Chapter Fourteen

In Which the Family Celebrates the Season, and Holly Almost Manages to Take the Plunge

Richard had assumed that once the villain had been unmasked and sent off with his tail between his legs, metaphorically speaking, there would be no need for him to remain at Forest Grange. After all, he was only there in his capacity as a solicitor, bearing important evidence in relation to a potential fraud.

Now that Blackstone had been escorted out of the house and sent on his way, Richard accepted that it would be time for him to leave.

So he was more than a little surprised when Lord Hawthorn poured him a brandy and bid him take a seat by the fire. Blinking, he did so, and was even more surprised when his Lordship engaged him in a rousing conversation about some of the work that was finding its way into legal offices these days, with especial reference to the matter of canals.

More than half an hour passed, and for Richard, it was an extremely unusual experience. He was called upon for his opinion by two titled members of the aristocracy, found himself in the middle of an argument about the rights of various kinds of tenants, offered his opinion on historically ancient holdings and the future of same, and ended up laughing at a surprisingly amusing (if a little off-colour) jest that Sir Duncan had picked up in his stable the week before.

When the door opened to admit two tall young men, he felt that might be his signal to depart. Putting his empty brandy glass on the table, he quietly moved to one side, ready to slip away as soon as possible.

But the Viscount would have none of it, grabbing his shoulder and promptly introducing him to Ashe Trease, the future Viscount, and Garrett DeVarne, whose other title was the Duke of Belcaster.

He didn’t even have chance to be overwhelmed, since the tale of their adventure with Blackstone was out before he could catch his breath, and suddenly he was being congratulated, asked if he was recovered, and offered a handy pair of fists if he should ever encounter Blackstone again.

And that was from the Duke .

To his surprise, he discovered that he was enjoying himself enormously, and experiencing none of the uncomfortable feelings he had suffered through in prior experiences with the aristocracy. To these men, he was someone who was valuable, had taken an undeserved beating, and foiled a villain on behalf of both Sir Duncan and Lord Hawthorn.

He was, almost, one of the family, and when lunch was announced, he was shepherded into the dining room by Sir Duncan, who asked him if he liked partridge.

While trying to come up with a suitable answer, the ladies joined the party, and he was thus introduced again to Lady Florinda Trease (and the Trease heir or heiress lurking within her), and the Duchess of Belcaster, formerly Miss Cherry Trease.

A great honour indeed for a solicitor, and although he was aware of it, his gaze wandered rapidly to Holly, who stood, smiling, off to one side of the room. It took some effort, but she managed to casually work her way to his side without attracting too much attention.

“What happened, Richard? To Blackstone?” She grabbed his arm so tightly, he swore she’d leave marks.

“Hush, it is all settled. He didn’t admit to anything, of course—I don’t think anyone expected him to—but his plans were revealed and completely destroyed by our evidence.” He couldn’t help a happy grin. “It completely fooled him, Holly. He accepted the document as genuine.”

Her fingers released their grip on him as she nodded. “I told you it was an amazing job, Richard. You should have believed me.”

“I should have, indeed. You were right. And it was wonderful to see the shock on that villain’s face when Sir Duncan and your father dropped their polite facade, took aim, and let him have it. He really wasn’t expecting it, which made it all the sweeter.”

“He deserved much worse for what he had his thugs do to you,” she observed quietly, slipping her arm through his without a thought. “I only wish we could charge him with attempted murder.”

He grinned down at her, loving the anger on his behalf that he knew was simmering beneath the polite smile. “We did enough. He’s finished, and he knows it. Your father pretty much made it clear that he had until the new year to set his affairs in whatever kind of order he could. In January, Lord Hawthorn will return to London and reveal everything.”

“So Blackstone will be ruined, and we’re unlikely to ever have to deal with a canal on our borders?”

“I believe that’s the sum of things, yes.”

“Thank God,” said Holly, heaving a sigh of relief.

“Come along, everyone. Lunch.” Lady Hazel had to shout over the conversations, but the aroma of food emanating from the table drew the group like a magnet. The travellers had refreshed themselves, the air rapidly filled with the scents of a delicious winter meal, and everyone sat without ceremony.

Conversations ranged around the table, and once again Richard was surprised to find himself included, even argued with on one occasion, when the Duke insisted on one particular point of law, only to find himself outgunned when Richard quoted chapter and verse to prove him in error.

