A Regency Christmas My Love (5 page)

     “That sounds splendid.  A bath will help me to get started this day.  Please find my things and lay them out on the bed while I take my bath.  Oh, I could use some hot chocolate.  It would help me to feel better.”

      “Yes, my lady, right away.  Here is the water brought right into the tub.  I believe cook has some hot chocolate ready.  I will be right back.” 

     Vicky lay back on the bed and thought to herself how she should try and make the best of the day. It would be difficult but she had to go on.  It was better to have someone in her life that cared about her than being alone or with that horrible man, Mr. Crawley.  There was a great deal to be thankful for.  She still had her virtue and she was going to be warm and fed.  That was a blessing in itself.  She smiled again.

     Creighton was pacing in the library. She didn’t come down to breakfast.  She didn’t come down for lunch.  He would go insane if she did not come down for supper.  There was a ball tonight and he wanted to talk to her again.  She had to know he cared.  She had to know he was crazy about her.  It would be a difficult Christmas for her without her parents.  He didn’t know what he would do without his.  They were meddlesome but they were loving and that was all that mattered.  He told his mother about his feeling for Vicky.  His father was adamant that they should get married for the protection of her reputation. They had been alone in a hotel and a carriage.  His father, the Duke knew her father the baron and her mother’s family.  They were all aristocrats.  The Duke said they were a very nice family and he couldn’t be happier for his son.  The problem was that the bride didn’t want to be one.  He had to make her fall in love with him.  His heart was near to bursting for her.  He fidgeted with his curls and crammed his hands into his pockets.

     The house was filling with all kinds of strangers and Vicky had still not moved from her bedroom.  She was afraid.  It was silly but after all the excitement died down, now, she was terrified.  It was a response she was not accustomed to and it made her angry at herself and everyone else.  Creighton had knocked on her door and she had about taken his head off again.  Oh, not with a lamp but with her reply.  His father sent the butler, James to see about her and she would not talk to him.  His mother finally came to her door and she could not deny her.  She was a tiny little woman, still beautiful and gracious.  He was fortunate to have such a Lady as a mother. 

     “Your Grace, how may I help you?” Vicky bowed low and blushed brightly.

“You must get dressed and come to my Christmas Ball.  I have a great many people here and they will want to see my guest.” 

     “Probably to throw stones at me, I was in a rather awful situation lately.  I don’t know if you son told you but my parents passed too.  I am just so unsure and I don’t know what to do.”  Vicky gave a sniffle and swallowed hard. She would not cry. She turned her face away from the Duchess.

      “Please try to come and have some company.  My son is head over heels for you and I can see why.  You are a most lovely young lady.  Please try and leave your room for me?”  The Duchess smiled into her eyes and squeezed her hand.

“Your Grace, I have nothing to wear and I am in mourning.” Vicky looked down at her gray gown.

“I have a very beautiful black silk ball gown that will fit you and I will not let anyone ask you to dance.  I am sure that will make Creighton very happy as well.  He would be chewing nails if anyone else held you in his arms.”  

     “Oh, my Your Grace, I just don’t know.”  “Please call me Pricilla.  May I call you Victoria?”  The Duchess hugged her  and pulled her to her feet.

     “Pricilla, is that proper?  Yes, you may call me Vicky.”  Vicky still looked confused.

       “Yes, that is most proper for one to call her soon to be mother in law.”  Vicky shook her head in protest and strolled to the window searching for answers among the stars.

     “I don’t know about marrying Creighton?”

      Her Grace nodded, “You will.  He is a very persistent fellow.”  She laughed and called the maids.  A beautiful black silk dress was brought into the room and three maids bustled about getting Vicky ready.

