Victoria Alexander - The Dance Before Christmas

“Sir Archibald Snelling,” she said and closed the doors behind them.

Sir Archibald Snelling was one of the men Wes had traveled to London to see. This was either the greatest stroke of luck imaginable or a disaster in the making. Probably the later. It usually was when a beautiful woman was involved, at least in his experience.

They were in a large room, apparently a library. Tables designed for work or study ran in precise rows. The walls were filled with shelves crammed with books. Flames flickered in the closest pair of gas sconces, but the rest of the room faded into the shadows. One had the strangest impression that this library stretched on into infinity.

“Your accent is excellent by the way.”

“Thank you.” He paused. “So is yours.”

“I don’t have an accent.” She huffed. “This is London and I am English. I speak precisely the same way everyone here does, so I am not the one with an accent.” Her brows drew together. “Are you really American?”

“I really am.”

“Well, then it’s much easier to pretend to be one, isn’t it?”

“Yes, as I’m not pretending.”

“Aunt Lillian said she knew of an actor who played American roles, but she wasn’t entirely sure if he—or rather you—was American or not.”

An actor? She thought he was an actor? He bit back a smile. This just got more and more interesting. “Your aunt, Lady Farfetched—”

“Lady Farstead.”

“Sorry. She wasn’t entirely clear on exactly what role I’m supposed to play.”

“To be expected, I suppose.” She heaved a frustrated sigh. “It’s really very simple. From now until the day after Christmas, you’re to play my suitor. The one I hope to marry.”

He stared. “Why?”

“Because I need to avoid marriage to someone else.” She wrinkled her nose. “I suppose I should tell you everything.”

“One does like to know all the nuances of a particular role if one hopes to be convincing.”

“That makes sense.” She wrung her hands together. “In a few months, I’ll be twenty-one years old. My father is convinced if I’m not wed by then, I’ll never marry.”

“I wouldn’t think you’d have any problem finding a husband.”

“If all I wanted in life was a husband, any old husband, I wouldn’t. I have had offers, but I want more.”

“So you don’t want to marry.”

“Don’t be absurd.” She scoffed. “Of course I want to marry. I have no idea what I would do with my life if I didn’t marry. But I have no intention of marrying simply for the sake of being wed. The world is full of possibilities for men but few for women. I want my life to be an adventure.” She met his gaze directly. “I firmly believe love is an adventure, and that’s what I want. Heart fluttering, birds singing, romantic novel love. I will settle for nothing less.”

He considered her thoughtfully. “And this man you wish to avoid marriage to, you don’t love him?”

“Not even the tiniest bit. Oh, I might have the kind of affection for him one feels for a brother. And I do like him. Douglas Reed is a very likable man. I’ve known him most of my life. His father and mine have always been good friends and they have always hoped for a match between their children. As I have failed to wed up to this point, Father has been pushing Douglas in my direction.” She paced absently in front of him. “Douglas is a fine man and I am fond of him, but I have no desire to spend the rest of my life with someone I am merely fond of.” She paused and looked at him. “Do you understand?”

He nodded. “You want mad, passionate love, not fond affection. You want adventure.”

“Exactly.” She resumed pacing. “Father’s efforts toward a match with Douglas have increased, as Douglas was recently offered a prestigious post in India. His position, as well as his future prospects, would be greatly enhanced if he was married. He is to leave for India the day after Christmas. I’m sure he intends to ask me to marry at any moment. I suspect he already has Father’s blessing. I’m fairly certain he wants to announce our betrothal at our Christmas Eve ball and possibly has plans for a Christmas day wedding.”

“Would your father really do that?”

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised. I would much prefer not to take that chance.”

“I see.”

“Don’t misunderstand me, Mr—” Again she stopped. “I don’t know your name, although I suppose it really doesn’t matter, as I won’t be addressing you by your real name anyway.”

“Wesley Grant.” He nodded and gave a slight bow. “Delightful to meet you, Miss Snelling.”

“Anabel. You should call me Anabel if we are to be believed.” She frowned. “Where was I?”

“You didn’t want me to misunderstand something.”

“Ah yes.” She thought for a moment. “My father cares for me and would never want me to be unhappy. He simply feels the road to happiness for a woman lies with marriage. In that, I don’t entirely disagree, but...” She shrugged in an appealingly helpless way.

He nodded. “But you want more.”

“I do.” She set her chin in a stubborn manner. “In spite of my age, I will settle for nothing less. Nor will I allow my younger sisters to do so. What kind of an example would I be if I married just because of age to a man I merely liked?” She met his gaze firmly. “I assure you, Mr. Grant, I do want to marry, but no woman should be made to marry if she doesn’t wish to.”

“I see.” He chose his words carefully. “But when Reed proposes, why don’t you just say no?”

“Because I’m the worst sort of coward.” She heaved a heartfelt sigh. “I would much prefer to avoid any unpleasantness. And I have no desire to hurt Douglas. I fear he likes me far more than I like him. But even if all he feels for me is the same sort of friendly affection I feel for him, I would think it would be most disheartening to offer for someone’s hand only to have that offer rejected. You’re a man. What do you think?”

“I’ve never been in that situation, but I think you’re probably right.”

“Then you can see why I wish to avoid that altogether by having an acceptable new suitor who is clearly as head over heels for me as I am for him. At least until after Christmas,” she added quickly.

“And that suitor would be me.” There were obviously any number of things that could go wrong with this plan, but it wasn’t his plan. He was merely to play a role. He wasn’t entirely sure when he had decided to go along with her scheme, but if Wesley Grant couldn’t manage a meeting with Sir Archibald, then perhaps his daughter’s suitor could. Besides, any woman who was smart enough to come up with a scheme like this, and brave enough to carry it through, was worth further acquaintance. Anabel Snelling was definitely as clever as she was pretty, if a bit devious. He liked that.

“Yes, well, not exactly you . Father would never approve of an actor calling on me.” She studied him for a moment. “When you were perusing the names of fallen Explorers Club members, did you notice one for Reginald Everheart?”

“Not that I recall.”

“He was a very famous American explorer. No doubt you’ve heard of him.”

“I’m afraid not.” Surely she was mistaken as to this Everheart’s fame. His father had known everything there was to know about modern explorers and adventurers, and had passed that interest on to his son. Wes had always suspected his father had secretly desired to join their ranks. While Wes too admired those men who sallied forth into the unknown, he’d never had any such longing. His passion lay in the excitement of innovation and development, as well as in puzzles of the mind. But his fondness for endeavors of exploration and his passion for progress and new inventions were exactly what had led him to England.