Page 16 of Yule Be Mine

Chapter Seven

Shivering, Yule hurried back inside the ballroom, dazzled by the lights after the relative darkness of the verandah. When his eyes adjusted, he spied Penelope, standing beside her mother, scanning the room, brows furrowed in what was obviously displeasure. Then the strains of the orchestra caught his attention. They were playing a waltz. Damn. This was supposed to be their dance.

Cursing under his breath, Yule hurried around the already dancing couples, sprinted the last few yards and slid to a halt beside Penelope’s mother. Trying to reclaim his flagging dignity, he smiled sheepishly at her. “Mrs. St. Claire, good evening. I’m dancing this next with Penelope.”

“Good evening, Yule.” The lady seemed to bite back a laugh.

He stepped up beside his partner, who glared so hard at him, it took him aback. “I believe this is the first waltz.”

“You’re late.” Penelope grabbed his hand and pulled him back in the direction of the dance floor.

“I know, I’m sorry but—”

“Just shut up and dance with me,” she shot back at him.

They reached the floor and Penelope stopped, tugged him into the position for the waltz, then looked up at him expectantly. “Well, you have to lead. Start us off.”

Dutifully, Yule watched the twirling dancers, counted in his head, then started them off smoothly, blending them in-between the waltzing couples seamlessly. As they dipped and wound around the floor, Yule finally relaxed and glanced down into the face of his partner, expecting a smile. What he found was a perturbed expression.

“Aren’t you going to apologize for your tardiness, Yule?”

Her question and irritated tone took him aback. Well, he could fight fire with fire. “You told me to be quiet, Penelope. I didn’t think you wanted excuses.”

“Not when I already know what your excuse was.” She stared up at him from narrowed eyes.

“And what do you suppose it was?” Yule turned them so quickly, they almost careened into another couple.

“Be careful, please. I do not want us to take a tumble and become the laughingstock of the party.”

“Don’t worry. I am an excellent dancer.” When he could keep his mind on the steps. But with Penelope in his arms, glaring at him as though he’d killed her dog, he was having more trouble concentrating than ever before.

“That remains to be seen.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Now tell me what you said to Tom out on the verandah.”

“Tom!” He spun her around so quickly, Yule himself became dizzy. “How dare the blackguard ask you to use his first name. You don’t know him at all.”

“Please don’t do that again or I shall be wretchedly ill all over you.” Penelope’s jaw clenched and she looked rather pale.

“Should we go back to your moth—”

“No. I won this dance fair and square and I’m going to enjoy it, whether you do or not.”

“As you wish, Miss St. Claire.” If the child was going to act willful, he’d simply finish the dance and then return her to her mother so she could deal with her.

“Ah, you have resorted to formality with me. I’ll wager you didn’t stand on ceremony with your cousin.” Although she didn’t say Tom’s name, Yule could still hear the familiarity in her voice when she spoke of him.

“I’m only trying to protect you, Penelope. Tom was always wild, but since my grandfather gave him that ship, he’s been even worse.” Yule hadn’t even had to hear it from the gossip around town. Tom himself had boasted of his conquests several times. “I hate to say it, because he’s my cousin, but decent women aren’t safe around him.”

“He was a perfect gentleman when he was with me.” She flicked her gaze up at him and sniffed. “An excellent dancer as well.”

“He was dancing with you simply to get my goat. And he knew the quickest way to do it was to flirt outrageously with you.” Shaking his head, Yule suddenly could pay attention to the dance again. Tom wasn’t interested in Penelope at all. He wanted to get back at Yule for some reason. And he had damn near done it, too.

“So you don’t think a gentleman like Tom would wish to dance and flirt with me because he found me interesting and attractive?” The outrage in her voice captured Yule’s attention just in time.

“I didn’t say that, Penelope.” Was she going to take offense to everything he said tonight? “He’s older than you is all. And I know for a fact he’s not looking for a wife right now, although…” Yule paused, about to tell her about the marriage wager. God, no. That was the last thing he should tell her. Alex said to be sure to tell the young lady he was going to marry, but he wasn’t planning on marrying Penelope. And as she already seemed to be pursuing him, if she knew he was supposed to be looking for a wife, she’d be relentless in trying to get him to marry her. In fact, he needed to speak to his parents immediately and ask them not to reveal the wager to the St. Claires. Since Penelope didn’t seem to know about the wager yet, they probably hadn’t divulged it to her parents. But the two older couples appeared to be thick as thieves once more, so he’d best warn them as soon as this dance was over. And Tom and his other cousins. Lord, how was he ever to keep it from her?

“Mama says I should look for a beau who is older than me.” She gazed off to the side of the dance floor, to the knot of bachelors where Tom was standing and laughing. “She actually said Tom was likely too young for me. He isn’t mature enough.”

“Well, in that one thing I have to agree with your mother.” Yule shook his head and scowled at his cousin, though the rogue didn’t seem to notice. “Tom is practically a child himself.”