Page 28 of Yule Be Mine

Chapter Eleven

“Absolutely not, Yule.” Mrs. St. Claire shook her head so vehemently, the curls hanging beside her face threatened to put out an eye. “Penelope must have a formal engagement period, so that we may plan the day in style. And nothing is so beautiful as a June wedding, with all the roses in bloom. You can’t wish to deprive her of this, I’m sure.”

“No, ma’am, I would deprive Penelope of nothing, I assure you. It’s just that we’ve been so long apart, we wish only to be together now.” Yule’s patience with his future mother-in-law might reach its limits soon. The woman had been arguing with him incessantly for the past half an hour and showed no signs of relenting.

“And there you have it.” The lady crowed as though he’d agreed with her. “You have not seen one another for ten long years. You must take the next six months to become better acquainted again.”

Biting back a groan of frustration, Yule shot a look at Penelope, dutifully helping her sister wind yarn. She wrinkled her nose at him, as if to say “I told you so”, then turned back to whispering with Charlotte.

“I have just received an invitation to a special dinner from your grandmother, to celebrate your betrothal. I am certain it will be the first of many we can expect from family and friends.” Mrs. St. Claire looked smugly at him. “Another reason to keep the engagement a full six months from now. Think of all the entertainments at which you will be the guests of honor. You won’t want to miss such celebrations all spring long, will you?”

“Certainly not, Mrs. St. Claire.” Yule had to restrain the sarcasm in his voice, but the only celebrating he wished to do was with Penelope in his bed. Immediately. Still, he supposed he’d have to endure it if he wanted to marry his siren. And he did want to marry her. Very badly.

“Will you attend the pantomime with us tomorrow afternoon, Yule?” Mrs. St. Claire poured more tea into his cup.

“Yes, he most certainly will,” Penelope spoke up from the sofa. “We love the Christmas pantomimes Yule, and haven’t seen a proper one in ages. In Dublin, there were wonderful puppet shows at Christmas, but not an actual pantomime.” She extracted herself from the yarn and hurried over to stare down at him with liquid blue eyes. “So yes, you must go with us. Please?”

These Christmas entertainments didn’t interest Yule in the least, however if Penelope wished him to attend with her, he absolutely would. The more time spent with her the better. “Of course, my dear. I will gladly come along if you like.”

“Good.” She sent him a triumphant look and squeezed his shoulder. “We have planned to attend the one at The Princess’s Theater. They’re playing Robinson Crusoe or Harlequin Friday and the King of the Caribee Islands. Doesn’t that sound thrilling?”

“I assume it’s based on DeFoe’s Robinson Crusoe?” Yule had read the book as a boy and thought it a corking good tale at the age of twelve. It might make a pleasant afternoon’s entertainment if he was allowed to sit beside Penelope.

“Yes, I’ve heard it is.” She slid down onto the seat next to him. “Won’t it be such fun? And just think. We will be together all afternoon.”

“That will be an absolute joy.” Although he could think of other ways they could spend the time that would be even more joyous.

“I suppose that is why Penelope insisted on attending the panto at the Princess.” Charlotte sniffed, putting her yarn ball down. “I cannot imagine any other reason to endure any performance lasting five hours.”

“Five hours?” Yule’s heart sank.

“Yes, but it will be such fun, Yule,” she whispered softly, leaning close to him.

He could think of other things that were fun to do, although not in a theater. Perhaps he could enlist his siren’s aid and make the afternoon absolutely memorable for the both of them.

*

“This way, Yule.We are in the Dress Circle, just down there.” Penelope motioned to a set of seats two rows from the balcony’s railing, her face full of excitement.

Yule couldn’t help but smile at his fiancée’s enthusiasm. She’d been all atwitter ever since he’d whispered his plan to her as she’d escorted him to the door yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, her family’s carriage wouldn’t accommodate him and the family, so he’d arranged to meet the St. Claires at the theater. “Those are excellent seats, my dear. We should be able to enjoy the performance thoroughly.”

“Oh, I’m certain we will.” Following her parents and sister down the steps, Penelope stopped a moment, her hand going to her head. She winced.

“Is something wrong, my dear?”

“No, it’s nothing.” She waved her hand, as if shooing away a fly. “Come along. We don’t want to miss the beginning.”

They continued down until they found their seats, Yule thankfully positioned on the end.

“I told Papa to let you have that seat,” she said as they sat. “So much more room for your legs.” She gave him a knowing smile, then touched her temple again.

“My dear, are you quite all right?”

“It’s nothing. I…I think all the excitement has given me a headache, is all.” She patted his hand. “I’m certain it will…Oh!” Penelope grabbed her head in both hands.

Her mother caught the motion and turned toward her. “Penelope, what is the matter?”

“A headache, Mama.” Penelope rubbed her temple, her brows furrowed.