AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There’s nothing scandalous about a little mistletoe kiss,” Aunt Margarette said with a sniff. “And I think for once, Robins is right. It is the perfect opportunity to better judge if Miss Dowding would welcome a proposal.”
“I don’t know,” Isaac said. Now that he thought about it, he found himself not particularly keen on the idea of kissing Miss Dowding. Shouldn’t a man feel at least a small thrill at such a prospect? It was probably only that he was sitting in front of his aunt and that was dampening the mood. No doubt, once he got to the ball and had Miss Dowding beneath the mistletoe, his feelings would change.
At the sound of footfalls, they all turned to see Parsons striding into the parlor.
He greeted them with a wide grin. “Well,I’mcertainly going to be looking for all and any mistletoe tonight, that I can promise you.”
“Finally,” Robins said, standing quickly. “Now we can be off.”
Isaac also stood, then helped Aunt Margarette to her feet.
“The carriage is already out front,” she said, relying heavily on Isaac’s arm. “We’d best not keep the horses waiting any longer.”
“I think you mean,” Robins said, “we’d best not keep themistletoewaiting any longer.”
“Well, I’m happy to think you may have learned something from me,” Aunt Margarette said as they moved out of the room. “But I still have half a mind to write that university of yours and let them know just how lacking your education has proved to be.”
* * *
The ballroom was magnificent. Every wall was decked with holly and evergreen boughs. Wreathes adored every door and window. More candles lit the space than Isaac had ever seen in a single room, and a massive yuletide log crackled in the large fireplace along one wall. The scent was heavenly, a bit evergreen, a bit spice from the hot cups of cider.
No sooner had they arrived than Parsons spotted Miss Turner, and Robins pointed out a young lady he wished to know better. Which left only Aunt Margarette walking beside Isaac, her arm looped through his so that he might help support her. It seemed, as the winter grew colder, her ability to get around diminished. Though Robins and Parsons had originally come to Carlaby with the plans of leaving only a couple of weeks later, Isaac was glad they’d stayed on longer. Though Aunt Margarette wouldn’t admit as much aloud, it wasn’t good for her to be alone just now. He hoped once the spring came and the weather turned pleasant, she would be more comfortable and independent again, but for now he was very grateful to be by her side.
“Such a lovely ball,” she said with a sigh. “I remember the first Christmas my dear husband and I spent together after we were married. We hosted a Christmas Day ball nearly as glorious as this.”
Isaac patted her hand where it rested on his arm. “He was a good man.” Slowly, they made their way around the outskirts of the room.
“He was,” Aunt Margarette said. “And I was made all the more good for loving him.”
Isaac nodded as they walked. He didn’t blame her for growing nostalgic. There always seemed something in the air this time of year that made even the most cynical of hearts a bit softer. And his aunt was far from cynical to begin with.
“Love can do that, you know,” she said. “Make you a better person.”
Ah, so this wasn’t about nostalgia. This was more of his aunt’s plan to shackle him to Miss Dowding.
“Love is a beautiful thing,” he agreed, “when one can afford it.”
She came to an abrupt halt and forced him to turn and face her fully. “You can’tnotafford it.”
“With all respect, dear aunt, my pocketbook disagrees.”
“Without love, you are poorer than the homeless on the streets.” She gave him a little huff. “And I don’t care if yourpocketbookagrees or not.” Though she tried to hide it, she grimaced a little as they continued walking. It seemed her joints were giving her more trouble than Isaac had previously realized.
“Perhaps we should find you a comfortable seat,” he suggested, grateful for any reason to change topics.
“Oh, very well. But make it somewhere I can watch the dances.”
“And the mistletoe?” he asked, looking about for just the right vantage point.
“And the mistletoe,” she agreed.
They soon found a seat that fit all requirements. The chair looked quite comfortable and faced the dance floor, but one only had to turn one’s head to the right to see down a side corridor where a bit of mistletoe hung across the hallway.
Aunt Margarette settled into the seat with a heavy sigh. “Growing old is not for the faint of heart, my boy.”
He nearly laughed but held it in. Aunt Margarette must have caught sight of someone for she waved them over before settling deeper into the chair.
“Now go find Miss Dowding and show her that mistletoe.” Aunt Margarette pointed down the corridor. “Mrs. Turner is walking this way. She will keep me company.”
