The Christmas Countess

by Adrienne Basso

  “Have you made any special plans for the upcoming Christmas holiday?”

  Her expressive eyes blinked in confusion. “Christmas?”

  “Your father is recently deceased. I was unsure if you planned to observe the holiday this year.”

  “It has been three months since his death. My brother and I are no longer in deep mourning. However, to be perfectly frank, with all that has been going on, Christmas is the very furthest thing from my mind.”

  Cameron inhaled a deep breath. “Each year we host a large gathering at Windmere, my estate in Kent. ‘Tis mostly family and close friends in attendance, though when the locals join in it can be quite a crush. I was wondering if you and your brother would be free to join us.”

  “On Christmas Day?”

  “You would be there on Christmas Day, of course, but the invitation is extended for the entire celebration. The festivities continue for several weeks, both before and after the holiday. You would be welcome for as long as you wish to stay.”

  Her puzzled expression vanished and she stared. “What about Lily?”

  “Naturally my daughter is at the center of all the activities. If you came to the manor, it would give you an opportunity to spend time with her without arising anyone‘s suspicions.”

  She schooled her features into calm but he could see she was excited. “If I may be so bold as to inquire, does anyone else know the truth about Lily?”

  “Not to my knowledge. Only you, your brother and myself are aware of Lily‘s true parentage. And I would like very much for it to remain that way.”

  Her lovely face filled with uncertainty. Cameron braced himself for an argument.

  “Though I prefer it to be different, I agree with your decision,” she said. “It would be too upsetting and confusing for Lily if she learned the truth.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for your kind and exceedingly generous offer. My brother and I shall be delighted to attend the Christmas festivities at your home.”

  “Very good. I shall have my secretary send you all the pertinent details, along with directions to the estate.”

  Cameron tapped again on the carriage roof and instructed the coach to take them to her brother‘s house. He saw Miss Tremaine‘s expressive blue eyes widen, for she had not given him the address. He liked that; he wanted her to be a bit wary of him, wanted her to know that he was a strong, knowledgeable, formidable opponent.

  They did not speak for the remainder of the short ride. Amazingly, there was no extreme tension in the air and Cameron was glad they had managed to get past the awkwardness of the situation. For the moment.

  Philosophically, he realized the tension would very likely return in full force when Miss Tremaine and her brother arrived at Windmere. Unfortunately, that was the reality of this bizarre situation and the sooner he learned to cope with it, the better.

  Besides, Christmas was known to be a time of hope and rebirth. Perhaps this year, when it was needed most, they would be able to resolve this matter in a way that would bring all of them some measure of peace and happiness.

  Chapter 4

  Rebecca and Daniel set out on their journey to the earl‘s estate five days later, just after breakfast, in a brand-new, recently purchased carriage. It was well sprung and plushly appointed, but could have been filled with hay, for all that Rebecca cared. It was the prize at the end of her trip that she valued; the means to bring her there was unimportant.

  “You should not have accepted this invitation without first consulting with me, Rebecca.”

  “I know, Daniel. I am sorry.”

  “This is a most inconvenient time for me to be away from London. Since I‘ve decided to stay in England for at least a year, ‘tis imperative that I establish a stronger business presence. Currently, I am in the middle of some very delicate negotiations for mining rights in Cornwall. This venture needs my complete attention in order to succeed.”

  “Perhaps you can arrange to return to London for part of the time?”

  “And leave you on your own with Hampton? Not on your life.”

  “There will be a house full of guests, including the earl‘s mother. I hardly think my reputation, or virtue, will be in jeopardy.” Rebecca rolled her eyes, but her brother was gazing out the window and did not see. “I appreciate your concern and support, but I am well beyond a time in my life when I need someone to protect me, to shield and shelter me from the world.”

  Daniel huffed. “Maybe if someone had done a better job of that years ago, we would not be in this particular mess.”

  Every muscle in Rebecca‘s body stiffened, surprised to feel the hurt. He did not mean it the way it sounded, she told herself. He is merely annoyed and frustrated because of the inconvenience and interruption to his schedule. “I apologize again for not conferring with you before accepting the earl‘s invitation, but I simply could not allow the opportunity to spend time with Lily to slip out of my grasp.”

  Daniel turned to her. Rebecca saw a moment of embarrassed anger cross his expression. “Curse my wicked tongue. I do not mean to vent my foul temper on you. Forgive me.”

  “Oh, Daniel.” Rebecca appreciated his apology, yet found herself compelled to explain further. “Please try to understand. I have no real desire to spend the holiday with Lord Hampton at his grand country estate. Truth be told, the very notion intimidates me. But this might be the only chance I will ever have to be with Lily and I know in my heart if I do not do this I shall waste far too many of the days ahead dwelling in bitterness.”

  “Hush, now. Of course you must go. We must go.” Daniel darted her an embarrassed look, then awkwardly patted her hand. “I know it is necessary for you to seize this opportunity. Though no one who knew the truth of the matter would fault you for wallowing in pity and resentment. ‘Tis monstrously unfair what our parents did.

  “As for Great-Aunt Mildred, let me just say it is a blessing she is already deceased or else I would not be held accountable for my actions toward her.”

