The Christmas Wager by Jamie Fessenden

relative privacy.
    ―Am I to understand, Miss Hudson,‖ Thomas began,
    feeling a bit awkward, ―That you have never married?‖
    If Rebecca was embarrassed by the question, she showed
    no sign. ―You‘re so formal, Thomas,‖ she replied, smiling. ―I
    believe we‘ve known each other long enough for you to call me
    Rebecca. We were once betrothed, after all.‖
    ―I remember.‖
    ―But no, I‘ve never married. Though Father has pushed
    more suitors at me than you can imagine.‖
    The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
    91

    ―Please do not tell me you‘ve been waiting for me to return,
    after all these years.‖
    Rebecca laughed lightly, and regarded him with clear
    affection. ―Oh, Thomas. You are very handsome, and you can
    be quite charming. But no, I have not been pining for you. If
    the truth be told, I was relieved when you broke off the
    engagement.‖
    Some perverse part of him felt insulted, even though this
    was, in fact, what he had hoped for. Rebecca seemed to sense
    this and added, ―I‘m certain you‘ll make someone a fine
    husband one day. But let‘s be honest. Neither of us really
    wanted to marry, now did we?‖
    ―No,‖ Thomas replied, returning her smile. ―But I fear our
    father‘s may have different ideas on the subject.‖
    ―Yes,‖ she responded. Her smile faded. ―Oh, Thomas. You
    should not have come back. My parents have been fretting
    about me becoming a spinster‖—Thomas could hardly imagine
    a young woman who looked any less as though she were in
    danger of running out of options—―and with your father
    bringing pressure to bear, I fear we can expect them to arrange
    another marriage for us.‖
    Thomas nodded. ―Yes, I agree. I‘m glad to learn, at least,
    that you and I are of one accord on the subject.‖
    ―You are aware, are you not, that your father vowed to cut
    you off without a penny should you refuse to wed me?‖
    No, Thomas hadn‘t been aware of that. But he was hardly
    surprised.
    The old conniving serpent.
    He noticed that Rebecca had begun to shiver, so he put his
    arm around her shoulders and said, ―I believe we should go
    inside, before you catch a chill.‖
    The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
    92

    Chapter 15

    THE party was a rousing success, and by the time the
    musicians left, well past midnight, Duchess Barrington was
    already effusing about it to the duke and making plans for
    another one next year. This was met with unenthusiastic
    grunts, which she appeared not to notice.
    Susan had long ago been taken up to the nursery by her
    nanny, and most people with young children had departed
    hours ago as well. Thomas had seen to it that those who hadn‘t
    arrived in their own carriages were taken home by the hall‘s
    carriages, as it was a fair walk through the snow.
    Lady Hudson had retired at a respectable hour, leaving a
    few stragglers—die-hards from the local pubs—drinking in
    Christmas until Simcox felt it necessary to politely ask them to
    leave.
    Andrew had managed to avoid dancing for the rest of the
    evening by flitting from table to table and chatting with the
    guests. He‘d even joined in a game of cards at one table, which
    no doubt would have had Duchess Barrington in a flutter, had
    she known of it. Still, he could not claim to have enjoyed
    himself. His eyes kept straying, almost unbidden, searching
    out Thomas in the crowd. And every time he found his friend,
    with Lady Hudson hanging off his arm, it felt as if his heart had
    been pierced anew by a dagger.
    He had wished to retire to his bedroom since the beginning
    of the dance, but had endured it for Thomas‘s sake. Even now,
    The Christmas Wager | Jamie Fessenden
    93
    after all of the guests had finally left, he found himself unable
    to break away, lingering by Thomas‘s side as the lord gave the
    musicians a crown each and sent them on their way.
    What forced him to wait, even though he felt weary to his
    bones?
    Perhaps he was hoping for the camaraderie he