His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) Read Free Page A

gave her only three more months to win over and become affianced to the handsome Lord Shelley.
    “Oh, here comes your future duke now,” Kate whispered with a conspiratorial giggle. “I shall leave the two of you alone. Good luck!”
    Her loyal friend fled the scene just as Lord Shelley arrived at Yvette’s side.
    “As usual, you are looking quite lovely this evening, Miss Hamilton,” he said. A warm smile lit his face.
    “So you tell me every time I see you, my lord.” She cast a flirtatious eye around the ballroom, as if she had already tired of him, and fluttered her new lace fan, which matched her elegant, rosebud-pink silk gown with lace edging. Acting a bit unattainable had been her strategy with him from the start. Lord Shelley was an attractive and powerful gentleman accustomed to having women fall at his feet. Yvette refused to be one of them.
    Lord Shelley whispered close to her ear, “That is because I can think of nothing else but your beauty when I look at you.”
    A thrill of delight raced through her and Yvette tallied his compliment to the growing list she kept in her head to mark her progress with him. Although Lord Shelley as yet had not shown her any more attention than he had to the other girls, Yvette sensed a subtle change in his behavior. One by one, the young ladies vying for his attentions all summer had fallen out of favor with him, leaving only Yvette and her greatest rival, Jane Fairmont, left to battle it out.
    Yvette was quite determined that she would win her romantic ideal in the end. It was the reason she had refused to accompany Colette and Lucien to America. She simply could not leave London now, not when she was so close to taking serious steps forward with Lord Shelley. Through single-minded perseverance and much cajoling on her part, she had somehow managed to convince them to let her stay. So she remained in town, while her sister, brother-in-law, and nephews had set sail across the Atlantic the day before. Yvette was free to pursue her dream of becoming the next Duchess of Lansdowne.
    Now Yvette turned and gazed into Lord Shelley’s thoughtful hazel eyes, which had been giving her quite intent stares of late, she had been pleased to note. With fair hair, almost silver in color, William Weatherly was a very good-looking man, despite his maturity. She guessed he was close to forty years old but wasn’t certain of his exact age. Always clean-shaven, he had straight teeth, a well-proportioned nose, and a strong jaw. He was muscular and taller than average height, but his title and position added to the powerful air about him. His good-natured charm and dashing manner appealed to her. He looked the epitome of a duke and all the girls were mad for him.
    “You are very kind, my lord.” She cast her eyes down at his second compliment.
    “I confess that I am very happy to see you here tonight.”
    “I wasn’t sure if I could manage to attend at all. My aunt and uncle were escorting me this evening and my aunt was not feeling well,” Yvette said.
    “I would have been very disappointed had you not been here, Miss Hamilton.”
    She glanced up at him with an indulgent smile. “I am happy to save you from such disappointment then, my lord.”
    “As am I.” His eyes twinkled at her. “It’s rather warm in here. Are you thirsty, Miss Hamilton? May I get you something to drink?” he asked.
    “Oh, that would be quite nice. Thank you very much.”
    “I shall return to you shortly.” Lord Shelley walked off toward the refreshment area and Yvette watched him make his way through the crowd.
    How positively wonderful! He would have been disappointed not to see her! She could barely contain her excitement at his confession.
    Kate hurried back to Yvette’s side as Lord Shelley disappeared into the dining room. Her friend asked, “So, how is it progressing this evening?”
    Yvette grinned, pleased with her evening’s endeavors. “I believe quite well, Kate. Quite well. He’s coming