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Back What Happens At Christmas Save as PDF
Chapters (32)
  1. Also by
  2. Title Page
  3. One
  4. December 21st
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. December 22nd
  15. Eleven
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. December 23rd
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. December 24th
  28. Twenty-two
  29. Twenty-three
  30. December 25th
  31. Twenty-four
  32. Copyright Page

“Oh, it’s definitely interesting.” She tried and failed to hide a wry smile. “Don’t think because we are now allies to save Camille that we are friends as well.”

“I would never think that.”

“Good, because we aren’t. I still don’t trust you. But I am confident that you don’t wish to see her hurt or seduced or, God forbid, married to this charlatan.”

“I will not allow that to happen.” His jaw tightened. “You may trust in that.”

“Because you still love her?”

“Because I . . .” His gaze jerked to hers. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Grayson.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “Let me think. You’re home for the first time in eleven years, and instead of being with your family, you’re pretending to be a member of ours. There are other signs as well, which I don’t think she has noticed, but are obvious to me. I would list them for you, but as the ‘count’ will be with us in another minute or so, that shall have to wait.” She adopted a brilliant smile and waved gaily at Pruzinsky.

“That’s not all you and I need to talk about,” he said in a hard tone. “I want to know what you meant when you said I had broken her heart.”

Beryl’s eyes widened with disbelief. “You mean that, don’t you? You really don’t know?”

“Know what?” he ground out through clenched teeth.

“I take back anything I said about you being smarter than you look. Apparently, you are not.” She moved away to greet Pruzinsky.

It struck him that winning Camille’s heart meant Beryl would be his sister. For the rest of his life. He thrust the thought aside. Camille was worth it.

Beryl kept the count busy on the walk back expounding on life in Avalonia. Every now and then, he noticed the muscles of her jaw twitch, as if she was grinding her teeth, or fighting the urge to say something or maybe smack him. Still, of all the actors in her sister’s Christmas farce, he had to admit Beryl might well be the best. It would have been most amusing if not for the stakes involved: Camille’s fortune, Camille’s heart and the rest of her life.

He had no need or desire for Camille’s fortune, but her heart and the rest of her life would belong to him.

Now he just had to convince her.

Thirteen

Thirteen