The Kissing Bough

by Madelynne Ellis

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  More from Madelynne Ellis

  Introducing the Scandalous Seductions series.

  Other Books by Madelynne Ellis

  About the Author

  The Kissing Bough

  by

  Madelynne Ellis

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  Copyright

  Copyright © Madelynne Ellis 2014.

  Edited by Sandra Barkevich.

  Cover Art by Clarissa Yeo at Yocla Designs.

  www.madelynne-ellis.com

  First Published in 2014 as part of Wanton Christmas Wishes.

  This edition published by Incantatrix Press in 2015.

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or to events or places is coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Author’s Note

  Dear Readers, I hope you enjoy this short story about Viola Marsh and her Christmas wish to be kissed beneath the mistletoe, the result of which is definitely more than she was bargaining for.

  If you’re interested in exploring my other works with a ménage theme, please check out the books in my Scandalous Seductions series. To be notified first about my new writing ventures and upcoming releases, please join my mailing list.

  Happy Reading!

  Madelynne xx

  THE KISSING BOUGH ~Viola Marsh has been forced to live an austere life, locked away under the watchful eye of her spinster aunt. Only on Christmas Eve is she allowed her freedom, to take part in the tradition of wassailing. Cousins, Percy Gilling and Lord William Ricborough share a close and special relationship, and they require a very particular woman to satisfy their needs. What they’re not expecting is to find her poised beneath the mistletoe on a wintery hilltop.

  Chapter One

  Knasebrook Hall, Rutland, 1816

  “It’s awful cold, m’dear. Are you sure you want to go out and risk a chill?” Aunt Clara asked.

  What an utterly preposterous thought. Given this was the one night of the year when she was allowed her freedom, Viola Marsh intended to make the very most of it. Hence she had no intention of staying home and mouldering any longer within the confines of the old nursery. In the village, folks would be ambling from door to door, bringing songs and winter cheer. There’d be hot chestnuts and apple tarts to buy on the green, and loving cups full of spiced ale to pass around. Everyone would be full of joy and might even spare a nice word for her.

  Excited by that prospect, she snatched up her muff and turned eagerly to the door.

  She didn’t care if the worst blizzard in history struck Knasebrook; she intended to go a-wassailing all the same. She’d sing until she grew hoarse, and then she’d stand beneath the branches of the stately oak tree all hung with mistletoe and apples, close her eyes and perhaps this year a miracle would occur and her dearest wish would be granted.

  “Viola, you do remember you’re to join the family tonight?”

  “Heavens, Aunt Clara, as if I’m ever likely to forget it.” The imminent Marsh family Christmas ball had consumed her thoughts for weeks. It was the highlight of the season, and as the only social engagement on her calendar, her one chance to shine. Ever since an unfortunate incident during her one and only London season four years ago, she’d been barred from attending anything but the most intimate of family dinners. More often than not, she and Aunt Clara ate together in the old nursery wing. Tonight was to be different though; she had a new dress to wear, made of the finest white muslin and cut in the very latest style, with a rich gold fringe at the hem and beautiful embroidery on the sleeves, and she’d get to dance, even if it was only with her brothers. For a few hours she could be normal again.

  “Don’t worry, Auntie; I’ll be home in plenty of time to make myself presentable. I promise.” She kissed Aunt Clara’s whiskery cheek.

  “Be good now, and do as your brother, Tom says.”

  “I will.”

  “Are you finished with your goodbyes yet?” Tom muttered querulously. He already stood by the door muffled to his earholes. “Heavens, you’d think you were going to the moon. We’re only headed to the village and back.”

  “I just have my bonnet to tie on.”

  “Well do hurry.” He stamped his feet impatiently as she tied the ribbon.

  Tom continued to grumble as they followed the bridle path toward the village. There was snow on the ground which made the going treacherous, so he was forced to offer her his support. Being chivalrous toward her didn’t come easily. Tom much preferred making her squeal with his horrid tricks.

  “I suppose you mean to go and embarrass yourself standing beneath the kissing bough,” he remarked humourlessly, as they crossed the stile. “I do wish you wouldn’t. It’s a pointless activity. A future husband is hardly likely to float down like a snowflake and bless you with a kiss, and nor is anyone about to carve their initials into the pie you’ve spent hours baking either.”

  Tom liked to believe he was a pragmatist. In truth, he merely lacked imagination.

  “It’s traditional,” she replied waspishly. It did no one any harm for her to cook in silence or to stand beneath a decorative garland and make a wish. “Besides, as you’re always so ready to point out, I’m not likely to find a husband any other way.”

  “And whose fault it that?”

  Viola sniffed. Not hers, no matter what everybody thought.

  “Vi, everybody knows what you did. No one reputable is ever going to offer for you, and none of the villagers would dare to give you a kiss. Father would skin them alive, and rightly so in my opinion.”

  “I suppose you think I should content myself with sitting in the dreary little nursery parlour for the rest of my days, growing sour and grey. I want a life, and a husband, and maybe children of my own. I don’t see what harm it does for me to stand beneath a tree on Christmas Eve and wish for that.”

