Once Upon a Christmas

by Clare Revell

  “I love your dress, though.”

  She grinned. “One of the house rules I actually like. He bought me a whole stack of them yesterday, designer ones. You’ll have to come over and see them. He insists on my wearing dresses all the time, but I honestly don’t mind one bit.” She paused. “Merry, I have to talk to someone; do you have a few moments?”

  Meredith’s phone beeped. “Jeremiah is waiting outside. I’ll call you tonight. We can chat then.”

  Caitlyn leaned down for her bags as Meredith hurried off and glanced at her watch. She should have given Jones an earlier time to collect her.

  Pastor Nolan dropped into the chair beside her. “Are you ready for this afternoon? I must say you did a great job at keeping your engagement quiet.”

  “This afternoon?”

  “The wedding.” His clear hazel eyes studied her. “I’m surprised you’re out actually, with the service at half past two.”

  Caitlyn swallowed, trying not to show the shock surging through her like a tidal wave. “We’re pretty well organized,” she managed. “It’s come around so quickly, but I wanted to be here this morning. Take my mind off things.”

  Pastor Nolan grinned. “Wedding nerves. I remember them well.”

  Jones appeared at her side. The phrase, ‘saved by the chauffeur’ rang loud and clear in her mind. “Are you ready to go, Miss Hosier?”

  She stood on shaky legs, clutching her bags. “Yes. I will see you this afternoon, Pastor.”

  Jones seized the bags, and she followed him outside to the car.

  Torment, with a side of excitement rocked her. Today?

  She was getting married today?

  Fast wasn’t the word. How could her father do this to her? She’d had no choice but to agree. In two short hours she was marrying someone she hadn’t even seen.

  The car pulled away from the church and Caitlyn closed her eyes. Lord, please, let this marriage be a blessing in disguise. Be there with me, every step of the way. I can’t go into this alone.

  

  Arriving at the house, Caitlyn shed her coat and shoes, tossing them onto the coat stand in the hall.

  “Would you like your bags taken to your room, Miss?” Torrance asked.

  “Yes, please. Where is Mr. Shade?”

  “Having lunch in the dining room. Will you be joining him?”

  Caitlyn paused, and then shook her head. “No, I’m not hungry. Send him my apologies and tell him I’ll see him later.”

  If he was busy eating, then she had a few minutes to go into the study and see what she could find out about this elusive man she’d be married to before the day was out. In stocking feet, she padded down the hallway to the study. The door was ajar and she slipped inside.

  What was she doing? The room was dark, overwhelmingly him.

  A shoe box lay on the desk, the lid open. Temptation overcame her and she crept across the room. She sat in his chair and removed the lid completely. The box was filled with photos, really old ones, of children playing and posing, pulling faces at the camera as kids do. Two birth certificates, both with the same date, but different years. One read Hayden Shade, the other Rafe Shade. Did he have a brother? Rather than solving a mystery, this only left her with more questions.

  Caitlyn picked up the photos.

  The door slammed open, hitting the far wall with a crash.

  “What are you doing?” Mr. Shade roared.

  Caitlyn jumped, the pictures falling to the desk.

  “I told you the study was off limits!” He stomped across the room, anger oozing from every part of him.

  She pulled away from the angry man in front of her. “There are too many secrets in this house. When were you going to tell me we were getting married today?”

  “If you had bothered to come to lunch you would have known.” He snatched the photos and shoved them back into the box. “Those are my things and nothing to do with you.”

  “These are everything to do with me.” Caitlyn raised her voice in response, her own temper flaring. “Marriage is more than a legal contract. It’s meant to be a sharing of everything. Names, history…I don’t even know what you look like. What colour your hair and eyes are. You haven’t even kissed me yet and we’re meant to be getting married in an hour.”

  Hayden roared and flung the box in his hand at the door. “If it’s kisses you want, Miss Hosier, then its kisses you shall have.”