   In a little while Vicky was dressed and her hair set in a fabulous style.  Pricilla handed her a black velvet box.  Vicky looked at it as if it were a snake.  “Please, it will not attack you.  Just open it and see if you can wear it.”  Vicky opened the box and gasped.  It was a triple stand of diamonds with beautiful diamond earrings to match.  It was exquisite.  She hugged Pricilla to her.  It was a nice feeling having a mother’s arms around her.  A sniffle started and a single tear raced down her cheek.  It was a very emotional moment because Her Grace swiped away a tear or two too. 

     “It is part of the family jewels and goes with the gown nicely.  I hope you enjoy wearing them, my dear.”  She raised her brow much like her son.

“Oh, yes, thank you so much.  I will be very careful of them, I assure you.”  The Duchess fastened them on her.

   They rose and went to the top of the stairs.  The house was decorated with holly and greenery and golden stars.  There was a huge nativity scene in the alcove and a hug Christmas tree in the ballroom.  A Yule log burned in the hug fireplace and fragrant aromas of baking breads and puddings with roses and other flowers were everywhere. People were talking and standing in every corner of the mansion.  The crystal chandeliers were polished and decorated with holly and mistletoe. 

      It was a most wondrous sight.  Vicky swallowed hard and looked at the foot of the stairs, gasped and swallowed again.  At the foot of the stairs was Creighton or she should say, an Adonis called the Earl.  He was dressed in a black superfine coat with white silk shirt and stockings.  His cravat was tied in a most intricate fashion and his shoes had buckles and heels.  He was so handsome standing in his finery. He had a diamond stickpin in his cravat that matched the diamonds she wore.  He looked at her, as if he could eat her up in one gulp.  She paused to pull her gloves tighter and get her heart steadied.

      Creighton looked up to the top of the stairs for the fiftieth time this night and his heart stopped.  He had been waiting for her.  He would not stay in the reception line with his father and sister. His mother had gone up some time ago and promised she would bring her but he was starting to doubt even his mother could move her.

      He would not leave the stairs and now it was all worth it.  She was stunning.  His lungs seized and his heart cried all the more, this is the one.  She must love him.  Lord what could he do to make her love him?  He took her hand when she was on the third to the bottom stair.  He could hold back no longer.  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.  His eyes never left hers.  The purple in her eyes was brilliant tonight. 

     “I know you don’t want to dance but will you stay by my side. I don’t want to leave you since I can finally see you again.  You are so beautiful Miss Victoria Grace.  I know there is no one else that can compare to you.”  He kissed her hand again for good measure.

     Vicky looked away embarrassed by this spectacle about her.  She never had this much attention but she had never been to a ball either.  It was all so beautiful.  He took her hand and placed it on his arm.  They strolled out into the crowd and he took her to his father.

    “See for yourself how exquisite she is Your Grace.  Is she not the most beautiful woman in the world?” He raised his brow in question to his father.

       “I am sure she is for you, son but for me there is only one Duchess.”  The Duke’s eyes were feasting on the fabulous creature behind them.  His wife walked up and smiled into his eyes.  They were as sky blue as Creighton’s.  Vicky smiled and looked up into Creighton’s eyes.

      “Will you still think me the most beautiful when we are married as long as your parents?”  She looked up through her butterfly lashes blushing bashfully.

      “Oh, yes, sweetheart, I most assuredly will.”  She laughed and poked him with her elbow and he grunted.  They turned around to see a whole roomful of people watching their every move. 

     “Now what do we do?” She whispered. Vicky was frozen in her step when she saw all the people staring back at them.  She did not know any of these people.

      “Come on Miss Grace, let us go to the balcony and get some fresh air.”  He pulled her to the double doors leading to the gardens.

      “My son is in love with the lady.”

       “Yes, he sure is Your Grace.” Pricilla chuckled and patted her husband’s hand.  “It was all so sudden.”

      “Well, it was for us too.  One day I was waltzing with you and the next we were married.”

       “I told my mother that you were crazy and she agreed.”  Her laughter filtered through the group standing close bye.  The Duke laughed at his beautiful wife and nodded.

