His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time)

by Charles, Jane

  Lady Jillian stiffened and sniffed. Her eyes grew a bit harder than before. She blinked and relaxed again. Had he not been looking at her, Noah would have never noticed the surge of dislike that left as quickly as it had come. Noah glanced in the direction of where Lady Jillian stared only to find that Miss Valentine had entered the room. Did Lady Jillian not approve of Miss Valentine? She had only met her yesterday, and Noah was certain Miss Valentine had done nothing to offend Lady Jillian. It wasn’t in her nature.

  Lady Meadows clapped and stood. “I am glad everyone has gathered. As you know, we are going to have a scavenger hunt.” She smiled brightly. “The list is short and easily accomplished with the exception of one or two items.”

  Others in the room began gathering around to hear instructions.

  “I’ve already drawn names to determine teams.”

  Lady Lavins handed a parchment to Lady Meadows.

  “There will be four people to a team. After everyone has gathered into their groups, my husband will give you each a list. You will have two hours to collect as many items as you can.”

  Noah listened politely as the names were read off, and team members moved about until they were standing in their group.

  “Lord Felding, Lord Broadridge, Lady Jillian, and Miss Valentine,” Lady Meadows finally announced.

  If he must be partnered with Lady Jillian, at least he had Miss Valentine with them as well. If Lady Jillian had never participated in a scavenger hunt, he wondered if Broadridge ever had. Certainly he must have. These types of games were not unusual at house parties.

  Broadridge moved to stand by his sister, and Miss Valentine glided to their area of the room but held back.

  “You must stay together. You cannot split up to gather items, or it will be unfair,” Lady Meadows announced.

  Noah inwardly groaned. With him and Miss Valentine hunting individually they could probably gather the items in half the time.

  “I have the lists,” Lord Meadows announced. “They are identical, and I can assure you that there is only one of a particular item. The team possessing that will most likely be the winner.”

  Noah glanced at Miss Valentine. She may be frowning, but it was with concentration and intrigue. He had no doubt that the first thing she would do once they were given the list would be to determine what that single item is and find it first before anything or anyone else.

  “Do not open the seal until everyone is ready. and I tell you to.”

  The lists were folded and sealed with wax which gave everyone an even chance for perusing the list at the same time. Meadows handed one to Noah and moved onto the next group, and Lady Meadows followed giving each team a basket to use for gathering items.

  Miss Valentine edged closer, and the four of them formed a half-circle to read the list once it was opened.

  “Does everyone have one?” Meadows called out.

  There were nods and agreements from the guests.

  “Open.”

  Noah tore at the seal and unfolded the parchment before he held it out for all to read.

  “A red monarch. All the better to see. Adorning tresses. Plucked for prose. Livre moral. Above the kiss. Foot soldier. Sunshine tie,” Lady Jillian read and glanced up at the rest of them. “I don’t understand.”

  “They’re clues,” Noah explained.

  “I thought it was a simple list, and we gather the items.”

  “No,” Noah chuckled. “First you must figure out the clue and then find the item.”

  Miss Valentine tapped a finger against her lips in thought. “Livre moral!” she whispered.

  “Livre is French for book,” Lady Jillian patronized.

  Noah looked at Lady Jillian sharply. There was no need to use such a condescending tone especially since Miss Valentine hadn’t stated a question.

  Miss Valentine didn’t even blink as if she hadn’t noticed nor did she acknowledge Lady Jillian. “This is what Lord and Lady Meadows will only have one item of. I doubt they have more than one book of morals.”

  Noah’s admiration for Miss Valentine grew. Many ladies would have been insulted and showed their displeasure. Instead, Miss Valentine concerned herself with the list at hand.

  “But what are the other items?” Lady Jillian asked with a slight whine to her voice.

  “Yes, what are they?” Broadridge demanded.

  Noah stifled a groan. Neither brother nor sister knew how to go about this, and it was up to him and Miss Valentine to win the game. At least he had Miss Valentine, or Noah would be tempted to give up before they began.

