Tis the Season to Be Sinful (28 page)
Next year. And the year after.
It was true—there would be many more Christmases to celebrate together, many happy memories to create. Richard felt the tenderness well up inside him as he stared into Juliet’s smiling eyes. In them he saw a hint of passion, but more importantly, he saw her love.
It was true—there would be many more Christmases to celebrate together, many happy memories to create. Richard felt the tenderness well up inside him as he stared into Juliet’s smiling eyes. In them he saw a hint of passion, but more importantly, he saw her love.
Unable to resist the allure, he brought one hand up to cup her face. Smoothing his thumb over her plump lips, he dipped his head and kissed her.
Oh, the many joys of Christmas!
The rest of the day raced past in a blizzard of activities, the entire household humming with excitement and anticipation over the upcoming holiday. There were moments when Richard felt he had landed in the center of a tornado as neighbors joined the family for various celebrations.
As dusk began to arrive, carolers gathered in the village square, with families coming from homes large and small to participate. Following a long-held village custom, each person stood with a lit candle, illuminating the square with dancing light, their voices raised in harmony.
Richard stood surrounded by Juliet and the children, joining in when he knew the words to the songs, humming along when he did not. As it grew colder, Lizzy, her cheeks rosy, pressed herself closer to him. The feel of her small mitten-covered hand in his own made him feel ridiculously happy.
When the singing ended, Richard held his candle so Lizzy could blow it out, then scooped her up in his arms. Walking with a spring in his step, he carried the little girl into church, where they were to watch the play organized by the ladies of the congregation.
Reverend Abernathy read from the Bible as the players re-created the Christmas story, beginning with the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Richard found it a soothing balm to the senses after all the noise and frantic pace of the holiday preparations to be reminded of the true meaning of it all—the birth of the Christ child.
As he listened to the words, he began to reflect on Juliet’s deep desire to have another baby. His baby. The idea of her pregnancy still caused a jolt of fear inside him, but along with it was a new feeling. One of longing. And nervous excitement. Another child would enrich their lives even more, would strengthen their bond, their love.
By the end of the performance, Lizzy had fallen asleep and the boys were slumped down on the pew, yawning noticeably. Gazing over their heads, Richard looked at Juliet. She looked back and they smiled at each other.
Her face snuggled against the fur collar of his coat, Richard carried Lizzy from the church. She awoke when they arrived in the coach and settled herself comfortably in her mother’s lap.
“I really wanted to ride in the carriage sleigh tonight,” James grumbled as he took his seat inside the coach.
“We need snow for that,” Edward said with a sneer, but at the stern glance from Richard, the boy softened his expression. “Maybe it will snow tomorrow on Christmas Day.”
“Do you think it will, Papa?” Lizzy asked.
She had tested this new title a few hours ago and Richard was still startled each time he heard it. Startled, but pleased.
“If it snows, I suppose you will want to go sledding,” he speculated.
“Yes, please!” came a chorus of replies.
“But if you are outside sledding, who will eat the Christmas goose?” Juliet asked.
“We will!” they shouted.
“Unless Uncle Horace eats it all while we are outside,” James grumbled.
“I’m sure Uncle Horace would not be so greedy,” Juliet admonished her son.
“He’d probably prefer sledding to goose anyway, which means he’d be outside with us,” Edward said with a grin.
“Right in the thick of it,” Richard agreed. “I’d wager that he’d be the one to start a snowball fight.”
“No, that would be Lord George,” Juliet said.
“No, that will be me!” James shouted.
A lively discussion ensued over the merits of snowball fights and sledding and making snow angels. By the time they turned down the manor drive, Richard found himself hoping for snow nearly as much as the children.
He told them if the cold continued and the ice forming on the pond thickened, they would be able to skate on it. And make a slide to see who could skid the farthest across it. The winner would be awarded a special prize—something silly, James insisted.
Once back inside the house, there were no protests when Juliet declared it was time for the children to go to bed.
“I’m going to fall asleep right away so Christmas will come faster,” Lizzy said as Richard tucked her beneath the covers.
“That’s a very clever idea,” he agreed, brushing a good-night kiss on the little girl’s forehead.
