The Hawkthorn Ghost Plays Cupid

by Patty Deans

  "I'll stop in when I return." She left for the stable. Certain in her heart cook's suggestions were ridiculous and meant only to postpone her leaving. A sense of being forewarned made Julia choose the long way around to the stable, and when hidden by the brush, she stood for a minute watching the surprise that Robert hinted about.

  James led a horse around the racing circle while Robert practiced riding. Robert looked so small and so serious that Julia almost cried. The boy must have wanted this all along and she had discouraged him. It did not come easy for him to be around horses. Yet she could see the pride James showed and the happiness that Robert exhibited after James handed him the reins.

  Julia quietly returned to the kitchen. She had no intention of ruining their surprise.

  "Julia," a familiar male voice caught her off guard, she jumped. "You could almost make a bachelor change his mind, seeing a woman thoughtful enough not to ruin a surprise. They are both working hard. Robert's wish is to have the bottom his Julia has."

  Julia whiled around and smiled at Gabby. "So everyone knows but me."

  "James has told no one. Robert told me."

  "When?"

  "One day in the kitchen."

  "What were you doing in the kitchen?"

  "Talking to cook about a dog I saw in town. Robert and I talked about dogs and horses. One thing led to another."

  "There have been no dogs here since the Old Earl's hounds."

  "I didn't say there was a dog here."

  "You're just like James." She made a fist. "When you don't want to talk about something you talk nonsense."

  Gabby rubbed his neck. "Think we had better return to the breakfast room and enjoy a bit of food. When James returns to the house, he will think we planned to meet. He might marry you to save you from me."

  Gabby was more like a brother to her in the way he offered his help in snaring James. She gazed at the ceiling to keep from laughing. "That is all we need. I told him how you could not handle a simple hair ribbon."

  "He accused me of kissing you."

  She amended her previous notion that he was not like her, but more like James. "You two were cut from the same cloth."

  "Not a bad comparison. Downright flattering to an old staid bachelor like myself."

  Gabby opened the door to the breakfast room and nodded to Winnie. "Good morning, my future brother-in-law."

  "We have much to talk about. Julia, what are you doing up?"

  "Just thinking about eating breakfast and taking a ride."

  Winnie leaned back in his chair. "Think it might snow before nightfall. We had all better visit the shops in town and pick up anything we might need for our Christmas celebration."

  "I'll mention it to the women."

  "Thank you, Julia. I want to take Ginny to my house to look over any changes she might want to make." Winnie grinned. "Can we borrow Milly for a chaperon?"

  "Milly will enjoy that." Julia excused herself. "I will be down later."

  On the way to her bedroom Julia laughed. Winnie's love shone like a beacon. Lucky Ginny. Julia didn't suppose James could ever love her that way.

  ***

  The afternoon was spent with Julia taking Margaret and Jane to town to purchase gifts for servants and others. It took hours trying to choose special gifts for everyone including Robert. Julia could not believe Robert had made friends with so many of the guests.

  Margaret and Jane obviously were not in love with anyone, only completely enamored of having a season. They treated James, Keven and Gabby as though they were brothers. The two young ladies tried to persuade Julia to join them in London. She supposed James had persuaded them to talk her into a season, though they denied it.

  Even the men went to town in a carriage and returned with gifts.

  Winnie and Ginny, with Milly, went their own way and visited his home. Ginny said Winnie's father and uncle talked of spending the year in London. Winnie with a grin mentioned his father was pleased that he and Ginny were marrying very soon. It sounded as if a big town wedding would occur after January first.

  Becca and Glen visited the vicarage and received a blessing from Becca's father. They told of their plans for their wedding. It would be definitely before February. Glen's small estate, located in a nearby town, needed Becca's attention.

  Julia decided once again to become better acquainted with Keven. Hadn't Aunt Shredda hinted he would be easy to manage, yet impossible to catch?