  “We will figure that out as we go,” Miss Valentine explained.

  “First, to the library,” Noah said in a low tone. None of the other parties had left the parlor yet as they were still trying to decipher the list. With any luck, their team would be ahead of the others at all times.

  The four entered the library, and Noah and Miss Valentine went to the tall shelves. Noah began reading titles at one end while Miss Valentine started at the other. Lady Jillian and her brother simply stood in the center of the room watching.

  Noah glanced back at them. “Are you going to help?”

  Broadridge shrugged. “We don’t know what we are looking for.”

  “A book with morals.”

  “Would that be the title, or would moral be in the title?” Lady Jillian asked moving to Noah.

  “Not necessarily,” Noah explained. “Simply try to find a book that contains morals in it.”

  She simple stood by his side. He glanced down at the young lady, and she smiled up at him. She wasn’t even reading the titles but seemed to be waiting for someone else to find the book. Why did she feel the need to stand so close to him especially if she wasn’t going to participate?

  Was it because he had kissed her earlier and now she believed them to be courting? Even if that was the case, ladies behaved with a bit more decorum even after a betrothal was announced. Not that there would be one between the two of them.

  That stupid kiss was the biggest mistake of his life. Noah turned back to reading titles of books. Or perhaps it wasn’t his biggest mistake. Kissing the lady had helped him realize rather quickly that he and Lady Jillian would never suit.

  “I’ve got it,” Broadridge announced.

  Noah, Lady Jillian, and Miss Valentine turned to him. He was holding up the Bible.

  “This must be it,” he said.

  “No,” Noah said and turned back to searching titles.

  “Of course it is,” Lady Jillian argued. “The Bible is full of morals.”

  “It is too easy,” Miss Valentine said echoing Noah’s thoughts.

  “Well, I think you are wrong, and I am going to hold onto it,” Broadridge insisted without looking any further. Not that he looked all that hard. The Bible had been sitting on a table just inside of the door.

  Noah and Miss Valentine continued reading the spines of the books slowly moving toward each other.

  “I’ve got it!” Miss Valentine cried.

  Noah moved toward her side as did Lady Jillian.

  Noah laughed. “The Complete Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault.”

  “Fairytales?” Lady Jillian asked bewildered.

  “They each have a moral,” Noah explained. “See if Meadows has a copy in French.”

  Miss Valentine turned back to the shelves and a moment later withdrew a second book.

  “We should take both,” Noah suggested.

  Miss Valentine tilted her head and narrowed her eyes on him. “That is hardly fair.”

  Noah’s eyes met Miss Valentines. Her blue depths sparkled with mischief. She took the English version and placed it back on the shelf. Noah removed it and placed it on the highest shelf far above the heads of most ladies.

  Miss Valentine gave him a censoring look.

  “At least I am not taking it,” Noah defended.

  “Now that we have the book, what else is there?” Lady Jillian demanded in a voice filled with tedium.

&n
bsp; “Where is Lord Meadows’ gaming room?” Miss Valentine asked.

  “Down the hall,” Noah answered already moving in toward the door.

  * * *

  Rosalind followed, as excitement bubbled inside. She knew they had the right book which was the most difficult and almost assured them of success.

  Once the hunt began, she was able to embrace the game though she feared that would not be the case when Lady Jillian felt the need to explain that livre was French for book. Did she assume that since Rosalind had a modest upbringing, that she wasn’t well educated? It took everything she possessed not to inform Lady Jillian that she was well aware that the language was French, could speak it fluently, and if it had been in Latin, she would have understood it just as well as English. Instead, she held her tongue. It would not do to appear shrewish before Felding, Broadridge or the duke’s daughter. It wasn’t her place.

  Thank goodness Felding was also on her team. If she had been alone with this particular brother and sister, she might have given up. Lady Jillian couldn’t decipher a clue, and Broadridge wasn’t putting much effort into the game.

