Free His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) by Kaitlin O'Riley

removed her velvet cape, she saw a deep frown of disapproval form on Aunt Cecilia’s face at the sight of her gown.
    “Really, Yvette,” she muttered low. As she scowled, the lines on her face wrinkled in frustration. “How could your mother allow you out of the house wearing that?”
    “Mother loved my dress, Aunt Cecilia. It is the height of fashion.” Yvette smiled brightly as if nothing were amiss. She would not let her aunt sour her good mood. She was at a party wearing a beautiful gown and about to see her future husband. What could be better? As she ignored her aunt, her attention was caught by a familiar grinning face.
    “Miss Hamilton! They’re about to begin the first set. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
    “Of course, Lord Calvert! I would be happy to dance with you!” Yvette glanced at her aunt and uncle with a smile. “Please excuse us.” Gratefully, she took his arm as he led her to the ballroom.
    Lord James Calvert was a good-looking younger son of the Earl of Campbell and had declared his love for Yvette on more than one occasion. She found him to be charming and funny and quite a good dancer, but had refused him most sweetly. Yet he still pursued her. As for tonight she was happy for his company and the immediate escape he provided from her aunt and uncle. He took her in his arms and they moved to the music of a quadrille.
    “You look lovely this evening, Miss Hamilton. Your gown is most becoming.”
    Yvette noticed his eyes gaze briefly on her bosom and she laughed. “Lord Calvert, you’ve become an even finer dancer than I remember.”
    “That is only because I’m dancing with you.” Lord Calvert flirted with her.
    She smiled at him as they marked the steps in time to the music. Yvette enjoyed every minute of the dance, thanking him when it ended. She excused herself and headed to the ladies’ retiring room, where she met her friend Lady Katherine Spencer and the two of them greeted each other with a warm embrace.
    “Kate! Your gown is simply gorgeous!” Yvette exclaimed with excitement. “That color green brings out your eyes.”
    Her friend stared at her, open-mouthed. “Yvette,” she whispered, “your gown . . .”
    Already a bit self-conscious, Yvette worried. “Is it too low? My dressmaker and mother told me it wasn’t, but now I feel overexposed, and—oh, Kate, what are you thinking? Please tell me the truth.”
    “The gown is very low cut, yes, but that’s not all of it.” Kate looked her up and down with an expression that bordered on awe. “It’s everything together, Yvette. It’s the deep blue color, the way it clings to you, the sleeves. I don’t even know the word that would describe you. You look womanly and sophisticated. I’ve never seen you look better, to tell you the truth. The men will be falling all over themselves for you tonight.”
    “Well, I doubt that, but as long as you don’t think I look too scandalous.”
    “It’s almost scandalous,” Kate added. “I think someone else wearing that dress could look unchaste and loose. But you . . . you don’t. You make the dress look elegant and sophisticated and the dress makes you look stunning.”
    “Oh, Kate, thank you!” Relief flooded Yvette at her friend’s words knowing that Kate would only tell her the truth. “My goal in wearing it is to outshine Jane Fairmont.”
    “I’ve no doubt that you will have accomplished that by the end of the evening!” Kate cried. “You will outshine every woman here. Has Lord Shelley seen you yet?”
    Yvette shook her head. “No, not yet.” If William Weatherly did not show up this evening, she would have worn this dress for nothing.
    “Well, I promise that he won’t be able to keep his eyes off of you, once he does see you!” Kate predicted with glee.
    Giggling, she and Kate returned to the ballroom and Yvette danced a few more dances before she finally saw Lord Shelley for the first time that evening. He looked tall and handsome, and