It Happened Under the Mistletoe: A Holiday Novella by Valerie Bowman

sideways smile. “What about … my cousin, Cerian?”
    Oliver nearly choked on the brandy he’d just swallowed.
    “The rumor is that you two are enamored of one another. Any truth to that?” Kate pushed, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
    Oliver scrubbed his fingers through his hair with his free hand. “Miss Blake is lovely and accomplished. She’s also quite intent upon marrying for love.”
    Kate’s eyebrows shot up. “Is she now? She said that?”
    “We—ahem—have a few things in common. It seems Miss Blake is being as ruthlessly hunted as I.”
    Medford nodded. “So you decided to team up, did you, and distract the suitors on both sides?”
    Oliver nodded. “Precisely.”
    This time Kate’s jaw dropped open. “You did not!”
    Oliver stared at his glass and winced. “Guilty, I’m afraid.”
    “And whose idea was that?” she asked.
    “Mine,” he admitted, downing a hefty swallow of brandy this time.
    Medford slapped his knee. “By God, I wish I’d have thought of that back when I was eligible.”
    Kate shot her husband a disbelieving look. “James, you cannot be serious.”
    Medford patted his dog on the head. “Why not? It’s brilliant if you ask me.”
    Oliver hid his smile behind his glass when Kate turned back to face him.
    “Is that why you and Miss Blake were in the library with the mistletoe? It was all an act?” Kate asked.
    Oliver hesitated. No, he wouldn’t call it an act. Especially his body’s instant reaction to Cerian’s kiss. There had been nothing false about that. But he wasn’t about to admit that to Kate. “Sorry to disappoint you, but Miss Blake and I have formed a partnership of sorts.”
    Kate shook her head. “And here I thought you’d find someone to marry at this house party. You’re only the new hope of the Markingham name. God knows George and I weren’t going to have children.”
    “And don’t I feel every bit of my obligation?” Oliver replied with a sigh. “Starting with restoring the family name.”
    Kate winced. “I’m sorry, Oliver. I know how trapped you must feel. Still, I did so hope you’d find someone here at the party. It’s part of the reason I planned it. I’m trying to help.”
    Oliver lifted his glass to her. “I appreciate it, Kate, I truly do, but I’m not certain you can help.”
    “Very well. But, please have a care for Cerian’s reputation, Oliver. She is my cousin, after all.”
    “I know. The incident with the mistletoe earlier was unfortunate, I’m afraid, but Lady Selina’s antics left us little choice.” That was his story and he refused to change it.
    “Don’t despair, my darling,” Medford said, crossing over to where she sat and kissing his wife on the forehead. “There are still two more days of the house party remaining. Who knows what these young people will get up to?”
    Oliver gave him a skeptical glance. “Young people? I’m merely two years your junior, Medford.”
    “Not the point, Townsende. Besides.” Medford turned back to face his wife. “What’s this I hear about Lady Selina coming up with more games?”
    Oliver groaned.

CHAPTER TEN
    Oliver nearly ran into her. He’d followed that blasted Christmas cat into the conservatory and practically fallen into Cerian’s lap. She sat on a stone bench at the back of the room, alone. The same stone bench he’d been heading toward to seek his own solitude. It was one of his favorite places in Medford’s house, and Oliver had wanted to come here to clear his head, be alone, breathe in the soft scent of orchids that grew nearby, and think about everything for a moment. He’d never expected the bench to be occupied. It was never occupied. And where had that blasted cat got to?
    Cerian glanced up a bit frightful, perhaps because a six-foot man had come barreling toward her. Her features relaxed when she recognized Oliver, and she smiled.
    “I beg your pardon,” he said, ready to turn on his heel and afford her the privacy she no doubt wanted. But