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

by Charles, Jane

  Lady Jillian returned to the hall and dropped a jeweled comb into the basket. It was encrusted with rubies and diamonds. Rosalind had never seen a more beautiful hair adornment. How many combs such as this did Lady Jillian own? Rosalind owned only one set of combs, and there wasn’t a single embellishment on them. They were for holding her hair in place not a decoration.

  “Are we done?” Lady Jillian asked with excitement. It was the happiest Rosalind had seen her since the game began.

  “Not yet,” Felding answered. “We still have mistletoe to retrieve.”

  “Mistletoe?” Lady Jillian asked glancing at each person in the group.

  “Where are we going to get mistletoe?” Broadridge asked.

  “We will cut it from trees as everyone else does,” Felding answered.

  Brother and sister frowned and looked at Felding as if he had lost his mind. Rosalind wouldn’t be surprised if they asked a servant to obtain it for them. In fact, their servants probably saw to the gathering of mistletoe, cutting the Yule log, and any other decorations the family used in preparation for Christmas.

  “Shall we fetch our coats and meet by the front door?” Rosalind asked.

  Felding shook his head. “Kitchen door,” he answered before grinning. “We don’t want the others to know what we are about. Besides, we will need to procure a ladder and saw on the way into the woods.”

  “You aren’t seriously considering walking through the kitchen and then climbing a tree for mistletoe because of a silly game?” Lady Jillian gaped at him as though he was mad.

  Rosalind wasn’t sure which Lady Jillian objected to more . . . actually having to enter a kitchen or climbing a tree. Not that she would climb anything. Her presence was simply required. She could stand and observe as she had done most of the game.

  “Yes, I am,” Felding answered.

  Rosalind wasn’t about to stand and listen to them argue. Even if Lady Jillian was not happy with the idea, she knew it was necessary and moved down the hall toward her chambers so that she could gather her coat, slip into her traveling boots, and pull on her gloves.

  “You shouldn’t be doing this yourself,” Lady Jillian insisted. “Have a servant do it for us.”

  “Servants aren’t playing the game. We are,” Felding answered her.

  Rosalind slipped into her room and could no longer hear them. Penelope still slept, so she was quiet as she moved about. She glanced over to find the maid smiling. “You solved one of the clues?” she whispered.

  Rosalind moved to her side. “You know what they are?”

  “Oh, yes. Lady Meadows told us. We are not to help unless specifically asked.”

  “Where is a ladder and saw?”

  The older woman chuckled. “It has been left just inside the stables. We didn’t think anyone would figure it out.”

  “Thank you,” Rosalind whispered and quickly pulled on her boots before exiting the room.

  Lord Felding stood in the hall, and they turned toward the stairs leading to the kitchen. “Where are Lady Jillian and Lord Broadridge?” she asked after a moment.

  “I hope they are retrieving their coats,” Felding grumbled quietly. “If the four of us don’t stay together we will lose even if we gather every item.”

  “I am sure they will be along quickly,” Rosalind insisted though she inwardly feared the two would quit the game before they were finished.

  When they reached the back door, Rosalind told him of her discussion with the maid. “I will wait for Lady Jillian and Lord Broadridge. When they arrive, we will meet you at the stables.”

  He nodded. “Thank goodness Lady Meadows put you on my team. We wouldn’t have half the items if she hadn’t.”

  More likely they wouldn’t have any Rosalind thought to herself as she watched Felding trudge through the snow. He would have figured out the clues on his own, but would have had no assistance whatsoever in obtaining the items.

  “Are you sure we have to go outside?” Lady Jillian whined to her brother as they entered the kitchens.

  “If Felding says we do, then we will.”

  Lady Jillian’s eyes swept over Rosalind coldly. Why did the lady dislike her so? “Lord Felding has gone to retrieve the ladder and saw. We are to meet him at the stables.”

  She opened the door and brother and sister swept through without even a nod or thank you.

  “Come along, Miss Valentine,” Lady Jillian said once she was outside. “We can’t keep Lord Felding waiting.”