  6

  Caitlyn backed away, breath catching in her throat, as the furious man advanced on her. She reached up to protect herself, although she honestly didn’t think he’d hit her. Her hand tangled in the curtains. With a snap and crash, the curtain pole came away from the wall, missing her by inches.

  Sunlight flooded the room. Dust motes floated in the air.

  Mr. Shade flung his hands over his face and turned away. “Leave me…”

  Caitlyn held her ground. “No.” She sucked in a deep, shaking breath, trying to calm her shattered nerves. “Well, you’re obviously not a vampire as you haven’t evaporated or caught fire.”

  “Is that what they say?” he whispered.

  “That, amongst other things.” She studied his back. “And I’m fine, by the way. It missed me, thank you so much for asking. What are you hiding?”

  He turned away as she moved in front of him. “Don’t.”

  “Whatever,” she whispered. She sat on the edge of his desk, swinging her legs. “If that’s what you want, but as I said, marriage is a two-way street. I’ll be your wife in less than an hour. How can I ever learn to love you if you don’t trust me with the little things, or if I can’t see you? That will make tonight more than slightly awkward.” She paused. “What are you afraid of? Do you have horns or something?”

  “No…” It sounded more like a strangled moan that a denial.

  “Yeah, that’s another rumour. See, they tend to happen when you shut yourself away and live in the dark. Why don’t you turn around and show me. I promise I won’t back out of our agreement. I promised to marry you and I will.”

  Mr. Shade turned around and stood in front of her, his hand white from gripping the cane. Was he trembling?

  Caitlyn reached out with both hands and tugged the hood away from his face, laying it back across his shoulders.

  Before her stood a handsome, dark haired man, a black mask covering half of his face. A mask? She tilted her head and studied him. Brown eyes held her gaze as she grasped hold of his hands, to prevent him from moving away. “Why wear a mask?”

  “Because of what it hides…” He cleared his throat. “I’m a monster.” He tugged his hands free.

  Caitlyn leaned forward, catching his face gently in her hands. She touched the parts she could see. His skin was soft, no sign of stubble, as her fingers traced his jawline and up to his forehead, and his eyebrow. The mask only covered half his face and she cupped what she could see in her hand. “I don’t see a monster,” she whispered. “I see a man, a tortured man, a handsome man, who, for some reason, has chosen to hide in the dark.”

  

  Hayden closed his eyes as her hand caressed his face. No one had ever done that before.

  “Done what?”

  His eyes jerked open. Had he spoken aloud?

  “No one has ever done what?” she asked. “Seen you?”

  “That, and touched me.”

  “Really?” Her eyes widened.

  Hayden shook his head. “Not like this. Not out of curiosity, kindness…” As Caitlyn’s fingers ran along the edge of the mask. Hayden stilled her hand. “Please don’t.”

  “Why only half a mask?” she asked. “A little like the Phantom of the Opera’s type. Except yours is black and not white.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “What are you hiding? Show me the man behind the mask.”

  He stepped away. “Not yet.”

  “Fine.” She jumped off the desk and put her hands on her hips. She was probably trying to appear stern, but only managed cute. “But I h
ave a new house rule of my own. No more hiding in the shadows. OK? You can keep the mask, and that hood if you must, but no more darkness. Open the curtains. Don’t be a prisoner in your own home. Be who you are.”

  The clock chimed. “So who’s coming to this wedding of ours?”

  He shook his head. “This service is only for you and me. My only regret is you not having a wedding dress.”

  If she was disappointed, she hid it well. “I don’t need one. I have at least twenty new dresses that I haven’t worn yet. One of those will do.”

  He caught hold of her hand, his fingers rubbing over her soft skin. “Do you have a white one?”

  She grinned. “White only became fashionable when Queen Victoria married in white. Traditionally the bride wore blue which meant purity, or her best dress. My grandmother got married in a pale blue suit. I’ll wear one of my new evening gowns.”

  “If you want.”

  She nodded. “I do.” She paused. “I wish my parents were coming to the service.”

