Winter Wishes: A Regency Christmas Anthology

by Cheryl Bolen

  “Hetty is the sightless girl?”

  “Yes. When I got her back here, I came inside. The place was a mess. The door broken, no furniture, and little to keep her warm. There were three children here that day, living here in terrible conditions.”

  Maddie remembered how she’d felt seeing the misery, especially considering she lived in such luxury.

  “I found out who owned the building and offered some money to rent it. Then I helped make it comfortable for those that needed a place to stay. The other children started arriving a week later.”

  “Your aunt May left you money upon her death, if I remember correctly. Are you using that to fund this?”

  She nodded. “I contacted my father’s man of affairs—”

  “Mr. Thompson,” Gabriel said. “I remember him.”

  “Yes, but actually it’s the younger Mr. Thompson, his son, who looks after my money. He is a liberal-thinking man, and it was he who found out who the owner of this building was. He also negotiated the rent.”

  He watched her silently.

  “Have I shocked you, Gabriel? Imagine a young woman my age having money of her own and the ability to do as she wishes with it.”

  “You have no idea what I am thinking, Maddie. I am of course surprised, as you are not who I thought you were, and this is not something I would have thought, or wanted, you to be involved in.”

  “But I am,” she said firmly.

  “And is Mr. Thompson also the one who found out Lord Haswell does not need the money?”

  Maddie nodded.

  “Returning to my earlier question. Does your family know?”

  She shook her head.

  “Your father would lock you up and throw away the key, and Verity would take to her bed for weeks.”

  She nodded.

  “Where do they think you go?”

  “I am an exceedingly good liar, which I’m sure you remember.”

  “I do. Tell me, Maddie. What were you hoping to achieve by stealing the deed to this place?”

  Maddie wasn’t really sure how to answer that, as she’d simply reacted, which was a fault of hers. But she had no wish to tell him that.

  “You did have a plan, I hope? Or were you acting without thinking, which from memory was a particular failing of yours.”

  “Of course I knew what I was doing,” Maddie lied.

  He balanced his weight on one leg, which told her he wasn’t going anywhere soon.

  “Well, let’s hear it then.”

  “I don’t have to tell you anything. I just want you to leave and tell no one about what you’ve learned today. Surely that is not too much to ask. After all, like I have already stated, we are merely acquaintances now and mean nothing to each other.” Saying the words made her chest hurt.

  He didn’t speak, simply looked at her again. It was starting to get irritating.

  “Well?”

  “You still don’t like silence very much, do you, Maddie?”

  She loathed it. It made her uncomfortable, especially if she was in the presence of someone like this man.

  “I don’t know what you are thinking,” Maddie said.

  “And that makes you uncomfortable?”

  “Very much, as the fate of this place could very well be in your hands now.”

  “That is very dramatic of you, but I take your meaning. For now, you may rest easy. I have no wish to toss your people out on the street or alert Lord Haswell to your nefarious activities.”

  Maddie exhaled loudly. “But what of my family? Will you keep my secret from them also?”

  “I will… for now. And I do like you, Maddie, I just didn’t understand how you could have changed so much.”

  “It is the same for me, Gabriel.”

  “The last thing I would like to say on the matter of this house is that you will not come here alone again.”

  Chapter 6

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Gabe thought she may explode if the color filling her face was any indication.

  “I saw that man who walked out when you entered, Maddie. He looked dangerous. This is not a place for a young, innocent woman who cannot defend herself.”

  “I can defend myself!”

  He rushed her, wrapping his arms around her, and holding her close.

  “Oh really, how?”

  She lifted a knee, and Gabe only just managed to twist so the blow landed beside his groin. She stomped on his foot next, then jabbed him in the gut. Winded, he released her.

  “Satisfied?”

  As he was attempting to breathe, it would take him a moment to answer that question. But he would, in detail.

  “Also, I have this.”

  Straightening, he felt the color leach from his face as she pointed a small pistol at him.

  “God’s blood, are you mad!” Gabe wrenched the pistol from her fingers. “Where did you get this?”

  “I purchased it. Now give it back!”

  “May the Lord preserve me from brainless twits,” he muttered, pocketing the pistol. “Do you even know how it works? Have you fired it?”

  Her head tilted slightly.

  “I thought not. I will teach you, but until then you are not carrying it.”

  “That’s all right, I have a knife.”

  Gabe watched, horrified, as she turned and lifted her skirts. When she turned back, she held a knife with a wicked-looking little blade.

  “Give me that!”

  “No!” She backed away. Lifted her skirts, attempting to replace it.

  He grabbed her from behind and reached for her hand to remove it. His gloveless fingers ran up the stockinged skin of one thigh and froze.

  “R-release me.” Her words were shaky.

  He did, backing away.

  “You cannot walk about with knives and guns, Maddie.”

  Gabe attempted to regain his composure. He’d touched her thigh, nothing more, and the reaction had sent heat through his entire body. His hand felt like it was on fire.

  “I-I can if they protect me. James told me how to use the knife, and it was he who taught me how to defend myself.”

