Page 15 of One Naughty Christmas Night
Victoria sat next to him, leaning over to whisper, “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
A dark brow arched high, but she looked back to her food, taking a big bite.
“How are you feeling this morning, Victoria?” his mother asked, drawing her gaze to her.
“I’m feeling much better this morning, Willie. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
“Well, you know I always take care of you when you’re here,” she said. “Besides, I’d never hear the end of it from your mother if I didn’t.”
A round of laughter filled the room., his brother and family joining in.
The sound of footsteps drew their attention to the doors. James Bastion and his new wife Ophelia walked into the room, his parents not far behind.
“Good morning, all,” Bastion said. He and Ophelia were dressed finer than the rest of them for the morning.
“Lord Bastion,” the Duke said. He headed over to Bastion’s parents to say hello, welcoming them in.
“I heard you got in late last night,” he said, returning to his seat as the Bastions crowded around the sideboard.
“We did,” Lord Bastion replied, handing a plate to his son.
“Hopefully, the journey wasn’t too taxing,” Heath’s mother remarked.
“The weather was awful, Willie. We were delayed twice by it,” Lady Bastion replied, grabbing a plate piled high from her husband.
She plopped into the chair next to Lord Murray, and he scooted over to accommodate her voluptuous frame.
“Now Mother,” James said, leading Ophelia to the table, “Let’s not overwhelm the room with our tales of woe.”
James pressed a kiss to Ophelia’s hand, and her eyes fluttered. Heath’s stomach turned at the sight.
He snuck a peek at Victoria, anger welling up at the sight of her head hung low, her eyes glued to her plate.
“Bastion, are you excited for the Christmas Eve ball?” his mother asked, turning the conversation to the holiday.
Heath watched Victoria eat, barely picking at her food.
Sparing a glance for Bastion, he watched him assist his wife with cutting some of her food that refused to cooperate.
Cad. How dare he show his face here.
His fists clenched, and he slipped them under the table to keep them from being seen.
An unfamiliar protective streak raced through him, the want to wipe the sadness from Victoria’s eyes welling up.
“Victoria, how have you been?” Bastion asked. Victoria’s body tensed next to him.
She looked up at him, pasting on the fakest smile Heath had ever seen on her face.
“I’m doing well. And you?” she asked, taking a big bite of her food.
A smile came to his face, along with a look of satisfaction.
He knows what he’s doing.
It took everything in Heath to keep himself from going around the table.