Page 44 of Christmas Secrets

“And you can show the baby how to play with wooden animals, since I plan on making some for all the children we have,” added Percival.

“I know,” said Noel.

“Are you upset?” asked Holly.

“No. But you’d better take Beauregard the Bear for the new baby.” He handed the toy to Percival. “I want to share my toys with the baby when he gets here.”

“You would give up one of your toys to the baby?” asked Percival in surprise.

“Yes,” answered Noel. “It’s all right because I don’t care for it much.”

“You don’t?” asked Holly. “Why not?”

Noel looked up at his father.

“Go ahead and tell him,” Henry urged him to speak up. “It is always best to tell the truth.”

“You’re right, Father.” Noel looked like he was reluctant, but told them anyway. “It is not my favorite, because I never thought it looked like a real bear.”

“No?” asked Percival.

“Uh uh,” said Noel, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Percival, but I always thought it looked more like a pig instead of a bear.”

Holly and Percival looked at each other and started laughing. So, Henrietta the Pig wasn’t as misshapen after all. That brought a proud smile to Percival’s face.

“Hello, we’re here.” The door to the cottage opened and Morag walked in with her sister Fia and cousins Willow and Maira. They were all holding their children.

“I didn’t know you were all bringing your children,” said Percival. “And Mother and Bedivere and the rest of my siblings aren’t even here yet. I hope this house is big enough to fit all of us. Mayhap I should have added on another floor.”

“No, Percival, the house is fine the way it is,” Holly told him. “Any bigger and we’ll be calling it a castle instead of just a manor house.”

“A castle in the woods,” said Percival with a satisfied nod. “I think I like that.”

Ada walked in with Bedivere and the rest of Percival’s seven siblings pushed into the house as well. Percival’s Uncle Theobald and Aunt Joan brought up the rear.

“Branton is stabling all the horses, but said not to wait for him to make the announcement,” said Uncle Theobald.

“Announcement?” Holly looked at Percival suspiciously. “What announcement is that, Uncle Theobald?”

“It’s my fault,” said Morag, looking sheepish. “Och, Holly, I’m sorry but I overheard Percival tellin’ Bedivere that ye are pregnant and I just couldna keep it to myself.”

“Percival?” Holly’s hands went to her hips and her eyes narrowed. “I thought we agreed we were making this announcement together and not until after I told Noel.” Holly looked at him from the corners of her eyes and shook her head.

Percival shrugged, holding his palms in the air. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It might have slipped out when I was talking to my brother, but I was so excited about being a father that I had to tell someone.”

All the women started squealing and congratulating Holly while Noel and Percival’s younger brothers ran off together to the upstairs rooms to play.

Percival pulled Holly to the side, kissing her under the kissing bough that he insisted they hang up, since he decided he liked them now. Personally, Holly thought it was just Percival’s way of getting more kisses than usual. More kisses, that is, that usually ended up with them making love.

“You’re not angry with me that I told Bedivere that we’re having a baby, are you, sweetheart?” asked Percival, looking so sexy that she couldn’t stay mad at the man. “I was so excited that I wanted to shout it to the world, but he’s the only one I told. Honest.”

“That’s right,” said Bedivere walking past with his arm around Morag, carrying little Mazelina in the crook of his other arm. “He made me promise to stay silent as well, and I swear I did. But I should have known my busybody little wife was in a shadow listening somewhere.”

“Bedivere, I dinna gossip anymore, and ye ken it,” said Morag.

“Then what do you call this?” asked Bedivere.

“It is no’ gossip if it is true, and I kent it was. Let’s just call it spreadin’ good news amongst the family.”