by Anthology
Meredith looked ecstatic.
How could this be a bad thing?
“Sara is going to be in a fit,” Meredith replied and Louisa could see that she was genuinely concerned.
Time to be the dutiful sister.
“Perhaps,” she confirmed, because there was little point in denying it. ”But it will be entertaining to watch at least.”
“Well, I must say I’m impressed with how quickly you work, old man.” Hugh looked genuinely happy for his brother, and as he shook Lucas’s hand, he turned and gave her a wink. He looked proud and it warmed her heart in ways she couldn’t describe.
“YOU’LL BE EVEN MORE impressed when you discover that she agreed to marry me at the Frost Ball.” Lucas was speaking, and Hugh was surprised at the envy that suddenly shot through him. He wished that it was him making the announcement about he and Louisa, and he felt a cad for it.
“Don’t tell me you’ve already secured a special license as well!” he asked, feeling concerned for Louisa.
She’d been a real sport but he knew that this must be difficult.
“Not yet, but I’ll make quick work of that as well.” Lucas simply shrugged in his typical fashion.
Hugh couldn’t blame him. Generally speaking, when the Mayford men wanted something, they made it happen.
Louisa was smiling and looked genuinely happy for her sister, but there was a hint of something in her eyes, a slight tightening around her mouth, and he suddenly wanted to get her out of there so she could react whatever way she needed to, away from the happy couple.
“Then we will leave you to your celebrating.” Hugh grasped Louisa’s hand and made to move away.
“No, no, why doesn’t Louisa come with me? It’s time we retired.” Meredith reached out and grasped Louisa’s other hand.
Hugh had only just started kissing her, for God’s sake. And he hadn’t even gotten to propose. Or confess his feelings.
He wasn’t giving her up that easily.
To his consternation, however, Meredith Bright had a grip that would try the strength of a Titan.
They engaged in a rather embarrassing tug of war before he had no choice but to release Louisa’s hand, lest one of her arms be pulled from the socket. Lucas’s laugh did nothing to improve his mood.
Hugh glared at him then raised a mocking brow.
“That means you don’t get to celebrate either.” Hugh he reminded his brother with a sly smile.
“I have a life time of celebrating,” Lucas shot back, and Hugh scowled because the bloody man was right.
“And with that we bid you goodnight.” Meredith tugged Louisa from the room before Hugh even got the chance to speak to her.
Hugh thought it would be rather childish to chase after them and drag her back, so he let her go, feeling more frustrated by the second.
She turned back to glance at him and offer a small smile. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do until he got to speak to her again.
CHAPTER NINE
IT HAD BEEN A whirlwind by anyone’s standards and as Louisa watched her sister waltz in the arms of her husband, husband, she couldn’t help but smile.
It really had all worked out between those two.
The days leading up to the wedding had been spent frantically putting together a trousseau and organizing the wedding, deciding on hairstyles for Meredith as the bride and for herself and Sara as the bridesmaids.
Sara had taken longer to come round to the idea than Louisa herself had, but finally Sara had witnessed with her own eyes the love between Meredith and Lucas and it was undeniable.
Louisa sighed in contentment and, she had to admit, envy.
Seeing Meredith in the arms of a man who so obviously loved her would make anyone want the same thing, she reasoned.
The fact that she only wanted it with Hugh was something that she would just have to keep to herself.
She’d barely seen Hugh since that night in the library.
Truth be told, there’d barely been time.
Her mama and the duchess had been zealous in their preparation and nobody was given a moment to spare.
She missed him, Louisa had to admit.
Missed his teasing, missed his arrogance, even. And she especially missed his kisses and the pleasure they could give.
Snatching a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she sagged against a nearby pillar.
“Ladies do not sag.”
The sound of Hugh’s soft voice in her ear brought a wide smile to her face and she turned to see him watching her with those incredible eyes, a wolfish smile playing around his mouth.
“And how would you know?” she asked.
“I have it on good authority,” he responded sagely.”A lady has told me all there is to know about — er — being a lady. And I’m quite sure she would never lean against a pillar in such a fashion.”
Louisa tried to match his serious expression but she was just so terribly pleased to see him.
“And are you well acquainted with this lady?”
In an instant, he looked like a predatory beast, and Louisa’s heart took off in response.
“Not as well as I’d like to be,” he said with a wicked smile.
Louisa gulped at her champagne, hoping the liquid would cool her heated skin.
“Walk with me?” he asked.
“Where?”
He shook his head slowly.
“Still so suspicious,” He smiled. ”Come, I want to show you something.”
Wild horses wouldn’t have stopped her from going with him while he smiled at her like that.
Placing the champagne glass on the tray of yet another passing waiter, Louisa took his proffered arm, and they slipped unseen from the ballroom.
Instead of going down the hallway, as she expected, he moved them toward the back of the house and out through the conservatory door.