Richard and Juliet soon took to their own bed, talking well into the night about the plans for Christmas Day and beyond. Discussing the future gave Richard a remarkable sense of hope—and peace. Juliet had agreed to travel to London with him for part of the year, when business commitments kept him in the city. The children would come, too, along with their nanny and tutor.
Richard could not contain his laughter when he tried to imagine how his stodgy London butler would react to the change. No doubt the household would be turned upside down.
Cuddling close in the semidarkness, Richard could see that Juliet was starting to drift off to sleep. Leaning over, he kissed her mouth deeply, tenderly, savoring the pleasure of it. A second kiss was all it took to awaken the passion they both felt.
Later, sated and content, they fell asleep beneath the warm covers, their bodies touching, the connection maintained even during slumber. Morning came far too soon, with an eager Lizzy knocking insistently at their bedchamber door.
“You must wake up this very minute,” she cried. “Or else you’ll miss Christmas!”
Richard groaned as he enfolded a very sleepy Juliet in his arms. “Will she go away if we pretend to be asleep?” he asked.
“Not our Lizzy.” Juliet yawned, and then stretched her neck. “I fear if we wait too long to emerge, she will enlist the aid of her brothers. Or Uncle Horace.”
“Damn.” He rolled away from her with a grunt.
“Happy Christmas, Richard.”
“Same to you, my love.”
Juliet smiled, and Richard fought to capture and imprint the moment in his memory. Feeling as excited as Lizzy, he reached for the velvet jewelry box he had hidden in the table beside the bed, anxious to give Juliet her gift. But before he could reveal it to her, James and Edward’s voices joined with Lizzy entreating them to come out of the bedchamber.
Reluctantly, Richard closed the drawer, the gift still inside.
And thus the day began.
The weeks leading up to the holiday had been noisy and chaotic, but Richard soon learned they were nothing compared to the noise and laughter on Christmas morning. The enormous tree was lit and the drawing room filled with excitement as everyone opened their presents, squeals of pleasure and shouts of thanks echoing throughout the room.
After the family had finished opening gifts, the servants were called. Richard stood beside Juliet as she distributed the presents to the household staff, making a special effort to smile pleasantly at each servant as he shook their hands and wished them merry.
Richard had a few extra words of thanks, along with a handful of coins, for the groom who had successfully dispatched the skunk from his study. And there was a portfolio of modest investments for his valet, Hallet, who had executed his duties with grace and efficiency these past few weeks, successfully removing oatmeal from leather shoes and the odor of skunk from a business suit.
After the gifts, the feasting began. Cook beamed with pride as she presented the roast goose stuffed with apples and prunes to the applauding table of family, friends, and neighbors. There was potted shrimp and suckling pig with red currant jelly, bread sauce, peas, carrots, potatoes, chestnuts—more food than many could remember seeing at one time.
The children joined the adults at the table and everyone made a valiant effort to consume as much of the delicious food as possible, even when reminded repeatedly by Juliet to save room for dessert.
Dessert was presented with equal fanfare. The dining room candles were extinguished and Richard was elected to light the flame on the plum pudding. A blushing Miss Hardie found the gold ring, and George was quick to say he would do everything within his power to ensure that this holiday tradition would prove true, resulting in her marriage sometime in the coming new year.
Accompanying the pudding were exotic fruits and nuts, Turkish delight, peppermint ribbon candy, and enough gingerbread to make Uncle Horace happy. The gentlemen decided to forgo their port and cigars and everyone adjourned to the drawing room to continue with the celebration.
There were parlor games and singing and dancing and a late-night cold supper that everyone insisted they were too full to eat, yet many of the platters gradually became empty. It was clear that no one wanted the day of joy and good fellowship to end, but the night crept in and darkness soon followed. Sleepy children were brought to bed, followed by the adults.
Richard turned to Juliet when they were finally alone, catching her admiring the Christmas tree.
“Time for bed, my dear,” he said. “And time to extinguish the candles.”
“I know.” Juliet sighed, then smiled regretfully. “Just a few more minutes, please. Once the candles are out, Christmas will be over.”
She sounded so much like Lizzy, Richard smiled. Reaching into his breast coat pocket, he withdrew an oblong box. “I tried to give this to you this morning, but the children were too anxious for Christmas to begin. I hope my small token will prolong the holiday spirit for you.”