  “You should have considered all those things before you chose to go canoodling with two men.”

  “I didn’t,” she protested, coming to a standstill. Tom plodded on without her, so that she was forced to slip and slide in order to catch up. “I’ve told you a thousand times. All I did was attempt to get out of Sarah Walsingham’s way. The wretched woman had already stood on my train, snatched a feather from my hair and spilled punch down my front. A further encounter would likely have resulted in serious injury.”

  “She’s Lady Oglvive now, Vi. And really, when are you going to stop pretending and own up to your actions. You were seen by a whole roomful of people, and with two men no less, as if being debauched by one weren’t scandalous enough.”

  If what she’d experienced was genuine debauchment, then it wasn’t nearly as interesting as the rumours made it sound. It seemed to her that ravishment ou
ght to leave one feeling more exhilarated and blissful. She felt sure too that it involved more than a quick peck on the cheek and a slight ruffling of one's clothes, else what was all the fuss about?

  “Those people only saw what they wanted to see.” As Sarah Walsingham had been among the first to decry her, it was hardly surprising things had ballooned out of all proportion. The minx had wanted Viola out of the way so she could firmly sink her talons into Lord Oglvive. He’d paid Viola one or two compliments prior to that incident. Sarah’s endeavour had evidently been a resounding success given her new status.

  “I saw you,” Tom insisted, puffing out his chest. “I saw exactly where you had your hands.”

  It was hard to argue with that, as Viola had no clear memory of where her hands had been. Given that the two men had just manhandled her into a position between them, she didn’t doubt they’d been on their bodies somewhere, but not out of any prurient desires on her part. “I’m innocent,” she stated simply.

  “Wicked more like, and definitely wicked stubborn. Oh do as you please when we reach the green, but don’t complain to me when you end up with a frost bitten nose and your skin turns red and blistered.”

  They walked in silence after that, until they crossed the canal and rounded the side of the coaching inn. “What will you do if I go to the tree?” she asked.

  Tom peeped shrewdly at her. “Visit the good villagers, of course, and bring them father’s blessings along with the gifts of song and merriment. Isn’t that how the tradition works?”

  She didn’t believe a word of it. Tom had other plans in mind, or she was as guilty as folks made out. “Do you even know any carols?”

  “One or two.” Tom adjusted his collar so that it almost met the brim of his hat. “Also, I said I’d meet some of the fellows that father has staying with us. They came out earlier for a stroll.”

  “You don’t mean to go house to house at all,” she said shaking her head. “Don’t even pretend. Honestly, Tom, and you say that I’m wicked. Father gave you those pennies to dish out, not for you to squander on ale and…and…”

  “And what? Perhaps you ought to think carefully before open your pretty mouth; you wouldn’t want anything unladylike to spill out.”

  “Buttonholes,” she said, not caring what knowledge she was admitting to. She was already a pariah, refusing to turn a blind eye to his whoring, was hardly likely to change her fate. “I swear you’re the biggest hypocrite in the world, Thomas Marsh. You pay women to do exactly what you condemn me for.”

  “You’re the daughter of a gentleman, not a common tart. Go and stand beneath your tree, Vi, and you’d better not say a thing to father about this, or I swear I’ll tell him you kissed a whole line of men and charged them a penny each for the privilege.”

  “Beast,” she spat as he strode off toward a group of gentleman revellers on the green. Why could she not have been born into a family who looked out for one another? Other girls of her acquaintance had come from families like that, and they’d all made desirable matches.

  Chapter Two

  She was the one. She was definitely the one.

  Percy Gilling could hardly believe his eyes when he saw her standing beneath the ancient oak tree, her delicate face tilted to the stars, with snowflakes caught on her eyelashes and in the stray wisps of ash-blonde hair that had escaped her fur-trimmed bonnet. She was the loveliest creature he’d ever seen in or out of an empire-style dress, and while he was no rogue, he’d seen a few. She was perfect. Generously proportioned in both the length of her legs and the girth of her hips, she also possessed a beautifully abundant bosom. In fact, everything about her gave the impression of soft, yielding curves and a gloriously giving nature. Well, perhaps everything besides the defiantly stubborn tilt of her sharp little chin.

  He wanted to suck upon that chin while her endless legs were wrapped around his middle, and his prick explored the valley between her thighs.

  “Perfect, isn’t she,” his cousin, William, Lord Ricborough purred into his ear. “Did I not tell you so?”

  “You did.” And Percy had wanted, but not dared to believe it. They’d been searching for so very long now for the right woman, and he’d grown weary of the task. The woman they wanted. The wife Will’s family insisted he needed didn’t exist. How could she? What he and Will shared was considered unnatural and contemptible, asking a lady to not only turn a blind-eye, but to embrace the notion of it was unimaginable. Why they might as well ask her to go and thwart Napoleon single handedly.