  Rosalind bit the inside of her cheek to keep from reminding Lady Jillian that she wasn’t the one who had held anyone up but remained silent and followed the two to the stables.

  Felding stood by the ladder and held the saw. “Are we ready?”

  His enthusiasm for the game made Rosalind smile, and she was determined not to let Lady Jillian or her brother spoil what remained of the game for her.

  Felding held out the saw, but Broadridge did not take it. Did the gentlemen think Felding could carry the ladder and the saw? Rosalind knew Lady Jillian wouldn’t be of assistance and walked around the two and took the item from Felding.

  “Thank you,” he said with a smile and then hoisted the ladder off of the ground. “I believe the mistletoe is in that direction.” He nodded toward the thick woods behind the house.

  “Why there?” Lady Jillian asked as she picked up the hem of her skirt and began following Lord Felding.

  “I saw some earlier while we were out for the hunt. There are Ash and Hawthorn trees there.”

  Lady Jillian directed a questioning look at her brother who shrugged.

  “Mistletoe is more likely to be found on those trees than others,” Rosalind explained.

  Lady Jillian speared her a look as if she didn’t appreciate Rosalind answering before she turned away hurrying to catch up with Felding. It was difficult to match his long strides, and Rosalind let herself trail back. She would catch them quickly enough once Felding reached the correct tree.

  Thirteen

  They didn’t need to travel too deeply into the woods before Noah spotted a mass of mistletoe. He stopped before it and leaned the ladder against the Hawthorn tree. “Broadridge, I’ll hold the ladder, and you can climb and cut the mistletoe.”

  The future duke stood back and looked at up at the tree and then back at the ladder. “Why don’t I hold it for you,” he suggested.

  Noah didn’t care which one of them held and which one climbed just that it needed to be done. “Very well.” He stepped onto the first wrung and then the second before turning pointedly at Broadridge. He wasn’t going any higher until the man steadied the ladder. The bottom was now buried in snow and though it felt secure when he first stepped on it, Noah wasn’t so certain the ground was even enough or that it wouldn’t shift.

  Broadridge moved forward and grasped both sides securely, and Noah continued his climb. He was barely at the top when the ladder shifted against the tree. Noah glanced down. Broadridge had stepped back and was blowing on his exposed hands.

  “Didn’t you bring gloves?”

  The gentleman shrugged. “It didn’t occur to me.”

  Noah grumbled under his breath. Broadridge was the height of fashion at all times. Even if he hadn’t put on winter gloves, he should at least be wearing a pair one did when they went in to Society. “Please hold the ladder steady,” he ground out.

  Miss Valentine worried her bottom lip and came to stand beneath the tree still holding the saw. Soon she would be out of his reach, but at least she was being of assistance.

  The ladder shifted again, and Noah looked back. Once again Broadridge was blowing on his fingers which were now turning red from exposure. At this rate, he would never be able to cut the mistletoe, and had a very good chance of falling. “Never mind,” he yelled down and began to descend the ladder. “I’ll hold and you can climb, Broadridge. I’ll even loan you my gloves.” He could just as easily loan him the gloves so Broadridge could hold the ladder, but didn’t trust that the man woul
d let the ladder fall anyway.

  Noah jumped to the ground and turned to Broadridge before yanking off his gloves. “Here.” He thrust them at the man. “We are running out of time. If we are late, even if we do have all the items, we will still lose.”

  Broadridge glanced back at the tree. “I can’t climb up there,” he argued.

  Noah simply stared at the gentleman man and shook his head not sure what to say. He had never encountered anyone so worthless before.

  “I will,” Miss Valentine offered.

  Noah wasn’t surprised by her offer and hopefully it shamed Broadridge enough to do the right thing. “It is not necessary, Miss Valentine.”

  “Someone needs to climb up.” She shrugged.

  Noah looked back at Broadridge and didn’t even bother glancing in Lady Jillian’s direction. She was probably huddled in her coat wishing for this adventure to be over.

  “That is an excellent idea,” Broadridge said.

