A Christmas Affair (18 page)

“All right. Actually, I only wanted to do some shopping for the children. Is there anything particular you think they would like?”

“Anything noisy, dangerous, or gaudy will suit the twins,” she said, well aware of her younger brothers’ tastes. “Although for my sake, I ask that you not buy anything too noisy or dangerous, et cetera. And as for Stephen, he is rather fond of books and anything of a scientific nature.”

“Chemical kits?” he asked, arching his brows over his eyes.

“Only if you don’t value your skin. If he doesn’t blow us all to kingdom come, then the twins would be certain to steal the kit the moment our backs are turned and do it for him.”

“A horrifying probability. Well, what of Belinda? A doll, I suppose?”

“Or a new ball,” Amanda said, after giving the matter some thought. “The twins threw her old one down the well. And you might want to buy her some paints and paper. It is time she began her art lessons.”

Justin frowned. “Is that all?”

“Why, yes.” She was surprised by his question. “We seldom exchange more than one or two presents and most of them are homemade. You mustn’t think you need to spoil us,” she added, shooting him an anxious look. “We don’t expect it.”

“Perhaps not,” he replied, unexpectedly stung by her words. “But perhaps I need to spoil you.” He threw down his napkin and rose to his feet, holding out his hand for Amelia.

“Come, Amelia,” he commanded, his tone harsher than the one he usually used with her, “it is time we were going. There is much we need to do.” He cast Amanda a cold look. “Shall we meet back here or at the vicar’s?”

“The vicar’s,” she answered quietly, aware she had offended him. “Even though the wedding is to be held in London, you must still seek his blessing. He christened Amelia, and he would be deeply hurt if we were not to advise him of your plans.”

“And of course you would never wish to hurt anyone,” he replied bitterly. “Very well, the vicar’s it shall be. We’ll meet you there at four o’clock,” and with that he guided Amelia from the room, leaving Amanda to stare after him.

“Well, he certainly was up in the boughs about something,” Stephen said, turning a confused look on Amanda. “What on earth was that all about?”

“I am sure I do not know,” she sniffed, taking refuge in
her cup of luke-warm tea. “Colonel Stockton is rather high in the instep at times, and I suppose we must accustom ourselves to his ill-temper.”

“Really? I’ve always found him to be extremely pleasant,” Stephen replied with a thoughtful frown. “You don’t suppose his leg is hurting him, do you? I noticed him limping earlier.”

Amanda had also noted the limp, and she’d meant to scold him for over-taxing his strength. After all, it hadn’t been so very long ago that he’d been bedridden with the fever. She opened her mouth, about to agree with Stephen’s diagnosis, when her innate sense of honesty stopped her.

“No,” she admitted with a heavy sigh, “Justin’s leg may well be troubling him, but that isn’t what upset him.”

“What did?”

“I fear I may have offended him,” she said, her slender fingers playing with the handle of her tea cup. “He wanted to buy some Christmas presents, and I told him he mustn’t think he needs to spoil us.”

“I see.” Stephen looked grave. “No wonder he was so angry. You must have hurt his feelings.”

“What do you mean?” Amanda demanded, annoyed at being taken to task by her younger brother. “I didn’t say he couldn’t buy anything, I just said, he shouldn’t buy out the toy shop!”

“Yes, but you remember what he said yesterday,” he continued in a gentle tone. “He’s never shopped for Christmas presents before, and he only wanted to do it right. You even promised to help, remember?”

Amanda did, and her sense of shame deepened. She shouldn’t have been so stiff-necked, she realized unhappily. Justin was rich as a nabob, and if buying the children presents brought him happiness, then who was she to
deny him? It certainly wouldn’t hurt him, and heaven knew the children could use a bit of pleasure in their lives. The financial difficulties of past few years had left little room for extravagances such as toys or candy.

Very well, she decided, her eyes sparkling with resolve, she would do it. In the interest of family harmony she would swallow her pride, and the next time Justin offered something, she would accept it with a gracious smile. Pleased with the way she had resolved the crisis, she began making plans on how to keep the twins entertained until it was time to meet Justin and Amelia.

