Page 11 of Yule Be Mine

“I did, Mr. Kastner,” she said, shaking with laughter.

“Congratulations, then, Miss Penelope.” He eyed Yule. “To best a Quartermain at a wager is quite a feat.”

“Yes, it is, Fritz,” Yule growled. “And we have yet to discuss the method of compensation she will receive for it.” He gave Penelope a warning glance. “We will attend to that in the waggonette on the way back to the house, won’t we, Penelope?”

“Whatever you say, Yule.” The demure answer was pure sham, but Fritz made no comment, merely gave the driver his instructions.

Yule helped her up into the wagon and they set out on the chilly ride back to the house. Silence reigned for most of the drive, Penelope sitting calmly across from him with that siren’s smile on her lips. Why she’d decided to torture him in this particular way, he hadn’t a clue. When they drew close to the house she ventured a comment. “Did you want to discuss the wager, Y—”

“There was no wager between us, Penelope.” His words came out louder and harsher than he’d intended, but maybe she needed to understand just how angry he was with her. Why he was angry, however, was another thing, and not at all up for discussion.

“Of course there was. You wagered I was going to avoid getting kissed during the Mistletoe Run and I wagered I would not.” She smiled broadly at him. “So, I won.”

“That is not what happened, Penelope.” Had she truly taken his comment as a wager? If she’d been born a Quartermain, perhaps then he’d agree she might have.

“Oh, but I think it was, Yule. And as I am the winner of the wager, I will exact my payment tonight, if you please.” The minx grinned at him and his stomach dropped.

What the devil did she want him to do tonight?

“I will expect you to stand up with me for the first waltz at tonight’s ball as payment, if you please.” Her eyes sparkled and Yule let out the breath he’d been holding.

In his still heightened state of arousal, he’d been certain she’d say she wanted him to debauch her, although given the intimate nature of the Viennese waltz, her request was not far from the mark. They’d be dancing face to face, in very close proximity for an ungodly length of time. Still, her request wasn’t as scandalous as he’d feared. There was nothing to stop him from agreeing to her request, save the overarching fear that the dance would in fact lead to much more intimate contact between the two of them.

“Very well, then.” He had to agree to some payment, else he suspected Penelope would accuse him of backing out of the wager, and that he could not have, whether or not he thought it a legitimate wager. “The first waltz is yours, Miss Penelope.” He glared at her, which only made her giggle. “But we will then consider the wager duly paid. Agreed?”

“Agreed.” She nodded, but her eyes flashed in the bright sunlight, and she licked her lips, making his gut tighten.

No doubt about it. The waltz tonight would only be the beginning of the hell he’d have to pay.

Chapter Five

The delicious scents of Christmas wafted across the Kastners’ ballroom, two drawing rooms opened together that gave a large enough space for dancing couples. Long garlands of the bayberry tied with red ribbons, decorations of holly and rosemary accented with gold ornaments in each window sill, and green balls of mistletoe hanging at strategic spots overhead gave the room the festive air demanded by the season. Yule entered, immediately scanning the crowd for Penelope, who he assumed would descend on him like a streak of lightning to claim her prize. Amazingly, she seemed to not be present yet.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Yule strolled further into the room, nodding to acquaintances as he continued to glance around. Surely Penelope would not let her chance go by to dance the first waltz with him. What she hoped to gain from it, he didn’t quite know. Had she set her cap for him? Rather an odd thing for a young lady not yet out to do. There were so many other eligible gentlemen here, although none quite so young as she. Still, her parents must have made it clear to her that she should dance and flirt with the younger set. After their dance, he would take her back to her mother and that should be the end of the matter.

Musing about who else he might ask to dance tonight, Yule jumped when Lady Augusta Hardy appeared at his side, quite out of breath. “Good evening, my lady.” He bowed and smiled. “Are you running away from someone?”

“Of course I am, Mr. Quartermain.” She fanned herself, peering about as if looking for someone.

Yule scarcely needed to guess who. “Is Julius pursuing you already this evening?”

“Not pursuing yet, no. However, I wanted to steal a march on him and engage you in the first dance.” The lady’s eyes snapped with thinly veiled anger, although why she was angry with his cousin, he wasn’t certain. “So I don’t have to refuse him yet again. It’s becoming so tiresome.”

“Well, you might think about accepting a dance with him then, my lady.” Yule felt for his cousin, loving a woman who obviously did not reciprocate that affection. “It would be a change of pace at least.”

“That would do nothing save prolong the agony, Yule. I mean Julius no harm, but I cannot lead him on to believe I will change my mind about him.” Lady Augusta waved to a friend of hers, then turned her attention back to Yule. “I know it is quite scandalous for a lady to ask a gentleman for a dance, but will you dance the first with me, please?” She cocked her head bewitchingly. “You may call me Augusta, Yule. We have been friends for some time now. I think the proprieties may be dispensed with.

Suddenly, Yule completely understood his cousin’s fascination with the lady. She was certainly beautiful, but then many women had beauty. She was dressed impeccably in a gown the deep orange color of leaves in the autumn, embellished with black lace and velvet ribbons that complimented her jet-black hair. There were, however, many ladies of the ton who dressed to the nines at every ball. No, it was all those things together, enhanced by her intelligence and keen sense of daring that appealed to him, and obviously, to his cousin. One might say the lady was trouble, however she gave off an aura of confidence in all she said and did that persuaded one that she had everything under control, whether she actually did or not. An enticing proposition, no doubt about it.

“I would be honored to dance with you, Augusta.” He smiled and bowed again. “As long as the first dance is not a waltz. That I have promised to another.”

She laughed, a triumphant sound that made Yule cringe. Had he just betrayed his cousin or not? A simple request for a dance shouldn’t be a sign of disloyalty, but somehow the lady made him feel it was. “Excellent. Now I simply need to do the same thing with every other gentleman in the room save Julius.”

“You shouldn’t crow about it so, Augusta. Julius is a fine gentleman with a title and estates. If you’ll pardon me, you could do worse than become Lady Boxtd.” The least Yule could do was stand up for his cousin, as he spoke nothing but the truth.

“Oh, Julius is a fine gentleman, I will grant you that. And yes, he’s titled and landed.” She looked Yule straight in the eyes. “And not very interesting.” The lady shrugged. “There it is. I will confess I find no fault with his character. He is a kind and generous man who constantly says and does all the right things.” Augusta shook her head. “I simply need more in my partner for life than that. I want someone with a hint of danger or mystery about him. Julius, God bless him, has neither.”

“As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, my lady. Because you may in fact get it.”