     “Would you care for some punch or champagne, Vicky?” Creighton asked to be polite.

       “I do not believe I have ever had either.  I think I would like to try some champagne though.”   She smiled at him from under her long lashes shyly.

     “I will return with it in hand.”  He strolled back into the ballroom to curious stares.  They all wanted to know who the beauty was? He would not talk to them.  He was in a hurry.  He didn’t want to leave her alone.  She got into trouble when she was alone.

      He returned with two glasses in hand but she was not on the balcony. He searched the gardens but she was not there.  He threw the glasses into a bush and went decidedly hysterical.  He ran back inside and told his parents and they called the Butler who called the footmen.  They were all looking for a tiny purple-eyed lady in a black silk dress but there was nothing.  Creighton sat down and held his face in his hands.

     Suddenly from behind a curtain a man moved with Vicky in tow.  He had a gun pointed to her temple and he was heading for the closest door.  He was sweating profusely and very tall.  It was Crawley and he had his hands on Vicky again.  It was not to be born.  Creighton stared at him as if he was an insect.  The Duke motioned to the Regent, who had his own guard.  They all surrounded the man.  The King spoke softly to the man.  He eyed him as if he were an insect and brought his handkerchief to his nose.

     “Are you completely insane? What! I know she is beautiful but you are going to die for this. What!”

      “I care not as I must have her.”  Crawley moved toward the balcony from where Creighton had just come.  He motioned to Creighton.  “You want her too.  I can see it in your eyes.  You cannot have her.  Do you understand?” He wiped his chin with his arm.

     “Listen! What? I am your King and I tell you that this is hopeless. What.”

     “I killed her parents so I could have her.  I bankrupted her father so I could have her.  I will not be denied.  Do you understand?”  Creighton snuck up behind him and grabbed the gun away from Vicky.  They struggled and the gun went off.  Creighton slumped to the floor and the guards grabbed Crawley. He was taken right out to Newgate.  No one was allowed to threaten their King or Dukes or shoot their Earls.  It would not be pretty when they were through with him.  He screamed like a madman as they left the ball.

     Vicky ran over and took Creighton into her arms.  “How dare you get shot when you are supposed to marry me?”  He grinned up into her purple eyes before he lost consciousness.  Vicky screamed and finally feinted, as did Creighton’s mother.

     The doctor worked on Creighton all night.  He had a bullet in his side but it had not touched any major organs.  He would have a fever and be very sick but he should make it. The doctor was exhausted and shaking his head at the crowd still at the mansion.

      Vicky prayed with his mother all night in the chapel.  They were both still in their gowns.  Vicky went to change so she could be by his bedside.  His mother went to stay with him until Vicky was through changing.

      “Yes son, she is coming as soon as possible.  I promise.  You just take your medicine and lay back and rest.”

      “Mother, I must see her.”  He raised up on one elbow and collapsed back onto the bed.

     The ball was still going on since it was Christmas and most of the guests were staying in the mansion.  His Grace was in the library having another brandy when he heard the good news that his son would be all right.  He had told the King about the establishment that Crawley ran and they were going to tear it down.

     “I say those places should all be torn down. What.”  “Yes, Your Highness, I know.”

     Lady Victoria Grace went into Creighton’s room with tear-swollen eyes.  She took his hand and held onto it for dear life.  When she was alone she started speaking to him.

      “I was so afraid that I would lose you.  I have lost so much of late…sniff…sniff. I just could not bear it if I lost you Creighton.  You have come to mean everything to me so please get well.  Get well soon and let us marry.  I find I do love you most desperately.  Please still love me.  I caused all this with my presence here. I would not have you hurt for anything.”  She started sniveling again and then she was sobbing.

      “Hey, I thought you would stop crying after you said you were done with it. I am right here sweetness.  I am not going anywhere.  I will marry you tomorrow.”

“We cannot marry tomorrow silly…hiccup…hiccup.  You are still very sick.”