Once Upon a Christmas

by Clare Revell

  Caitlyn glanced at the figure in the shadows. How could she tell Lance the truth? That they’d been engaged less than a day and it was an arranged marriage?

  “Miss Hosier and I have agreed that first names can come after the wedding,” Mr. Shade said. He slapped the papers on the table. “These seem to be in order, Miss Hosier.”

  “I’m not signing anything I haven’t read.” She held out her hand and swept up the papers. Three steps took her to the window and she pulled back the curtain. “Not apologizing for needing light to read,” she said abruptly as Mr. Shade pushed his chair back into the shadows.

  Seriously, what was this bloke hiding from? Was he an albino? Or allergic to the sunlight? Which admittedly would give life to the vampire rumours. She read slowly. “These seem all right.” Caitlyn walked back to the desk and signed the papers where the crosses indicated.

  Mr. Shade and Mr. Briggs also signed.

  The door opened and Torrance stood there. “Mr. Fabio from the dress shop is here. He is setting up in the drawing room.”

  Mr. Shade nodded to Caitlyn. “Go. I will be there shortly.”

  Mr. Briggs gathered the papers with a final squint at Caitlyn. “I’m done.”

  Mr. Shade stood, balancing on the cane. “In that case, Miss Hosier, I will accompany you now. Torrance, please see Mr. Briggs out.”

  “Yes, sir. Miss Hosier’s maid is waiting in the drawing room as well.”

  My what? She glanced at Mr. Shade as they walked down the dark hallway. “You don’t expect me to try the dresses on in the dark, do you?”

  “No. You will have one of the drapes open. That will let in enough light for you to see.” He reached behind his head and pulled up the cloak’s hood, hiding himself completely. “Better?”

  Caitlyn raised her eyes heavenward, but said nothing. She knew her best friend’s path to true love hadn’t been easy, but even that was a picnic compared to this. She needed to pray they found common ground—the sooner the better.

  The drawing room was filled with several rails of dresses of all colours and styles, along with a rack of what she assumed were covered wedding dresses.

  Caitlyn’s breath vanished. “Wow.”

  The figure by the clothes turned toward them. “Caitlyn?”

  “David.” She ran over to him and hugged him. “What are you doing here? They said the dress designer was here.”

  Mr. Shade tapped his cane. “I assume you’re Mr. Fabio?”

  David nodded. “Yes…” He glanced sideways at Caitlyn. “The animal shelter is a side job.”

  She shook her head. Since when had his surname been Fabio? She was under the impression it was Carter. Had he been lying to her?

  “I’m Hayden Shade, Caitlyn’s fiancé. I asked you to come with some dresses.”

  David’s jaw dropped. “Fiancé? I…when’s the wedding?”

  “Soon.” Mr. Shade tapped his cane on the floor. “The dresses, please.”

  “Yes. Caitlyn, I hadn’t realized you were engaged when I asked you out. I…”

  “The dresses.” Mr. Shade snapped. “Don’t make me repeat myself again.”

  David jerked his head and pointed to the rail. “I brought lots of different styles and colours in the requested sizes. Along with the petticoats to go underneath them.”

  Mr. Shade dropped into the wingback chair in the corner. “Why don’t you try them on, my dear? You’ll need at least ten, no, make that fourteen, daytime dresses. Along with maybe seven or eight evening gowns. Any you like. Price doesn’t matter.”

  Caitlyn fingered some of the gowns, glancing at the price tags. Her jaw dropped. How much? She didn’t want to appear ungrateful, because she wasn’t, but he wanted to buy her how many dresses? “A-are you sure? Have you seen the price tags on these?”

  His shadowed face swung towards her, not that she could see his expression. “Don’t make me say it again, dearie. Twenty-one dresses in total, along with at least three of those petticoats. Plus a wedding gown, veil and shoes. Try on each one behind the screens, and then stand under the light to show me. Your personal maid, Trudy, will help you.” He indicated the maid standing to one side. “Leave one on at the end of the session. And don’t forget, at least three pairs of shoes.”

  “Shoes?”

