A Christmas Surprise

by Lindsay Downs

  She let him back her against the massive trunk and watched as his lips descended upon hers. Once their mouths touched, she teased open his and started to devour him. As they dueled for supremacy, Aleece felt her body warm from the passion shared between them.

  Easily, she guided her now ungloved hand up, cupping his face as he slipped his hands around her, pulling her tightly against him. After what seemed an eternity of blessed pleasure, a cough seeped into her mind. Not wanting to, but knowing she had to, slowly she pulled her mouth from his.

  “I believe we are being called upon, my love,” she whispered, resting her head against his chest.

  “I do believe you’re right. You’d better go before I forget myself.”

  “I can’t wait until you can keep that promise to me. I’ll see you at the Holly Hall annual ball.” Hope graced her words.

  “I’ve already arranged an invitation through Jeff.”

  Separating, they stepped out from behind the tree only to catch Debbi and Sidbury in an embrace. Not to be outdone Aleece gave a cough to alert the lovers someone was watching.

  “I dare say, seems we weren’t the only ones enjoying the benefits of this massive oak’s shelter,” Aleece teased.

  “We were only giving each other a hug goodbye until we see each other again,” Debbi tried to confess.

  Aleece shared a knowing smile with Mr. Thomas before adding in a soft speech, “At least we’ll be able to write to each other.”

  “I count the days until your first letter arrives. We also have a month before Lord and Lady Kris Kringle hold their ball,” he said.

  Hand in hand they walked to the edge of the park.

  “Since you’re leaving on the morrow, so shall I. Without you here, I see no reason to stay,” he interjected, breaking the pleasant silence they shared.

  “I was about to ask where to post my letters as I’m not aware of your direction in London.”

  “Ah, well here we are, where we must part, but only for the briefest of times, my dear,” Mr. Thomas affirmed, raising Aleece’s hand, brushing his lips gently over her knuckles.

  “Until the ball, my sweet.” Aleece then turned to Debbi, seeing she was finished making her adieus to her gentleman, with a look collected the girl and together they set off for home.

  ****

  As the two gentlemen watched their ladies climb the steps to the front door of the Carlisle townhouse, Thomas looked over to his friend and asked, “Have you offered for Miss Overstreet?”

  “I’ve made overtures, but she’s told me until her mistress is settled she’ll refuse me.”

  “Well, cheer up. By the Holly Hall ball that matter will be settled one way or another.”

  They turned, shook hands then went their separate ways.

  Chapter Twelve

  Duke of Carlisle Estate

  Monday, December 20, 1812

  The soft sound of footfalls outside her room stirred Lady Aleece awake from yet another tormented night of sleep. She knew the reason. It had been a fortnight since she’d received his last missive. If only she could hear from him, then her sleep would be restful.

  As the days had passed by, she worried something must have befallen him. Was he snatched up by the press-gangs and now languished on a ship-of-the-line somewhere off the coast of France? There to face the hardships of a sailor? Punished at the whim of the captain for even the tiniest infraction? Had he, by some misfortune, been conscripted into the army to fight? Only to be sent to Spain where the war there was finally turning for the best?

  The scratch of Cornelius, her collie, on the door finally stirred her to action. With a sweep of her arm, she tossed back the heavy satin bed curtain, which allowed the cool morning air to enter her warm haven giving her a chill.

  “Coming, Cornelius,” she called out, swinging her feet to the floor and sliding into slippers. Walking to the door, she slipped her arms into a heavy dressing gown.

  She started to reach for the latch when she heard Debbi's voice. If Aleece didn’t miss her guess, Debbi spoke to the collie, as she was as fond of the overgrown fur ball as Aleece was.

  Suspecting the poor girl’s hands were filled with her breakfast tray, she started to open the portal. All it took was a tiny opening before Cornelius pushed his way through and dashed past Aleece. His target, the bed, snow wet paws and all.