  Rebecca heaved a small sigh and smiled at her brother. It did her bruised spirits good to have him play the champion for her. “I know this visit will not be easy for either of us, but at least it is a happy time of year. Celebrating Christmas often brings out the best in people.”

  Daniel grimaced. “I find the holiday can oftentimes be a foolish combination of sentimentality and overblown piety.”

  “But you always loved Christmas when you were a boy.”

  “That was a very long time ago, Becca.”

  Knowing she would never win an argument on that subject, Rebecca felt it prudent to change the course of their conversation. “How long before we are there?” she asked.

  “The coachman told me another hour.”

  Rebecca straightened and looked out the carriage window. There had been a subtle transformation in the landscape that had previously escaped her notice. The more densely populated area outside the city proper had given way to a gently rolling countryside, the fields now bare, the meadows still boasting a few sparse patches of green.

  The woodlands and copses were without leaves and the bareness was a fitting accompaniment to her mood. Though she had professed her great desire and determination for the necessity of this upcoming visit to her brother, Rebecca worried if she was doing the right thing.

  Would it be easier or harder to leave her daughter once she had become acquainted with the little girl? Was she possibly making a most difficult situation even more intolerable? Would it be better to try to forget about Lily and simply move forward with her life?

  And what of the earl? Was her attraction to him merely the natural female instinct of admiring a handsome, powerful man? Or was there a deeper, more complex connection that she could not begin to define or understand?

  These thoughts plagued her for the next hour, but when they passed a sign announcing they had entered Kent, Rebecca threw off her worrisome mood. It was a lovely, charming, rural area, one that reminded her a bit of her home in Taunton. They rode t
hrough a prosperous village, with a fine selection of goods displayed in the shop windows and numerous, well-dressed people frequenting those establishments and her mood lightened further.

  Beyond the shops were clusters of houses. Some of the dwellings had thatched roofs; others were constructed of stone and slate. All had bare gardens neatly tidied and dormant in the winter cold and there were hedgerows or painted white fences marking their boundaries. As the carriage reached the outskirts of the village proper, it clattered past an old Norman church, then turned onto a curving road that crept up a hill.

  In the distance, Rebecca could see the manor house and its extensive grounds. The sun was high in the sky, its wintry rays brilliantly reflected in the many small-paned windows of the four-story house. There was smoke curling from the ten chimneys she counted, an inviting, welcoming sight.

  Her excitement and delight held until they pulled into the long gravel drive, but then as she thought of the days ahead, the emotions in her gut began to churn. However was she going to manage?

  A trio of liveried servants encircled the carriage even before it came to a complete stop in the courtyard. The men bustled efficiently around the coach, assisting Rebecca and Daniel from the interior, then organizing the luggage, horses, coachman and grooms with a skilled efficiency that bespoke of extensive experience with visitors.

  The front door was opened by a stiff, unsmiling butler, but his severe greeting was softened by the immediate appearance of the housekeeper, an older woman dressed in black with a white lace cap perched on her head.

  “Welcome, welcome, to Windmere manor,” she said with a happy smile. “‘Tis always a delight to have guests among us, but never more so than during Christmastime. I am Mrs. Evans, the housekeeper. If you find yourself in need of anything, anything at all, during your stay, please be sure to ask me.”

  There was no chance to reply, for the dowager countess next appeared. She too smiled with delight and welcomed them graciously, apologizing for her son‘s absence by explaining he was away from the manor attending to estate business.

  “We are so pleased that you were able to join us this year,” the dowager countess said. “We look forward to your joining in our outings and soirees. There is always something lively and delightful to do at Windmere during the holidays.”

  “Splendid,” Daniel said with a congenial smile.

  “I know you must be tired after your journey,” the dowager countess continued. “The servants will show you to your chambers. We are having an informal luncheon served at one o‘clock. I look forward to seeing you both then.”

  Rebecca smiled her thanks, pleased their arrival turned out to be slightly less of an ordeal than she had feared. A footman assisted Daniel while she followed the housekeeper up the grand staircase, through the hall, then down a long corridor.

  After assuring the housekeeper she needed nothing further, Rebecca took a moment to enjoy the solitude in her bedchamber. As she walked by the four-poster bed, she could smell the lavender-scented sheets. The room was pleasantly appointed in shades of blue and cream, dominated by a subtle pattern of forget-me-nots in the wallpaper and repeated on the silk bed coverlet.

  A small settee featuring the same floral pattern in brocade was at the foot of the bed, facing the hearth. There were two thick rugs, one blue, one cream, covering the floor.

  In addition to a dressing table, with a matching mirror, and a large cherry armoire, there was a writing desk on the far wall and a plush blue chaise cozily positioned in front of the fireplace. Though Rebecca assumed all the bedchambers in this stately home were equally impressive, the accommodations chosen for her made her feel like an honored guest.

  No sooner had Rebecca removed her bonnet than a housemaid arrived, setting a pitcher of hot water beside the porcelain basin, along with a pile of clean, fluffy towels.

  “Whenever you are ready for luncheon, Miss Tremaine, just pull on the bell rope and someone will come and show you the way. Or you can have a tray prepared and brought to your room, if you prefer.”

