Mayhem Beneath the Mistletoe (Kourier and Ives #2)

Chapter One

Beckham House

Hanover Square

Mayfair, London

The Honorable Caroline Ives huffed as she read a letter from her younger sister, Debra, who was at their father’s country estate in Kent. Postmarked two weeks ago, it detailed all the successes she’d had since she officially came out into society in May.

…I have already had two offers of marriage since May. Can you believe that, Caroline? Mama has promised that they’ll host a Christmastide ball here during the holiday season, and Papa told me he would consider the two offers for my hand, though he’ll probably decline. He wants a titled man for me…

Of course. That was Papa. Yet again, Caroline felt relief to remain in London during the Christmastide season while the rest of her family had removed to Kent.

She didn’t want to be reminded that she was firmly on the shelf and unmatched—titled or otherwise—especially in the face of Debra’s apparent success, but Caroline hadn’t fully lost the hope that her circumstances might change during this most romantic of seasons.

…wouldn’t it be funny if I were married before you?

Oh, hilarious. She shook her head as she frowned at the letter in her hands.

Why did Debra constantly think what she had in her life was more than what Caroline enjoyed in hers?

Of course she wasn’t jealous of her sister.

Since that house party in May, she had a distracted courtship from Major Kourier and was his lover…

Wasn’t she? Granted, they hadn’t been alone together since he’d returned to London and she remained behind in Kent. Then when she’d finally come back to Town when her father needed to do his duty in parliament, the major had been as good as he word and had called on her at the earliest opportunity.

Yet the courtship was still only just that after six and a half months. If they were left somewhat alone, would Felix finally decide that he might want to propose?

Caroline snorted as she carefully folded the letter.

Unfortunately, her father didn’t trust the major.

He didn’t like him either. In fact, Papa thought Felix wasn’t good enough for her even though he had solved a murder at Papa’s house party in May and did his duties as constable as well.

Because of that, since Caroline had opted to stay in London for the Christmastide season—where the major was also—he installed an elderly female cousin of his into the London townhouse to keep scandal at bay.

Not that there was an opportunity for scandal, low or otherwise.

“I can practically see you thinking.”

The sound of her aunt’s voice wrenched Caroline from her thoughts. She glanced across the table at the older woman, and for a few seconds, her mind blanked on what to say, for she’d been far removed from the conversation while reading her sister’s letter.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Georgiana. What were you saying?” She’d been woolgathering for so long, the tea in her cup was probably cold by now.

“I was telling you to disregard anything your daffy sister tells you. She lords it over anyone who will listen about how successful she thinks her debut season is or how many men she’s managed to string along.”

Caroline couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are you saying it’s not true?” Debra had been known to exaggerate before.

“Who can say? My nephew certainly doesn’t tell me anything unless it’s from his own perspective and narrative. But I suspect Debra is desperate for any sort of story that will make her seem more interesting than she truly is.”

Aunt Georgiana was a curious person. In her early eighties, she was Caroline’s father’s aunt on his father’s side.

The woman had been in and out of their lives for the whole of Caro’s existence, and she usually showed herself as a frail old woman in front of the family merely for the fact that, according to her own words, it was time for everyone to wait on her hand and foot.

She’d gained at least their respect in her old age.

However, in reality, Georgiana was strong, capable, and quite independent.

She harbored a wicked sense of humor as well as cutting sarcasm when she wished.

Additionally, she was wealthy as well, for her husband had left her well off, so she could do what she pleased, when she pleased, and didn’t often answer to anyone.

Truly, Caroline aspired to be like her.

“I wonder if you are correct. Debra does like to brag.” With a sigh, she exchanged the letter for her teacup, and sure enough, the liquid inside was tepid at best. Still, she took a large sip and swallowed it to encourage moisture into her dry throat.

“Don’t worry about her. I also suspect she does it to make you angry enough to respond.

” The older woman shook her head. Strands of silver within her white hair sparkled in the candlelight of the overcast afternoon.

“She believes, as does your mother, that having a spinster in the family somehow damages everyone within the connection.”

