Page 72 of Christmas Comes to Little Valentine

Nat let out a soft groan and the sound trilled down her spine, making her want to carry on, to encourage more such tantalising sounds from him, but he broke the kiss and took a step back. He was breathing hard, his eyes glittering in the dim light of the moonlit entrance hall.

“Well,” he said, his voice a little unsteady as he tugged at his waistcoat, smoothing out any wrinkles. “Tomorrow cannot come soon enough. Get to bed, Meg. The sooner you go to sleep, the sooner it will be tomorrow.”

Meg looked at him cautiously. “Aren’t you going to see me to my room?”

“No.”

“Well, another kiss goodnight, then?”

“No!”

“Nat!” she protested, but he turned on his heel and walked away.

“Good night, Meg. Go away, love, please. For my sanity.”

“Oh, very well,” she said with a sigh, chuckling as she made her way up the stairs.

Chapter 16

And the bells ring out.

Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, 26th December 1815

Meg looked about her, smiling in wonder at Della, Vinnie and Miss Percy—or Helen, as she had insisted on being called—all sitting in her bedroom, already dressed in their finery, anticipating the hour of the wedding, which was almost upon them.

Della had been so very kind as to ask Meg to wear a gown she’d had specially made for her next season and insisted upon her regarding it as a wedding present. It had a matching cloak, which was both warm and beautiful, the perfect choice for a winter wedding.

“Are you quite sure you can bear to part with it?” Meg asked anxiously, turning away from the mirror.

“Oh!” Della said, fumbling for a handkerchief and pressing it to her mouth. “Oh, you look so lovely, Meg. Indeed, I am sure. It might have been made for you.”

“And it’s such a romantic story,” Helen said with a sigh, for Meg had insisted that everyone know the truth about how she had met Nat, in case she tripped herself up one day. “Like fate brought you together. I hope I might be so lucky.”

Meg smiled and tried to dismiss a niggle of guilt as she remembered Helen had been brought here as Nat’s intended bride. A surge of relief rushed over her as she reminded herself the girl did not know it.

“Della’s quite right, that shade of blue grey, with your fair hair and grey eyes, well, it’s simply stunning,” Vinnie said, getting to her feet and holding out a small box. “This is my contribution,” she added with a cheeky smile.

Meg took the box and opened it to reveal a pair of pretty blue garters embellished with tiny roses of pink ribbon.

“Oh!” she said with a laugh, blushing a little as she realised the next person to see these would be Nat. “Thank you so much. They’re lovely.”

“I’m certain Nat will think so,” Vinnie said, winking at her as Della and Helen dissolved into laughter at watching Meg’s cheeks become increasingly pink.

Betty took the box from her hand and grinned approvingly. “Well, you’d best hurry and put these on quick if you want to change them, or else you’ll be late for your wedding and you’ll have no need of them,” she said sagely.

This turned out to be excellent advice, as Meg’s skirts were barely in place before there was a knock at the door.

“Margaret? It’s Cousin George. Are you ready, my dear?”

Meg looked at the women around her. “Well? Am I ready?”

They all nodded, smiling at her with such expressions of affection that Meg felt quite overwhelmed. Fearing she might become emotional, she hurried to the door and pulled it open.

“I am,” she told George, smiling at him.

George looked her over and beamed his approval. “Well, you’ve done the Fairchilds proud, dear girl. That you have. You look a picture. Oh, and the dowager asked me to give you this,” he added, handing her a small posy of orange blossom.

Meg lifted the posy to her face, inhaling the sweet perfume, instantly transported to that day in the orangery, when Nat had declared himself. “They’re perfect,” she said, blinking back tears.