suddenly Yvette’s expression grew quite mischievous and she regarded him steadily. “And just what is your type, Jeffrey?”
    He took a deep breath. Now was the moment to begin his romancing of her, his first move. He needed to turn her head a little. “Well, you are.”
    Yvette burst into giggles. “What?”
    Bristling somewhat at her reaction, Jeffrey stated, “Well, you asked. And you are my type. Or someone like you.”
    Yvette rolled her eyes merrily. “Oh, Jeffrey! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard you say!”
    He frowned at her. “Why do you say it’s ridiculous?”
    “Because, Jeffrey,” she spoke to him as if he were a small child, “if someone like me were your type, you’d be a respectable married man with a large passel of children by now.”
    “Not necessarily.”
    “You only consort with actresses and dancers. Women like that.”
    He narrowed his eyes at her. He was not comfortable with the idea of Yvette knowing about his private affairs. “How on earth would you know whom I ‘consort’ with?”
    She laughed again. “Women always know about these things even if we never mention them. Everyone knows. Everyone talks. Have you forgotten how long I’ve known you?”
    “No, I hadn’t forgotten, but you were a little girl. I didn’t think you were aware of my private life.”
    “I was a child then, but I am not a little girl any longer, Jeffrey.” She gave him an arched look that shook him to his toes and added, “In case you haven’t noticed yet.”
    He held his breath for a moment. Yes, he’d certainly noticed. His little Yvette was now a strikingly beautiful woman. A woman who wanted only to be a duchess.
    “Besides,” she continued, “your private life is hardly private. Everyone talks about you.”
    “Enough about me.” Jeffrey knew he had a reputation. In fact, he had done more to create it over the years than he should have. But for the first time in his life, he wished he had been more discreet with the ladies he’d romanced. The idea of Yvette knowing about this aspect of his life did not sit well