Caroline huffed out a breath. “As if I can help what I am.” Two months ago, she’d turned nine and twenty. Perhaps that was the magical age society deemed a woman a failure and a spinster.

Her aunt snorted. “It just shows that you have discernment and won’t accept any man who wanders through for a husband.” She shook her head. “Debra should take some of your advice. That girl, I fear, will marry in haste.”

“Perhaps, but if she does, merely because she doesn’t wish to be on the shelf, that is her mistake.” As if not having a man was such a terrible thing.

“Tell me about your major, dear,” her aunt said with a half-grin as she refreshed her own teacup. “How is the courtship progressing?”

“Unfortunately, I’m not sure that it is.

” Caroline frowned as she admitted that aloud.

Though in the last few weeks that Aunt Georgiana had been in residence, she encouraged her to go to Christmastide balls and parties and she wasn’t under any man’s thumb, they hadn’t talked intimately about the major.

“Since Papa brought us back to Town at the end of September, I have seen the major perhaps once or twice each week. Sometimes not even that if he is working a case.”

Yet the fact that he hadn’t asked her to help on such things was also a cause for disappointment—or contention depending on the day—between them. Hadn’t she done a wonderful job in May when she’d assisted?

“Well, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad,” Aunt Georgiana said with a shake of her snowy white head.

She peered at Caroline through the lenses of her half-moon spectacles, though whether or not she truly needed them was left to the imagination.

“He might not have given thought to the subject of a proposal.”

“Or he doesn’t wish to be put into parson’s mousetrap,” Caroline said in a morose tone. “Isn’t that what gentlemen fear most?”

“Some of them do, but that’s because they’re all too stupid to know that being domesticated is actually good for them.

” The older lady shrugged. “You’ll need to drop a few hints.

Even the best of men are men at their best. If you don’t tell them what they need to do, they will continue to wander around lost.”

“But I don’t want to bully or prod him into a proposal. Isn’t that starting a marriage off on a sour note? I want him to want it as well.”

Her aunt cackled with laughter. “Then you might be even further on the shelf before he gets around to that way of thinking.” She took another sip of tea.

“And giving him hints isn’t prodding him.

You are merely showing him what a good idea an engagement can be, and how brave and manly it is of him to think of it. ”

Caroline briefly pointed her gaze to the ceiling before focusing it on her aunt again. “That’s not romantic.”

“Neither is the other way, but that’s life, and men need as much help or guidance as they can get.” Her hazel gaze was as sharp as it had ever been. “Has he bedded you? If not, that would usher things closer, I’d imagine.”

Heat jumped into Caroline’s cheeks. “Aunt Georgiana!”

“Girl, stop acting as if your morals have been offended. It’s sex. It happens between people. Nothing scandalous about it despite what society says.” One of her thin eyebrows rose. “So, have you enjoyed his body like that? I’ll wager he has quite a delicious form.”

Something about the conversation made her laugh, for it was so absurd.

“I have. A couple of times, and beyond that, there has been intense kissing between us.” She couldn’t help her wide grin.

“Thank goodness I didn’t fall pregnant, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

” And she certainly didn’t want Felix to offer for her out of obligation. “Don’t tell my father.”

“Of course I won’t.” Her aunt nodded emphatically. “Women should be allowed the same freedoms of men in our world. Why shouldn’t we have a bit of fun with a handsome man?”

Caroline’s eyebrows went up. “Are you still interested in such things at your age, Auntie?”

The look the older lady bestowed on her proclaimed a fool. “Of course I am. I’m not dead yet, young lady.”

It was a bit comforting to know that one could still enjoy that sort of activity into one’s eighties. Caroline nodded. “Good for you, Auntie.”

Whereupon the other woman huffed. “If you want your major to come up to scratch, you need to tell him that unless he wishes to define your future and his, you will accept other suitors.”

She frowned. “I don’t want anyone else, despite what Papa wishes me to do.”

Following the May Day ball, she’d remained in Kent with her family for the summer.

Her parents had demanded it after her ordeal of nearly falling out a window in a folly to her death.

While she’d understood that concern, she had longed to be in London where Felix was, but her family hadn’t returned until the end of September.