Mistletoe & Michaelmas by Rose Gordon Page B

only a little. It wouldn't surprise him if one or two of the people on the list of potential bridegrooms didn't know of his own fate yet. A twinge of disappointment settled in Aaron's chest. He wouldn't have minded if his name had made that list… No, he wouldn't even think of that.
    “Keep up, Mr. Lentz. We're almost there.”
    Aaron frowned. Where was there? He was certain the duke's study was on the other side of Danby Castle.
    “Let's go out here.” Danby opened the large door to the front of the castle and threw a skeptical glance over each of his shoulders before poking his head out the open front door and craned his neck to do a slow sweep of the porch.
    Aaron stared at the man. Perhaps age was becoming his own undoing. The man's mechanisms weren't that private. Besides what man who still had his wits about him would bother to eavesdrop on the front porch during such bone chilling weather? Not Aaron.
    “Out here, boy. Plans for weddings and love everlasting don't make themselves.”
    Repressing a grumble that was on the tip of his tongue, Aaron stepped past the threshold of the door and then came to an abrupt halt when he realized the duke had led him to the most delicious sight he'd ever seen: Daphne, dressed in a shimmery blue ball gown, with a fur coat draped over here, gaping in the middle...standing under the mistletoe…
    ***
    Daphne had never been so nervous in all of her life. That should be a ridiculous notion. Aaron had always been so forward and obvious about his feelings for her. He wouldn't reject her now that she'd come to her senses, would he? She hadn't actually thought of that before, but now that she stood like a simpleton underneath a large bough of mistletoe and she glimpsed him standing lifeless in the door as Danby wordlessly excused himself, the very real possibility was foremost in her mind.
    “Aaron?” she said quietly.
    “Daphne.” He took a step toward her, then another. In daylight he was handsome, but in the moonlight he was absolutely breathtaking. Strong and broad, his sculptured face was cloaked in shadows, making him only that much more attractive.
    Daphne licked her lips as he closed the gap between them. “Aaron,” she breathed.
    He came to a stop directly in front of her, but didn't say anything.
    “I've been thinking about you,” she confessed.
    His expression didn't change. “Good things?”
    “That might depend on who you ask...”
    “You.”
    “Well, in that case...” she bit her lip and lifted her eyebrows— “ I'd say they're good.” She relaxed her face and took a deep breath. “But you might not agree.”
    Aaron's hands found hers. “A beautiful young lady is standing in front of me—under a large sprig of mistletoe, I might add—saying she's been thinking about me, thoughts which she'd considered good.” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “How could I possibly disagree?”
    Nervous excitement and a sudden crippling doubt warred within her. “I—I don't know. You might have changed your mind.”
    “Changed my mind?” He gently tugged on her hands. “What would I change my mind about?”
    “Me,” she breathed.
    Aaron released one of her hands, and brought his free hand up to her face. The fingers of his gloved hand, reached into the thick, red scarf that was wrapped around the bottom of her face. “I haven't changed my mind.” A small, reassuring smile took his lips and he brushed his thumb over her cheek. “But have you?”
    She nodded, unable to speak. “I wouldn't say I changed my mind. It's more like I saw reason.”
    He grinned.
    Not trusting her voice again, Daphne tilted her head up to indicate she'd purposely positioned herself under the mistletoe and was ready for his kiss—were he still inclined toward her that way.
    His smile faded and his Adam's apple worked in his throat. Then, without another word or warning, he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to hers.
    Warmth radiated from within her and went to the ends