Page 14 of Yule Be Mine

Tom’s hand around her back was warm and strange, but the dance moved so fast it was there and gone again as they reversed, then turned to each other, his handsome face grinning into hers. From there, they all heyed around the circle, weaving hand to hand from one dancer to another until she took Yule’s hand briefly as she continued on.

In that short contact, however, her hand stung as though an electric shock had travelled from him to her. Shaking her head, Penelope continued back to Tom and they turned several times until she was nearly breathless. She’d danced reels before, of course. They were very popular in Ireland, and their dancing master had taught her and Charlotte several different variations of the popular dance. Something was different in this dance, however. And that something’s name was Yule Quartermain.

The eight of them joined hands and circled around the first lady, Lady Diana, while she showed off her reeling steps. Then she began to set to her partner, then to her opposite while the rest of the circle clapped and caught their breath. After she’d heyed with both those gentlemen, the circle began to rotate around her again, and she then set to and heyed with the other two gentlemen in the circle. Once she completed those steps, the second lady, Miss Garvey entered the circle and the steps continued in the same manner.

As Miss Garvey was setting to with her partner, Tom leaned over to her as they clapped, his mouth so near her ear, his hot breath seemed to singe her skin. “Yule is fit to be tied.”

Penelope immediately looked across the circle to find Yule staring at her, his face darkened in a frown. She glanced back at Tom, seeing a smirk on his face. Perhaps it hadn’t been the best plan, to make Yule jealous. Of course, he wouldn’t like her showing favor to his cousin, although she suspected if she’d done the same thing with Lord Boxtd, Yule wouldn’t have cared at all.

Oh, she was so confused as to how to make Yule like her, to make him want to court her. She’d taken Charlotte’s advice, but it hadn’t gotten her very far. She’d tried flirting with him and that had helped, but taunting him had ended in disaster, except it had gained her that kiss and soon a waltz. But even though Yule had agreed to those things, he still didn’t seem at all interested in her, just jealous of her spending time with Tom. That wasn’t the same thing as being interested or having affection for her, was it?

The dance had continued on and now, when the group circled around, Penelope went into the middle of the circle. Smiling broadly, she performed her favorite reeling steps kicking high and side to side, even though her huge skirts hid the movements. Such a shame the rest of her set couldn’t see her perfectly executed steps. Especially Yule.

Then she was setting to with Tom, swinging him around, then crossing the circle and setting to with Yule. When he took her arm to swing her about, he leaned close and whispered, “Watch out for Tom.”

Penelope jerked back, her gaze going to Yule’s face. What did he mean by that? Then they were weaving about in a hey and he managed to whisper more urgently to her, “He’s a rake.”

She went back to reeling, her mind circling around the warning he’d given her, all the while an excited smile on her lips. Was Tom Weston a rake? If so, she’d certainly heard nothing of it from her mother or anyone else during the house party. Still, she’d be on her guard should he ask her to go outside for a breath of air. As it was freezing out of doors, she’d have been aware of the ruse even without Yule’s admonition. But her partner had done nothing so far save be respectful to her. Was it Yule’s jealousy speaking slander instead of the truth?

She set two with the other gentlemen, then they all circled around again, repeating the section of dance they’d begun with until they swung their partners around in a dizzying turn, Penelope laughing up into Tom’s face for what seemed like forever, until the music finally ended with a flourish. Breathless, Penelope curtsied to her partner, who seemed not winded at all, then he wound her arm through his and led her off the dance floor.

“You dance extremely well, Miss Penelope,” Tom said as they wove through the throng of dancers. “I’d wager you learned to reel in Ireland.”

“I learned to do everything in Ireland, Tom. I lived there from the time I was seven.” Her breath was coming back, thank goodness. “And please call me Penelope. If I’m to call you Tom, you might as well.”

“Splendid.” His eyes sparkled. “Yule will be furious when I tell him.”

“Do you like baiting your cousin so much?”

“It’s rare anyone gets to do so with Yule. He’s always so serious, so unwilling to let even the family get too close to him. So when I have the upper hand with him, I assure you, I will use it.” He stopped beside her mother and sister and bent over her hand. “Thank you for a lovely dance, Penelope. I shall look forward eagerly to our waltz.”

Mama and Charlotte looked askance at her, but Penelope merely nodded and curtsied. “You are welcome, Tom. I look forward to it as well.”

He bowed to them all, then hurried away.

“Why are you calling Mr. Weston by his first name, Penelope?” Her mother’s voice was urgent in her ear. “You have only just met the gentleman.”

“Because he is Yule’s cousin, Mama, and he asked me to.” Penelope couldn’t help following Tom’s progress around the room. “He is so handsome and witty and has perfect manners. Perhaps I should set my cap at him.”

“Lord, Penelope.” Mama grasped her arm and pulled her backward. “He may be Yule’s cousin and the grandson of a duke, but from what Mrs. Kastner has told me, he’s also a very well-known rake.” Mama dropped her voice to a whisper. “He’s been entertaining women on his ship ever since August. Something about a wager with his grandfather, the duke.”

“Goodness.” Penelope glanced around the room eagerly, searching for Tom. She’d never known a rake before. Now that she did, she wanted to enjoy the experience of talking to someone everyone thought was scandalous. Even better, she would be dancing with him later this evening. Splendid. “Well, he did not attempt anything with me, Mama. He was a true gentleman.”

Suddenly, she spied Tom, being towed none too gently over to the French windows by Yule. That was a conversation she’d give a lot to hear. Meanwhile, she’d best allay Mama’s fears for her. Much as she liked Tom, she was much more interested in how his attentions to her had affected Yule. She suspected when Yule came to claim his waltz, she was going to find out.

*

After relinquishing Augustato her next partner, Yule made a bee line for Tom, who’d just taken Penelope to her mother and seemed to be meandering around the ballroom, totally unaware the wrath of God was about to be visited on him. Coming upon him from behind, Yule seized his cousin’s shoulder, wrenched him away from the gentlemen he’d stopped to speak to, and hustled him out the French doors before Tom could put up a fight. He pushed Tom out into the cold night air, one lantern lit overhead to give them marginal illumination.

“What the hell is going on, Tom?” Yule advanced on his cousin, who had the good sense to get out of the range of Yule’s fist.

“Other than you accosting me out of the blue, cousin? Nothing that needs concern you.” Tom danced backward as Yule lunged toward him. “Temper, temper, coz.”

“What the devil were you doing with Penelope St. Claire?” Yule stilled, looking for an indication which way Tom would feint.

“I was dancing with her, cousin. That is what one does at a dance, if you don’t remember. Oh, but you must, because you were dancing with us too.” He reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a silver case, opened it and put a cigarette into his mouth. Tom produced a match, struck it, and lit up the tobacco, creating an acrid smell all along the verandah. “At least you have won me the wager I proposed to the fair Penelope.”

“What wager?” Yule could scarcely restrain himself from throttling his cousin.