Chapter Ten

“Please, Justin, won’t you slow down? I can scarce keep up with you!” Amelia gasped, her hand tightening on Justin’s arm as they hurried down the ice-coated street. Her feet slipped on the slick cobblestones, and she tugged frantically at his sleeve. “Justin! I’m going to fall!”

Justin heard the fright in her voice and halted, his breath coming out in cloudy puffs as he turned to face her. “I’m sorry, Amelia,” he apologized, feeling faintly embarrassed for having taken his temper out on her. He straightened her bonnet and stared down into her pale face. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” she replied softly, searching his set expression, “but would you mind telling me why you are in such a hurry? Surely you can’t be that anxious to see our village?” She cast a teasing look around them.

Justin had the good grace to flush. “No,” he admitted, his mouth relaxing in a smile. “It is just that sister of yours; she has a most regrettable effect upon my temper. I swear I have never met a more obstreperous female in all my life!”

“Oh, dear, that does sound rather serious,” Amelia murmured, amusement evident in her blue eyes. “I take it you quarreled?”

That was all it took to unleash Justin’s resentment. “You
may call having one’s innocent offer to buy Christmas presents hurled back in one’s face ‘a quarrel,’” he snarled, his mouth tightening in anger, “but I call it out and out rudeness! That minx dared accuse me of trying to buy my way into the family!”

Amelia’s amusement vanished at once. “Amanda accused you of . . . of that?” she gasped, her gloved hand fluttering to her chest.

“As good as,” he replied, his cheeks darkening with fury. “I wanted to buy each of the children a little something for Christmas, and she informed me, very pointedly, that as you only exchanged one or two presents each year, I mustn’t think I need spoil you. Spoil!” His eyes flashed contemptuously. “And all I wanted to do was to make Christmas Eve a little nicer for the younger ones. That’s what Christmas is for, isn’t it?”

“Of course it is,” Amelia replied stoutly, appalled by her elder sister’s behavior. She loved Amanda dearly, but there were times, such as now, when she could have happily boxed her ears. She knew that beneath Justin’s fury he was genuinely hurt by Amanda’s actions, and she was determined to set things right. After all, Justin was soon to be her husband, and her first loyalty must lie with him.

“Of course that is what Christmas is for,” she repeated, her small chin coming up in a rare show of temper. “And I know the boys would adore anything you bought them! You are going to be their brother and their guardian; it is your right to buy them whatever you like!”

Justin was faintly surprised by Amelia’s reaction — surprised and more than a little pleased. He thought her a very sweet, lovely girl, but there was no denying he also found her a trifle boring. It seemed regrettable to him that one sister had been cursed with the temperament of a Billingsgate fishwife while the other was as biddable as a sheep. Such a scenario might work well in Shakespeare, he
thought, his eyes bright with amusement, but in real life it made things damned uncomfortable.

“What about Amanda?” he asked, enjoying the play of emotions across Amelia’s face. “May I also purchase her a present?”

“You may buy her whatever you desire,” she said, dismissing her sister’s opinion in the matter with an airy wave of her hand. “Although I don’t see why you should want to. As poorly as she has behaved, she deserves to find nothing in her Christmas stocking but a lump of coal!”

He threw back his head and laughed, drawing interested stares from passersby. “Then a lump of coal it shall be,” he said, feeling years younger. He’d never even exchanged presents with Edward before, and suddenly he couldn’t wait to partake of the joyous tradition that had been a part of the holidays since the very beginning of Christianity. He grabbed Amelia’s hand and began dragging her toward the nearest shop, this time taking care that she didn’t slip.

“Come, my dear,” he told her, flashing her a boyish grin,“we have a great deal of shopping to be done!”

They spent the next three hours moving from shop to shop while Justin spent a small fortune on every bright and shiny object that caught his eye. Amelia was secretly shocked at the reckless abandon with which he spent money, but she didn’t have the heart to stop him. He was so obviously enjoying himself, and she knew the children would adore their presents.

They had just left the bookshop and were about to stop at the milliner’s when Amelia heard a familiar voice calling her name.

She whirled around, her heart leaping into her throat at the sight of the tall young man wearing the scarlet uniform of the Twelfth Regiment rushing toward her. Charles!

“Amelia, sweetest.” Captain Charles Maxfield gave an exuberant laugh, his strong arms stealing about Amelia as he
lifted her off her feet and swung her in a small circle. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw you walking down the street!” he continued, smiling down at her. “How did you know I had managed to get leave for the holidays? It was supposed to be a secret.”

