Have Yourself a Merry Little Scandal: a Christmas collection of Historical Romance (Have Yourself a Merry Little... Book 1)

by Anna Campbell

  “I cannot recall now.” He placed his hand over hers and inched it up.

  She smiled. “Why not?” Cassie reached for the buttons of his trousers, gliding over the swell of his manhood.

  “My mind has gone utterly blank.”

  “How can that be?” she asked as she reached inside his trousers and took hold of him. He bent his head and nipped her ear.

  “You have total control of me.”

  She squeezed him. “That’s not true. You’re always in absolute control.”

  “Not when it comes to you.” He kissed her deeply and slid his hand under her skirts, finding her warm and wet, always ready for him.

  Cassie wasted no time and straddled his lap. “How long until we reach the house?”

  “I have no idea.”

  But that didn’t stop him from opening her and positioning himself at her entrance. Cassie shuddered with pleasure as she slid down his shaft and settled against his hard hips. She rocked to the rhythm of the swaying carriage, and her climax came swiftly. She fell against his chest, sighing blissfully into his neck as tremors of satisfaction rippled through her body.

  Sidney took over and held her hips firmly in his hands as he thrust into her, rough and passionate, grunting and growling until he froze, pressed hard against her, and spilled his seed inside her.

  At this rate, she might be with child before they returned from Star Frost. Her heart bloomed with joy at the thought. She knew Sidney had a lonely childhood, and she wanted to give him children, certainly more than two, but she’d let life control what happened. As long as they were together, that was all that mattered to her.

  She wanted him to be happy above all else. Which is why his silent moments of sadness bothered her. She wanted to know what caused it, and if possible, fix it. He would do the same for her; he had done the same for her when she confessed her fears about what happened at Old Bill’s grave.

  Was it selfish to want to do the same for him?

  She didn’t think so, but until he told her, it was like a pebble in her shoe, an irritating reminder that she did not have all of him just yet. She could only hope that, in time, he would trust enough to share it, whatever it was.

  His lips caught hers, and he kissed her, robbing her of every thought until she couldn’t breathe, and then they had to separate and remedy their clothing. They’d turned down a long drive and would no doubt be stopping at any moment.

  Cassie couldn’t stop blushing as she righted her skirts and moved back to her seat. Goodness, what had come over them? Whatever it was, she never wanted it to end. She always wanted them to be so in love that they couldn’t resist each other.

  The carriage ground to a halt before an ancient manor. A footman emerged and opened the door.

  “Good morning, Freddy,” Sidney said.

  “Good morning, my lord.”

  The staff filed out, lastly followed by the duke and two darling girls with long blonde ringlets. One wore a red ribbon in her hair, and the other had hers half up and half down. Cassie would guess them to be around ten. The one with the red ribbon had visible scars to her left cheek, but Cassie only glanced briefly and smiled in greeting. The duke, at first glance, was an imposing and frightening figure. She wanted to stare at him, but wouldn’t dare. He had shoulder-length blond hair that he wore down around his face instead of tied back. Unusual, but also daringly intriguing. He was like a character from a book. Mysterious and dashing with an air of danger.

  But then he smiled, and all the danger melted away as he shook Sidney’s hand. His smile was wide and genuine, and his eyes a hypnotic icy blue but friendly.

  “Calvin, I hope we didn’t interrupt breakfast?” Sidney asked.

  “We just finished, but there is plenty left over if you’ve not broken your fast. My cook thinks I’m too skinny.”

  Cassie bit her cheek. Not by half. The duke was large and lean but very muscular.

  “My new wife, Cassandra.” Sidney waved toward her.

  Cassie hoped her curious thoughts weren’t written on her face for all to see.

  The duke turned to her. “New wife? I’ve had no word of this?”

  Cassie curtsied. “Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Don’t bother with that nonsense here on Star Frost. We’re family.” He enveloped her in a hug, and Cassie was swallowed by his strong arms. She was a bit flustered as he released her and gestured for his daughters to come forward.

  “My daughters, Clara and Josephine.”

