The Yuletide Engagement & A Yuletide Seduction by Carole Mortimer Page A

Patrick had ensured that she was never left alone. Except she had been…
    â€œToby, Patrick is going to find Gareth and, from the looks of him, hit him,” she said agitatedly, staring anxiously towards the direction in which Patrick had so recently disappeared.
    â€œSo?” Toby prompted unconcernedly.
    â€œToby—”
    â€œEllie,” he cut in firmly. “I would have hit the man myself if I hadn’t thought the bruises might show, but I had to settle for a few choice words instead. And talking of bruises…” He looked down at her searchingly. “Patrick said something about Gareth having hurt you just now?”
    She sighed her impatience, wishing she hadn’t given away the fact that her arm was bruised beneath the sleeve of her dress. “It doesn’t matter,” she dismissed. “What matters is that Patrick is going to make a scene.” Her eyes were wide with distress at the thought.
    Toby gave a confident shake of his head. “Patrick never makes a scene,” her brother assured her dryly.
    No, he probably didn’t—could probably get his point over by talking in that softly dangerous voice she had heard him use just now. But, nevertheless, she doubted Gareth would just meekly stand there and take whatever Patrick had to say to him.
    â€œCome on, sis,” Toby encouraged lightly. “Let’s go through to the other room and get some food.”
    The last thing Ellie felt like doing was eating! How could she even think about food when Patrick and Gareth might even now be at each other’s throats?
    She hung back. “I just want to go home, Toby.” She sighed. “In fact, after tonight I need to rethink my whole life,” she added frowningly.
    After tonight she wasn’t even sure she could go onworking in the same building with Gareth, let alone anything else. If Gareth could be this threatening in the midst of his future in-laws, what possible chance did she stand of avoiding his wrath at the office?
    She had worked for Delacorte, Delacorte and Delacorte since leaving school at eighteen, had been steadily promoted through the firm, until she’d become George’s personal secretary four years ago. It was a job she greatly enjoyed. At least, she had. The last couple of months, with the chance of bumping into Gareth around every corner, hadn’t been quite so much fun. And after this evening it promised to get worse!
    Toby frowned. “I don’t think you need to do anything drastic just yet, Ellie,” he cautioned. “Give Patrick a bit more time to resolve the situation, hmm?”
    She gave a wry smile. “You have great confidence in your employer!”
    Her brother gave a rueful shrug. “I’ve never seen Patrick at the losing end of a fight yet.”
    No, she could believe that; Patrick had the air of a man completely confident in his own abilities. But this situation was too personal, too close to home, to be dealt with like the business deals he was usually involved with.
    â€œHello, Ellie,” Sarah greeted her brightly, looking exceptionally beautiful in the green dress she had bought earlier that afternoon. “You don’t happen to have seen my fiancé about anywhere, do you?” she added ruefully.
    Ellie felt the colour drain from her cheeks. “Er—”
    â€œHe was outside talking to Patrick when I last saw him.” Toby was the one to answer. “I’m Ellie’s brother Toby, by the way,” he added lightly, holding out his hand in friendly greeting.
    â€œSarah Delacorte.” She gave Toby a considering look as she shook his hand. “Yes, I can see the likeness.” She smiled warmly. “You work with Patrick, don’t you?”
    â€œFor him, actually,” Toby corrected dryly.
    Sarah’s smile widened. “Of course. Well, it’s very nice to meet you,” she added sincerely. “I hope you’ll both excuse