Their Mistletoe Matchmakers

by Keli Gwyn

  “Why? Won’t the roof leak if we do that?” Alex was as inquisitive as he was conscientious.

  “That’s a good question. The space allows the shingles to swell when they get wet and keeps them from buckling. Since we offset the shingles in each row, there’s another shingle underneath the gap in the two above it—a second layer of protection.”

  Alex smiled. “I didn’t think of that.”

  The back door opened. Lavinia flew out of the house, marched across the yard and stopped a few feet from the shed. She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun, which was shining so brightly that Henry had shed his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, clearly vexed.

  “Repairing the roof.”

  “I can see that, but what is Alex doing up there with you?”

  The same thing, but evidently that wasn’t what she meant. “Helping me.”

  “Do you think that’s wise? He’s only eight.”

  “He’s quite safe. I wouldn’t have invited him up here otherwise.” It wasn’t as though they were on the steeply pitched roof of the two-story house. They were all of ten feet off the ground on a roof with a minimal pitch. “You could come up and see for yourself if you’d like.”

  To his surprise, she nodded. “I think I will.” She covered the few feet separating them in no time.

  Henry scooted closer to the edge of the roof, grabbed the ladder to steady it and watched as Lavinia placed a foot on the bottom rung. Was he imagining it, or did her dainty boots match her strawberry-colored dress? If so, that meant she had two pairs of red boots. Most of the women he knew were content with one serviceable black pair. But they weren’t the daughter of a man with more money than most men would earn in several lifetimes.

  She climbed slowly, watching her feet as she went. With her full skirt and fancy footwear, he could see why she was being careful. “You’re doing fine.”

  “This would be a far easier feat in trousers.”

  “I didn’t expect you to accept my invitation.”

  She sent a smug smile his way. “You underestimate me.”

  He liked seeing this spunky side of her. He’d have to challenge her more often.

  Moments later, Lavinia’s shoulders crested the roofline. She stayed at that level and looked around. “The view is nearly the same as the one from my bedroom window, but—” he detected a waver in her voice “—it’s different seeing everything from here.”

  “I know just what you mean, Aunt Livy,” Alex said. “Sitting up here makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.”

  “Indeed.” She focused her attention on their nephew. “Would you show me what you’re doing?”

  “Sure.” Alex positioned a shingle and nailed it into place, talking through the steps as he worked. “That’s how you do it.”

  “You explained that quite well. You’d make a fine teacher.” She followed her compliments with one of her cheery smiles that transformed her from merely attractive to outright beautiful.

  Alex beamed. “Can I finish the row on my own, Uncle Henry?”

  “Certainly.”

  Lavinia praised Alex’s work as she watched. And watched. He’d completed the task, and she was still there. “Well done.”

  Henry nodded his approval. “Your aunt’s right. You’d make a fine carpenter, too. In fact, I think you could succeed at whatever profession you chose.”

  “Why choose just one? Your uncle didn’t.” Although she wasn’t smiling, something shone from her eyes. Was it merriment or something else?

  Alex looked from Lavinia to Henry and back again. “Are you teasing?”

  Henry eagerly awaited her answer.

  “Not at all. Your mama told me in her letters some of the things your uncle’s done. He was a blacksmith when I met him at your parents’ wedding, but he’s been a carpenter, a hotel owner and who knows what else. But I know what he wants to do most of all.”

  No! He didn’t want the children to hear about his dream of running a restaurant. They might feel bad if they thought they were keeping him from it. He caught Lavinia’s eye and gave his head a small shake.

  She forged ahead as though she hadn’t seen him. “What your uncle Henry wants—” her smile shifted from friendly to calculating “—is to see that you children are happy and well cared for. That’s what I want, too, which is why I have a plan that—”

  “That she plans to discuss with me first.” Henry didn’t like cutting her off, but they’d agreed not to subject the children to any heated discussions or disagreements. He had a feeling both were about to take place.

  Lavinia angled her head, lifted one side of her mouth and an eyebrow and shot a wordless rebuke at him. Not that he cared. She was the one who’d been on the verge of going back on their agreement, which came as a shock. Although he didn’t know her well, he felt certain she wasn’t the type of person who made promises she didn’t intend to keep.

  She cleared her throat. Loudly and pointedly. “As I was saying before I was interrupted, I have a plan that’s one of my best.”

  Alex leaned forward, eagerness widening his eyes. “What is it?”

  “I can’t tell you yet. I came out to get your uncle’s opinion first.” Her declaration was followed by a toss of her head and a smirk. Rather than looking irritated, as she’d no doubt intended, she looked...cute.

  The mass of springy curls piled on her head caught his eye, especially the one that had broken free of her pins. He reached out to sweep it behind her ear, brushing her petal-soft cheek in the process. The shock reflected in her chocolate-brown eyes mirrored the surge of it coursing through him. What had he been thinking? He yanked his wayward hand back. “I’d love to hear your plan.”

  Her eyes grew even wider.

  What was happening? First his hand had acted of its own accord, and then his mouth had followed suit. “That is, I’d like to hear it.”