  With a nod, Aleece acknowledged the curtsey from Debbi then waited while she set the tray on a table next to the fireplace. She suspected that earlier a footman, under the stern, watchful eye of her maid, had slipped in to stir the fire up and add wood if need be.

  Aleece knew that by the time she’d finished breaking her fast the room would be warm to where she could dress in relative comfort.

  Taking her seat, she started to address the tea and toast points with fresh churned butter and the last of the plum preserves. Under one of the china dishes, the edge of a foolscap caught her attention.

  From her seat she glanced over to Debbi, who was in the process of stripping the damp sheets from the bed, courtesy of Cornelius. “And when, pray tell, were you going to inform me of this?” She lifted the paper out from under its hiding place and shook it at her.

  “Only if you didn’t discover it when I removed your tray, m’ lady,” she replied.

  “If that’s the case, then next time I go riding it might slip my mind to inform you,” Aleece teased back.

  As she unfolded the note, save for the crackle of the fire interspersed with the happy panting of Cornelius filling the room as she started to read over the dispatch.

  December 16, 1812

  My Most Precious Aleece,

  Pray forgive me for not writing sooner. Dearest pater sent me north to take care of several problems. Then I had business in London, which isn’t the same without you there.

  As you read this I am preparing to remove myself from the estate and make haste to be near you when you arrive for the Christmas ball.

  I won’t be staying at the Kringle’s but plan to rest my head at the nearby estate of a university friend. When everything is confirmed, since he is at his father’s estate, and I’m waiting to hear from him, I’ll send my new direction to our hosts.

  Until we meet,

  Your loving and humble servant,

  Mr. Thomas

  As she read the letter, she wanted to cry for joy that he was safe and that they’d see each other in seven long days.

  “M’ lady,” Debbi started to inquire, when she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Come,” Aleece announced, but only after seeing she was properly covered.

  “M’ lady,” Horsfall, said as he bowed. “The duke and duchess wish to speak with you this morning.”

  Aleece peered over the lip of her teacup, fully aware her eyes were bigger than the saucer she’d lifted the cup from. Never, in all her one and twenty years had she been requested to be in their presence at such an early hour.

  Taking a sip to rid her mouth of the sudden desert-like feeling, she looked to her maid in hopes of gaining a clue from her. All she got was a non-committal shrug. Not getting an answer there, maybe the bearer of the news might shed some light on the subject at hand.

  “Might I inquire as to why they wish to see me at this hour? Is something amiss?”

  “I’m afraid I’m not privy to that information, m’ lady.”

  She studied him as he spoke, looking to see if he was being truthful or not. When she spied the slight twitch of an eyebrow, she knew she had him. “Now, Horsfall, you know you can’t let anything slip past me. You who knows everything that goes on in this house as well as all the others, even before word reaches my father. You’re holding something back. Now out with it!” she announced with a pleasant smile on her lips.

  Horsfall dipped his head, more from being caught than anything. “Yes, m’ lady. You’re correct. I overheard the duchess and duke talking. Seems they have decided not to wait until the Kringle’s ball to marry you off.”

  “What?
” Aleece yelled at the hapless man. “They can’t do this. My father gave his word.”

  “If I may, m’ lady. Neither the duke or duchess have any faith in you finding a suitable match,” the man said, now cowering from fear.

  “And why is that, might I inquire?” Aleece demanded, rising from her chair. “Do I not have everything a man of excellent breeding would want in a wife? Am I not beautiful, or so I have been told? I can talk about the most inane topics a person could imagine. Not to mention I play the pianoforte better than most. And thanks to the teachings of Mrs. Linna and the duchess, I can manage a household, no matter how big or small.

  As Aleece spoke, she watched Debbi and Horsfall nodding in agreement. “So, then what’s the problem?” Her tone, she made sure, left room for retreating not that they would. As it was one of their endearing qualities.