  “We will have a blessing service on Christmas Eve, and invite them, and your friends.”

  “We could invite your family, as well.”

  “They wouldn’t come.” He shoved down the grief that thought brought. Instead, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I know this isn’t how you imagined a wedding with just the pastor and a few servants as witnesses.”

  She tilted her head. “I hadn’t imagined being sold, either. But…”

  Hayden froze. “Am I not good enough?”

  “I didn’t say that. Why are you rushing things anyway?”

  “I have my reasons.” He dropped her hand and turned.

  “I thought we were getting somewhere.” Caitlyn stood in front of him. “Will you always do this? Turn away when the conversation goes in a direction you don’t like?”

  “You need to get ready.”

  She sighed, exasperation all over her face. “If it’s the mask that’s bothering you, then we’ll make the blessing service a masquerade ceremony. All the guests will wear one. You and I could have matching ones. No one will question yours. We’ll see if the fancy dress shop in Turningdale has them.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Look, I’m trying here. All I ask is that you do the same.”

  “OK.”

  “And we start by letting in the light to all the rooms.”

  “By breaking all the curtains?” he asked, a smile crossing his lips.

  She giggled. “If I have to, then I shall. Air some of the rooms as well, before January comes and brings the really cold weather. Shall we go upstairs and change?”

  Hayden nodded. “That might be an idea.” He warmed a little inside as she took his arm and walked with him. No one had ever done this before. Her kindness shook him to the core.

  She’d gone out and come back. She still wanted to marry him, despite seeing the mask. She’d touched him. There was still a chance she’d change her mind, but any further revelations, like removing the mask, would be after the ceremony and in his own time.

  He paused as they passed Torrance in the hallway. “Could you see that all the curtains are opened, please? And some of the windows? Let some light and air into the place?”

  Hayden would have sworn he saw the butler metaphorically jump for joy as he nodded. He didn’t wait for a reply, instead he kept walking. “After the service, I’ll show you the rest of the house. I have a feeling you’ll love the ballroom.”

  

  Hayden stood by the small altar in the chapel, tugging the collar of his navy blue frock coat straight. He could hear Caitlyn talking to someone outside in the corridor, organizing them, by the sounds of it. She’d refused to walk downstairs with him, wanting the colour of her dress to be a surprise.

  Pastor Nolan smiled. “It really is nice to finally see you, Hayden.”

  His fingertips rose to the black mask which covered half his face. “I’m not convinced this is a good idea, but as Caitlyn said, I shouldn’t have to hide in my own home.”

  The pastor nodded. “Besides, God sees you and loves you regardless. And Caitlyn does too.”

  “You think so?”

  “Why else are we standing here?”

  Hayden raised an eyebrow. He knew very well why they were here. He’d bought her. She was marrying him because she had to. That was why he was doing this so fast—he didn’t want her backing out once she knew the truth.

  Music filtered through the small chapel and Hayden turned.

  A vision of sheer beauty stood at the far end of the aisle. She wore the yellow dress she had tried on first and loved so much. Her blonde hair was pulled back, a rose fixed to one side, along with something that caught and shone. Around her neck she wore the pearl necklace he had left in her room for her.

  Slowly, all too slowly, she began walking toward him. Was that smile for him or just for show? Behind her, came two of the housemaids, each carrying a single red rose.

  Caitlyn reached his side.

  “The music was a nice touch.” He dipped his head to show his approval.

  “I had to ask someone.” She shrugged. “I don’t have a signal on my phone, so Mr. Torrance used his.”

  He inclined his head. “I’ll give you the Wi-Fi password later.”

  “Are you both ready?” Pastor Nolan took his position in front of the altar. “We’re gathered here in the sight of God and these four witnesses to join Caitlyn and Hayden in holy matrimony. Hayden, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?”

  “I do.”

  “Caitlyn, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?”

  Caitlyn gripped Hayden’s hand tightly.

