No Groom at the Inn: A Dukes Behaving Badly Novella by Megan Frampton

and Mrs. Green would likely notice and comment and send her daughter scurrying after Jamie to try and comfort the poor dear.
    And then he’d end up compromising Miss Green, and have to really marry her, not just be pretend betrothed to her.
    So crying was not on the agenda.
    It had felt so wonderful, being kissed by him. She’d liked how he felt, as well, his muscles, his back, his mouth on hers.
    And now she was back to wishing he weren’t so honorable.
    But if he were so honorable he wouldn’t have thought of this devious plan in the first place—she wouldn’t be here, they wouldn’t have met, and she’d be in the country tending children and chickens. So maybe it was her?
    No, she knew it wasn’t that. He seemed to have a perverse sense of honor, one that made him try to please his mother (in the short term, at least), but wouldn’t have to do anything unpleasant for himself. And it was clear he thought being tied down permanently was thoroughly unpleasant.
    Whereas she had to admit that if the person tying her down permanently was him, she would find it very pleasant indeed.
    And that was what she had decided earlier, wasn’t it? Even if it was temporary—and that wasn’t an if, it just was a fact—she would very much like to find out what it would all be like. She could be a respectable spinster when she and Maria were at the cottage.
    During this most festive season, she wanted to be festive. She knew now she couldn’t depend on him to do the wrong thing, so she was going to have to.
    She was going to have to seduce him.
    Happy Christmas, indeed.
    T here would be no seduction today, however. For one thing, it was too cold outside to engage in any proper seduction, and secondly, Jamie was too competitive to get sidetracked by anything that might prevent him from winning.
    “Over here, Sophy,” he called. They had been the first into the forest, and he’d had the foresight to equip himself with a sturdy saw and some rope so they wouldn’t waste time getting help to drag the tree in.
    “Sophronia,” she muttered, following the sound of his voice. The wardrobe he’d gotten for her didn’t include clothing suitable for tramping about in the cold and the snow, so she was already damp and cross.
    And since she couldn’t achieve her own ends, now that she’d decided on them, she was even more cross. But it wasn’t as though she could say, “Excuse me, James, but would you mind taking advantage of me over by this tree here? Yes, it is inappropriate and scandalous and cold, but I’ve come to realize that this is what I want for Christmas, and you are the only one who can give it to me.”
    She wished she could say that, but she also suspected that the aforementioned cold and snow would reduce the pleasure she found in it, and if she were going to ruin herself, she wanted it to be enjoyable, at least.
    “Look, this has to be the best tree out here,” he said in an enthusiastic tone of voice as she made her way to him.
    It was definitely a tall tree. Perhaps twice his height, and that was saying something. Its branches were thick and full, and it didn’t take much imagination to see the tree would be gorgeous decorated with garland, candles, and ribbon.
    Or whatever Mrs. Green deemed appropriate to decorate a tree with. Thank goodness she didn’t take issue with Prince Albert’s importation of the custom, since Sophronia did love the tradition.
    She’d have to keep it up next year, when it was just her and Maria.
    Although she wouldn’t have six feet plus worth of strong male to haul her tree back for her. She’d have to get a gentle shrub or something.
    “Are you certain we can bring it back by ourselves? Oughtn’t I go get some help?” Sophronia couldn’t keep the skepticism from her voice. It was a very tall tree.
    “And risk someone else finding something that would suit just as well, and they would win the contest?” He sounded outraged. “No, we can do it, didn’t I prove that last