  “M’ lady,” Debbi started, stepping closer. “It’s… well,” she hemmed and hawed. “All you say is true, especially the one on talking about any topic. The problem is, so I’ve heard from others and on several occasions heard myself, you tend to be quite outspoken on some topics.”

  “But, that’s what Mr…” Aleece stopped short of saying his name.

  “You are, of course, referring to Mr. Thomas,” the butler said in a whisper.

  She responded with a nod as a tear drifted down her cheek. With a glance at the silver pedestal clock on the mantle, she squared her shoulders. It seems I have no choice but to heed to my parents’ orders, as wrong as they might be.

  “Inform them I will attend them at half the hour. Did the duke say where this interview was to be conducted?” This she directed to Horsfall while reaching for her now lukewarm tea.

  The butler cleared his throat. “They thought it best to inform you of their corrected decision in the duchess’s private sitting room.”

  “Thank you.”

  With a bow, Horsfall slipped quietly from the room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Simon, my dear,” the duchess started as her husband stepped into his wife’s private sitting room. “Are you sure this is the best course of action?”

  “Eleanor, I have given the matter a great deal of thought, and we don’t have any other choice. If it was not for her tendency to be so outspoken she would have been married this last Season. Before I came down for the summer, I had a meeting with Kenneth, the Duke of Somerset, at Whites. You remember him.”

  “Oh heavens, Simon! You do not mean to have my precious Aleece marry him! Is not he a year older than you?” Eleanor said with panic in her voice.

  “No. Not him, but his only son, Thomas, the Marquess of Langdonly. He is next in line for the dukedom. Kenneth knows about Aleece and her outspokenness and is sure his son will be able keep her in line.”

  Eleanor let her eyes travel toward the window overlooking the garden, now set to bed with straw covering the delicate plants. “That would be a good thing then. I fear she is sometimes more a hoyden than I was at her age. However, I don’t recall ever meeting the son.” She paused to collect her thoughts. “Didn’t he go into the Guards?”

  “Yes, right after he came down from the university. That’s possibly the reason you do not remember him. I am sure Aleece has never met him either, which is perfect. Both will be able to start out having to learn about each other.” When he noticed his wife start to nod her understanding he continued.

  “He had been wounded in Spain, not seriously, but enough where he cannot serve. When he returned, the marquess spent time at the ducal estate. From what Somerset mentioned in his last letter, Thomas did make it to London during the Season but only briefly. With the injury, the young man finds going out in the ton difficult, as it is almost impossible for him to dance. Now that he is more on the mend, he will be ready to make his bows to the ton, and with our daughter on his arm, it will help cement his position with the elite.”

  “If you think this is best then let us proceed. I am positive Aleece will not be happy one bit with this decision, but that cannot be helped. I know she has her heart set on a love match like ours. As you say, her fire, which you know comes from me, will prevent any chance for what she seeks of finding a marriage of affection.”

  Simon chuckled when his wife said what he’d known for years.

  With a smile Eleanor returned her attention to her husband. “Since we will not be attending the Holly Hall ball, we shall have one here.” She put the right amount of force behind her words so her husband had no room for an argument.

  “As you wish, my dear. I know how you do love to entertain, but please, with the holiday, try to keep the guest list small.”

  He had to say that, even though, if past gatherings were any indication, the final count would be in the hundreds. And as the duchess was want to say, ‘But these are our closest and dearest friends’. Many the duke barely knew, if at all. He gave a noncommittal wave of a hand to signify she could have her wish.

  A knock on the sitting room door signaled the temporary end of their discussion.

  “Come,” Eleanor said in a calm voice.

  ****

  At the appointed time, Lady Aleece stood nervously fingering the ribbon at the neckline of her peach-colored muslin morning dress. She’d chosen this particular one as she knew it was her mother’s favorite. Her hair, a deep brown like her father’s, was held at her nape with a simple twist, secured with the pin given by her father on her coming out.

  With a deep breath, she waited for Horsfall to open the door and announce her.

