Page 26 of Christmas Secrets

“You address him without using his title?” Willow looked at her from the corners of her eyes.

“I-I…” Once again, Holly was caught off-guard and didn’t know what to say. She needed to be more careful.

“I told her it was all right.” Percival reached out and put his arm around her shoulders.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful,” apologized Holly with a bow of her head. “I’ve just not been thinking straight since the death of my mother and discovering my grandmother is gone as well.”

“Why dinna ye join us with celebratin’ Christmastide?” suggested Morag. “That will certainly cheer ye up.”

“Where are the children you told me about?” asked Noel, poking his head out from behind Holly. “I have new toys I want to show them.” He held out his wooden toys that Percival carved for him.

“Well, my daughter, Oletha, is quite a bit younger than ye,” said Fia, placing her hands on her pregnant belly and smiling at the boy. “And ye’ll have to wait for a while yet if you want to play with the new baby.”

“My daughter Siusan is too young to play with you, and so is our cousin’s daughter, Sable,” said Willow.

“My daughter Mazelina is still just a baby,” said Morag. “I don’t think any of them will make good playmates for ye.”

“Aren’t there any boys at this castle?” Noel crinkled his nose in disgust.

“Percival, you said you had young brothers, didn’t you?” asked Holly.

“Yes, I do.” Percival yawned before continuing. “I’m sure Luther and Avery would love to see your new toys, Noel. I just have to find them first.”

“I ken exactly where they are. Would ye like me to take ye to them?” asked Fia, holding out her hand.

“Yes!” Noel shoved all his toys into the fold of his arm and held out his hand for Fia.

“I’ll go with you,” said Holly, not wanting to leave her brother alone with strangers.

“Nay, you won’t,” said Willow. “You’ll want to look good if you are going to be hanging on to Lord Percival’s arm. In that gown, you will just be the brunt of the morrow’s gossip.” She shook her head, looking Holly up and down in disgust.

“But this is the only gown I have. I mean... the only one that I brought with me.” She didn’t want them to know she was naught but a poor serf instead of a merchant’s daughter with only one gown to her name.

“That’s not a problem. I brought several extra gowns with me,” said Willow. “I always travel with lots of extra clothes because you never know when you might need them. I’ll let you borrow one if you’d like. After all, you’ll want to look pretty when you’re kissing Percival under the kissing bough.” She giggled and so did Morag.

When Percival didn’t respond, Holly looked over at him to see him standing there with his eyes closed. She swore he was sleeping.

“Percival?” She shook his arm and he jerked, his eyes popping open.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” he blurted out, his hand going to the hilt of his sword.

Morag and Willow giggled more.

“We are stealin’ yer lover to dress her up for the celebration.” Morag grabbed onto Holly’s arm and pulled her closer.

“Lover? Oh, nay, you’re mistaken. We just met. We’re not lovers,” said Holly, looking back at Percival who just smiled and shrugged, not saying a word to deny it at all.

“Well, with that ugly gown, of course not. I can see why you are not lovers,” said Willow taking her by her other arm. “Men like women who are pretty.”

“Willow, how can ye say she is no’ pretty? I think she is very pretty indeed,” said Morag.

“That’s not what I meant.” Willow tried to correct herself. “I was talking about her clothes only. Face it. This gown is plain and drab and ugly.” Willow reached out to touch Holly’s gown, but then pulled back her hand before she did so. “It doesn’t matter. I can fix that. Come on, we don’t have too much time and lots to do to ready you for the celebration. The meal is about to start so we need to work fast.”

“Well I-I don’t know. I don’t think I should wear the gown of a noble. It’s not proper since I am only a commoner.” Holly looked back at Percival as the women pulled her away.

“Go on with them,” said Percival with a wave of his hand. “I can’t win an argument with Lady Morag or Lady Willow, so why bother trying? If they want to dress you up, then let them.”

“I-I’ll see you soon,” said Holly, being whisked through the crowd by the other women.