  When the musicians appeared after supper, Aunt Shredda and Clarice insisted everyone dance. Julia sidled up to Keven and, being a gentleman, he asked her to waltz with him. They danced around the polished floor under the many-candled chandelier.

  "We have a most effective shadow, Lady Julia."

  Julia looked at the shadows dancing on the white paneled walls. She looked into his teasing eyes and smiled. "I never noticed the shadows dancing around the room. Do you judge them by the heights of the partners?"

  "I believe the grace of the partners far more important. Look how gracefully you move your head, and hold your hands." He twirled them around. "See how smoothly our shadow spins around the room."

  "Reminds me of Robert's spinning top. I must show him how its shadow can spin in candlelight."

  "Am I welcome to view that demonstration?"

  "If you are here." She bit her lip and changed the subject. "Look at poor Ginny sitting with her foot resting on a stool. She will not be able to dance with Winnie."

  "I don't think they particularly mind sitting out the dances."

  How very true, she mused to herself, smiling.

  "You need not feel so smug -- it was bound to come about."

  She felt a flush creep up her face. "What are you talking about?"

  "You can't fool everyone. Ginny is not clever enough to have captured Winnie so quickly without assistance. I doubt you could have gotten her to stage the stunt. Did you push Ginny or trip her?"

  Julia stumbled, but Keven lifted her up, and she fell back into step. "Has the cat got your tongue, Julia?"

  "I pulled a tree limb in her path," she muttered so low she hoped he couldn't hear her.

  Keven chuckled. "Very well done. It would have happened this season anyway."

  "How can you be sure?"

  "Her fourth season? She would be considered long in the tooth and Winnie couldn't bear her to be neglected."

  "You were all content to sit and wait while they both suffered. That is unkind." She felt herself stiffen.

  Keven smiled, pulled her closer, and swung her around until she relaxed. "Men are not impulsive about setting the world right. You waltz well when not provoked."

  "Thank you, my lord."

  "Keven, Julia."

  "Keven."

  "Becca loves Glen and she would have brought him up to snuff very shortly. You forced James into assisting you."

  She pulled away. "How dare you accuse me of using..."

  "Do not get me wrong, I quite approve of your tactics," Keven spoke in an even everyday manner.

  "Then why..."

  His unexpected chuckle cheered her. "Because I don't want you to think you can fool me."

  Julia wanted to shout at Keven, but she controlled the urge and stated as a fact, "If you are hinting that I have an eye to capture you, you are mistaken."

  "I'm disappointed. I would have liked to experience your clever maneuvers. Haven't come face to face with anyone so clever since I left Oxford. Margaret and Jane are far too predictable for me. Please do not force me to waste time with them."

  "I would not subject them to your frankness," Julia sputtered.

  "Perhaps you could enlist me to help you with whatever new adventure you are interested in."

  Julia eyed him curiously. "You are quite different than you appear."

  "How so?"

  "I expected you to be staid. Issuing compliments to all the females, regardless of age, looks or predictability. I did not envision a man gifted with a keen sense or a sharp eye behaving as though he had
neither until he captured you in a waltz."

  "I'm flattered. I only compliment the matrons. They seek me out to dance with the debs. It gives me carte blanche at a dance."

  "I assume the excessive adulation you inspire in the fair sex annoys you."

  "Absolutely not. I thrive on it. You are immune to my many charms?"

  "Completely." She laughed.

  "Perhaps a partnership."

  "I can use a bit of help."

  "Your request is my command."

  "Tomorrow when we go to collect the greens for decorating, I would like for you to flirt with me and be my partner. I promise not to trap you."

  "I will agree though I am disappointed that you have no intentions of trapping me. I'm a master at upsetting female trickery."

  Keven surprised Julia. He turned out to be different than she had imagined and it made her more cautious. "You need have no concern." Poor dear Aunt Shredda didn't really know Keven, he was far more than the complimenting Romeo she visualized, she would be disappointed to know he reserved his foolish flattery for older women.

