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Stop being a coward,Oliver ordered himself. He had been planning his gift all night. But he had hardly slept as he had tried to plan the words that would accompany the gift. He took a deep breath, tugging on his boots and starting toward the door. Greenery had been hung all around the corridors of Larkhall, and Oliver could smell the spices of Christmas dinner wafting through the air from the kitchen.If his gift was well received, then he could return and enjoy the holiday without the turmoil and nervousness raging inside him.
When he reached the ground floor, his mother walked around the corner, one hand pressed to her chest. He had expected a more cheerful expression on her face, considering that it was her favorite day of the year. He stopped in his tracks. “What is it?”
Mother’s brows drew together with concern. “Oh, Oliver. I am so very sorry. I-I opened the door this morning and didn’t see your little Rupert. He ran outside as fast as he could, and I don’t know where he has gone.”
Oliver’s stomach dropped. It was cold, and Rupert was not young. He could very well lose his way and freeze. He didn’t waste a moment. “I’ll go look for him.” He darted toward the door, heart racing.
He limped out to the frost-covered grass, scanning the area frantically. Where could he have gone?
* * *
Scratch.
Scratch.
Julia approached the back door of Reeves Manor slowly, brow furrowed.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
The sounds continued. Something was scratching at the door from the other side. It might have been a tree branch…if not for the fact that there were no trees near the door.
And if not for the fact that the scratching was accompanied by a familiar bark.
Julia tugged the door open. As she had suspected, Rupert stood on the other side. He looked up, tail wagging as he waddled into the house. He shook his coat, sending flecks of snow in all directions. Circling Julia’s heels, he barked again.
“Rupert! What on earth are you doing here?” She bent down to scratch behind his ears. Did Oliver know his dog had come here? There was no leash attached to his neck. “Did you escape? That is a very naughty thing to do.”
Rupert barked again in response.
Julia scooped him up, carrying him to the drawing room, where the yule log was burning in the hearth. The additional warmth combined with the scents of the greenery helped to settle Rupert down. Julia held him on her lap as she sat in one of the chairs near the fire. Should she return him to Oliver? She bit her lip. Since the ball the night before, she had been nervous to see him again.What was he thinking now that he knew she had no obligation to Lord Belper? Was it now up to her to encourage him and hint at her feelings? She couldn’t very well declare them first, but how could he doubt them? Her mind raced as she stroked Rupert’s wet fur.
A knock came on the front door, jerking her out of her thoughts. She jumped to her feet, inching closer to the drawing room door. The butler’s voice echoed in the entryway, welcomingsomeoneinto the house. The moment the guest spoke, she recognized his voice.
It was Oliver.
Julia held Rupert tightly—perhaps too tightly—as she made her way to the corridor. “Oliver?” she called as she walked around the corner. He was standing just inside the front doors, hair mussed, out of breath, and covered in snowflakes. He laughed when he saw Rupert, wriggling in Julia’s arms.The tip of his nose was pink, and his eyes shone with delight when they settled on Julia. Her heart thudded against her will.
“I knew he must have come here. He escaped this morning.” He strode forward. But rather than focusing on the dog, his eyes were still focused on her. His gaze was gentle and cautious. “It seems that Rupert wanted to come wish you a blessed birthday and happy Christmas.” Oliver smiled, and the expression nearly melted her. “As do I.”
How did he manage to look so endearing covered in snow? A smile overtook her face. Without thinking, she reached up to brush the bits of snow off his shoulders and chest. “Thank you,” she said in a quiet voice. Her hand froze, and she quickly whisked it away from his chest. She held his gaze for a long moment. “You-you should come to the drawing room and warm yourself by the fire.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned around and began walking in that direction. Her breath came quickly, and her legs shook beneath her. Why was he making her so blasted nervous? She could hear his footfalls right behind her. She set Rupert on the floor, and he led the way to the warmth of the drawing room. He curled up by the fire, watching intently as Oliver entered the room behind Julia.
“He is very content here,” Oliver said, stopping near the pug and the fire. He lifted his hands to warm them, glancing over at Julia. “It’s quite coincidental that Rupert came here of his own accord.” He paused. “I, well…I planned to give him to you as a birthday gift.”
Julia’s jaw dropped. “You would give him up?” Her heart ached. She had given that dog to Oliver so long ago. By returning him to her, it felt like he was confirming that he would never marry her. She was twenty-one now, and he might have felt some sort of obligation to give the dog back. She stared into the fire, struggling to form the right words.Her throat tightened with sudden emotion. “Oliver—you don’t have to give Rupert back to me.” She blinked back a tear that hovered at the edge of her eye. “Is this because I’m twenty-one now? We have already discussed that the contract I made was invalid. You need not feel any sort of obligation toward me. You may keep Rupert, and I will not hold you accountable for our bargain.” She sniffed, losing control of her composure as one tear escaped. All the years she had hoped to marry Oliver—all those wishes and thoughts she had spent on him—felt like they were dying in front of her.They were shriveling up and burning in that fire with the yule log.
She couldn’t look at him. He had been silent for too long.
“Julia—” he drew a heavy breath, stepping toward her. She looked up in time for him to touch the side of her face, cupping it in his hand. Her eyes rounded in surprise as he moved in front of her. His touch sent a string of shivers over her skin, and her heart nearly stopped. It took her a moment to realize that he was shaking his head. “You are wrong. Even if we had never made that contract, I would still be standing here today. I’m not here to give up Rupert. I’m here with the hope that I can share him with you.”
“Share him?” Julia blinked, trying to soak in the words. She was utterly distracted by Oliver’s fingers burying in her hair and his thumb caressing her cheek. His meaning became clear as she looked up at his eyes, blue and wide with sincerity. They traced over each feature of her face, settling last on her lips. A slow smile curved his own.
“Do you not understand what I mean?” he asked, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Was it not your objective all along?”
Her hands curled at her sides, and she could hardly manage to draw a breath. Longing cascaded through her in waves, each one growing more intense than the last. Hope sprung in her chest, but she didn’t dare guess his meaning. She didn’t want to be wrong. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. “Do you think I planned to have you and Rupert both one day? How could a girl at the young age of eleven concoct such a scheme?” Her voice was breathless as he leaned closer.
“Only Julia Reeves could be so clever.” He brushed a curl from her forehead. “And only I could be such a fool. I have been a coward, helping you repel Lord Belper rather than just propose to you first myself.”