  “You would?” Her expression softened, but her gaze remained fixed on him. Confused, curious and...captivating.

  He scrambled to remember what they’d been talking about. Ah, yes. Her plan. “By all means. Alex is ready to try a few shingles on his own, so we can go down and talk if you’d like.” He sent his nephew an encouraging smile.

  Alex’s mouth went slack. “Really, Uncle Henry? You’re going to let me do it all by myself? Do you think I can?”

  “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t. Just take your time and remember all I’ve taught you.”

  Lavinia’s gaze bounced from Henry to Alex and back again. She scraped her lower lip between her teeth, a most distracting gesture, and then opened her mouth to speak but snapped it shut instead. Thankfully, she’d chosen not to challenge his authority in front of the impressionable boy.

  Alex didn’t miss much, though, as evidenced by the keen gaze he’d directed at his aunt. “You don’t have to worry, Aunt Livy. I’ll be careful.”

  “I know that. I’m just not used to boys. Your mother and I weren’t allowed to climb on roofs and such. The only things we climbed were stairs.”

  Alex’s brow furrowed, and then understanding dawned. He laughed. “You were joking, weren’t you?”

  “I suppose I was. Partly.”

  “So you’ve never climbed a tree or anything?”

  Lavinia’s eyes widened. “I should say not. A lady minds her manners.”

  “But you weren’t always a lady. You used to be a girl, like Marcie and Dot.”

  “I was, true, but...”

  Henry stifled a laugh at the unbidden image of Lavinia up a tree that popped into his head. “Some fathers don’t let their daughters do everything they want to do.” The words were barely out of his mouth when he realized his mistake. “What I meant to say was—”

  “I know ex
actly what you meant.” Lavinia shot a dark look his way and started down the ladder with far too much speed for a woman in high-heeled boots.

  Henry clutched the side rails to steady it. “Be careful!”

  “I’m fine.” Her response came quickly, with an edge to it, but at least she’d slowed her descent.

  As soon as she was safely on the ground, Henry scrambled down the ladder after her. He joined her under the oak a few feet away, far enough from the shed to give Alex a feeling of independence but close enough to rush to his nephew’s aid if need be. Not that the careful boy would get into any trouble.

  Unlike you, Hawthorn. He’d managed to insult Lavinia again. He’d had no intention of doing so, but he was a much better cook than he was a conversationalist. He could hold his own with the rugged miners who stayed in his hotel, but when it came to society ladies, he was out of his element. Unless the lady was talking about food. He’d gotten on fine with the woman who’d taught him everything she’d learned at Mrs. Goodfellow’s cooking school.

  “I didn’t mean anything by what I said.”

  She studied him with narrowed eyes. “Didn’t you? I know you don’t think well of Father, but he was only trying to ensure our safety. A person could get hurt falling from a tree.”

  “Not if that person knew what he—or she—was doing.”

  “Perhaps, but I trust you have no intention of encouraging the children to climb trees, especially the girls. I couldn’t bear it if anything were to happen to one of them.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “We’ve dealt with more than enough tragedy.”

  “I won’t encourage them, but Alex’s friend Frankie has been urging him to climb one, so I intend to show him how it’s done. That way he’ll know what to do should he give way to the pressure. I’ll point out how far I’m comfortable having him go. Not that I expect him to climb too high on his own. He’s a cautious one.”

  “I’m aware of that. I might not have spent as much time with the children as you have, but I’ve gotten to know them quite well.”

  He’d trod into dangerous territory again. Best to avoid tricky topics altogether. “You said you had a plan. Care to tell me about it?”

  Her wariness fell away, and the excitement he’d seen earlier returned. “Gladly.” She watched Alex pound a nail after checking the shingle’s position three times. “I want the children to see why Pauline loved Christmas as much as she did, so I’m going to throw a party like those we had growing up.”

  His sister-in-law had told him about the lavish affairs her father had hosted. “Wouldn’t a ball be a bit much? The children are too young to dance.”

  Lavinia laughed and swatted his arm. “I know that, Henry.”

  He’d enjoyed the contact more than he should have, innocent though it was. Lavinia was a lovely lady, but she was a lady who had definite ideas about how things should be done. She was also the lady determined to take Jack and Pauline’s children away from him. Not that he was concerned. She had no grounds for guardianship, whereas he had the law on his side. “What are you planning, then?”

  She glanced around the yard, as though assuring herself no one was around, and launched into a lively description. “For starters, I’m going to rent the meeting hall in that vacant building downtown, the one that used to be a hotel. It will make a wonderful venue for the party.”

  “Why can’t you just have it here?”

  Her musical laugh rang out once again. “Here?” She glanced at the house. “It’s much too small.”

  Warning bells rang. Loudly. “Just how many people do you plan on inviting? Alex’s only close friend is Frankie. Marcie pals around with Norma’s eldest daughter, Olivia, and two other schoolgirls, and little Dot plays with Norma’s younger daughter, Yvonne. Those children and their families could fit in the parlor.”