  Noah couldn’t believe Broadridge would allow a young woman to climb the ladder, but they had little choice. He thrust out his hand. “At least give me my gloves back.”

  Broadridge looked at him in surprise. “Oh, well, of course.” He pulled them from his fingers and placed both in Noah’s outstretched hand.

  Noah turned to Miss Valentine. “Are you sure?”

  She laughed. “I’ve done this before.”

  “Cut mistletoe?” Lady Jillian asked in surprised.

  “No, climbed trees and ladders to gather apples,” Miss Valentine answered happily.

  Noah once again tested the ladder against the ground and tree. He would hate for Miss Valentine to lose her balance. She approached the ladder and looked for a way to hold the saw so she could also climb.

  “Good God, Broadridge. Be useful and hand Miss Valentine the saw when she reaches the mistletoe.”

  He blinked and looked at them both. “Oh, of course.”

  Noah sighed deeply when he wanted to plant the man a facer. Was Broadridge so oblivious to what needed to be done? Was he so used to having everything done for him? He probably had a servant hold his cock when he took a piss.

  Miss Valentine handed the saw over and began to climb the rungs. It was slow going because she had to watch so that she didn’t step on the end of her skirt. Broadridge would know no ends of Noah’s wrath if Miss Valentine fell because he was too lazy or scared to do this.

  “Please hurry, Miss Valentine. I am getting cold,” Lady Jillian whined.

  Noah didn’t even look at the young woman and suspected Miss Valentine was ignoring the request as well. She was going as quickly as she could but slow enough not to trip.

  When she reached the top of the ladder, the mistletoe was barely within her reach. “Could you hand me the saw, please?”

  Broadridge stepped close to the tree and stretched to hand it to Miss Valentine. She took it and began sawing at a small limb.

  “Oh,” Lady Jillian cried.

  Noah was so intent on watching Miss Valentine that he was taken by surprise when Lady Jillian cried the moment before she fell directly into him, knocking him to the side. Noah lost his grip on the ladder and instead of being of assistance, Broadridge jumped out of the way, his back knocking the ladder away from the tree. Noah pushed Lady Jillian back and looked up just in time to see Miss Valentine’s fingers slip from the limb she had managed to grasp when she lost her footing.

  * * *

  Rosalind glanced down at Lady Jillian’s exclamation and grasped the limb. This was not going to end well.

  The ladder fell away, and she let the saw drop hoping it didn’t strike anyone.

  The limb was wide and smooth, and her gloves were a soft wool. As much as she tried to keep hold, she felt her hands slipped and in an instant was falling toward the snow.

  She let out a squeak as Lord Felding stepped into her downward path holding up his arms. Her body slammed into his, and they both fell. Felding went backwards, and Rosalind came to a rest on top of him with an oomph. For a moment, she lay stunned and tried to catch her breath. Nothing hurt, but she wasn’t moving yet either. Felding simply laid there; his arms were wrapped about her back. Rosalind opened her eyes and stared down at him. “I am so dreadfully sorry. Are you hurt?”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  She agreed but said nothing. Rosalind wasn’t the one who lost her footing and made Felding lose his grip on the ladder. Nor was she the one that knocked it away from the tree. “Are you hurt?” she asked again.

  “I am fine. What of you?”

  “I believe I am unharmed.” Their eyes locked. Their faces were so close that their breaths mingled as one and could be seen in the cold air. Heat penetrated from his body through her clothing. Though his body was hard, it was a very pleasant place to land. Goodness! She was laying on Felding in the middle of the woods. She gasped. “Excuse me. I am sorry.”

  Rosalind pushed herself away from Felding and rolled away from him until she was on her back in the damp snow. She wanted to bury herself beneath it until her embarrassment disappeared. She should have gotten off of him immediately. What must Broadridge, Lady Jillian, and Lord Felding think of her after she had laid there questioning him about injuries?

  Lady Jillian and Lord Broadridge rushed forward. Lady Jillian knelt at Felding’s side. “Are you hurt? This is dreadful. Miss Valentine could have caused you serious harm by landing on you in such a manner.”

