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

sure.
    “I do think that’s best, Miss Blake.” He nodded.
    She blinked. “You do?”
    “Yes. Most prudent.”
    Unexpected tears stung the backs of her eyes. Wait a moment. Why was she upset? She’d begun this conversation. It had been her idea. “Oh, I’m so…” She searched her mind for the correct word. Devastated? Shocked? Unhappy? “Glad you agree, your grace,” she finished, trying her best not to choke on the words. “Because here I’d been thinking I’d be letting you down easily and you’ve clearly been wanting to do the same.”
    She bit the inside of her cheek. How humiliating. Her only comfort was that she’d been able to say the actual words first. Ugh and she’d got the “most prudent” reply.
    Doubly humiliating .
    He nodded perhaps a bit too emphatically. “There is only one more day of the house party after all.”
    “Exactly my reasoning,” she replied, the smile she posted on her face overly bright.
    “I see no reason why we cannot fend off our respective suitors for that short amount of time.”
    Cerian refused to allow the smile to falter. “I quite agree. One day is most manageable,” she replied. “Not that I haven’t appreciated your help over the past few days.”
    “And I yours,” he said with a bow.
    Cerian swallowed the unwelcome and untimely lump in her throat. “So, we are in agreement?”
    “Quite.”
    “Quite,” she echoed, wishing she could somehow disappear into the potted palm.
    She was saved from an awkward good-bye, however, when Lady Selina clapped her hands and announced to the group at large, “Gather round, everyone. It’s time for the next game of the house party.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    Hide and seek. Why did it have to be hide and seek?
    Cerian knew exactly where she wanted to hide. In the coach on the way home from this dreadful house party. But instead, she decided the more prudent route would be to sneak up the staircase when no one was looking and go to bed.
    She couldn’t stand the thought of Lady Selina chasing after Oliver. And finding him. And God only knew what she’d do if she caught him. No, no, no. Not after Cerian had just declared an end to her mutual alliance with him. It was all too much.
    “The ladies shall hide and the gentlemen shall seek,” Lady Selina announced with a bit too much premeditated glee in her voice.
    Cerian crossed her arms over her chest. “No doubt she’ll hide in Oliver’s bedchamber,” she mumbled to Kate who stood near her.
    Kate leaned closer. “What was that, dear?”
    “Nothing.” Cerian smiled sweetly.
    “The gentlemen shall count one hundred,” Lady Selina said. “Whilst the ladies hide on the ground floor.”
    Cerian fought her eye roll. The only place she’d be hiding was under the covers of her own bed.
    The gentlemen, led by an overly enthusiastic Sir Gilliam, began the count while the mostly giggling ladies dispersed into the corridor. Cerian dutifully followed them out and then waited just outside the door until all of the ladies were gone before she tentatively made her way toward the staircase in the foyer. She made it up the first ten steps before her mother’s voice stopped her.
    “Just where do you think you’re going?”
    Cerian froze, closing her eyes. She had been so close to freedom. So close. She slowly turned on her heel to face her mother. “I have a ghastly headache?”
    But even she knew she didn’t sound convincing.
    Her mother crossed her arms over her chest and slowly tapped her foot on the marble floor, giving Cerian the stern stare for which she was famous.
    Cerian slowly plodded back down the stairs. Her mother pointed down the corridor. “Go! Hide. We’ve only one more evening here and you’ve yet to receive any offers.”
    “But Mama I don’t think—”
    Her mother pointed again. “Go!”
    Cerian began walking. There was no arguing with Mama when she was like this, and even worse, the woman would remain camped out in front of the stairs. Cerian had no