  Lavinia stared at him with the look of a schoolmarm attempting to explain something to an unperceptive pupil. “I thought Pauline told you about our parties.”

  “She did. They were some of her most treasured memories.”

  “I can understand that. They’re grand events. It would appear she didn’t make it clear how many people attend them, though. Our friends come, of course, but Father also invites everyone who works at the Crowne Jewel and their families, as well as our household servants. He hires staff to fill their positions for the evening.”

  The size of the guest list came as a surprise. That would be at least three-hundred people. And based on hearsay gathered from the employees Henry had met during the construction of Crowne’s Philadelphia hotel, the hotelier wasn’t known for his generosity. “That’s kind of him. You must have a large parlor.”

  She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Oh, we don’t use the parlor. Father had a ballroom added to the house, and we hold the party there. That’s why I needed to find a place big enough for the one I’m planning.”

  “Who all will be coming? You still haven’t said.”

  Lavinia fisted her right hand and extended a different finger for each group she named. “All the schoolchildren and their families, the members of the congregation, Norma and her family, Gladys and, of course—” she raised her thumb and sent him a winsome smile “—you.”

  “That’s quite a gathering. I can see why you’re planning to rent the hall, but Benedict can be a hard man to track down.” He’d tried to locate the owner himself after receiving word of Jack and Pauline’s tragic accident—to no avail. If he could buy the building, he could turn it into a hotel, hire a manager and earn the money needed to support the children. And still have plenty of time to spend with them.

  “It took some doing, but I found out who’s serving as his agent.”

  “How?”

  She patted her curls. “A lady can find out all manner of things if she sets her mind to it.”

  He chuckled. “You don’t strike me as the type of woman who would resort to using feminine wiles to get what she wants.”

  His jest earned him a saucy smile. “Even though we’ve only known each other a short time, you presume to know me quite well.”

  Not as well as he would like. “I know you’re determined and won’t let anything keep you from getting what you want.” She could throw her party, but that wouldn’t change anything. “Did Benedict agree to rent you the hall?”

  “Mr. Price said he’s expecting Mr. Benedict’s answer soon. He’s considering my offer, but I’m certain he’ll take it.”

  So the well-established lawyer in town was the one serving as his agent. “For your sake, I hope he does.” Henry had his doubts. When it came to shrewd businessmen, Benedict’s reputation would put him at the top of the list, right up there with Lavinia’s father. Come to think of it, since she’d dealt with Paul Crowne all her life, she could have what it took to broker a deal with Benedict after all.

  Not that Henry was worried about that. What did concern him was how much he was drawn to the lovely Lavinia Crowne. Nothing could come of it, though, so he would keep his attraction in check.

  Or try to.

  * * *

  The rhythmic creaking of Norma’s chair as she rocked her baby boy the following Saturday added to the peaceful atmosphere in the cheery bedroom. The muted voices of the five older children seated around the table in the kitchen down the hall assured Lavinia that they were having a good time making miniature wreaths. She’d given them the bits of pine boughs left after the decorating she’d done earlier that day.

  Little Dot was relishing the time with Norma’s youngest daughter, Yvonne, her favorite playmate. Marcie was captivated by the simple handicraft, as was her friend, Olivia. Alex, cautious boy that he was, had volunteered to cut the twine the girls were using to form their wreaths, or Lavinia wouldn’t have left the children unattended. Thanks to his offer, she could enjoy a few minutes with the woman who’d been Pauline’s d
earest friend.

  Norma glanced out the window, which faced the west side of Jack and Pauline’s house. “I like the way you’ve wound the pine boughs around the front porch railing. The bright red bows you added are a nice touch. I’m curious why you’ve started decorating so soon, though. It’s only the eighth of December. Even Pauline, whose love of Christmas surpassed that of anyone I’ve ever known, gave way to convention to a degree and waited until the week before. We don’t do our decorating until Christmas Eve.”

  Gladys had asked the same question, so Lavinia had a ready answer. “Pauline said that an event as special as the birth of our Savior deserves more than a brief celebration. I think others feel the same. The merchants already have Christmas wares in their windows, and people love to stop and admire them. Since the children are grieving, I decided not to wait this year. They seem happy about that, and their happiness is my primary concern.”

  “They’re having a wonderful time making their own decorations. I’m just used to the way things have always been done. Pauline used to tease me about my unwillingness to break with tradition. She didn’t let others’ expectations stop her from doing what she wanted, though. That independent streak was one of the many things I admired about her.”

  “I did, too.” Pauline’s willingness to take a stand had served her sister well, especially when it came to dealing with their father. She hadn’t been afraid to stand up to him. The row she’d had with their father after she announced that she was marrying Jack Hawthorn and would be heading to California had been heated and loud.

  Although her sister could endure their father’s tirades without flinching—and had on numerous occasions—Lavinia dreaded such confrontations and avoided them whenever possible. The losses she suffered from those arguments tended to outweigh any gains. Paul Crowne wasn’t a man one cared to cross. She preferred to appease him to keep the peace.