  Rosalind simply looked at the lady. Did she think Rosalind had a choice where she landed?

  “I am fine,” Felding ground out.

  Oh dear he was angry. She should have not fallen on him and wouldn’t have if given a choice. And she most certainly should have gotten off of him immediately.

  Broadridge leaned over Rosalind holding his hands behind his back. “Are you unhurt, Miss Valentine?”

  “I am fine,” Rosalind answered. She pulled herself to a sitting position. She wasn’t quite prepared to stand as of yet and felt a bit shaky. Of course, she had just fallen from a tree and that would leave anyone a bit wobbly.

  Broadridge stood and offered a hand to Felding. “Let me help you,”

  Felding glanced over at her and frowned before he took Broadridge’s hand and stood.

  Oh dear, he was angry. Now he was covered in snow and would be miserable and cold until they returned to the manor.

  Rosalind grasped her skirts and tried to move them out of the way, but they were twisted around her legs and a foot was caught within the folds.

  Felding turned in her direction and without a word bent and lifted her from the waist pulling her to her feet.

  “Thank you.”

  His concerned eyes bore into hers. “Are you sure you are unharmed.”

  “I am fine,” she assured him though suspected she might be sore on the morrow. Last time she had taken a fall such as this her body ached for a few days afterward. Perhaps that wouldn’t happen this time since she had landed on Felding who had the blanket of snow to cushion his fall.

  “Is anyone hurt?”

  Rosalind glanced to where the voices had come from to find Mr. Parker and his team hurrying toward them.

  “We saw Miss Valentine fall, but we were too far away to help.”

  Mrs. Parker came to her side. “Are you injured?”

  “I am fine, really,” Rosalind insisted. It was kind of them to be concerned, but they were making much more of this.

  Parker grinned. “In that case, might we use the ladder and saw?”

  “Be my guest,” Felding answered dryly and offered his arm to Rosalind. “I need to see Miss Valentine back to the house before she develops a chill. We don’t want her ill like Penelope.”

  Rosalind slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and Lady Jillian gasped. At the moment, she didn’t care if the lady was upset. After gaining her feet, Rosalind found her knees were a bit unsteady and welcomed Felding’s strength.

  Lady Jillian rushed forward to walk along
side Felding.

  “Do get our basket, Broadridge,” Felding called back, “if it is not too much trouble.”

  His arm stiffened beneath her fingertips, and Rosalind glanced up at Felding from beneath her lashes. He jaw was set and tight, and he stared straight ahead. If she could have controlled where she fell, it would not have been on him. Perhaps she should apologize again, but the fierce intent stare of his eyes left her uneasy, and Rosalind held her tongue. After they returned to the house, she would do her best to avoid him until his anger dissipated.

  Felding did not lead them to the kitchen or front of the house but to the pair of glass doors at the back of the manor. He opened the door and held it so she and Lady Jillian could enter.

  Half of the guests were sitting about the room with baskets.

  “Goodness! What happened?” Lady Meadows asked as she came forward.

  “There was a slight mishap,” Felding answered; his was tone still cold.

  Rosalind glanced down and noted most of her clothing was damp from the snow. When she looked at Felding, she noted his was much the same.

  “Our team has returned, and we have the basket. Is it permissible that Miss Valentine and I leave for a moment so that we may change our clothing?”

  “Oh, of course,” Lady Meadows assured them. We are still waiting on the others anyway.

  Rosalind glanced at the clock. There was only a few moments left to the game. If Mr. Parker and his team did not return in time, they would need to forfeit even if they brought Mistletoe back with them.

  A chill swept over her from the slight wind from outside. Lady Meadows moved to the close the door. “Please, go change. We will wait.”

  Rosalind moved across the room and out into the hall with Felding following close behind. When they began climbing the stairs she spoke again. “I am sorry I landed on you.”

  “It wasn’t your fault.” Though his words claimed no blame on her, his tone still held and edge.

  “You are angry,” she said as they reached the landing.

  Felding stopped and turned to her concern in his light blue eyes. “You think I am angry at you?”