  The music stopped and James claimed her for a waltz. His hand slipped around her waist, lightning ran down to her toes. He twirled her around the waxed floor, she felt like a feather blowing in the breeze. Her heart pounded and she could not take her eyes away from his gaze. What happened to her senses when he held her close? A strange sensation stole over her that brought on a yearning for more than a waltz. She wanted his arms around her forever. Such scandalizing thoughts had to be stopped. She must turn her mind to tomorrow and decorating the manor for Christmas.

  She no sooner left James' arms than Keven grabbed her and swung her into another waltz, leading her past the French doors to where the potted palm trees hid one from the others. "Please note the murmurs that will arise when we waltz back into view of all."

  "Devilishly kind of you, but tomorrow is soon enough," Julia stated in an offhand manner.

  "Just a hint of mystery and the road will be smoother tomorrow. We weren't out of sight long enough for a passionate kiss."

  She could not stop smiling. "You may be harder to manage than I planned."

  "Far more interesting. Try if you can to make a married man out of me."

  "Never. You'll get no Spanish coin from me."

  "Watch your tongue, young lady. I'll report you to your guardian and he has a fearful temper."

  "Truce, Keven. Tomorrow only need be a mild flirtation."

  "The kind that Robert can watch?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Julia, you are still that ragamuffin that swims with the stable boys while standing as straight as a queen. James is going to miss you when you up and marry."

  "Maybe I'll marry a stable boy."

  "I wonder who James will find suitable for a lady whose eyes twinkle with mischief and mystery."

  "The music has stopped. I need to return to being the hostess for everyone."

  Keven bowed. "Until tomorrow, my beautiful lady."

  She smiled and gave a little bow when he murmured under his breath. "A bit of Spanish coin."

  "Manners," she replied.

  James came over quickly. "Julia, can you see if cook has anything else to drink. It might be nice to have a bit of punch. Dancing can warm one's blood."

  "Of course. You might find someone to dance with Keven. He seems to have dancing feet tonight."

  James' face went blank after a twinge of anger flashed from his eyes. What kind of a fool is he? She thought he'd be rather pleased about Keven. Maybe he is and wants to try and get a commitment from his friend to marry her.

  She felt safe with Keven, for when he falls it will be hard if not fatal. Yet it would be well to watch that Keven doesn't give away her plan.

  ***

  The clock in the library clearly showed twenty minutes past midnight. Julia drummed her fingers along the arm of the high-backed chair. Finally, the door swung open and James strolled in as if he wasn't late.

  "I am grateful you waited for me. Frank insists it is going to snow. I hoped it would wait until we had gathered the evergreen. Snow makes it more difficult."

  "But Robert will love it all the more. Snow goes with Christmas," Julia said in what she hoped sounded like a soothing voice.

  "And brings sled time. Every little boy likes sleds."

  "Is this something you outgrow?"

  James chuckled. "No."

  "In that case is there anything special I need do?"

  "Try to keep our guests happy if it snows, for I need time to get the sleds ready. This does not include entertaining Gabby. He will be a pest if he thinks he's making me angry."

  "Fiddlesticks! I will keep your guests occupied including Gabby."

  "He doesn't need entertaining. Now Margaret and Jane need to be kept occupied. They drive the men crazy wanting to get promises of carriage rides, insisting we all dance with them. If someone could only convince them to relax and enjoy the parties they would meet the man of their choice."

  Grinning, Julia said, "Young, tall, handsome, titled and with pockets filled to the brim."

  "They don't need all those attributes."

  "Margaret and Jane are both long Meg's. It hardly seems right for them to marry a short men."

  "I concede, tall is necessary."

  "Old seems unlikely too, since your friends in their thirties find them too young."

  "Height and age might make a difference. I said they didn't need all those attributes."

  "That leaves, ugly, untitled and poor."

  "It can be an untitled second son with a good income."

  "You must admit I certainly understand the limits of your friends."

  "Their lives are none of our business."

  "Admit to the truth. Young, tall, handsome, titled and rich."