  Mr. Marius Parker, his wife, and two other guests Rosalind were not familiar with were exiting the game room as they entered. “We took the queen,” Mr. Parker whispered to Felding as they passed.

  “There is still another,” Noah chuckled.

  Mr. Parker glanced down in to the basket and laughed. “Of course!”

  “I am surprised you didn’t think of it yourself,” Felding said, “you did marry Cinderella after all.” He leaned in and whispered in Mr. Parker’s ear, and Rosalind suspected Felding was telling him where the second book could be found. Hopefully, it was the French version that would win.

  “I’ve got it,” Broadridge announced holding up the queen of diamonds from the deck sitting in the middle of a table.

  “The king,” Rosalind insisted. “Our current monarch is a king not a queen.”

  Broadridge nodded and placed the card back in the deck before hunting for a King. He found the King of Hearts and placed it in basket Felding was holding.

  “What next?” Lady Jillian asked with a sigh.

  He glanced down at the list. Rosalind came to his side. He held the list out far enough that she was able to read it. “Spectacles, quill, toy soldier, yellow hair ribbon.”

  “What do you think adorning tresses or above the kiss are?” Felding asked Rosalind.

  “I’m not sure,” she muttered before glancing up. “Do either of you have eye spectacles?”

  “Of course not,” Lady Jillian asked as if affronted. “My eyes see perfectly.”

  Broadridge shrugged and shook his head. She knew Felding didn’t need any and though Rosalind only had to use hers for small print, she never let anyone outside of her family see her wear them. At least not until today when they were necessary for reading to Penelope. As she was the only one in the group who required them, Rosalind knew she would have to retrieve her own.

  “I’ll get mine on the way to the nursery.”

  “Nursery?” Lady Jillian demanded.

  “Where else do you think we will find a toy soldier?” Felding asked.

  If Rosalind didn’t know any better, she would think Felding was losing patience with Lady Jillian, but that wasn’t impossible. As far as she knew, he had never lost his patience with anyone before and apparently the two were courting.

  Rosalind paused outside of the chamber she shared with Penelope and knocked quietly. When there was no answer, she pushed the door open and peeked inside. Penelope slept, and a maid sat beside the bed sewing. Rosalind turned to the others and put her finger to her lips so that they were quiet before she entered the room. She would hate for those in the hallway to wake Penelope.

  Closing the door behind her, she tiptoed across the room to where her spectacles rested on top of the book she had been reading to Penelope. As she turned, she spotted the small lap desk Penelope had brought with her so that she could send correspondence. Rosalind lifted the lid, retrieved one of the quills, and gently let the lid shut before making her way to the door. After she exited into the hall and shut the door behind her, Rosalind held up the two items with a proud grin and dropped them into the basked carried by Felding. Together they turned and made their way to the stairs at the end of the hall. One floor up was the nursery and toy soldiers.

  Twelve

  Noah stared down at Meadows’ oldest child. He stood at the door; his scrawny arms folded across his chest. “How do I know you will return it?” the lad demanded.

  “I promise to bring it back as soon as the game is over,” Noah assured him.

  “I am not sure we can part with any. What if something were to happen? I would be missing a soldier. An entire battle could be lost.”

  Noah blew out a breath. Had Meadows set him up to this so nobody could obtain a soldier?

  “Just give him the toy,” Lady Jillian hissed. “You will get back.”

  Miss Valentine straightened and sent an appalled look in Lady Jillian’s direction. Noah hadn’t been the only one taken aback by Lady Jillian’s harsh tone.

  The lad only notched his chin a bit higher.

  Miss Valentine knelt down until she was eyelevel with him. “How about if we make a bargain?”

  The boy considered her for a moment. “What kind of bargain?”

  “I’ll run down to the kitchen and ask cook to prepare a plate of biscuits and cups of chocolate for you.”

  His eyes lit with interest.

  “If the governess doesn’t mind,” Noah added directing his comment to the older woman hovering behind Meadows’ son.

