“Welcome home, my lord,” an older man said with a little bow.
Douglas clapped a hand on the old man’s shoulder.“It’s good to be home, even if I wished to be here sooner.But it was Providence that delayed me, by means of the storm.For I was fortunate enough to encounter this lady, with whom I had been acquainted long ago.This is Mrs.Joy Whitfield who stands before you all.As she did not have a destination she could safely reach for the remainder of the holiday season, I begged her to join me here, and she graciously consented.Though her arrival is unexpected, I do expect that the household will rise to the occasion of hosting my most honored and desired guest.”
He must have been silently rehearsing that little speech, Joy thought.Every word was chosen, and based on the quick nods of the servants, and the glances shot between the butler and the housekeeper, everyone knew how serious the Earl of Hollis was in that moment.
Then he turned to the boy, and in a much lighter tone asked, “Christopher, why are you standing all the way up there?”
“If I stay on this step while you stand on the gravel, Papa, I am taller than you.”The boy was quite solemn as he informed his father of that fact.
Douglas hid a smile as he placed one foot on the first step.“Is that so, young man?But what if I grab you and hug you like this?”
In a quick motion, Douglas lurched and swept up the steps, pulling the boy into an embrace that still kept the child about a head taller than his father.The boy giggled with delight as he was swept around in a circle.Joy watched the absolute love Douglas poured over his son, and she realized that he would never play the role of stuffy lord the way his own father had done.This was a house where love would always win the day.
Douglas finally put his son back down, and said, “Dear Kit, I am very sorry that I wasn’t able to come home in time to celebrate Christmas Eve as I’d promised in my letter.”
“It’s all right, Papa.Nurse and I had a lovely tea, and then we went to church.And this morning, I got Yorkshire pudding and I sledded down the hill.”
“Well, that does sound like a good day!And now that I’ve thoroughly mussed your hair that Nurse combed so nicely, make your bow to Mrs.Whitfield.”
“How do you do,” the boy said, trying to bow while also trying to keep his eyes on her face.“My name is Christopher Sterling, but Papa calls me Kit.Are you a friend of my papa’s?”
“Yes,” Joy said.“We once saw quite a lot of each other.We have not done so lately, but I’m happy that our paths crossed again.”
“Have you no one to spend Christmas with?”
“No one close by.I had resolved to simply go home after the storm, but your father convinced me otherwise.I was told that your cook makes excellent mince pies.”
“She does!”Kit confirmed.“Do you always have mince pies for Christmas Day?”
“I try to.Also plum pudding.And if I am very lucky, an orange.”
“We have oranges!”The boy practically bounced as he spoke.“And Cook makes marmalade tarts sometimes.Would you like marmalade tarts?If we ask nicely, she might make them.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.I do also hope to see this hill you use for sledding.”
His face lit up now.“Will you sled with me?”
“Of course!That is, if there’s soft snow at the bottom of the hill.”
“We built up a whole mound!But I always stop before I reach it.”
While they spoke, Douglas ordered everyone back inside, and there followed an orderly crush to retreat from the chilly night air.Douglas had just placed Kit into the care of the kindly brown-haired woman everyone called Nurse, and then turned to find Joy still standing on the stone porch.
She was watching the western sky, where heavy lead-grey clouds were massing, their undersides touched with red and gold from the hidden sun.Though there were still a few scraps of deep blue above their heads, it was clear that another storm was brewing.
Douglas followed her gaze and noticed the clouds.But he simply smiled and said, “More snow.Do you know what this means?”
“You’ll be trapped here with me, and unable to repent of your overly hasty invitation.”
“My beautiful soon-to-be wife, it means that we will be snowed in together, and that my one wish for Christmas has come true.”
“Your wish was to be snowed in with me at a completely random inn?”
He leaned into her, his voice lowering as he said, “My wish was to somehow rediscover the love of my life and win her heart once more.I’ve wished for that for so long, and if a storm was necessary to make it come true, I don’t care if half of England is covered with snow now.”
She could hardly breathe, let alone reply.
Douglas reached out to take her hand.“Now why don’t you step inside, Joy, and tell me how you like your new home.I should warn you that mistletoe is used liberally in our decorations.You’re liable to be caught under some…frequently.”
“Well,” Joy said finally with a slow smile.“That sounds very festive.”
* * * *
