What Happens At Christmas by Victoria Alexander Page B

Win’s opinion of Camille and her sisters was nothing new. Nor was Gray’s defense of her.
    â€œBeryl was always much shallower than her sister.”
    â€œAs they look exactly alike and, to my observation, behave in exactly the same manner, explain to me, yet again, why she isn’t as shallow as her twin.”
    â€œYou don’t know her the way I do.”
    â€œCorrect me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the woman who broke your heart to marry someone with a title and fortune?”
    â€œIn hindsight . . .” Gray chose his words with care. “What should she have done? She was about to be married.”
    â€œEven so—”
    â€œShe’s still angry with me,” Gray said.
    â€œ She is angry with you ?” Win said slowly.
    Gray nodded. “Still.”
    â€œAfter eleven years, she is still angry with you .” Win’s brow rose. “How very interesting. I didn’t know she had any right to be angry with you at all.” He studied his cousin for a long, thoughtful moment. “I thought you were the wounded party.”
    â€œI was,” Gray said staunchly.
    â€œI thought you and she were in love.” Win studied his cousin closely. “And that she chose someone else over you because he had money and you did not.”
    â€œShe did.”
    Skepticism glittered in Win’s eyes.
    â€œI was in love with her.”
    â€œAnd was she in love with you?”
    â€œI thought so. No, I knew so.” Gray blew a long breath. “Admittedly, we had never spoken of love and she had no idea of my feelings until that very day.”
    â€œShe never said she loved you as well?”
    â€œNo, but—”
    Astonishment widened Win’s eyes. “You told this woman, who had long considered you her friend, that you loved her on the day before her wedding?”
    â€œI told you all that at the time.”
    â€œNot exactly.” Win shook his head. “You only told me that you loved her and she refused to marry you because you had no prospects.”
    â€œThat’s what happened.” Perhaps he had not fully explained everything all those years ago.
    â€œI thought there was more between you. The way you talked about her and your behavior, you led me to believe you and she had some sort of understanding.”
    â€œI never said—”
    â€œNo wonder she’s angry.” Win shook his head. “Still.”
    â€œI think it’s a good sign,” Gray said.
    â€œA sign of what?”
    â€œOf her feelings.”
    â€œIt seems to me her feelings are those of anger.” He sipped his whisky. “Justifiable, I might add.”
    Gray choked. “Justifiable? How can you say that?”
    â€œOh, let me see.” Sarcasm colored Win’s words. “You sprang this on her without warning just as she was about to marry someone else. And then you left.”
    â€œI thought it best.” Although at this moment, it did sound rather stupid.
    â€œTo leave her and your family and your country?”
    â€œWell, yes, but—”
    â€œAfter declaring your love, you made no effort to speak to her again that day or the next. Correct?”
    â€œIt seemed pointless.” A defensive note sounded in Gray’s voice. He had recognized his foolishness years ago. It wasn’t at all pleasant to have his cousin now point it out.
    â€œFurthermore, you have made no effort to contact her for eleven years. Is that correct as well?”
    â€œYes.” Gray forced a cool note to his voice. “As I said, it seemed pointless.”
    Win took another swallow and studied his cousin. “Has it never occurred to you that this abrupt declaration of yours might have been so unexpected as to leave her stunned? Speechless?”
    â€œShe did manage to get a few words out,” he snapped. “She did admit she would marry me if I had money.”
    â€œDid she?”
    â€œNot in those exact