  He was pleased to see she was at least a little breathless, because he was seriously unsettled.

  “James?” Gabe did not like the jealousy that bolted through him at the thought of another man getting close to her.

  “The footman who accompanies me.”

  “You haven’t changed at all from that headstrong, reckless hellion you were, have you?”

  “I am not reckless, but I will acknowledge the other two descriptions proudly.”

  He wouldn’t laugh at the defiant tilt of her chin, but he wanted to. Why did he feel lighter inside just knowing she was still his Maddie?

  His Maddie?

  It was a strange, Gabe thought, how intriguing he suddenly found his old friend. Before she’d created mild annoyance inside him, easily dismissed when he left her presence, but now... well, now she was something entirely different. He’d always thought her beautiful, but now she was that and also so much more.

  “What you are doing is admirable, Maddie, even if it is foolish.”

  “It is not foolish.” Anger lit her eyes, and he wondered again how she’d hidden all that fire from everyone. Most evenings some fool made him angry at least twice.

  “You should not have tried to steal that title deed for this property.”

  “I did what I thought was right and will continue to do so.”

  “It wasn’t right, it was reckless. And I meant what I said about coming here, Maddie. You will not do so alone again.” Gabe cut off her words. He needed her to understand this. Just the thought of her here with a single footman and maid made his blood run cold.

  “I bloody well will.”

  “Don’t use that language.”

  “Go away, then you won’t have to hear it.”

  If he grabbed her and shook hard, no one would fault him. Instead he tried to speak calmly and rationally.

  “
Had anything happened to you, your family would have had no idea where you were.”

  “I have my maid and footman with me.”

  “Yes, we’ve established that already, but as they do exactly what you say they are not going to question you when you do something foolish.”

  She did not lower her eyes or look guilty, but he was quite sure he was right. Gabe doubted she was above bribing her staff to achieve what she wanted.

  “I’ve deduced that you attempted to steal that document from Lord Haswell to stall any sale he may have?”

  “It seemed like a good idea.”

  “It would not have stalled him for long.”

  “I had to at least try.”

  “Maddie, I’m not sure this is a fight you will win—unless you can buy the building yourself?”

  “I cannot afford that.”

  “Then find another place for your children,” Gabe said. “Surely there are any number of empty buildings about London.”

  She gave him a look that suggested he was a simpleton. He didn’t like it.

  “I have, of course, tried to do so, but it is not easy to find such a place, and now I have run out of time. Don’t you see, we are to leave London soon, and the sale will go through at the end of December. These children will perish on the streets!”

  “And I am to blame for this?” Gabe felt his temper tweak as she yelled at him. “Stop roaring at me and converse like an adult.”

  Frustration tightened her pretty features.

  “I’m an adult attempting to help people! I’m sorry if your considerable ego is tweaked, Gabriel, but I do not have time to pander to it today. Good day, I must see to my children, but before I do so, I must ask again that you keep your silence about Spoke House.”

  He grabbed her arm as she began to walk away from him, turning her back to face him.

  “I do not have a considerable ego,” he snapped. “And don’t dismiss me, you little baggage.”

  “Let me go.” Her chin rose.

  He pulled her closer, so close that her breasts brushed his chest.

  “I am going to watch you closely from now on, Maddie.”

  Her face flushed with color. Those lovely lips opened and closed twice before sound came out.

  “Why?”

  “Because you are playing a dangerous game coming here, and I will not have that on my conscience when something happens to you.”

  “What will happen, for pity’s sake? Please, Gabriel, you must see there is no danger. I walk in the door from the carriage and out of it when it draws up outside.”

  He touched her cheek simply because he wanted to test the texture of her skin.

  “I don’t trust you and believe it would not take a great deal of provocation to have you doing something foolish, Maddie. Especially if it involves the occupants of this place.”

  “Clearly you have an unflattering opinion of me, Lord Lockhart, but let me educate you on something.” She tried to shake her arm free, but Gabe simply tightened his grip. “I don’t give a fig what you think of me. Now release me.”

  Gabe let his eyes run over her face, settling on her lips. “You are a beautiful woman, Maddie.”

  “Verity is beautiful.” The words had lost their fire and were said softly, her eyes focused on his.

  “No. Yours is a true beauty, deep inside the bones.” Gabe traced a finger along the ridge of one cheekbone.

  “Gabe, please....”

  “Please what, Maddie?”

  She didn’t speak or move, instead lifted her face to take his kiss.

  She tasted like heaven, and he lost all thought but one.

  More.

  He angled her head so he could take the kiss deeper, drinking from the sweetness of her mouth as his arms slipped around her waist. She didn’t pull away, her hands clutching the lapels of his jacket, holding him as close as he was holding her.

  Their first kiss, and he knew now it would be far from their last.

  He wasn’t sure how long they stood there in each other’s arms. A minute or ten; Gabe lost all track of time and only knew that in his arms was a woman who felt right.

  Maddie.

  A loud bang above them had her jumping free. They stood facing each other, both breathless, and yes, shocked over what had just happened. The hand she raised to her mouth trembled.

