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Adele shrugged. “I’ve never been in love,” she stated quite matter-of-factly. “I do not know. Yet I cannot imagine seeing a stranger and…” She shrugged once more, and Edie could tell that an instant connection seemed truly impossible to her.
Edith smiled. “I think I’ll know.” Indeed, over the past few years, Edith had watched her siblings most attentively. She had seen them become betrothed, seen them married and become husbands and wives, and more than that, she had seen the way they had looked at their spouses, spoken to their spouses. Indeed, she felt quite confident in her ability to judge another’s affections correctly. In her opinion, her eldest brother as well as two of her sisters were in love with their spouses. Although her youngest brother clearly held affection for his wife, it was not the kind of love she had seen in the other three marriages. Unfortunately, her other two sisters seemed rather indifferent to their husbands, clearly not seeking their company, most content when they could spend time apart.
For so long now, Edith had watched them all, observed those little interactions between husband and wife, and come to the conclusion that there was only one kind of marriage she would ever agree to. She wanted love, plain and simple.
For herself.
But also for Addie.
“Truly?” Adele inquired, a questioning look in her eyes. “Do you truly expect to see someone, look into his eyes and…?” Again, she shrugged. “I mean, even if he looks dashing and kind, you still do not know him. You do not know his thoughts, the way he would speak to you. How can your heart possibly…?”
Edith squeezed her friend’s hand encouragingly. “Don’t worry, Addie. I shall help you find your one true love.”
Adele laughed. “Oh, Edie, you’ll be the death of me one day! Please, do not make me hope!”
Edith cast her a wicked grin. “There should always be hope!” she exclaimed determinedly. “What would life be without hope? Never give up on it, Addie! Never!” Again, she squeezed her friend’s hand. “Trust me. All will be well. I promise.”
Heaving a deep breath, she sat back in her seat, allowing her eyes to drift out the window and sweep over the glistening countryside. In the distance, she could see Lord Cumberton’s ancient castle appearing upon the horizon and wondered what this Christmas season would bring. She could only hope it would see Adele happy. With Lord Halston’s son or another, it did not matter to her. The only thing that mattered was to ensure Addie’s happiness.
And Edith vowed she would not rest until she saw it secured.
Chapter One
A WOMAN WORTH KNOWING
Jasper Beaumont, Earl of Whickerton, hated societal events of any kind. He particularly hated the ones his mother attended alongside him. The woman knew no boundaries in her attempts to see him advantageously married. And fool that he was, Jasper had given his late father a deathbed promise to marry within a year of his death.
Unfortunately, it almost was.
“You look rather uncomfortable,” Andrew Abernathy, Viscount Dalton, remarked with a rather unbecoming grin upon his face. “Simply make your choice and be done with it. It shouldn’t be that difficult!”
“Pray tell, why am I friends with you?” Jasper asked, turning to glare at his friend, well aware that his mother stood only a few paces away, observing the comings and goings of the Christmas house party with rapt attention as well as a calculating gleam in her eyes. To her great disappointment, neither one of her two children showed the necessary ambition to secure themselves an advantageous match, thus causing their mother one disappointment after another. While Jasper rarely cared to spend more than an hour or two in any woman’s company, his younger sister Mary was almost painfully shy, often unable to utter a single word in the company of others. Most of the time, she could be spotted standing somewhere off to the side, a rather distant look in her eyes as though her mind were elsewhere.
Jasper sighed, wishinghewere elsewhere!
“If choosing a wife is indeed that easy,” Jasper remarked with a bit of an acidic tone to his voice, “then how is it you are not married yet?”
Andrew shrugged, a rather disinterested expression upon his face. “Well, I suppose I was not fool enough to make any such ridiculous promise.” A wide grin came to his face. “You, however, were and must, therefore, live with the consequences.” He let his gaze sweep over the entrance hall of Cumberton Castle and the arriving guests. “What of her?” he asked, nodding toward a slender young woman, her hair piled so high on top of her head that she seemed to have trouble maintaining her balance.
“Lady Lucinda?” Jasper growled with an eye roll. “You cannot be serious! Have you ever spoken to her? The only topic she loves to discuss is herself.”
Andrew groaned. “I must admit, I’m growing tired of your objections,” he replied curtly. “Every woman I point out you find something wrong with. Honestly, I am simply trying to help you. If you continue this way, the year will end, and you will still be unwed.”
Jasper gritted his teeth. Indeed, the prospect of remaining unwed was most pleasing; however, the thought of breaking the promise he had given to his late father caused him an almost physical pain somewhere in the left side of his chest.
“I insisted my parents invite you here this Christmas season,” Andrew continued, nodding toward their hosts, Lord and Lady Cumberton, as they stood receiving more guests, “to see an end come to your constant moaning and complaining. Choose a bride, marry her and be done with it. Life does not end after marriage.” He exhaled rather loudly, annoyance marking his every feature.
Jasper nodded. Indeed, for many people, marriage changed little in life. He had seen it in his parents’ marriage as well as in other marriages. They continued on as though the other one, their spouse, barely existed. Yet, some were different. His gaze moved over to Lord and Lady Cumberton, their hosts and Andrew’s parents. They stood close, her hand upon his arm, her eyes turned up to look into his. Jasper saw affection there, something deep and all-consuming, something that made him think that for Lord and Lady Cumberton lifehadchanged after marriage.
Changed for the better.
As much as Jasper hated the idea of thinking of himself as a romantic sap, he wanted what they had. He wanted towantto be near his wife. He wanted to miss her when she was not around. He wanted to look into her eyes and know who she was while at the same time finding himself awed by the magnificent creature at his side.
Considering Andrew’s parents, Jasper wondered about his friend’s outlook on marriage. “Perhaps coming here was a mistake,” he remarked dryly.
Andrew scoffed. “We both know you don’t have much of a choice.” Then he suddenly stilled, and his eyes slowly narrowed as he looked past Jasper at something or someone beyond his shoulder. “Brace yourself,” he then warned in a hissed whisper. “I believe your mother has found another target.” He chuckled before adding, “Perhaps you should simply let her make this choice for you. Heaven knows she wouldn’t mind!”
Before Jasper could reply, his mother suddenly stood before him, her sharp eyes meeting his before once more moving across the room toward the front entrance. “Do you see the young lady just arriving?” She jerked her chin in the direction in question. “The one with the dark brown hair and hazel eyes?” She looked back at him until he nodded. “I believe that is the daughter of the Duke of Ashbrook, Lady Adele.” She heaved a rather wistful sigh. “She would be a marvelous match; do you not agree?”