“What have you done?” Juliet asked in a trembling voice as she tugged off the gold satin ribbon and opened the box.
He held his breath as she gazed inside, hoping he had selected the right necklace. There had been so many fine pieces to choose from, it had been difficult to pick one. “Do you like it?” he asked.
She gave him a gentle smile. “Like it? I adore it!”
“Are you certain? You can exchange it and select something else altogether.”
“Why ever would I do something so ridiculous?” she asked, lifting the necklace toward the light. The many-faceted diamonds sparkled brightly, the platinum chain linking them together offsetting their brilliance.
“There are earrings to match,” Richard said, pulling them out of the satin-lined box.
“Oh, Richard, it’s too much.”
“Nonsense. The night we danced together I knew you were born to wear diamonds. Here, let me help you put it on.”
She obediently turned so he could place the jewels around her neck and fasten the clasp. The moment it was done, she turned to face him again, her hand pressing against her throat. “Does it look all right?”
“Perfect,” he answered, barely glancing at the necklace but instead gazing into her face.
It was wonderful to see her so carefree and happy, the glow of the candlelight from the tree reflected in her deep brown eyes. His heart felt like it missed a beat when she smiled. Unable to resist, he drew her into the circle of his arms.
“I love you, Richard.”
“I love and adore you, Juliet.”
“I love, admire, and respect you, Richard.”
“I love, adore, worship, and honor you, Juliet. And I most definitely cannot live without you.”
Juliet’s smile turned to merry laughter. “All right. You win,” she said, jabbing him affectionately in the shoulder.
“Oh, no, my sweetheart. We both win.” Proclamation delivered, Richard lowered his mouth to claim his wife’s sweet lips, kissing her with such passion and desire that he swore he could hear her toes curl.
Epilogue
December, two years later
Richard stood with his back to the window of the drawing room at Highgrove Manor and watched with a concerned eye as his heavily pregnant wife paced back and forth.
“Blasted trains. Why can’t they ever run on time?” Juliet muttered as she gestured toward the mantel clock. “It’s already half past four. At this rate, Edward and George will be lucky to make it home by midnight.”
“Juliet, please sit down,” Richard insisted, trying to keep the dictatorial tone that she disliked out of his voice. “You know the doctor advised against any strenuous activity.”
“Walking is not strenuous,” Juliet replied, turning to resume her pacing.
“It is if you do it for more than an hour,” Richard snapped, repositioning himself so she could not see out the window. “I swear, you are wearing a hole in the carpet waiting for that boy to arrive.”
“Edward has been at school for nearly four months,” Juliet bristled. “And I have not been able to visit him once in all that time. Of course I’m anxious for him to get here.”
She tossed her head indignantly, but Richard noticed her eyes misting over and he felt a stab of guilt. Though assured by the doctor that excessive emotion was normal for a woman in her condition, it always rattled him to see Juliet in distress.
Tentatively, he put his arms around her. After a few stiff moments, she hugged him back. “Hush, now, sweetheart,” he said calmly. “They’ll be here soon.”
He stroked his hand softly over the large mound of her stomach and was answered with a vigorous kick. It was reassuring, yet at the same time Richard knew he wouldn’t fully relax until Juliet was safely delivered of their child. But that was at least five weeks away, the doctor had predicted.
Lady Moffat, the former Miss Olivia Hardie, looked up from the needlepoint she was stitching. “Richard is being overprotective, as he is wont to do when it comes to those he loves. Yet it might be a good idea to rest for a bit, Juliet. Shall I ring for tea?”
“I’m too excited to drink it,” Juliet confessed, clasping a hand over her swollen belly as she slowly descended onto the sofa. “It was kind of George to volunteer to bring Edward home. I vow I’d be worried ten times over if Edward were on his own.”
Olivia smiled. “George was happy to be of service, especially since he knew Richard would never leave you for any length of time.”
“Have you looked out the window?” James bounded into the room, Lizzy practically on his heels. “It’s snowing.”
“Will you take us sledding, Papa?” Lizzy asked.
“Snow?” Juliet’s face tightened.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Richard hastily assured her. “It’s just a few flakes.”
