Page 43 of Christmas Secrets

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER, CHRISTMAS

“Percival, hurry. I see Sir Henry and Noel riding into the garden.” Holly hurried to the front door, swinging it wide open, excited to see her brother again. The cottage had been expanded, just like everyone promised. It wasn’t as large as a manor house, but was elaborate just the same.

Now, where the one-room cottage of Imanie once sat, stood a two-story wooden home with a thatched roof. There were six bedchambers inside, so plenty of room for Noel and even Sir Henry to visit, as well as plenty of room for lots of babies. The barn was attached to the house with a back door leading through a covered walkway because Percival didn’t want Holly to become cold going back and forth in the winter. He thought of her every need. Percival even insisted on building a railing around the entire porch which was raised up off the ground. It continued along the side of the cottage, wrapping around all the way to the barn. It was most unusual, but Holly loved it. Percival also said he was thinking and planning ahead. When they had children he wanted to make sure they didn’t fall off the porch and hurt themselves.

Of course, Bedivere never stopped teasing him about it, teasing Percival that he was acting more like a wench than a man now. Holly wasn’t sure what that meant, but figured it was a private, ongoing thing between the men, and so she didn’t even ask.

Percival had become knighted before they were actually wed, because he said he wanted her to marry a knight. And now that he was a knight, he also decided the cottage should be more of a manor house after all. He couldn’t seem to stop adding to it. Holly was happy with the original cottage, and didn’t need more. But Percival, being a man, was always trying to better himself and the possessions he had. The next thing he was planning to build was a kennel for hunting dogs and a mews, since he once assisted a falconer and was good with birds.

She didn’t complain. And even though he did end up telling her all about his past, she never needed to know. She was happy just being with Percival and would never judge him.

It was still hard to believe she was a free woman instead of a serf. It was even harder to believe that the nobles started calling her Lady Holly, giving her a courtesy title even though she wasn’t a noble. She heard Percival’s family broke the rules of being nobles frequently and got away with things that usually wouldn’t be tolerated. Well, this proved it. Of course, since Lady Morag was related to the king, Holly had a hunch the ladies had more to do with this than the men.

Holly looked down to her belly, rubbing it and taking a deep breath. Percival’s whole family would be here today and that is the way they wanted it. But before she and Percival told anyone that she was pregnant, she wanted to make sure Noel knew.

Noel was a year older now, and had been spending more and more time with his father. The little boy felt comfortable around Sir Henry, spending weeks at a time living at Castle Kestwick. He had his own dog, a pet goat, a pet goose, and even a frog. He loved animals, and his father loved giving them to him as pets. Noel’s latest goal was to become a castle page as soon as he turned seven.

“Everything is ready,” said Percival, coming up behind Holly and wrapping his arms around her, giving her a kiss behind her ear. “Are you nervous to tell Noel that we’re having a baby?”

“More nervous than I felt telling you,” she admitted. “I just don’t want Noel to feel like he’s being replaced.”

“He won’t. The boy has a good head on his shoulders. Plus, he gets so much attention from his father that he won’t feel like he’s being ignored. I hear Noel is trying to find himself a new mother as well.”

“That’s not true,” said Holly. “Noel will never let anyone take the place of Mother.”

“That will change,” said Percival.

“I don’t know about that,” said Holly. “After the death of Lord Henry’s wife, he fell in love with my mother. He never married again, so what makes you think he will now?”

“Bedivere tells me that every time a lady is kind to Noel, Noel is asking Henry if she is going to be his new mother.”

They both laughed at that.

“Henry has his hands full with that boy,” said Percival. “You know, I hope we have a little boy just like Noel. I mean, I really miss him now that he doesn’t stay with us that often.”

“I hope we do, too,” admitted Holly. “I really adore my little brother.”

Henry and Noel dismounted and walked up to the door. Noel carried a Christmas wreath and handed it to Percival. Holly gave her brother a big hug and also greeted Lord Henry.

“Damn, this looks nice,” said Percival, taking the wreath and inspecting it. He never quite did get the hang of creating one.

“Father and I made it for you, Percival,” Noel explained.

“Don’t you mean you made it for me and Holly both?” asked Percival.

“Nay. Just you,” said the little boy. “Holly knows how to make a round wreath and you still need a little practice. So this one is just for you.”

They all laughed and went into the house. Holly saw others arriving out the open window and knew she needed to tell Noel about the baby quickly.

“Noel, honey,” said Holly. “You know Percival and I are married now and someday I’ll be a Mother and Percival will be a Father to a new baby of our own. How do you feel about that?”

“Is she trying to tell us she is going to have a baby?” Noel looked up at his father.

“Yes. Yes, I do believe so,” said Henry with a smile.

“This doesn’t mean we’ll love you any less or that we don’t want you. You are still welcome here whenever you want to stay here,” Holly made sure to tell him.