Laughter rang out again and again, the family talking loudly and over each other, unlike any group he’d ever experienced. But it was wonderful in its way, and made him realise how much he’d missed by devoting the last dozen years or so to his career, rather than his papa, who now lived in Wales with Richard’s aunt. Family, he thought. This is what family means. Or should.

“You’re very quiet,” said Holly, sighing as she pushed away her plate. “I can’t eat another morsel.”

“It was all wonderful,” he replied. “But I can’t help thinking I should be on my way soon.”

She blinked. “No. You can’t go anywhere. It’s Christmas, Richard. What are you thinking?”

“I…” he began.

“You’re practically family , for God’s sake. You saved our estate and foiled a plot that would have caused more trouble than I can imagine. You are not going anywhere until after Christmas, and that’s all there is to it.” She nodded emphatically.

“But…” he took a breath.

“Mama,” Holly called down the table. “Richard is staying for Christmas, isn’t he?”

“Of course he is, darling. How else can we show him our gratitude? We can’t keep telling him because he blushes. So he’s our official guest for as long as he wishes.” Lady Hazel nodded and smiled at him, then calmly turned back to her conversation with Ashe and Florinda.

Cherry, seated on the other side of Richard, leaned over toward him. “Might as well accept it, Richard. You’ve been sort of adopted, I suppose. After what you’ve been through, it’s the least the family can do for you.” She stifled a chuckle. “Besides, you have to put up with Holly and distract her, so we’ll get a bit of peace and quiet this year.”

“I don’t…”

Holly’s indrawn breath was loud in Richard’s ear, and without thinking, he put his hand on hers and laughed. “Hush. Don’t rise to her bait. She’s only teasing you.”

“Hmmm.” Holly narrowed her eyes. “All right. I’ll behave.” She glanced at him, a wicked grin flickering over her face. “For now.”

*~~*~~*

The afternoon passed quickly—too quickly for Holly’s liking.

She was enjoying herself in a new way, she realised. No longer one of three girls, she felt for the first time that she had come into her own as an adult. Her Mama included her in conversations, her brother’s teasing was gentle now, more respectful of her as a person, rather than a nuisance, and Cherry didn’t hesitate to beckon her to the seat beside her as she chatted with their Papa.

The only thing missing, in her eyes, was Willow, and she knew she had to ask her mother if there had been any word at all.

Lady Hazel had nodded, and pulled her slightly aside. “She can’t make it home for Christmas, Holly.”

“Oh no.”

“The messenger arrived less than an hour ago. She is with Madame Lépine.”

“Our French mistress?” breathed Holly. “Good heavens, what is Willow doing with her ?”

“Apparently, they met six weeks or so ago. Madame had an accident, Willow was there, and one thing led to another. She has been caring for her since then, I understand. Madame’s injuries were serious, and Willow’s note made is clear that she is not expected to last much longer. She is alone, with no family.”

“Oh no, how sad.” Holly frowned. “I can see why Willow won’t leave. Not now. Not at this time of year. There will be other Christmases for us, but for Madame?”

Lady Hazel put her arms around her daughter and held her tightly. “I’m not quite sure how I ended up with such wonderful young women, but always remember I’m so very proud of you and Willow.”

Holly rested her cheek against her mother’s for a moment or two, then eased away. “I’m going to miss her this year, you know.”

“As will I,” answered Lady Hazel. “But you have a gentleman to look after, my dear. And he’s looking a little lost amongst all these Trease…”

She laughed at that, as her mother had intended. “I will go and rescue him, Mama.” She paused. “He is a nice man, isn’t he?”

“I think he is, dear. Yes. And I know your Papa has already spoken most highly of him to Ashe.”

“That’s good,” she replied absently. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Lady Hazel moved away as Florinda attempted to heave herself off the couch and raised her hand for help. Holly smiled as together the two women accomplished the task, and moved slowly around the room, giving Florinda a chance to stretch her legs.

The gentlemen, finished doing their after-lunch gentlemanly things, had joined them, and the noise level rose appropriately.

As she gazed over the assembly, her eyes met Richard’s, and he smiled.

For a moment Holly’s heart missed a beat, and she sucked in a breath of air, hoping she wasn’t going to faint like some silly heroine in a romance novel.