  “I think I shall join the rest of the guests after I have changed out of my traveling clothes,” Rebecca decided. “By any chance, do you know where my brother‘s room is located?”

  “The single male guests are housed in the west wing of the manor. Shall I have a footman bring him a message?”

  “Yes, please. Ask my brother to fetch me before he goes downstairs.”

  The housemaid curtsied, then left. As she departed, the personal maid that Daniel insisted Rebecca bring along arrived. Her presence momentarily flustered Rebecca, who was not used to such attention. For most of her life she had managed to dress and undress herself on her own. On the occasion that help was needed, the family‘s housemaid, Anne, was pressed into service.

  But Daniel was adamant that she arrive with a proper maid, and he with a proper valet, and Rebecca decided it was easier to agree than argue the point. Her maid, Maureen, was a pleasant middle-aged woman who seemed to have a considerable amount of experience in the position and knew a great deal about women‘s fashions.

  She tactfully suggested which gowns would be most appropriate to wear for the afternoon, and Rebecca selected a simple ivory lace-over-silk day gown. Maureen then deftly produced the accompanying accessories.

  After fixing Rebecca‘s hair, the maid set about unpacking the rest of Rebecca‘s clothes, sorting out which gowns would need immediate attention and hanging the remainder in the armoire. Even though he had repeatedly assured her he could easily afford it, Rebecca felt a pang of guilt as she viewed the expensive new wardrobe that Daniel had insisted be ordered for the house party.

  Once it was over, where in the world would she ever wear such lovely, fashionable garments? Perhaps she could repay her brother‘s kindness and generosity by acting as his hostess, though she assumed the majority of his social interactions would involve his business ventures and might not even require the presence of a woman.

  Deciding that was something she would broach when they were alone, Rebecca answered the knock at her door. It was Daniel, with a footman in tow, coming to escort her downstairs. The casual luncheon the dowager countess had mentioned was being served in the long portrait gallery and Daniel had wisely brought the servant along to guide the way.

  When Rebecca and Daniel arrived, they were greeted by a crowd of nearly thirty people, though the gallery was so large and spacious it could have easily accommodated a hundred more.

  Long, white linen–covered tables were laid out with covered silver trays and large platters of every type of food imaginable were placed upon them. Arrangements of red and white hothouse roses lent color and fragrance to the room, adding a festive touch. Guests were busy helping themselves to the artful buffet and then finding seats among the smaller round tables that were set near the windows so everyone could enjoy the view of the rolling countryside.

  “Do you think the informal arrangement was planned for our benefit?” Daniel asked. “No doubt in this exalted company we would have been seated far below the salt at a formal setting.”

  “Goodness, I had not even thought about it,” Rebecca replied, wishing her brother had not found yet another thing for her to feel nervous about.

  Her eyes anxiously scanned the room and she was further disappointed to discover there were no children in attendance. It was not unexpected, yet she had hoped for a chance to see Lily again as soon as possible.

  They joined the group clustered around the buffet, made their selections and started toward one of the round tables when they were waylaid by a middle-aged man carrying two goblets of wine.

  “Tremaine! What a delightful surprise. I had no idea you would be here.”

  “Lord Bailey, hello. This is a lucky occurrence. May I present my sister, Miss Rebecca Tremaine.”

  “Charmed.” Lord Bailey bowed elegantly from the waist, simultaneously lifting the goblets filled with wine higher in the air. Rebecca was impressed that he did not spill a drop.

  “W
on‘t you join us? Selby and Reynolds are here too. If you have a mind, we‘d like to discuss that mining operation in Cornwall. We all have questions we are hoping you can answer. You are invited too, Miss Tremaine, though I cannot vouch for how interesting you will find our conversation.”

  Rebecca noticed Daniel glance longingly at the table filled with men. He would not willingly abandon her and yet she thought it might be the best thing for his mood if he spent some time talking business.

  “You go ahead, Daniel. I have spied Lady Marion on the other side of the room and will happily join her.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes, go.” She smiled with encouragement, then excused herself and deliberately headed toward the table where Lady Marion and another woman were seated before she could lose her courage.

  “Miss Tremaine, you are here!” Lady Marion exclaimed. “How delightful. Please, take a seat.”

  The words were courteously spoken, but the grin on Lady Marion‘s face was genuine and welcoming, making the invitation sincere. She introduced the woman seated next to her as Lady Charlotte, the earl‘s sister. She was a plain-featured woman, with an oval face and brown hair that was topped by a lace-edged spinster‘s cap.

  After a breathless greeting, Lady Charlotte shyly cast her hazel eyes down to her plate. But her smile had been sweet and kind. Rebecca gratefully joined them.

  All the food that had been piled on her dish looked appetizing, but Rebecca found her nerves compelled her to push the food about on her plate while making a pretense of eating. Fortunately, the other two women did not appear to notice.

  “I do hope that Cameron has invited some eligible gentlemen this year,” Lady Marion said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Christmas is one of the best times of year to indulge in some serious matchmaking.”

  “Not with me!” Lady Charlotte looked horrified at the notion.