“Charles,” Amelia murmured brokenly, tears filling her eyes at the sight of his beloved face. This was the moment she had been longing for, the moment she had been dreading above all others. She was aware that Justin was standing beside her, obviously waiting to be introduced, and for a few agonizing seconds, she was certain the pain of what she must do would surely kill her. Drawing a deep breath, she stepped back from the man she loved and turned to her fiancé.

“Justin, I should like to introduce you to my oldest neighbor, Captain Charles Maxfield,” she began, praying that her voice did not betray the anguish she was feeling. “Charles allow me to make you known to Colonel Justin Stockton of the Light Infantry.”

“Daniel’s commanding officer?” Charles exclaimed, his gray eyes widening as they took in the silent man standing beside Amelia. “I’ve heard much of you and the brilliant way your battalion performed at Vitoria. It is a pleasure to meet you sir!” He thrust out a hand in greeting.

“Captain Maxfield.” Justin accepted the young officer’s hand, his eyes narrowing as they flicked between him and Amelia. He sensed there was more between the two than simple neighborliness, but he was uncertain what it was.

“I’m so dreadfully sorry about Daniel.” Charles was gazing down at Amelia, feeling faintly puzzled by her odd behavior. “He was a capital fellow. I would have attended his funeral if there had been time but. . . .” He shrugged his shoulders helplessly, unable to say anything else.

“I understand,” Amelia said, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. She felt Justin shift beside her and knew she had to
speak before her courage deserted her completely. “Colonel Stockton was there,” she said, her words tumbling out of her lips in an incoherent flow. “He has been so good to us, so kind. I do not know what we would have done without him.”

Charles felt the first stirring of unease. “Indeed?” he asked studying the older man with growing interest.

“Yes.” Amelia moistened her lips. “In-in fact you may be the first to wish us happy, Charles. I have accepted the colonel’s proposal of marriage. We are to be married by Special License in London.”

For a moment Charles could only stare at her, too stunned to feel anything. “I beg your pardon?” he asked weakly, shaking his head as if to clear it.

“Amelia has kindly consented to be my bride,” Justin said, realizing now the reason for the odd undercurrents about him. The young puppy obviously had a crush on Amelia, and she was trying to let him down as gently as possible. He silently applauded her sensitivity and was anxious to aid her in any way he could. Judging from the poleaxed way Maxfield was staring at them, the news had hit him hard.

“We were about to join the others at the vicar’s,” he said, laying a proprietary arm about Amelia. “You are more than welcome to join us. I’m sure they would enjoy seeing Daniel’s friend again.”

Charles turned to Amelia, his silver-colored eyes bright with fury. “
Daniel’s
friend?” he ground out, his hands balling into fists at his side. “Is that how you explained me to him?”

“Charles, please,” Amelia began, tears escaping from her eyes and wending their way down her chilled face. “You don’t understand—”

“Oh, I understand,” he interrupted, his tone dripping with venom. “I understand perfectly! A wealthy lord, even if he is only a second son, is infinitely preferable to a half-pay captain, isn’t he?”

“Watch your tongue, puppy,” Justin warned softly, the sympathy he felt for the younger man only stretching so far. “I should hate to have to call out a fellow officer, but make no doubt that I will if you say much more.”

“Have no fear, Lord Stockton I know well my place,” Charles said, his smile bitter. “Rest assured that I have nothing left to say to your
fiancée,”
and he turned and stormed away, his shoulders held stiff with pride.

“Are you all right?” Justin asked as soon as the other man had disappeared. “He didn’t upset you, did he?”

“Take me to my sister,” Amelia pleaded, making no attempt to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Please, Justin, take me to my sister!”

Fearing she would burst into sobs, or worse still, swoon, Justin quickly commandeered the first private coach he could see, explaining to the startled occupants that it was an emergency. The journey was accomplished in a matter of minutes, and the carriage had barely stopped before Amelia leapt out, running toward the ivy-covered rectory as if it were the only sanctuary left in the world.

“Amanda! Oh, Amanda, it’s Charles!” she wailed, dashing into the small study where the maid indicated the others were waiting.