Lord Ashford drew his wife back to his side. “Do not pry, Constance. They are newlyweds, after all.”
Juliet pressed her eyes closed and drew in a grateful breath. “The dowager duchess is awaiting us in the blue drawing-room. If you will join her, we will arrive presently.”
“Very good.” Father nodded, then led Mother from the parlor.
“We had better hurry,” Giles said.
Juliet nodded her agreement as they strode from the parlor.
Giles led an appropriately dressed Juliet into the crowded blue drawing-room half an hour later. Her parents sat across from the dowager duchess. Olivia, Thorne, and his sisters were crowded around them in wingback chairs. Their friends must have arrived while she was dressing.
She squeezed Giles’s arm and said, “It seems we are to have a full house.”
“Does it upset you, darling?” he asked.
“Not in the least.” She grinned. “I am happy to welcome our friends and family into our home for the holiday.”
“Then I shall be happy too, for whatever pleases my duchess, pleases me.”
Juliet’s heart filled to bursting as they joined their company. This would be a Christmas to remember. And before it was over, she would ensure it was one to cherish as well.
Chapter 14
Giles’s breath caught when he gazed at Juliet, and he wondered if his wife would always have this effect on him. Gone was the length of red silk she’d worn an hour earlier, but even fully clothed, he desired her.Juliet captivated him and held him enthralled. She had from the moment he’d spied her in Thorne’s library.
She sat beside Olivia at the pianoforte, a stunning blue gown accenting her eyes and hugging her breasts. Sapphires circled her neck and dangled from her ears while the one he had placed on her finger caught the flickering candle-lit. She was a vision and every inch a duchess.
His groin tightened. What he would give to have her alone right now. Giles turned to Thorne. “If you will excuse me. I miss my wife.”
“I am glad to find that marriage suits you.” Thorne nodded toward the ladies. “Go. I will occupy myself.”
Giles shook his head, then pivoted and strode toward the pianoforte and his becoming wife.
When Juliet’s gaze met his, she smiled brightly.
Giles quickened his pace as she struck the first key of a Christmas carol. The upbeat notes ofJoy to the Worldfilled the parlor.
“Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing…”Juliet and Olivia sang the words of the carol, spreading Christmas cheer through the parlor.
Giles came to stand beside the pianoforte, his attention on Juliet as her voice washed over him. She sang like an angel, and he made a mental note to ask her for a private concert. He watched in awe as her slim fingers danced over the ivory. What a surprise to find her as talented as she was beautiful.
He wondered if he would ever cease being awed and amazed by her. He suspected he never would, for she had already proven herself to be beyond compare.
Her angelic tone sending shivers through him as he moved to stand beside her and joined in on the singing.“Joy to the world, now we sing…”
She beamed up at him, her fingers never missing a key as she sang along.“Let the angel voices ring.”
By the time they reached the final stanza, the rest of their company had joined in, and now everyone crowded around the pianoforte.
After she struck the last key, Juliet turned to him and asked, “What is your favorite carol?”
“Deck the Halls.” He answered. “What is yours?”
Her eyes filled with playfulness. “Let us see how long it takes you to figure it out.” She said.
He listened intently as Juliet struck the first several notes. Before long, he had his answer. “Hark the Harold Angels Sing,” he said.
Olivia stood then and went to stand beside her husband.