  “Maddie....” He didn’t know what to say. His head was a jumbled mass of thoughts that he struggled to clear.

  “Leave now and never return.” She ran around him and in seconds had disappeared.

  Gabe did not follow.

  Chapter 7

  Maddie spent time with the children upon her return and tried to make sense of her treacherous thoughts. Why had Gabe kissed her? Why had she wanted him to kiss her? Was she a hussy? A woman of loose morals who wished for a man’s touch?

  Surely not.

  She had never wanted it before. But in that moment when Gabe pulled her close, she’d felt desperate to have his lips on hers. The need to feel his arms around her had urged her to grip his jacket and hold him tight.

  God Lord, what does this mean?

  “It is time for us to leave now, Miss Spencer.”

  Remembering her mother’s warning, she nodded and collected her things, pleased to push her thoughts aside, no matter how briefly.

  “You will stay warm in here and keep the fire going,” Maddie said before departing. The children nodded, but she didn’t hold out much hope they’d all be there when she returned.

  Thankfully, there was no sign of either Gabe or Frank Blackley when they left Spoke House.

  Maddie directed the carriage to stop briefly at a shop on the return journey. She dashed in and purchased the gifts she’d told her mother were the reason for leaving the house today. She then directed James, who sat beside the driver, to take her home.

  Touching her lips, Maddie could still not believe Gabe had kissed her. The man she’d thought cold and snooty had placed his lips on hers, and she’d felt anything but cold. In fact, warmth had filled her body from her toes to her fingertips.

  She’d once hoped for this. Believed they were meant to be together—but not now. Now they were strangers... or so she’d thought. Today had turned that belief on its head.

  When he’d grabbed her and his hand touched her thigh, Gabriel had been as shocked as she was. The look on his face when he’d released her had confirmed that.

  “A cup of tea will ward off the chill, I think, Miss Spencer,” Penny said as they left the carriage and made their way up the four front steps to the Spencer townhouse.

  “Indeed, Penny, that sounds just the thing.”

  Maddie pushed Gabriel from her mind. She had more important matters to think about and needed to focus on Spoke House now.

  “Good day to you, Phillips.” She handed the butler her bonnet and cloak.

  “Good day, Miss Spencer. Your mother has asked that you attend her in the morning parlor upon your return.”

  Maddie bit back a groan. Clearly, they had a visitor.

  “Penny, can you please take my things up to my room.”

  She didn’t exactly stomp to the parlor, but it was a near thing. Her mother had many friends, as did Verity, so they often had callers. The rumble of a deep voice greeted her as she opened the door. Maddie thought seriously about retreating when she saw who was chatting to Verity and her mother.

  “Maddie, dear. Look who has come to visit us today.”

  “How wonderful.” The insincerity in her voice was noticed only by Gabriel. “And on such a cold day, Lord Lockhart. We are indeed honored.”

  He was on his feet bowing when she reached him. She sent him a foul look; his reply was a wide smile that flashed his white, straight teeth.

  “You promised,” she mouthed before joining her mother on the sofa.

  “Gabriel has asked us to join him at the pantomime this evening, dear. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  “Exceedingly,” Maddie muttered.

  “Of cour
se, my fiancé has a box so I will be with him, but I am grateful for your invitation, Gabriel,” Verity simpered.

  Maddie gnashed her teeth.

  “And when do you leave London, Lord Lockhart?” she asked with an insincere smile on her lips.

  “Gabriel or Gabe, please; we are old friends, after all.” He smiled back.

  “Gabriel,” she managed to get out without choking.

  “I am unsure as yet. I have business to finish before I leave. Something unexpected has turned up that may delay me.”

  He’s talking about me. She didn’t want him to stay in London and meddle in her affairs.

  “And what of you, Lady Spencer. When will you leave for Chasten?”

  “As soon as my husband returns, Gabriel. He is at present attending meetings on government business.”

  “Of course, and we are grateful for all his work on our behalf. And now I must leave you, as I too have business to attend to, but will see you tonight.”

  “Maddie, see Gabriel out, please.”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  Closing the door behind her, she walked Gabe toward the front door.

  “My intention for coming here was genuine, Maddie. I thought you and your family would like to go to the pantomime this evening.”

  “And yet before today you have kept your distance from us.”

  “Because I was disappointed in the person you appeared to have become. That was wrong of me, I see that now. I should have tried harder to speak with you, but I didn’t. You were new to London, I wasn’t. Forgive me.”

  She hadn’t expected an apology.

  “Perhaps I should have tried harder also,” Maddie conceded.

  “Perhaps?” He was teasing her now.

  “Just perhaps at this stage, Gabriel.”

  Phillips appeared when they reached the front door and handed Gabe his coat and hat.

  “I shall see you tonight then, Maddie.”

  “Yes.”

  He moved closer so only she heard what he said next.

  “Promise me you won’t go back to Spitalfields alone.”

  “I can’t promise you that, but what I will promise is that I will always have two people with me and will show caution.”