Then twelve days later, to end their Christmastide, there was another big celebration. This one with extended family and close friends. All would wear jovial masks and highly decorative costumes. A large Christmas cake would be presented, a pea and bean hidden deep within. Whoever received the slices with the foreign objects would be announced King and Queen, and would lead off the dancing. The night would end with each guest carrying the Christmas garlands out into the yard where they would burn in a large bonfire. If any leaves were left unsinged, it symbolized bad luck in the following year, and Walters, the butler, was a superstitious man. Rosecrest was searched top to bottom for greenery before the servants were allowed to retire for the evening. Hopefully Luke’s butler would not be as irrational.
The Merritts arrived in Harleston just two days before Christmas Eve. Clara and Mother immediately dived into party planning. There was a lot to be done, and not much time to do it. Clara had several hours of embroidery left to finishon Luke’s gift. Technically, it was quite inappropriate for her to be giving a gift to a man who was not her blood relation, but Luke was practically family at this point. It would be more strange not to, given the circumstances.
So Clara and Mother sat in the drawing room. Lady Merritt looked through a shopping list for the Christmas Eve feast, while Clara bent over her embroidery. Mother was focused on her parchment, but after a few minutes of silence, Clara could no longer handle the quiet. “I wish you were coming to London with us,” she said, poking her needle in and out.
Mother looked up from her list. “I am sorry,” she answered sympathetically. “And I wish I could, but …” She let the sentence trail off, changing the topic. “What are you most looking forward to this Season?”
Clara rolled her eyes. Motherneverdiscussed her aversion toTown. So rather than fighting the redirect, she answered the question. “I am excited to meet new types of men.” She blushed. “I feel I have come to understand women fairly well. I am excited to learn more of the other sex.”
Mother shrugged. “They are not very interesting.”
Clara chuckled, though she could not tell if her mother was being sarcastic or not. “Oh please, I am sure you enjoyed getting to know your many suitors!” They had not discussed Mother’s London Season in much detail, but Clara had no doubt she had been a sought-after match. Her father had been a wealthy marquess, and Lady Merritt had many accomplishments.
Mama put down her list, officially turning her attention to the sudden conversation. “I may have pulled the interest of several gentlemen,” she admitted, “but as soon as I met your father, I didn’t care about the rest of them.”
“Why?” Clara asked, finding the idea strange. “What made him so special?”
The countess stood from her position, crossing over to Clara’s sofa and placing herself on the cushion beside her daughter. “You will find, Clara, that there are many good men out there—some more so than others—but you have to find the one that compliments you best.” She turned her lips upward in her slightly mischievous way. “Your father and I work well together, because I enjoy the center of attention, and he enjoys putting me there.” She laughed at her own joke. “Oh, it is not as simple as that, but some personality traits pair better than others. John,for example, must find someone who enjoys his sense of humor.” Both women rolled their eyes.
“What about me?” Clara questioned. “What traits would you pick for my husband?” The thought made her heart flutter.
“Hmmm …” Mother had the mischievous look again. “You and I are similar, so I imagine your husband will be similar to Papa. Strong. Intelligent. Not the most social person …” Her eyes were shining now, as if they knew a secret her daughter did not. “But most importantly, kind. Yes, I imagine your husband will have a tender heart and you will be the one to protect it.”
Clara nodded. It seemed a reasonable explanation, except for one part. “I agree with your assessment, save the social aspect. I do not think I could marry someone who did not enjoy outings as much as I do.” She did not want a husband who would complain every time they had to leave the house.
“Perhaps,” Mama answered, standing to return to her task. “I guess we shall soon see.” The countess looked down at the incomplete embroidery resting in her daughter’s lap, her eyes glistening once more, but she did not say anything as she walked back to her list.
“It is going to be a rough season of politics, I am afraid,” Lord Merritt said woefully as the men sat for drinks after dinner. The women had already retired to the drawing room. “It is rumored Prince George shall soon rule as regent.”
“Won’t that be better for the country?” John questioned. Poor King George III had many physical and mental health issues. At first, his actions were just strange, but now he had turned to unwarranted violence, even on those he loved. He was not fit to rule the country, and it made sense to pass the duty on to his son.
“In some ways, yes,” the earl continued, “but when there is not an undeniable way of doing something, people will take sides, and they will not do so quietly.”
“What day do you intend to leave for London?” Luke asked. Parliament usually opened at the end of January.
“Around the tenth,” Lord Merritt answered, “I will ensure Violet is all settled at home, and go from there. Will you be traveling with us, or meeting us there?”
Luke had been thinking about this particular London Season for years. Clara would finally be open to suitors. If he wished to pursue her—he did, of course—he could not do so while living in her home. It would be beyond scandalous. But he did not have anywhere else to stay, nor the means to buy a London home at this point in time.
Then there was the sheer torture of watching men fight over her, and he had no doubt they would. Already, he had heard her name whispered throughout all of theton. She was a sought after match, and Luke was not the only one waiting for her to become available. He was a baron, but she deserved a prince! He wasn’t sure even he could morally root for his success in courting her. She deserved far better.
“I will not be attending this Season,” Luke decided.
“Are you quite sure?” the earl asked, giving him an inquisitive look.
Luke nodded.
“If I could find other living accommodations?” Lord Merritt knew what was keeping Luke away, though the puzzled look on John’s face showed he had not fully followed the conversation.
“I will think on it,” Luke replied simply. While it was a decision he wanted to make on his own, there was a key factor that kept him from doing so. The same factor he had long been avoiding, for he did not want to know the answer. But the time had come; he had to know if Clara saw him as a potential match. He would have to admit, at least in part, his feelings for her. Yes, Luke would lay his heart on the altar, and only Clara would decide if it came back unscathed.
Chapter 15
Good Will Toward Men
On Christmas Eve, the ballroom at Maxwell Manor looked festive. Holly, ivy, and bay were strung around the room, with mistletoe in a select few corners. Thousands of candles were placed along the room's edge, giving the place a yellowing glow that made it feel as if the stars had taken refuge inside. Rather than chairs, large fluffy cushions were placed in circles around the space, and everyone sat on the floor like children. A small country band played happy tunes, and people of all ages and classes danced playfully in the room’s center. Banquet tables on the far end of the room were laden with goose, yorkshire puddings, mincemeat pies, and elaborate gingerbread displays.
Luke quickly found his Merritt family. John stood off to the right, talking with a group of young men about a deer hunt. Lady Merritt was on the left, happily laughing with a large gathering of Harleston mothers. Lord Merritt sat on a cushion in the far corner, trying to convince a small boy to join in the dancing, and Clara was, of course, in the center of everything. She had already spoken to each and every guest, over half of which she knew personally, and now danced with a group of young children. They held hands and galloped in a large circle.