The gardens were blanketed in thick white snow, looking for all the world like a fairy land.
“Hugh,” she hissed, “it’s snowing. We cannot go out there.”
“Oh ye of little faith,” he answered cryptically before lifting his hand to signal to someone.
Two footmen who had obviously been waiting in the shadows came forward, their arms filled with things.
Louisa watched as Hugh removed a deep red, velvet cloak from the first man’s arms and placed it round her shoulders, pulled up the hood and tied it deftly.
When he was satisfied, he turned back and took a basket from the man. The poor footmen must have been freezing while waiting for them to appear.
Then he took a pair of her sturdy walking boots from the second man.
Louisa couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“You’ve thought of everything,” she said.
“Indeed I have,” he answered proudly before bending and removing her satin slippers, replacing them with the boots.
Louisa’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. What must these footmen think of her, allowing a man to remove her shoes out here in the snow?
Hugh ran his hands ever so slightly up her calf and she gasped and bit her lip, her cheeks heating for an altogether different reason now.
After what seemed like an excruciatingly long time, Hugh stood. His jaw was tense and his eyes in the lantern light glowed with an unholy fire.
“That was exquisite torture,” he murmured hoarsely before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
He turned and took the lantern from the footmen then sent them inside with his thanks.
Louisa thanked them too then turned excitedly to see Hugh holding out his hand to her.
“What on earth is going on?” she asked as she took his hand.
“You’ll see. Have some patience,” he scolded.
He was enjoying himself immensely, so it seemed.
Deciding to just enjoy it, Louisa fell into step with him, a smile of excitement hovering on her lips.
HUGH FELT LIKE A child on Christmas morn as he led Louisa through the dar
kened gardens.
He had left very specific instructions with the army of footmen he’d commandeered from the wedding party, so he could only hope that everything was ready.
He’d almost given up the ghost entirely and just ruined her on the steps to the house when he’d bent to change her shoes.
Her legs were as perfect as the rest of her.
He should be bloody sainted for holding out as long as he was.
Hugh glanced down at his companion and was pleased to see an excited little smile on her lips.
She was enjoying herself, even if it was freezing.
It wasn’t much farther though, and she should be warm soon.
Finally, he could see the flicker of the lanterns ahead and he started to get nervous.
He desperately hoped this would work.
They walked a little farther and the gazebo came into view.
Louisa stopped dead beside him and gasped, pulling her hand from his to clasp over her mouth.
He watched closely for her reaction and saw tears fill her eyes.
Were they happy or sad tears?
He felt a moment of blind panic before she turned and looked at him.
Hugh’s heart stopped at the look in her eyes.
If he wasn’t very much mistaken, that was the look of someone in love.
He could only hope he was right.
LOUISA TRIED DESPERATELY TO keep the tears at bay but still they came.
She’d been worried that Hugh had taken leave of his senses altogether when she started to see the flicker of lights.
When they’d finally come to a stop at the gazebo she thought she’d died and gone to heaven.
The gazebo was covered in lanterns. There were lights everywhere. On the floor, strung along the roof. It was incredible.
She turned to look at Hugh and saw that he looked unsure of himself.
How could he not know that this was the most perfect thing in the world? That he was the most perfect man in the world.
“Hugh,” she breathed when she could trust herself to speak.”This is — it’s wonderful.”
He looked so relieved, and her heart positively melted.
Without giving it a second thought she reached up and threw her arms around his neck, nearly toppling him.
He chuckled in surprise before dropping the basket he held and lifting her clean off her feet and devouring her lips in a soul searing kiss.
When she finally needed to come up for air, he broke the contact, settled her on her feet and retrieved the basket before grasping her hand and pulling her the final few steps.
She saw now that there was a blanket spread on the floor of the gazebo and even some cushions scattered about.
Her eyes widened at the sight.
This was unbelievable.
“My lady.” Hugh swept a dramatic bow before helping her to sit amongst the cushions.
Louisa giggled and sat as daintily as she could.
He sat beside her and proceeded to empty the contents of the picnic basket onto the blanket.
There was, she was thrilled to see, a flask of hot cider which he promptly poured into mugs.
He handed one to her, and she wrapped her hands around it gratefully.
Next came two slices of what looked suspiciously like wedding cake.
She gasped in mock outrage.
“Why, you’re nothing more than a common thief Lord Mayford.” She grinned.
“Don’t tell or I shall say it was all your idea,” he said.
Louisa didn’t think she’d ever been this happy. Never in her whole life.
They sat and drank their cider, and Hugh fed her little bits of wedding cake since she refused to remove her hands from the warmth of the cup she clasped.
As they talked and laughed, Louisa fell more and more in love with him.
Finally, the flask was empty and the cake and cups cleared away. Hugh grasped her about the waist and hauled her onto his lap.
Louisa giggled then moved to place a steadying hand on his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered softly. “Nobody has ever done something like this for me, and I shall never forget it.”