  He could feel her trembling. Glancing at her, he was amazed she was still upright. So pale, he almost called for a chair so she could sit down before she fell. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, as if not trusting her voice.

  “Caitlyn, if you wish to back out…”

  “No,” she whispered. “I don’t break my promises.” She breathed deep, and tightened her grip on his hand. Squaring her shoulders, she directed her attention at the pastor. “I do.”

  Moments later, Hayden slid his ring onto Caitlyn’s finger and she was his. He took her in his arms and hugged her, pressing his lips to her forehead. “You won’t regret this,” he whispered.

  “I hope not.” She lifted her face a little. “Aren’t you going to kiss me properly now?”

  He gazed at her, brushing the fallen strands of hair behind her ears. He wanted to, oh how he wanted to. But he’d rather be alone with her when he did. “Later. Now let’s get Pastor Nolan some coffee and cake before he has to leave.” He offered his arm. “Shall we, Mrs. Shade?”

  Caitlyn held his gaze for a moment, and then nodded. She slid her arm into his. With her other hand, she reached into the pockets in her dress and pulled out her phone.

  Hayden grinned. “Your dress has pockets? Still I guess it’s somewhere to keep your tissues and things.”

  “One of the reasons I like it. Could…could someone take a photo on my phone?” Her eyes widened, so full of hope. “For my parents…”

  Hayden grinned. “And so you can add it to your social media page when you update your status to married?”

  Once more her grip on his arm faltered, before she nodded. “Yeah.”

  He drew her to one side. “You’re not regretting this already, are you?”

  She fixed her eyes on his. “No. I keep my vows.”

  Hayden kissed her cheek. “So do I. Your father is a free man.” And you, dear, are mine.

  7

  Hayden led Caitlyn into the ballroom. He’d lived in the dark for so long, he’d forgotten how beautiful this room was. Gold and silver edged the mirrors that hung around three walls, giving the impression of infinity. The fourth wall contained floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the gardens, along with a door leading onto a vast terrace. As he’d instructed, the door stood ajar, letting the chill December air into t
he room.

  Caitlyn let go of his arm, her eyes wide in wonder as she stepped onto the tiled floor. She whirled around arms wide. “Wow…”

  He smiled. “You like it?”

  “It’s amazing.”

  Hayden leaned on his cane, watching her dance to the music only she could hear. “Having fun, my dear?”

  “Dance with me.” She moved over to him, holding out her hands.

  “I don’t dance.”

  “Don’t be silly. Everyone can dance. It’s simply moving to music.”

  “Not me.” He jiggled the cane.

  “Nonsense. Just hold on to me, I’ll show you.” Her face faltered. “Only we have no music.”

  “There you have me. We can’t dance.” Part of him was relieved, the other part longed to hold her in his arms, dance with her, to be normal for a few short minutes.

  “Record player? Radio?” She paused as he shook his head. “You said you’d give me the Wi-Fi code. I could get something from the Internet on my phone perhaps.” She pulled the handset from her pocket and held it out to him, eyes pleading.

  “Do you ever go anywhere without this?”

  “Not usually. Auntie Naomi says the streets aren’t safe. Especially after the wolves last year. I did it to keep her happy and it’s a habit now.”

  Hayden sighed and took the phone. He typed in the code and handed it back. “There.”

  Caitlyn worked the screen quickly, and music filled the air. “A waltz.” She laid the phone on the top of a unit and grabbed Hayden’s arms. “No excuses. Dance with me.”

  He set the cane against the wall. “Are you always going to be like this?”

  “Yes.” She tilted her head. “I shall nag ’til I get my own way. Now, put your arm around my waist…”

  “I know what to do. I just can’t dance.”

  She shook her head, taking hold of his hand and waist. “Humour me.”

  Hayden took her in his arms, closing his eyes as they slowly began to dance. His limp didn’t impede him as much as he’d expected. But even that thought paled in comparison to the way Caitlyn felt in his arms. His whole body sprang to life with the thrill of holding her.