Page 6 of Yule Be Mine

“Yes, they were so insistent that I should learn from Cassandra as well, I’ve never forgotten it.” Charlotte leaned closer, seeming to warm to her subject. “And it’s a good thing too, now we’re both of marriageable age. Let me see. What else did they say? Oh, if a gentleman hovers around you, conversing for more than a few minutes, then he’s interested in you.”

“Will they be talking about anything in particular?” Making mental notes, Penelope prayed she’d remember all this in the morning.

“No, I don’t think so. Subjects like the weather, the health of family and friends, deaths or marriages they have heard of, or people like Charles Dickens or the Queen, or the theatre—things like that are all fair game.” Charlotte nodded sagely.

“So talking to you excessively is a sign of their regard.” Her sister had just said that a prospective husband wished his wife to know about a variety of topics, so speaking about them with her would help him ascertain that. “Is there anything else a prospective suitor will do?”

“If he asks for more than one dance, you can be certain he is interested in you.”

“Lord Clavering has asked for two dances with me at the ball tomorrow night.” Penelope smiled, remembering the eagerness of the young lord. “I promised him one, but said I’d already promised the others. I thought that was prudent, don’t you?” Yule, however, hadn’t asked for a single dance. Well, she’d have to remedy that, wouldn’t she?

“It may be, however you don’t want to have to sit out a single dance, do you? Ladies have to exhibit their skill at dancing whenever possible. Gentlemen set a great store by how well a woman dances.” Charlotte frowned. “Although I’m not quite sure I understand why. Once you are married, you are never allowed to dance with your husband in public again.”

“Perhaps there are private dances married couples can attend.” Penelope had no real idea, but that seemed a sensible possibility.

“Perhaps.”

“Is there anything else?” She’d no idea her sister would be such a fount of courting knowledge.

“Yes, and you must pay close attention to this one, Pen.” Charlotte stared straight at her, her mouth drawn into serious lines. “Iphigenia said it was most important.”

“What?” Penelope leaned closer to her sister.

“If a gentleman asks you to walk in the garden during the day, that also means he is interested in pursuing you. However, if he asks you to go out into the garden at night—” Charlotte paused and drew the covers back up around her, “—he may be interested in…other things.”

“What other things?” Penelope whispered, though she and Charlotte were quite alone.

“It means he wants to take liberties. Like kissing you.” Eyes boring into Penelope, Charlotte’s cheeks grew pink. “You do you know about kissing, don’t you, Pen? And what it can lead to?”

Penelope nodded, thoughtful, even though she wasn’t quite sure what kissing led to. Her mother had merely told her to be careful about letting gentlemen take advantage of her, although she hadn’t elaborated on what that meant. She’d said it would be soon enough for Penelope to learn about such things just before her Season began. But Penelope had seen people kissing under the mistletoe for years, so she understood the basic mechanics of it. Now, however, she was going to be able to participate in it. “I heard Mr. Kastner say that after gathering the greenery, we are to play Mistletoe Run. There’s kissing in that game, isn’t there?”

“Yes, there is.” Charlotte sighed. “I cannot wait to see who I’ll be paired with. I can only hope it will be Lord Boxtd or Fritz Kastner.” She shot Penelope a sly glance. “Or Mr. Weston. He’s quite the most handsome gentleman in the party, don’t you think?”

“Oh, indeed. He is quite the handsomest gentleman.” Although perhaps not the most handsome one in her opinion. “Why haven’t you set your cap for him?”

“I’m not setting my cap for anyone until the spring. Well…perhaps I might set it for Lord Boxtd.” Her sister giggled. “There’s just something about a brooding gentleman that makes me want to comfort him.”

“Oooh, Charlotte.” Penelope laughed. “Or should I say, Lady Boxtd?”

“No, say nothing of the sort, I beg you.” Her sister whirled around and blew out the lamp, plunging them into darkness. “I’d be mortified if he should come to know of my particular regard.”

“Your secret is safe with me, Charlotte. You have my promise.” Penelope slid back down in the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. “Good night.”

“Good night.” Charlotte turned over and in a few moments was breathing rhythmically, then slowly and deeply.

Penelope stared out into the darkness, thinking about what Charlotte had just told her. Tomorrow she would have a chance, perhaps, to make Ulysses see her as grown up. She would take her sister’s advice and only address him by his given name. She’d speak to him about the approved topics to let him see how well she could act like a young lady. Surely then she could find a way to persuade him to ask her for a dance. And then, during the Mistletoe Run, if she was lucky, she could get him to kiss her.

Because once he kissed her, he’d have no doubt whatsoever that she was a very eligible young lady who was more than ready for him to court her.