For a moment, he didn’t move, just stared into her eyes, then slowly, he moved her hand from his chest to place a soft kiss on the palm.
Even through her evening glove she felt its impact.
“Louisa,” he said, his tone gravelly and low. “If you would let me, I would spend my whole life doing things like this for you.”
Louisa felt her jaw drop at his words.
He couldn’t possible mean what she thought, could he?
“Y-you would?” she squeaked, hardly daring to believe it.
“I would,” he confirmed with a self-deprecating smile that she found more endearing than any of the charm he’d bestowed on her previously.
“I love you, Louisa. I think I loved you from that first kiss, three years ago. Back then, I allowed my pride to rule my heart. But pride is a poor substitute for the woman I love, and I won’t make the same mistake again.”
Louisa’s heart soared at his words.
Dear lord, could he really mean it? Could she really be this lucky?
“Are you serious?” she whispered.
He laughed softly.
“Of course I’m serious. I love you. I adore you! I never thought it possible to feel as much as I do for you.”
“Oh, Hugh,” she managed as the tears she’d been holding back flooded her eyes and rolled unchecked down her cheeks, freezing in the frosty air. ”I love you too. So much.”
His eyes lit in triumph before he pulled her face to his for a heart-stopping kiss.
She could definitely get used to having this every day.
“Marry me,” he finally whispered, his forehead pressed against her own. ”I know how much you like to fight me but if you will concede on this, I promise to let you win every fight from now until we die.”
Louisa laughed through her tears.
She thought her heart would burst from sheer happiness.
“Let me win, indeed,” she scoffed but couldn’t keep the smile from her face. ”I will win whether you allow it or not, Hugh Mayford.”
“Is that a yes?” he demanded, his hands moving ever so slowly to the strings of her cloak.
“That is a most definite yes,” she gasped as he removed the garment and began to nibble wickedly on her neck.
“Finally,” he growled as his mouth moved lower still. ”We agree on something.”
IT TOOK ALL OF Louisa’s apologies and all of Hugh’s charm to finally get their mothers to forgive them for missing the majority of the Frost Ball which had doubled as a wedding reception for Lucas and Meredith.
The bride and groom couldn’t care less. They had put in just a brief appearance at the ball and nobody had seen them for some hours.
The matriarchs’ anger was short lived however, when they learned that there was to be yet another wedding between the families, and even though the hour was late and everyone was exhausted from the celebrations, they immediately set about making plans for the New Year.
Hugh, however, put his foot down almost as soon as their twittering started.
“Enough,” he bellowed earning him a cacophony of protests and an abundance of glares.
“The hour is late and my betrothed is cold and tired.” He turned to smile tenderly at her as he spoke, and Louisa couldn’t stifle her dreamy sigh.
“I suggest that all talk of preparations wait until tomorrow.”
The mamas grudgingly agreed and made their way upstairs.
When Louisa made to follow, however, Hugh reached out and snagged her about the waist, pulling her back against his chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he whispered in her ear, causing her to shiver.
“Didn’t you order everyone above stairs?” she asked breathlessly.
“Of course I did. How else would I get you alone?”
She turned in his embrace an
d wound her arms about his neck.
“And why would you want to do that?” she whispered wickedly.
His grin was heated enough to melt every bit of snow surrounding the house.
“Why, to have our very own celebration of course,” he answered before claiming her mouth once again.
And they set about celebrating for a very long time.
MISTLETOE FOR SARA
By Rachel Van Dyken
CHAPTER ONE
JACKSON MAYFORD HAD NEVER met a woman he would not tup.
Nor was he ever lacking for any sort of female attention.
As a general rule, Jackson, or Jack as he was so often called, was quite often the apple of every female’s eye.
Save one.
And she was shooting daggers at him across the ballroom. He lifted his glass of mulled wine in good cheer while she scowled coldly in his direction then looked away.
They were the remaining two.
The final soldiers at war, unwilling to put down their pistols.
And he’d be damned if he was going to let a mere slip of a chit — one who’d set him on fire twice now! — escape without punishment.
He completely ignored the fact that swatting her bottom sent waves of heat to all the wrong parts of his anatomy — just like the ignored the fact that it was a definite tie between wanting to strangle her and kiss her senseless, though the first kiss they shared ended up with a singed cravat — not his fault, at least not entirely.
Lady Meredith danced merrily with his brother The Earl of Ashbury while his brother Hugh stole a kiss from Louisa.
Gagging, he stared down into his cup and stewed.
Because really, there wasn’t another word for the lonely, irritating little feeling that seemed to be his constant companion since news of both of his brothers falling in love had been announced.
First Lucas.
Then Hugh.
And that left Jackson — he shouldn’t be surprised, he was always last. Last to be born, last to gain an inheritance, and the last man standing while the rest of his family moved on towards marriage, children, bloody walks hand in hand through the park.