  Mr. Shade chuckled. “As much as I like your lace-up boots, you can’t wear them with an evening gown. Although you can still wear them during the day if you wish.”

  “OK.” Caitlyn turned back to the clothing. This was beyond her wildest dreams. She’d always wanted to dress like a princess—or in vintage style dresses—but on her librarian’s salary she simply couldn’t afford it. If she were honest, she could have died and gone to heaven. No disrespect intended, Lord. Perhaps he isn’t that bad. This will cost him a fortune.

  Taking one gown and the petticoats behind the screen, she first put on one of the petticoats, loving the way the silk caressed her body.

  Caitlyn changed into the first dress, grateful Trudy was there to help with the gown. Perhaps a maid to help her with complicated fastenings would be an idea, at least to start with. As the maid stood back, Caitlyn smoothed the lemon fabric over her stomach and hips. The elegant cut effortlessly hid the figure she hated. No more over-sized jumpers for her. This style actually contoured to her top heavy figure and slimmed it down.

  “Looks lovely on you, miss.” Trudy’s smile matched hers.

  “Thank you.” She turned this way and that, admiring her reflection.

  “Are you going to show us?” Mr. Shade asked.

  Caitlyn stepped out from behind the screens. She beamed, holding out the skirt. “I love it.” As Mr. Shade spun his finger, Caitlyn twirled, unable to keep the smile off her face.

  “Pretty,” he said. “And much better than those jeans and baggy jumpers. There is no need to hide such a well-formed figure, my dear.”

  Heat rushed to her face and she creased the yellow satin in her fingers.

  “It suits you,” David said. He reached out to tweak the fabric slightly.

  She stepped back. “Don’t. I’ll try on another.”

  Caitlyn spent the next two hours happily trying on one dress after another, and then a further hour deciding which twenty-one out of the fifty she had to choose from, that she was going to keep. There was a variety of cotton, linen and satin. She even found a couple of full-length gowns in velvet, which would do for day-to-day wear. She twirled in the sapphire-blue velvet dress, trying to make a decision. Shoes were easy—one white pair, one black and one pair of those slipper things fairy tale princesses always seemed to wear.

  Mr. Shade stood and walked to her side. “Can you not decide?”

  Was she taking too long? “I like more than the twenty-one you said,” she told him. “I’m trying to pick either the blue satin or the green crinoline.”

  “Have them both.”

  Caitlyn shook her head. “I can’t. It’s too much.”

  Who knew what he’d want in exchange. As it was, her family owed him a debt she could never repay—well, she supposed she was doing that by marrying him.

  “Nonsense, dear.” He touched her arm, the sudden thrill surprising her. “Nothing is too much for the woman I intend to spend the rest of my life with.”

  Eyes wide, she stared at the hooded man in front of her. Had he felt it, too? The fact his hand lingered perhaps indicated he had, but she couldn’t see his face to know for certain.

  Mr. Shade nodded to the rack of covered dresses. “Have a look at the wedding gowns.”

  David undid the covers.

  Caitlyn gasped. These dresses really were something out of a fairy tale. White, cream, ivory, beaded, plain, oodles of lace and brocade.

  “Wow…” She reached out a trembling hand. They were all designer gowns, nothing like she’d ever imagined. Not even her dream wedding dress came anywhere close to these exquisite creations.

  “Try them on, dear.”

  She glanced up from the fabric to Mr. Shade. “
The groom can’t see the bride in her gown before the wedding.”

  “Then I shall leave you.” He turned to David. “I will settle up with you before you leave. One of the servants will bring you to my study once Caitlyn has chosen her wedding dress.”

  David inclined his head. “Of course, Mr. Shade.”

  Caitlyn watched her fiancé limp across the carpeted floor. Once more she wondered what had happened to him. This may be a business arrangement, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t care in some way for the man who wanted to marry her.

  The door shut.

  David whirled to face her. “Caitlyn? Are you seriously going to marry him? You can’t.”

  “Yes, I can,” she insisted calmly.

  “I thought we had something.”