  Will had turned numerous heads as they’d hunted through England’s many shires. He was dashing and charming with a merry wit and an infectious sense of devilry. He also had a title and twenty thousand a year to offer, but Will didn’t want a wife in name only. He wanted someone who would not only accept his eccentricities, but embrace them. He wanted a woman who would allow him to bring his male lover into their marriage bed and share her with him. Truly such a lady didn’t exist.

  At least, Percy hadn’t believed so, until they heard of Miss Marsh’s dramatic fall from grace. They’d both known immediately that she was the one they’d been searching for. A few inquiries had confirmed she was everything they could have hoped, from a good family with proper connections and no undue scandal attached to their name. Well, at least until Miss Marsh’s ignominy.

  Introductions to the family had been simple enough, but access to Miss Marsh was rather more difficult to accomplish. Will had managed to foster a friendship with one of her brothers, however, which in turn had led them to an invitation to the Marsh’s annual Christmas ball where they hoped to finally address her and if all went well, Will would speak with her father the following morn.

  “She’s not one to be ogling,” Royce, one of the gaggle of beaux Percy was with thumped him on the back, causing him to slosh the contents of the wassailing bowl he’d been supping from over his boots. The scent of hot spiced ale wafted over him. “That’s Tom Marsh’s sister, the one who disgraced herself. Look at her up there, brazenly begging for a kiss. No man’ll kiss her tonight or any other.”

  Percy shook the droplets of ale from his gloves and gave a sagely “hmm” although he quite disagreed with Royce. He would happily kiss Miss Marsh, tonight, and every other night if she’d permit him. The fact that she might not be as virginal as new wives were supposed to be didn’t bother him a jot. Better she had a little experience considering what he and Will would be asking of her. He shook his head, not wanting to let his thoughts wander too much. His desires had a way of displaying themselves all too clearly on his face. Unlike Will. Will was a superb card player. Currently, he was pretending not to notice Miss Marsh, but Percy knew him well enough to tell the difference between feigned and genuine indifference. He was as acutely aware of the young lady as Percy, if not more so.

  “Tom. Tom, ain’t that you’re sister poised up there beneath the oak?” Royce hollered.

  “I suppose it is,” Tom remarked, showing not the slightest concern that his unwed sister stood beneath the kissing bough; a hoop of mistletoe decorated with apples and other assorted evergreens with her eyes tight shut. “Don’t pay her any heed. She does it every year, for all the good it does her.”

  “Ruined herself at her coming out,” Royce hissed conspiratorially, as if it were some great secret and not common knowledge. “They found her in a closet with two married men, or that’s what was claimed. Sandwiched between them, brazen as you please and them both with their pantaloons undone and her hands on their…Well, you know.” He winked. “What do you think about that, Gilling? Does it make your ears burn?”

  What Percy thought—that he’d like to have Miss Marsh’s hand on his “you know”—and what he was prepared to say to Royce were two entirely different things. The former would send a ripple of shock across the snowy green and likely scandalize him more than Miss Marsh’s misdemeanour. The latter, he reduced to as few syllables as possible.

  “Jealous it wasn’t your prick she was fondling?”
/>
  “Lord no,” Royce spluttered. His cheeks turned as red as his hair. “I shouldn’t want to have to take her to wife. Whoever would want a woman who’s prepared to cuckold you with your best friend, no matter how engaging her caresses?”

  I would, Percy thought, but didn’t say it. And in any case, she’d officially be Will’s wife, as he was the one expected to produce an heir. In reality, of course, they’d all be bound to one another.

  A pulse of arousal flowed up from his loins at the thought of them both taking her to bed, and of them hemming her between them, and coaxing and kissing her, and of her letting them between her thighs. He and Will had once bedded a courtesan together, and had both been deep inside her at once. It had been the most incredible experience of Percy’s life, and one he wanted to repeat over and over. His shaft thickened at the mere thought. He’d been able to feel Will’s every move, while simultaneously having the woman’s soft curves to embrace. He’d come so hard, his head had damn near flown off.

  “Time’s passing, gentlemen, shall we move on? I’ve a particular call I’ve yet to make,” Tom said.

  The sky had grown heavy with snow, so that the flurries were becoming heavier and the streets and fields around them white-washed. He and Will had come out to stretch their legs and explore the village, but Tom was supposed to be delivering Christmas blessings to his father’s tenants. As far as Percy could tell, the young buck hadn’t made a single call as yet.

  “I’m not much for singing,” Percy remarked. He’d much rather stay here and continue to admire Miss Marsh than be ushered into some hovel or other, and besides, at the moment, he’d find it uncomfortable to walk. Similar sentiments regarding the singing were uttered by several others of their group, until Tom made a remark about buttonholes and then everyone was only too eager to demonstrate their warbling. A moment or two later, they all ambled off, Will included, leaving Percy behind. He wandered over to the chestnut seller and made a purchase that he handed over to the half-frozen urchins he saw playing in the snow. His estimation of Tom Marsh, whose company he’d enjoyed so far, had rather dropped. The young fox had wandered off without a thought for his sister and her safety. He had to ask himself, what sort of man left a woman alone in the dark?