Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

C ooper welcomed the rest of the day with a very unfamiliar spring in his step, buoyed by his morning with Noelle. If this was a sign of things to come, he was a lucky, lucky man.

Even though there was a part of him that was still worried. They had only really come to know one another on what was – or was supposed to be – a holiday. What would happen when real life invaded, when she realized that time with him wasn’t always fancy dinners and walks around a stately manor’s gardens?

She was an intelligent woman, however. He had said it himself many times. She must not be na?ve to the reality of what life would be like, although he was more aware than most that some situations needed to be lived before they could be truly understood.

“Hartwell, there you are.”

Cooper turned with surprise to find Lord John was following him out of the breakfast room.

“You are looking for me?”

“I am. Could you spare a moment of your time?”

“I think I could fit in a meeting between the lighting of the yule log and Christmas carols,” he said wryly, causing Lord John to chuckle.

“Good to hear. Meet me in the back parlor?”

Cooper nodded, following him toward the back of the house, wondering what Lord John might say. They found the back parlor empty, the room dark with expansive windows overlooking dead trees. At least Lady Burton had provided some festive décor, evergreen boughs winding around the top of the thick maroon velvet curtains, but she hadn’t been quite as enthusiastic here as she had in the other areas of the house.

Cooper sat in the most comfortable chair in the room, which was still rather stiff. It was as though they had taken all unwanted furniture from throughout the manor and stuffed it all into this room.

“What can I do for you, Lord John?” he asked, placing his hands on his thighs as he waited to hear what the man had to say.

Yes, Cooper had gone to great lengths to be here to get to know gentlemen such as this one, but he was also aware that Lord John had closed off any favorable opinion toward him, and he wasn’t about to grovel to gain his trust.

It wasn’t worth it.

Lord John sat across from him, shifting back and forth in a chair that looked about ready to stand up and attack him.

“I must say, this has been the most interesting Christmas party I have ever attended, and Christmas hasn’t even occurred yet.”

“Agreed,” Cooper said warily, wondering where this was going.

“I am man enough to admit when I am wrong, Hartwell, and I was wrong about you.”

“Oh?” Cooper lifted an eyebrow.

“I was certain that you had murdered Northbridge. I was determined to avoid any connection with a murderer, which was part of the reason I was set against selling you any land.”

“That only just occurred. You mean to say you weren’t inclined to sell it to a man who wasn’t of noble birth.”

“That’s part of it. But now that you are marrying Lady Noelle, you will be close enough.”

Cooper leaned forward, studying him. “I thought my marriage to Lady Noelle was a strike against me.”

“In a way, yes.” Lord John said, tapping his fingers on his knee as his lips pursed together. “Look, if you’re going to make me say it, I’ll say it. Yours is the best offer. I thought another was coming to fruition, but now, with Northbridge gone, the deal has fallen apart.”

Cooper snorted but accepted the truth.

“Is anyone attempting to resurrect it?” he asked, wondering just who his competition was.

“No,” Lord John said. “Or I wouldn’t be here.”

“Look,” Cooper said, moving forward again, his elbows on his knees. He had cultivated enough deals before to know that he couldn’t show all of his cards or he would look too eager, and this could all fall through. “I’m a fair man. If selling your land isn’t enough for you, I could make you a partner on this deal.”

“Could you, now?”

“Why not?” Cooper shrugged. “I was in partnership before. I lost money there, but that is never a concern when I am at the helm. I’ve gotten myself this far from nothing.”

If Lord John had a stake in this, he would be more inclined to lead Cooper to other opportunities and convince others to approve his schemes.

Lord John continued tapping, and Cooper could practically see his mind working as he considered his options.

Abruptly, Lord John stopped, stood, and held out his hand.

“Very well, Hartwell. You have a deal.”

Cooper tamped down the joy that rose in him at coming closer to finalizing this deal. Instead, he calmly stood and took Lord John’s hand.

“Very good. You will not be disappointed.”

“I’d better not be,” Lord John warned. “We’ll settle all the contracts after Christmastide.”

“Actually,” Cooper said, placing his hands on his hips, “I’d like to get something in writing now.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“I’m a man of contracts,” Cooper said. “I’ve relied on word in the past, and it hasn’t served me well.”

“So be it,” Lord John said, although his tone held a trace of ire. “But my man-of-business will be difficult to contact at this time.”

“Not to worry,” Cooper said. “I am efficient at doing these things myself.”

He had signed a contract with quite a lovely young woman not long ago – although she had been the one to create it. She had proven herself more adept than most of these men.

“You’re sure all that changed was my innocence?” Cooper asked before Lord John could leave the room.

“That, and something Lord Andrew said to me.”