  “You thought wrong. I heard nothing after that one date several weeks ago. I assumed that meant you didn’t want anything more to do with me, and I was therefore free to do with my life as I wished.” She picked up one of the dresses, relishing the rich feel of the fabric in her hand. “I like this one. It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s one of Marianne’s. I shall tell her you liked it.”

  “Not one of yours?” She pulled the dress off the rail and put it over her arm.

  “She designs and makes the dresses. I simply deliver and fit them.”

  “Why take credit for something that isn’t yours?” she asked. When no answer was forthcoming, Caitlyn vanished behind the screen. Had everything David told her been a lie? She tried the dress on. The zip only went up as far as her stomach. “What size is this?”

  “It’s exactly the same as the rest that you tried.”

  “It can’t be. It won’t fasten. It does go over the petticoat, right? The same as the other gowns?”

  “Of course it does. Your maid must be doing it wrong. Let me try.” David’s voice came from behind her.

  Caitlyn spun around. “I don’t think so.”

  He waved a finger at her. “Turn around. Wedding dresses are meant to fit differently.” He turned to the maid. “Leave us.”

  Trudy hesitated before leaving the room.

  Reluctantly, Caitlyn faced the mirror. She watched his face as he eased the zip closed. Breathing became increasingly hard and it wasn’t simply the glint in David’s eyes that caused it.

  He leered at her, hands lingering on her waist.

  Shivers of fear ran down her spine. “I can’t breathe. Undo it.”

  “You look exquisite.” His lips touched her neck.

  “Stop it.” Caitlyn moved as far as the screen would let her and tried to undo the zip. “I asked you to undo…”

  He spun her around and pulled the fastener down. “I am not letting you marry a monster. You’ve heard the rumours the same way I have.”

  She tried to get free, but his grip was too firm. “He’s been nothing but kind since I got here.”

  David turned her to face him, and tried to kiss her, whilst easing the dress off her shoulders.

  A roar of fury came from behind them. The screen teetered and fell down.

  Caitlyn found herself free as David raised his hands to protect himself, and she ran, the dress falling to her feet. Stepping out of it, she fled the room amid angry shouts. The only place she could think of to go was the room she’d slept in. She hadn’t yet been shown her new suite.

  She pushed the door open, to find the bed stripped and all her bags gone. She sat on the floor behind the bed, pulling her knees to her chest. It was cold and her breath hung in the air as she shivered in the long cotton petticoat.

  

  After throwing the dress fitter from the house, Hayden went in search of Caitlyn, still angry at what the man had tried to do. Quite frankly he was lucky to have escaped unscathed, never mind alive. Hayden had no idea where Caitlyn would have hidden. He carried with him one of the dresses, a warm velvet dress that suited her.

  Fully aware that Caitlyn didn’t know the house well yet, Hayden first checked the library, before he headed to the tower. He pushed open the door to the bedroom. “Caitlyn, are you in here?”

  She glanced up, scooting backwards as he entered the room. “D—don’t…”

  He held out his free hand, the dress over his arm. “It’s all right. I’m not angry with you. Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head, shivering hard. “N—no. Y-you g-got there before he c-could…”

  Hayden put the dress on the bed and slid out of his jacket. He wrapped it over her shoulders. “You’re freezing.”

  “Yeah.” Caitlyn slid her arms into the sleeves, pulling the fabric around her. “R-running around in underwear in w-winter tends to do that to a p-person.”

  Not wanting to scare her, he sat on the bed, but not too close. Besides, that petticoat she wore left precious little to his imagination. “I sent David Fabio packing—without payment. I will phone the shop presently and reimburse them for all the dresses you chose. I will also have words with the owner about Mr. Fabio’s behaviour.”

  “Thank you. I promise I did nothing to encourage him. He merely helped me with the zip, albeit in a creepy way, and—”

  He held up a hand. “Like I said, I’m not angry with you. There are cameras everywhere. I’d also seen the way he ogled you. That is the reason I was watching from my study. As soon as Trudy left the room, I knew something was wrong and headed back.”

  A rosy hue filled her face. “Oh…”

  He tilted his head. “The screen would have shielded you the whole time, but I had the sound turned up. If you wish I can lodge a formal complaint against him.”