He must have seen her expression, since he nodded briefly to Ashe and Sir Duncan, then left them and came to her side.

“Are you all right? You looked a little pale there, for a moment or two.”

It took a moment for his words to make their way through the strange fog that had apparently descended inside her brain.

“Holly?”

“What? Oh, yes, sorry. My mind was wandering a little. There is a lot happening at once, and sometimes it’s hard to keep apace with it all.”

Richard glanced around them, then grasped her elbow. “Let’s see if we can find a bit of quiet for a few minutes.”

Glad he understood, she let him lead her unobtrusively from the room and across the hall to a corner and a small niche where a window overlooked the lawns and the forest that surrounded the house. From this direction, the snow was pristine, the trees heavily laden, and the sky just showing the first hints of the sunset that came so early at this time of year.

Everything glowed, thought Richard, and so did Holly.

“I’m glad we have a few minutes alone together,” he said. “I have something I need to ask you.”

“Wait—before you do, I have something to ask you first.”

“You do? Well, I…I suppose you should…all right, go ahead.”

“Richard, we haven’t known each other very long at all, but we seem to have gone through a lifetime of adventures, certainly more than I can imagine anyone else experiencing in so few days.”

He blinked. “This is true, indeed.”

“And…” she hesitated, “well, I’ve become an admirer of your courage and your intelligence.”

A sliver of something tickled the back of his brain. “I am pleased and honoured to hear that,” he commented, wondering if there was any way at all his suspicions might be correct.

“So, when I considered the matter—which I have, very carefully—I arrived at a logical conclusion, leading me to this question.”

Her face tipped upward toward his, her gaze steady, her expression a mixture of consideration and nerves.

“Richard, will you…”

He couldn’t let her finish. “Marry me?”

The two voices spoke over each other, followed by an instant’s silence.

“What?”

“ What ?”

He broke into a soft laugh and pulled her close. “I want you to marry me. I know I’m not the greatest of matches, but I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“But I was going to ask you first,” she complained.

“All right, well then, go ahead.” He held her even closer. “Ask me, Holly, and we’ll answer together.”

He felt her shuddering breath. “Marry me, Richard,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine my life without you, either.”

Lost, he did the only thing he could—and kissed her firmly, lovingly, and with all the passion that had grown within him since he first set eyes on her.

After a few moments, he gently eased his lips from hers. “Well?”

She grinned, her eyes alight with pleasure and excitement. “I will, if you will.”

“I will, without a moment’s hesitation.”

She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh thank goodness, I was so afraid you’d say no.”

“I couldn’t,” he grinned, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Half an hour ago, I asked your father if he would allow me to pay my addresses to you, even though my status might render me ineligible.”

“You did?” Holly’s eyes grew large as she pulled back a little and stared at him. “What did he say?”

“He asked me if I would love you and take care of you for the rest of our lives, and I said yes. So then he said…well, he nodded and shook my hand.” He swallowed. “Then he told me he considered it a wonderful thing to have a solicitor in the family. He actually hugged me, which was rather a shock, to be honest.”

“Richard,” she glanced upward. “Since we’re standing beneath the mistletoe, and now officially pledged to each other, I believe it’s my turn to hug you, and I think you should kiss me some more as well, don’t you?”

“What a lovely idea.”

And suiting words to action, Mr Richard Hawkesbury spent the next few minutes kissing the breath out of Miss Holly Trease under a ball of mistletoe, in a little private niche off the main hall of Forest Grange.

It should be noted that most of the Trease household had, by this time, observed and understood the situation between these two, and were thus awaiting word of the engagement in the parlour, where Ferguson had been directed to bring several bottles of French champagne and glasses, since it was highly likely that toasts would be forthcoming.

Ferguson, being the faithful and observant retainer that he was, had already prepared those items, and was especially thrilled when invited to join the family in welcoming their newest member, Mr Richard Hawkesbury, and his fiancée, the future Mrs Holly Hawkesbury.

It was a Christmas to remember for the Trease household.

Although merriment and laughter filled the house, and the man she loved now sat beside her holding her hand, Holly knew there was one thing that would have made her day quite perfect. It was not to be, but the question lingered in her mind…

Where on earth was Willow?