Chapter Sixteen
JANE WOKE ON CHRISTMAS morning to discover a day warmer than the preceding one.
At last the weather was relenting. The group’s walk to church in the nearby village that morning was accompanied by the shush of melting snow beneath their feet and its trickle into the roadside ditches.
It was strange to feel too warm in the layers of woolen clothing she wore after shivering in last week’s freezing temperatures.
Inside the church, she gladly peeled off her fur-lined cloak.
After returning from church, luncheon was served in the dining room to the small group, much smaller than usual, she was told. Jonathan’s family members, including his matchmaking Aunt Lucinda, had been unable to join them for Christmas this year due to the weather.
The room had been decorated with holly for the season. A Yule log blazed in the old-fashioned fireplace, and balls of mistletoe hung from ribbons nearby. Jane smiled at the festive sight. “The servants have been busy with decorations today,” she said.
“Apart from bringing the Yule log in, they had nothing to do with it. Marcus and I had that pleasure last night. Did we do a good job?” Jonathan asked, smiling. He held out his hand. “I particularly want you to admire the mistletoe.” He drew her in that direction.
Jane felt the fire’s warmth as she looked up at the ball above her head. Jonathan leant down and gave her a lingering kiss. She responded with longing. They drew apart, their gazes locked. Her arousal was reflected in his dark eyes.
Jane became aware of voices around her and took a reluctant step away from him. Jonathan scanned his guests and sighed. “Back to my hosting duties,” he said.
He reached up to the mistletoe and plucked a white berry as tradition dictated, grinning at Jane while he deposited it in his waistcoat pocket. Flustered by her exposed emotions, Jane looked away and hurried to join their families in conversation.
After luncheon, Jonathan announced that the ice on the lake had been checked for safety and old pairs of skates had been brought down from an upper storage room.
There was excited chatter between Jane’s sisters.
Everyone put on their warmest cloaks and coats to walk to the lake, eager to test their skating legs.
The lake was frozen white.
Jonathan and Dr. Logan helped the younger members of the party onto the ice, then turned to assist their own partners. Jane couldn’t remember ever skating. She tied the skates onto her half boots and tried to stand. She wobbled and grasped Jonathan’s hand in a death grip.
He slid his other arm around her waist and guided her onto the ice, urging her to glide rather than step.
She was enveloped in his warm embrace. The cold air nipped her cheeks; her legs strained to keep her upright.
Slowly, so slowly, she began to relax. Jonathan’s strong body aligned with hers, enabling her to move, if not with grace, then at least with some basic competence. Exhilaration bubbled through her.
After several circuits around the lake, Jonathan pushed a little faster, increasing their speed and releasing his arm from her waist. She wobbled, gasped, then stumbled, sure that she was going to end in a heap on the cold ice.
Before that happened, Jonathan grasped her firmly to him with a laugh, which he quickly stifled, leaving only his eyes crinkling in merriment.
They stopped. She gazed into his brown eyes. Her heart beat hard against her ribs.
Without thinking, Jane drew his face to her own. He didn’t resist. She tasted his sensual bottom lip. Its warmth when her lips were so cold surprised her. Desire arrowed through her belly. She deepened their kiss, opening her mouth.
Jonathan pulled her closer until they stood flush, her legs between his.
She felt the muscles of his braced legs straining to keep them upright.
Her breasts were flattened against his hard chest. Unmistakable evidence of his arousal pressed against her belly as his hand on her buttock anchored her to him.
Gradually, the sounds of other skaters, whooshing and laughing, falling and shouting with surprise, reached Jane’s consciousness. She opened her eyes to see Jonathan’s eyes, darkened with passion to the color of rich chocolate, looking into her own. A look of wonder lit his face.
Jane blushed at her own forwardness and glanced away, realizing they were obvious for all to see. Her sisters in their mourning clothes skimmed around the lake like ravens, stark against its white. Dr. Logan and Elizabeth glided around the perimeter of the lake oblivious of all except each other.
Jonathan took her hand again and stepped forward into their previous skating stance. He slid them slowly around the lake again. Jane felt strangely let down, wishing their kisses could continue, wanting something more.
The weak sun sank across the crisp, clear sky, and a nighttime chill crept forth, forcing even hardy, enthusiastic Katherine to talk of returning to the house.
One by one they slid to the edge of the lake, undid their skates, and called to the others to come in.
A chilled but chattering group walked home eagerly.
Dinner was a less lavish meal, followed by present opening. Jonathan had a gift for each of his guests. He kept Jane’s until last.
She pulled away the brown paper tied with string and decorated with a sprig of holly to reveal a small, flat, polished timber box.
She opened it with trepidation, fearing that whatever lay inside was more than she could ever deserve or repay in love and kindness.
She looked up straight into Jonathan’s eyes, which held hers steadily with a look of warm regard.
Breaking their gaze, she glanced down to the box on her lap. It took her breath away. Not the enormously expensive piece of jewelry she had expected and dreaded, but a small leather-bound book.
Retrieving it from the box, she read its title aloud in delight. “Persuasion.” She grinned up at him, thrilled and surprised he had anticipated her taste so well. “Jonathan, thank you.” She jumped up to hug him tightly. “How did you guess that I dearly wanted this?”
He smiled smugly. “I did what any person of logic might do. I asked Anna what you would most wish to receive. Aware of your book-lust, she knew exactly what to recommend.”
Jane laughed in delight and smiled at Anna. “Yes. Yes, she would. She has been exposed to my reading preferences for many years.” Affection for Jonathan swelled in her chest. Such a level of concern for her interests, she had not expected from him. She had sold him short.
Jane tidied away the Christmas wrappings, forgetting that Jonathan had a house full of servants to do it. Being engaged to Jonathan was proving more enjoyable than she had ever envisaged. She knew now that he was gentle, generous, kind, strong, and brave.
This marriage was going to work, not just for its social and financial benefits but on a more personal level. They were going to be good friends at least. And there was lust—this week had proven it again.
She was beginning to love him. She shook her head in disbelief.
After the presents had been opened, Anna suggested dancing.
The drawing room furniture was moved to the walls, and Elizabeth took the first turn at playing dance tunes for her fellows.
Dr. Logan and Jonathan were kept busy, with two ladies for each of them to partner.
Jane watched her fiancé’s lithe form execute a series of country dances, admiring his muscular body, reliving their heated embrace upon the ice.
When Charlotte changed places with Lady Elizabeth, Dr. Logan took his rightful place as Elizabeth’s partner for the waltz. Jonathan’s arm encircled Jane’s waist from behind and he leaned close to her ear to ask for the dance. His deep voice sent tingles of awareness down her spine.
In his arms, all the unresolved yearnings of the afternoon returned.
The fine wool coat stretched tight across his muscled shoulders was smooth beneath her fingers.
She smelled the fresh soap he had used when he bathed before dinner.
The crisp curls against his forehead were tantalizingly close, tempting her to touch them.
His mouth with its quirking, smiling lips enticed her to touch them with her own.
He swept them away into the steps of the waltz before she could indulge herself.
His knowing eyes seemed to understand her longing.
Surely he must know her thoughts. But when the dance ended, he politely engaged the whole party in his invitation to hot chocolate before bed.
As he had done every previous evening, he wished them all good night and waited while they exited for their bedchambers.
Jane didn’t follow the others.
Jonathan turned from Dr. Logan and saw her standing there. He smiled and approached. He took her hands in his and, raising them, kissed them both, looking warmly into her eyes. “Good night, Jane, my dear, sleep well.”
She held his gaze. Her newly realized love and all the longings of the day made her blurt, “Come to me tonight.”