  “There’s no need.” Caitlyn rubbed her hands over her arms. “Are there cameras in my rooms? In here?”

  He shook his head. “No. And if there were I would ensure they were turned off at all times. The cameras are in the common areas, not the private chambers.”

  “Thank you.”

  Hayden shivered. Caitlyn was right about this part of the house being cold. Perhaps it was time he had the heating overhauled, or at least turned up. “I brought a dress for you to wear. Then we’ll go downstairs and raid the kitchen for a hot drink, before I show you the rest of the house—including your new bedroom.”

  That beautiful smile once again lit up her face. “I’d like that, but what about your work? You said you were busy. I don’t want to disrupt your day any more than I already have.”

  He touched her hand. Just like before, an almost electric charge shot through him. Combined with her lack of clothing, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could control the urge to kiss her. But neither of them was ready for that. “You’re not a disruption, dear. There will be plenty of time later for work. Right now, my only concern is you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Hayden stood up. “I’ll wait outside whilst you dress.” He headed out of the room and stood in the hallway.

  Caitlyn came out of the room a minute later and held out his jacket. “Thank you.”

  He ran an appreciative glance over her figure. The blue velvet gown suited her perfectly. “You look…”

  She glanced down as he paused, smoothing her hands over the fabric. “Is it too much?”

  He shook his head. “It’s charming. I was just trying to think of a more compelling word than lovely to describe how you look, dear. As you can see, I can’t.” He offered her his free arm. “Shall we?”

  Caitlyn nodded, taking his arm and matching her pace to his. “How did you hurt your leg?”

  “The same accident that took my face.” He’d been dreading the question. “It’s why I prefer the dark. Much easier than having to explain all the time.” He paused outside the music room. “Actually, why don’t we start in here?” He glimpsed Torrance and beckoned. “Go on in, dear. I’ll be right behind you.”

  She nodded and headed through the doorway, her gasp of delight audible. “Seriously?” She turned back to him, eyes twinkling in delight. “It’s a grand piano…”

  He nodded. “Play something. There’s ple
nty of music in the piano seat.”

  Ever vigilant, Torrance moved over to him. “Yes, sir?”

  “Bring some hot chocolate to the music room, please. And tell the staff that annual leave can begin early this year. Saturday morning, ten thirty. Until January second, I think. That should give Miss Hosier and I long enough to get acquainted. She can run the house for the duration. And turn up the heating a little, please. Miss Hosier is right about it being cold.” Not waiting for a response, although the glee on the man’s face spoke a thousand words, Hayden headed into the music room. Sad music floated toward him.

  Miss Hosier’s cheeks glistened where the light caught her face. Was she crying?

  His cane tapped on the floor as he crossed the room. “Are you all right?”

  She glanced up through wet lashes. Those were tears on her face and she brushed them away hastily. “I’m fine. Certain pieces of music always get to me and make me cry.”

  He sat beside her. “Then how about we play something a little more cheerful?” His fingers touched the keys hesitantly at first, playing chopsticks.

  She laughed. “I haven’t played that in years.”

  “Nor I.” He smiled beneath the hood as she began to play along with him. The music permeated the room, offered him hope for a happier future. Perhaps he could at last put the past behind him.

  But his thoughts returned to David, the dressmaker. There was something about that man, something almost familiar, but he knew they hadn’t met—at least not since he’d moved to Paradise. And the way he’d ogled Caitlyn, touched her, as if he already possessed her, set all Hayden’s senses on high alert.

  Their fingers flew over the keys faster, each trying to outdo the other, until they gave up, laughing.

  Caitlyn glanced at him, almost shyly. “I think I’ll like it here. You’re not the monster people make you out to be.”

  “I hope I’m not.” He placed his hands in his lap. “Although the dressmaker may tell a different tale.”

  She tilted her head. “Did you hit him? Not that I’d blame you if you had.”

  Hayden chuckled. “I should have done, but no. Merely brandished my cane and chased him off.” He glanced at the door as it opened. “Here’s our hot drinks. Once we’ve finished, I shall show you the rest of the house. Then, I’m afraid, I must do some work.”