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There it was again, that endearment,darling. Holly beamed at him.
“That is wonderful! Oh, but what about your mother? Did you not say that she was to join us?”
He shook his head. “Believe me, Mama would be the last to contemplate venturing forth in such inclement weather.” He pushed back his dark hair now damp from the melted snow and ushered her before him. “Come along, time for tea, and it is Friday, so there will be buttered crumpets.” He stopped. “Friday…we have been married a week today,” he said, sounding surprised.
Holly turned and faced him. She drew in a deep breath and braved herself to ask the question that had been uppermost in her mind all week.
“Are you sorry that you married me?” she asked.
He looked shocked. “Good God…no!” His arm stretched out, and he caressed her cheek, his thumb tenderly brushing the underside of her chin. “I realise that I have not been the easiest of men since we arrived home, but you have shown my daughters compassion and offered them your friendship. Your advice has been sound, and I trust your guidance with my,our, daughters. I count myself fortunate to have found you, darling girl.”
Her eyes brimmed with emotion. She flung herself at him, shocked at the yelled warning he gave while holding her back. He wounded her sensibilities.
“I am sorry, but look.” Gregory drew open his jacket pocket and produced two small kittens. Handing them to her, he rummaged in his other pocket and conjured a third.
Holly cuddled the tiny scraps of purring fur. One was tabby, the other tortoiseshell. Gregory held a ginger-and-white kitten in his hands.
“Ooo, aren’t they adorable? The girls will love them,” she cried.
“I hope so. Let’s get them up to the drawing room and settle them in a basket by the warmth of the fire. I’ll get someone to bring up an earth box for their use.” Gregory led the way back upstairs.
After spending the afternoon chasing the inquisitive balls of fluff as they explored their new home, Holly decided it might be safer to place the kittens below stairs, in the warm scullery. Nancy, the scullery maid, agreed to take full responsibility for them until Christmas day.
CHAPTER15
Abreak in the weather meant that the sleigh was easily dispatched to collect Doctor Powell who attended upon Libby and removed her stitches. The doctor accepted Holly’s invitation to stay to lunch.
“I don’t recall a snowfall this deep in my lifetime. I remember my father telling me of the freezing winter of eighteen-eleven when the Thames froze, but that was long before I was born,” the doctor informed them between mouthfuls of pheasant.
“That particular winter was responsible for my mother’s fear of icy conditions. Apparently, she was trapped in a carriage for two days, along with her parents. The carriage wheel broke on the way home from visiting relatives one Christmas. Ever since then, she hibernates at the first sign of snow,” Gregory regaled them, giving a wry chuckle.
“I cannot say I blame her,” Doctor Powell responded.
“Oh, I don’t know, I love snow, especially playing in it,” Holly said.
“You are still a young woman. Wait until you are older and the cold affects your aching bones, my dear,” the aging doctor said, giving an exaggerated shiver.
Holly laughed.
“I must say, this is a most delicious luncheon, my lady. Please convey my compliments to the cook on the pie,” he enthused.
“Thank you, I shall pass along your praise.”
Gregory was filled with pride at his wife’s graciousness. She had more than surprised him over the past few days. Initially, he had thought her to be as immature as her age. He had suspected her likely to suffer some jealousy once she’d discovered that he had three daughters. Yet the reverse had been true. The affection and care she had lavished on his children both astounded and touched him. Holly had swept away the lingering misery over Bunty’s death and somehow managed to reunite him with his offspring, turning them into a cohesive family again. Her father had been right, Holly was well versed in running a household and her nature was giving.
Later, the doctor departed, muffled up against another arctic blizzard. As they waved him off, Gregory turned and suggested they visit the nursery. Walking into the sunny room, Libby leapt to her feet and lifted her skirts to proudly show off her scars.
“Doctor Powell said they would be barely noticeable in a few weeks’ time,” she explained gleefully.
“We have something to ask you,” Kitty burst out, looking as though she might combust if she didn’t get something off her chest immediately.
Gregory sat and pulled her onto his lap. “Well, what is so important that you cannot wait.”
“We have no play to perform at Christmas, due to Libby’s injury, and we have been talking…” Kitty gabbled so fast, she had to halt to suck in a lungful of air. “Anyway, we would like you to enact your wedding for us because we weren’t there to see you both get married.” She beamed a hopeful smile up at her father.
Libby and Clemmy quickly added their own pleas. Gregory swivelled to meet Holly’s amused gaze.
“It is entirely up to you, darling,” he said, shrugging.