  “Your Graces, Lady Aleece.” He stepped to the side as she swept in, head held high and shoulders square like she was headed into battle. Which, to her she was, a battle of wills.

  “Horsfall, we will have tea,” the duchess said.

  “Very good, Your Grace,” he said, stepping from the room.

  During the ensuing minutes, the three chatted about the upcoming holiday. Both parents, Aleece noted, avoided discussing the traditional Holly Hall ball, which made her nervous.

  Once the tea arrived, the duchess instructed the butler to place the tray in front of Aleece. Mrs. Linna, the housekeeper, set a tray of morning sandwiches and other delectable morsels next to the tray. “Since this is only family and a casual setting, I see no need to stand on ceremony,” Eleanor conveyed to her daughter.

  “I cannot help but notice the hair clip you are wearing. Is that not the one I gave you on your eighteenth birthday?” Simon uttered, as he passed a cup of tea to his wife.

  “And the dress you are wearing is my favorite on you,” his wife added, glancing first at Aleece then her husband.

  “Why, yes. I thought wearing these would please you both. After all, how often do we share tea this early in the day? I thought they would make the event special,” she hopefully lied. Knowing full well the reason was to gain their good graces and stop what plan they had in mind.

  “Darling,” the duchess started, leaning forward to take Aleece’s hands in hers. “Normally your little ploy might have worked, but not this time. Your father and I have come to a decision. One with which I truly hope you will agree.”

  “If it is about not going to Holly Hall for the annual Christmas ball, I already suspected as such,” she informed them, withdrawing her hands from her mother’s grasp.

  “How do you—”

  Aleece thrust herself from the couch, almost knocking the tea tray over. “It is really very simple. The trip takes two days and there is none of the usual scurrying around of the staff in preparations. I also have it on very good authority that you both,” she glanced at her mother before throwing a glare at her father, “have decided to arrange my marriage with someone.”

  With hands fisted at her sides, she started for the door only to be stopped by her father standing in the way. The scowl she noticed on his face would have frozen a normal person but not her. Especially now with her life being controlled, albeit by two of the three people in the world she loved.

  In her heart, she knew Mr. Thomas wasn�
�t like them. If anything it was her fiery stubbornness that attracted him. Now she had no choice but to go along with their wishes, or as she thought of it, the demands of her family.

  “Darling,” the duchess pleaded. “Please come, sit, and let your father tell you about the man. I’m sure once you hear about him, you will agree with our decision.”

  Aleece let her father guide her back to where she’d been sitting. Once resettled, she refreshed her cup and nibbled on one of Mrs. Linna’s famous coddled egg and kipper sandwiches. As she took a sip of tea, she watched as her parents sat in silence, an unusual occurrence for either when in the same room. Once her nerves were comfortably settled, she turned to her father. With a raised, questioning brow, Aleece indicated she was ready to listen.

  In silence, Aleece listened first as her father painted a picture of the gentleman they planned for her to marry. In the beginning, she almost thought he was describing her Mr. Thomas, the broad shoulders seen frequently with members of the Guard. His face, even his eye and hair color seemed to resemble him, but then her father could be talking about over half of the eligible bachelors in the ton.

  When the duke mentioned he’d been wounded in Spain fighting against France, she then knew without a doubt he was talking about someone else. Thomas had said he’d been hurt in a riding accident, giving him the slight limp, which she found quite attractive in a masculine sort of way.

  The injury, plus her love had attended Cambridge, while her future husband had graduated Oxford before joining the service, convinced her Thomas wasn’t going to be her future husband.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Duke of Somerset Estate

  Kenneth Heritage, the fifth Duke of Somerset fingered the invitation for a second time as a wry smile curled the corners his lips upward. “This is the perfect venue for me to return now that I’m out of mourning,” he mumbled, reaching for the silver bell on the edge of his desk. Immediately the summons was answered by his butler. Who, if the duke didn’t miss his guess, was waiting right outside the door to be called.