  “I can assure you, Lord Felding, the boys don’t intend on parting with a single soldier without something in return. I believe Miss Valentine has struck the right bargain.”

  “First, the soldier,” Miss Valentine insisted.

  The boy disappeared behind the door, and the adults waited. The door seemed to open further on its own. Noah glanced down, and a grin formed on his face. He had not seen Miss Hope since his arrival. He bent and plucked the eighteen-month-old and held her close. She was the image of Sabrina with her russet curls, rounded cheeks, and cherub bow mouth.

  “Is she another child of Lord and Lady Meadows?” Miss Valentine asked.

  “No,” Noah chuckled. “This angel belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Marius Parker.”

  The little girl leaned her head against Noah’s shoulder and placed a thumb in her mouth.

  “It appears to be nap time,” Miss Valentine giggled.

  Noah glanced down as Hope’s eyes closed, and she relaxed further into his arms.

  “Here, I will take her from you,” a maid came forward and gently lifted the child from Noah. There was a quick pain of loss when the child was gone. He didn’t spend near the time with his niece and nephew as he would like and wondered if he would one day be blessed with children. There was something about holding a child that set the world to rights.

  Meadows oldest son returned and held the toy out to Miss Valentine.

  She smiled brightly. “Thank you, and I promise to see to your biscuits directly.”

  “And chocolate,” he reminded her.

  “And chocolate,” Miss Valentine laughed.

  They turned from the room when the governess closed the door, and Miss Valentine marched to the steps at the end of the hall.

  “Where are you going?” Lady Jillian demanded.

  Miss Valentine turned to look at her. “I need to see that the treat is delivered.”

  “That can wait,” Lady Jillian insisted. “We still have items to find.”

  Miss Valentine frowned. “I struck a bargain, Lady Jillian. I must see to it now.” Without waiting for anyone to speak, she turned on her heel and continued on disappearing down the back stairs that would lead to the kitchens.

  Noah followed and Lady Jillian hurried to catch up until she was walking beside him. When they reached the kitchens, Miss Valentine was already speaking with the coo
k.

  Lady Jillian stopped at the threshold and looked around. A frown formed on her brow and confusion lit in her eyes.

  “This is what a kitchen is like?” Broadridge murmured.

  “I suppose so,” Lady Jillian whispered.

  Noah closed his eyes and shook his head. How could the two have grown up without ever stepping inside a kitchen? He was aware that most ladies never crossed the threshold or became any more involved in meal preparation other than planning a menu, but to have never set foot in a kitchen before was beyond his comprehension.

  Miss Valentine turned to them; a bright smile formed on her lips. Noah found himself smiling back at her. Her happiness warmed him in a way Lady Jillian’s presence never could.

  “What remains on the list?” she asked brightly.

  Noah glanced down at the list. “We need a yellow ribbon, but I still do not understand what the remaining two are.”

  “I have a yellow ribbon,” Lady Jillian announced. This time it was she who turned toward the stairs as if she couldn’t get out of the kitchen quickly enough. Noah and the others followed her to the floor where her chamber was situated. She disappeared inside for a moment and returned with a yellow hair ribbon.

  “May I see the list?” Miss Valentine asked.

  Noah handed it to her. She bit her full bottom lip and squinted at the writing. With a sigh, she reached into the basket to retrieve her spectacles and returned to reading the items once they were perched on the end of her nose.

  He had no idea she needed the glasses for reading. Surprisingly, they were quite attractive and only enhanced her intelligent, deep, blue eyes.

  After a moment she sighed and looked up. “I have no idea what adorning tresses is except perhaps a hair comb or brush.”

  “Above the kiss?” Noah asked.

  Her bright smile returned, and Miss Valentine’s eyes danced with merriment. “Mistletoe.”

  * * *

  “As we are at my room, I will retrieve a hair comb,” Lady Jillian announced and disappeared into her room.”

  “That is it then,” Broadridge announced. “We’ve retrieved all the items we can.” He pulled a watch from the inside of his pocket. “And it only took us an hour.”