“Which was?”

“The only good deal is the one made with a living man.”

“I see,” Cooper said as something tugged at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on it. “Thank you, Lord John. I look forward to doing business with you.”

“And I with you,” Lord John said. “Now, shall we go light this yule log?”

“I suppose we shall,” Cooper said with a laugh as he followed him out of the room and toward the front drawing room, where he could already hear the notes of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” playing. He turned the corner into the room, finding all the guests gathered, the room cold and the fireplace sitting empty, the log yet to be carried in and lit. It seemed the departure of Lady Jennifer, Lord Northbridge’s body, and the coroner had left space for some of the Christmas spirit to return.

“There you are!” Lady Burton said. “The last of the guests have arrived. We can now begin.”

Cooper met Noelle’s eyes and saw the welcoming warmth within them when they rested on him. His steps were already taking him toward her, and he clasped his large hand around her much smaller one before he thought to hell with it and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to his side as he placed a chaste kiss on her temple.

“Is all well?” she said, tilting her head toward him.

“All is well,” he confirmed, nuzzling her hair, her sweet cinnamon scent wafting around him.

“Thank you all for participating in this tradition that has so much meaning in our family,” Lord Burton began. “Typically, the yule log is lit on Christmas Eve, but we like to do a little extra.”

Laughter sounded throughout the room, for doing extra was often the case at Burton Manor.

“We have taken the tree we selected—thank you to my daughter, Hermione, and her companions for finding it—and have separated it into four sections so we will light a new log every evening until Christmas. We also have the ashes from last year’s final section of yule log to light this one. Now, Smith!”

At his command, the door to the drawing room opened, revealing the butler, followed by two footmen carrying a large log. They placed it in the empty fireplace before exiting the room the way they came.

“Now for the lighting,” Lord Burton said, igniting the kindling from a candle placed on the table. “This year’s toast might be a bit different than usual, what with the strange Christmastide we have had so far,” he said. “That being said, as much as we mourn Lord Northbridge and the circumstances of his death, may this be a reminder to enjoy each Christmas as it comes and celebrate the opportunity to spend this time with our close family and friends.”

He moved the light to the yule log, and as the dry wood caught fire, the guests cheered and raised their glasses.

“Happy Christmas!” Lord Burton called out, and the rest of the guests responded in kind.

Cooper only had eyes for Noelle. Three days and it was going to be a happy Christmas indeed.

Cooper still smiled when he pushed open the door to his bedchamber that evening – a smile that turned quizzical when he heard a thump as the door hit something behind it.

“What in the world?” he murmured, peering around the door and slipping inside. The fire roared merrily in the fireplace, but he ignored it, too preoccupied with what awaited him.

It appeared to be a gift. He knelt and lifted the box. The lid was closed, while a large, shiny red ribbon was wrapped around it and tied on top in a perfect bow.

Was it from Noelle?

His heart thumped in anticipation of what she could have given him, even though Christmas was still a few days away. His mind raced as he thought of all the possibilities, deciding that his favorite idea was lovely undergarments that he could dress her in and then peel off her.

For there was no better gift to unwrap than Noelle herself.

He untied the bow slowly, savoring his surprise.

However, when he lifted the lid, it was with a frown as the contents were so far removed from what he had pictured.

The item appeared to be a children’s toy – a wooden train, he realized as he slowly lifted it out. It was very crudely carved and was broken from what he could see. Who would give him something like this? He was turning it over in his hand when he heard a sound from behind him, and he jumped, his concentration wrecked.

His valet stood at the door, linen folded over his arm.

“My apologies, sir, for my lateness.”

“You are not late—I am early tonight,” Cooper said, returning the train to the box and placing the lid overtop.

He was still becoming used to having such a close, personal servant. His valet typically prepared clothing and organized his schedule, while Cooper chose to dress himself. He had known that arriving at an aristocrat's house without a servant would have only served to prove further that he did not belong there.

And so, Rogers had come with him.

“Rogers,” he said abruptly, “do you know where this box came from?”

Rogers walked over and peered down at it. “No, I haven’t seen it before. Nor was it here when I prepared your room earlier this evening.”

“Very well. Thank you,” Cooper said as Rogers filled his washbasin and set out his nightclothes before backing out of the room with a goodnight.

Cooper looked back at the box, shrugging. He had no idea what it meant or what to do with it, but he had other work to do now – prepare a contract for Lord John. He rubbed his hands together before walking over to his makeshift desk and pulling out a piece of parchment and quill pen.

Could this all come together as he planned? It was hard to believe, and yet, here it was.

It seemed almost too good to be true, which worried him.

For that usually proved to be the case.