  Cassie bent to greet them face to face. “It is a true pleasure to meet you both. My husband has told me so much about you, and I hope we will be great friends.”

  They blinked up at her. “Thank you,” Josephine said. “This is our new governess, Miss Grace.”

  “How do you do, Miss Grace?” Cassie asked the comely young woman with bright blue eyes and light brown hair.

  “Very well, ma’am.”

  Clara stepped forward and touched Cassie’s skirt. “I like these red flowers. Red is my favorite color.”

  “I could have guessed that from the red ribbon in your hair. It is a lovely vibrant color. Always wear it with pride, even when you’re expected to wear white for your debut.”

  Clara chewed her lip. “I won’t ever debut. I want to be a lady pirate.”

  “Oh, that is so much better,” Cassie said. “The season cannot compare to pillaging merchant ships.”

  Sidney cleared his throat. “Cass, my dear, let’s not encourage piracy before luncheon.”

  Cassie sighed as she stood. “Very well.” She turned toward Clara and rolled her eyes. “If we must.”

  Clara giggled, and Cassie knew she was well on her way to becoming a favorite aunt.

  “Come see our play room!” Josephine took Cassie’s hand.

  “I’d love to!” Cassie said.

  The girls dragged her away, and she smiled back at Sidney with a playful wink.

  Calvin clapped Sidney on the back and ushered him inside. “How about some coffee?”

  “Certainly.”

  “And you can explain your sudden marriage.”

  Sidney smiled uncomfortably. He had hoped to ease into this conversation, but Calvin wasted time on nothing these days.

  “She seems lovely, and she doesn’t stare, which is hard to come by in anybody I meet these days, which isn’t many.”

  “Don’t you have neighbors?”

  “Yes, great people. Mrs. Trevor brings baskets of honey she harvests herself and makes doll clothes for the girls. We’ve been welcomed to Star Frost with open arms.”

  “How is the new governess fitting in?” Sidney asked.

  Calvin sat and cleared his throat. “Er, well, she’s survived so far.”

  “Oh?” There was something peculiar about Calvin’s tone.

  “But enough about me. Where’d you find your lovely wife?”

  Now it was Sidney’s turn to shift in his seat. “She is Tristan’s sister. We married after…after an occurrence at the Mistletoe Masquerade.

  Calvin stared at him with unflinching interest. “Lady Cassandra Summers? You married your friend’s sister? After an occurrence?” He snorted and took a sip of his coffee. “I never thought I’d see it.”

  “See what?” Sidney huffed.

  Calvin chuckled. “If you had feathers, they’d be ruffled right about now.”

  “Good thing I haven’t got any. What is it you see, because I’ll tell you, I’ve had a devil of a time reconciling what I’ve done.”

  Calvin sobered. “What you’ve done? Very well, out with it. Confess your sins, so they can’t weigh on you any longer.”

  Sidney shook his head. “It’s not that easy.”

  “You’d be surprised how the most terrifying of nightmares dwindle to mere dreams once they are spoken of. What did you do? Kill somebody?”

  Sidney rubbed a hand over his face. “Almost. Does that count? And then I ruined his sister and dragged their family name into a scandal.”
/>
  Calvin set his cup down. “Was this all in one night?”

  Sidney glared at him. “I’m glad you’re amused, but I’ve been…struggling with this…this secret I’ve had to keep. It is eating me up inside, and when I look at Cassie, I feel like I’m lying to her and her family. I betrayed them and yet…they welcome me.”

  Calvin shook his head. “I’m not following, what does this secret have to do with your bride and her family?”

  “It involves Tristan.”

  “Stop being so bloody cryptic, Sidney. Out with it.”

  “I was sworn to secrecy.”

  “This is Star Frost. Who am I going to tell? You need to unburden yourself of this.”

  Sidney leaned back in his chair and took a swig of coffee. It was too hot, but he fought the urge to cough and relished the burn. He cleared his throat. “I got Tristan stabbed. He nearly died. He asked me not to tell his family, so I didn’t.”

  “Duel?”

  “Muggers. We were cutting through a park at night. I was…knocked unconscious, and when I woke, he was there, bleeding.”