  "I see no reason why they should not expect to find the ideal mate without our help."

  "If the two of them discover any man suitable, how could they ever resist." Julia took one glance at James' frown and no longer thought of teasing. "I can see you are not up to admitting the truth. You look tired, James. I'll see to your guests tomorrow."

  "Our guests. Yours, Robert's and mine. We represent Hawkthorn."

  "I have no Hawkthorn blood in me. See you in the morning." She quickly rose, intent on getting out of the library before she started to cry. He must think of her as a sister if he forgot she wasn't a blood relation.

  James stood. "Robert will enjoy tomorrow and everyday until Christmas. No lessons in the school room until after the holiday. Goodnight, Julia."

  She stopped. Now he was putting her in her place and ordering her about once more.

  "Robert is my ward, Julia. He will have fun gathering greens for the manor. Goodnight, my dearest ward."

  His dearest ward? Confused, she fisted her hands and bit her lip as she ran up the stairs and down the hall to her room.

  In her room, she felt a stab of disappointment in finding Louise waiting and not the Old Earl.

  Louise helped her undress and she quickly crawled into bed, too tired to think.

  ***

  It snowed during the night and the heavy flakes clung to the ground. The heavy clouds that still scampered in the sky tweaked Julia's nerves. The delay generated restless guests who wandered around the house rather than play games. Robert pestered to go outside. His usually good-natured governess became impatient and snapped at the boy.

  By early afternoon, as they began their walk to the woods, the snow that threatened all morning began to fall. At the first sight of large white snowflakes, the group frolicked like colts. Robert leaped and dashed around the trees like a young puppy. James, who held tightly to Robert's hand, seemed undisturbed being pulled in circles as he led the group to the sleds.

  At first glance Julia could not suppress her surprise. She knew James would have the sleds cleared of the dust-filled cobwebs that had accumulated over the years and the runners waxed, but the sleds no longer had chipped paint. "Oh, James, the sled
s are beautiful! I never suspected you had them painted."

  Robert shouted, "Best sleds in all of England, I bet."

  James smiled, showing pleasure when she praised him, but Robert's delightful reception brought laughter to his lips and a twinkle to his eyes. Julia had never seen him look more handsome.

  Robert and James bowed politely before helping Margaret and Jane into the black sled with red trim. Gabby leaped in after them and grabbed the reins.

  Julia and Robert watched sleds gliding along the snow-covered ground.

  Glen and Becca jumped into the second sled painted red with black trimming and playfully fought for the reins as only those in love are wont to do.

  Winnie and Ginny, her ankle still bandaged, strolled along singing carols allowing their voices to echo through the trees. Only during the pauses between songs could one hear the snow muffled beat of the horse's hoofs or the faint hissing of the runners. The beautiful sounds of Christmas, Julia thought.

  The group teasingly harangued over every evergreen bough. Each holly branch required close inspection to be certain it had the optimum number of berries.

  Julia cheered when Keven climbed high up a tall tree to secure the best of the mistletoe. Keven flirted as planned and teased her while he insisted on yet another cluster of mistletoe from a higher tree.

  James appeared to ignore them.

  The two fancy sleds were piled high with greens and Julia tried unsuccessfully to head the party back to the manor.

  Keven possessively put his hand on her elbow. "Julia, relax. You are not responsible for everyone here. James is Robert's guardian. Look at how Robert admires him. We may get a little wet but we are close to the manor."

  "We have wandered farther than you might believe."

  "So young, and so beautiful, and so somber." Keven ran his fingers through the curls that hung out from her bonnet. "You should not take life so seriously."

  She tried to laugh away her anxiety. "Aunt Shredda believes it stems from too much neglect."

  "I know James' father and brother have been accused of taking their scholarly pursuits more seriously than the management of the manor, but I see little evidence that this is true. It must be your social life she felt neglected."

  Julia cringed at having revealed too much of her personal life and would never admit to Keven or any of James' friends that she kept the manor in repair. "It is difficult to create London's social life here in the country."