He gazed out at the snow-shrouded courtyard, wincing at the lie. Big, soft flakes swirling in the wind were caught in the golden beam of the lanterns lighting the drive. He had noticed the snow starting an hour ago, but intentionally kept the discovery from Juliet.
The feathery flakes had grown thicker by the minute, and the snow was now coming down in earnest. Richard knew travel was growing more and more treacherous; George and Edward would soon be moving through a blinding curtain of white. Provided the train had even reached the station.
Two observations he decided to keep to himself.
Juliet gazed at him broodingly. Richard disliked intensely the feeling of helplessness that overcame him, but honestly, what could he do about the weather?
“Perhaps we should listen to some Christmas carols to pass the time,” Olivia suggested. “Lizzy told me she has been practicing several on the pianoforte.”
Ever anxious to be the center of attention, Lizzy preened with delight and sat on the bench in front of the instrument. She was far more enthusiastic than skilled, but her rudimentary efforts provided a distraction and helped to ease a bit of the tension in the room.
The holiday songs led naturally into a discussion of the various Christmas plans, scaled back this year owing to Juliet’s condition. It was a subject that normally improved Juliet’s mood, but her vague answers proved how much her mind had once again drifted to Edward.
Richard was about to admit he had run out of things to say and questions to ask when James cried out, “I can see the coach coming up the drive!”
In an instant everyone was on their feet, rushing to the front hall. Richard positioned himself beside his wife, ever mindful that with her center of gravity shifting, her balance was not always the best.
James and Lizzy opened the front door together and George and Edward swooped into the hall. Snowflakes whirled around them like confetti before the door was closed tight, shutting out the elements. With a laugh, Edward turned down the collar of his coat and brushed the melting snowflakes from his hair.
“We’re here!” he announced.
“At last!” Juliet catapulted herself toward her son. Edward gave a comical wince but allowed his mother to hug and fuss. Until his brother and sister started teasing him.
“Quiet, you two,” Richard admonished, shooing them away playfully. They giggled, ran away, then came back for more.
“Is no one happy to see me?” George whined mockingly.
“I am.” Olivia gave her husband a quick kiss, then turned to greet Edward, but George snatched her hand and drew her back to give her a very thorough kiss.
Richard smiled. There had been many changes in the last two years, but none more spectacular than George’s wholehearted embrace of matrimony. His devotion to his wife was nothing short of miraculous and something Richard knew he never would have understood if not for his own feelings toward Juliet.
True, Richard’s marriage had brought chaos to his well-ordered life, but it had also brought love and joy and warmth and laughter. Things he had told himself repeatedly that he did not need. But she had proved him wrong. And so had the children.
“You wrote and told me there would be smaller numbers this year, but I was wondering if Uncle Horace and Aunt Mildred will be coming for Christmas?” Edward asked as they huddled around the drawing room fire.
“Of course,” Richard answered heartily. “Not everyone will join us this year, but there are certain members of the family that had to be included.”
“Besides, without Uncle Horace around, who will help Cook and Mrs. Perkins decorate all the gingerbread cookies?” Juliet asked with a playful twitch of her brow.
“You mean eat them,” Edward said with a grin.
“Well, yes, of course. That, too, is very much a part of our family holiday tradition.” Juliet hugged Edward again, then reached out to pull James and Lizzy close. Her eyes teared and overflowed, though her mouth smiled and there was an unmistakable shadow of joy on her face.
The sight touched Richard in ways he still couldn’t fully explain—yet he was grateful he felt the emotions, was humbled by their existence.
“You’re squashing me, Mama,” James protested.
“Me, too,” Lizzy said.
“And me,” Edward agreed. “But I don’t mind.”
With a deep chuckle, Richard caught Juliet’s hand and pressed a tender kiss to her fingers. “Happy?”
“Perfectly.” She released the squirming children and stepped into the circle of his waiting arms. “Edward is home safe and sound, we are all together, and we have two weeks to prepare for the holiday celebration.”
The sight of her happiness made Richard’s heart thud, the love inside him feeling almost painfully strong. “Well, my dear, once again I find that I am about to say the words I never thought I would utter.”
“Oh?”
He pulled back and looked into her eyes, his own alight with mischief. “I can hardly wait for Christmas.”
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