  “You didn’t stab him, don’t punish yourself for that.”

  “How can I not? I wanted to cut through the park. I was drunk. I couldn’t hold my own.”

  “How many men?”

  “There were four.”

  Calvin shook his head at him. “None of that is your fault. Terrible things just…happen.”

  “Is that what you tell yourself? It works?” Sidney asked hopefully.

  “It’s what I tell the girls. Clara has nightmares about the fire. About not being able to save her mother. I can’t tell you how much that destroys me.”

  Sidney wanted to curse for Clara. “That’s awful.”

  “She patrols the house at night. She won’t take a separate room from her sister, and she keeps a bucket of water by her bed. Just in case. That little girl is dealing with a whole mountain of issues that I can’t fix, and it terrifies me. No matter what I do, I can’t make her feel safe. But I do listen, and I do share my own pain because that’s how she’ll know she’s not alone. It kills me, but I do it for her sake.”

  “So, what do I do?” Sidney asked. His problems felt so insignificant compared to Calvin’s now.

  “Tell her. Confess your troubles. Women love to fix us, but more importantly, they love to listen. They have such capacity for sympathy and compassion. Whatever happened, I bet my whole estate she won’t hold it against you. Marriage is about sharing burdens. Don’t keep this from her.”

  His stomach roiled, but not for food. What would Cassie do if she knew the truth? Hate him? He couldn’t accept his role in Tristan’s injury, how could she?

  “That is your advice?”

  Calvin nodded. “It is. Take it or suffer. Your choice. Now, we should rescue your wife before she’s enlisted in some scheme. Think about what I said.”

  Chapter 13

  For two whole days Cassie played with the twins and came to know the reserved Miss Grace, who definitely had a past she was trying to hide, according to Clara and Josephine. Cassie was inclined to agree.

  What bothered her was Sidney’s strange behavior. He was present for most things, riding, walks, meals, but distant and quiet. Cassie was fast running out of patience. But when they retired to bed, and she prepared to call him out, he used evasive tactics. Kissing her before she could say a word, taking her to bed and making mad, desperate love to her until she collapsed and fell asleep.

  Then morning would come, and he’d be dressed and out the door before she woke.

  Today was the final straw.

  He’d talk to her about whatever it was or…she’d enlist the twins in a kidnapping.

  They all ate breakfast together, and then the twins were led away for morning lessons with Miss Grace. The duke had his own morning duties to tend to, and so Cassie took it upon herself to lure Sidney away from the newspaper for a walk.

  She stood from her chair, prompting him to stand from his.

  “The sky is clear after last night’s rain. Won’t you walk with me? I need to stretch my legs.”

  “Your energy astounds me. We hiked for four hours yesterday,” he replied.

  “A ride then?”

  “I’d rather enjoy the quiet morning.”

  Cassie grit her teeth through a smile. “Very well, I’ll just go up to the room and undress and return to bed. I’ll find some way to occupy myself…alone.”

  He set the paper down. “I am tired. I could use a nap. I didn’t sleep well with all that rain rattling the windows.”

  “Nor did I, but first, let’s help our breakfast settle with a brief walk.” Cassie knew once they reached the bedroom, his hands would be on her and nothing would be said.

  He frowned.

  “Come along.” She took his hand and dragged him out the front door.

  Cassie wasn’t used to December weather on Star Frost. They’d rushed out without proper coats, and now she was feeling the cold as they strolled down the drive.

  “Eager to get me alone?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact.” She snapped at him. Drat, she didn’t mean to come off so harsh, but the frustration was too much.

  “You’re angry with me,” he stated.

  She pivoted to face him. “Or you’re angry with me. I don’t know what it is because you won’t talk to me.”

  They both halted in the drive.

  “I…I don’t know what to say.”

  Her head snapped back. “That’s all?”

  “I’m trying, Cass. Pleas know that. I just…”

  “Can’t put it into words, like when you told me you loved me? What did I do?”

  His shoulders slumped. “You didn’t do anything. It’s me. I did something.”

