Page 19 of Christmas Secrets

CHAPTERSEVEN

By the time Percival had finished fixing the broken stairs and tending to the horses, and came inside, the snow storm had started up again. Opening the door to the cottage, wind and snow blew in with him. He had logs stacked in his arms, balancing them so high that they threatened to fall over.

“Let me get the door for you.” Holly ran over and closed it as Percival stacked the logs at the hearth.

“This fire is eating up the wood quickly. This is the last of it in the barn. I wish I had thought to bring some from Rothbury. My mother kept me there so long, I left without thinking.”

“It’s all right. We can go out and search for more wood tomorrow,” said Holly, placing the chicken she’d cooked onto a plate on the table. She’d used the fire to cook it, as well as some cabbage and leeks. And finding some nuts and dried fruit in Percival’s bag, she cooked them up with fresh apples again. “I wish I had flour. If so, I could have made something better.”

“This is fine. It looks delicious.” Percival removed his cloak, so hungry he would eat anything right now and not complain. He hurried over to the table. “Oh, I forgot to give you this.” He detached a small pouch from his belt and handed it to her. She opened it and looked inside.

“Oh, my! Salt?” She dipped in a finger and tasted it and made a sound that sounded lusty to him.

“Let me try some.” Noel held out his hand.

“Salt is precious and only used by the nobles,” she told her brother, letting him taste a few grains. He made a face. “We will use this sparingly.”

“I can’t wait to eat. I’m starved.” Percival pulled out a chair.

“Nay, you don’t! Wash up first,” Holly scolded.

“Wash?” He frowned. “We don’t have any water.”

“Yes, we do. Holly collected snow and melted it over the fire,” said Noel, bringing his horse over to a basin filled with water to show him. He pretended to make his horse drink.

“Well, you are efficient.” After washing, Percival sat down at the table, reaching out for the chicken.

Holly cleared her throat. He stopped.

“Now what?” asked Percival.

“Since it is Christmastime, I think we need to say a prayer, thanking God for our food. Don’t you?”

“Oh. I suppose so.”

Holly reached out and held his hand as well as her brother’s. She nodded, silently telling Percival to hold her brother’s hand too.

Percival wasn’t good with children. He’d never prayed holding hands like this before, either. Still, he knew if he wanted to eat, he’d better go through with it. If not, there was no telling how many more things Holly would think of to keep him from the meal.

“All right. Give me your hand.” Percival reached out and put his hand around the little boy’s.

“Is Percival going to lead the prayer?” asked Noel, innocently, not even realizing how unsettling this was to him.

“Go ahead,” said Holly with a nod.

Percival was about to protest, but just to get it over with, he opened his mouth and said the first thing that came out. “Thank you for this food, and I hope there will be a lot more because I’m not used to starving.”

“I hardly think that is proper,” said Holly, taking over for him. “Thank you, God, for giving us not just this food, but a roof over our heads, fire on the hearth, and... each other.” She looked directly at Percival when she said the last part. Her eyes roamed down to his mouth and he knew she was thinking about the kiss they’d shared. He was too. His body started to heat up as his thoughts ran away with wondering how it would feel to bed this girl.

“Amen.” Percival said, quickly releasing their hands and grabbing for his plate. He had to get his mind off of lustful thoughts. When his fingers grazed past her curves earlier, he wanted to squeeze her but refrained himself from doing so.

“Breast?” she asked, causing his head to jerk upward. He nearly fell from his chair.

“What?” he asked.

“Do you like breasts or thighs?” She pointed at the chicken.

Damn. For a minute he thought she had read his mind. He enjoyed both when it came to a beautiful woman. “Oh, that. It doesn’t matter.” He slowly released a breath, embarrassed that he felt himself stirring beneath his belt. Thank goodness, she couldn’t see it. He held out his plate and she gave him a breast and a thigh.