  Cassie’s courage faltered. “What?” What could he have done? Did she want to know? How badly would it hurt? She’d thought—she’d hoped they were past this. But there was still a piece of him she didn’t know. A secret, apparently, a big regret. She took a deep breath.

  “Whatever it is, I—”

  “Argh! Put up yer hands, ye slimy landlubbers!” Clara jumped out of the bushes, wood sword in hand, followed by Josephine carrying a rope and a red-cheeked, out-of-breath Miss Grace.

  “Girls, why aren’t you doing lessons?” Sidney asked.

  “We’re mapping the landscape for treasure hideouts. Now give us yer coin or walk the plank!” Clara hollered.

  Cassie covered her mouth to hide a giggle.

  “My apologies, Lord Reardon, we’re learning about maps and sketching our own of the manor grounds,” Miss Grace said.

  “Clearly we interrupted an argument,” Josephine said.

  Cassie blushed and Sidney grimaced.

  “Well, I’m sure you have lots to do, and Lady Reardon and I will return to the house so as not to distract.”

  “No,” Cassie said. “We will talk.”

  “Not now.”

  “Yes, now.” Cassie wanted to growl. She knew that if they returned now, the conversation was over. “Captain Clara, grab him.”

  Clara wrapped herself around his leg.

  “What are you doing?” he asked with a frustrated glare at Cassie.

  “A proper interrogation is in order. You’re not going to escape me again. Josephine, give me the rope.”

  Josephine did as asked. “You’re our prisoner now.”

  “I beg your pardon, but what is going on?” Miss Grace asked.

  Cassie tightened the rope around his midsection, securing his arms to his sides.

  “Cassandra,” he said between clenched teeth.

  “Let’s escort our prisoner to the stables. I have ways of making him talk.” Cassie held the end of the rope and tugged him into motion.

  “Ohhh, we’ll torture him!” Clara said.

  “Whatever we have to do to make him talk,” Cassie said.

  “And tell us where the treasure is!” Josephine added.

  “I’m not sure the duke would
approve of this,” Miss Grace warned.

  “I’m certain he would,” Sidney mumbled.

  Cassie looked back at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to do.”

  “But surely this isn’t it,” he muttered.

  They reached the stable and secured him to a stool. The grooms, seeing the curious business, disappeared, leaving them alone with their prisoner.

  “Now…” Cassie said, not sure what to do next.

  “What do we do? Dunk him in a bucket of water until he talks?”

  Cassie raised a brow at him. “Would that work?”

  “Release me,” Sidney ordered.

  “He’s too calm to confess,” Josephine said.

  Cassie was beginning to feel ridiculous, but at least this way he couldn’t leave. He had to listen to her. “Girls, I’ll need a bit of privacy, and if Uncle Sidney tells me what I want to hear, I’ll extract the location of the treasure.”

  “Yay!” they cried.

  Cassie looked to the anxious Miss Grace. “Perhaps they could stand guard outside. Out of hearing?”

  Miss Grace nodded and led them out.

  “Now what?” Sidney asked as the door closed.

  Cassie brought another stool over and sat. “Now you can’t avoid this conversation. Tell me what is bothering you.”

  “Being tied to a stool bothers me.”

  “At least you’re not gagged,” Cassie returned.

  They stared at each other, a stalemate of awkwardness.

  Cassie rolled her eyes. “Tristan once tied me to a tree and put caterpillars on me until I told him where the tin of comfits was hidden in my room. Don’t tempt me. Torture isn’t completely off the table.”

  “We’re not children.”

  “No, so whatever it is you are afraid to say, just say it. I’m not a child, and I deserve to know why you are distant with me. I thought…we’d gotten past this when…you said you loved me.”

  His eyes grew haunted. “I meant that. I love you.”

  “And I love you, so what is it you could possibly say that would…change that.”

  He swallowed. “I’m afraid to find out.”

  Cassie took a deep breath. How terrible could this be? “The answer is nothing could change the way I feel about you. My love is not conditional. It is fact, it is inevitable, it is fate, whatever you need it to be, it just…is.”