“Indeed, he means to marry her.”
“Then Mary Ann can live here with them. I don’t plan to haunt the place.”
“You can visit with Richard and me at Chandler House if we get to marry.”
“Do you love him?” Her father was smiling at her.
“I do indeed, but for the moment he is still engaged to Ophelia.”
“My God, it sounds like some Shakespearean comedy.”
“If all does not work out, it will be more a tragedy.”
“My part will be to assuage the feelings of Ophelia’s mother if you think that will help. Your part is to go and dance as though everything will turn out as joyously as you have planned. I am aware how often I have thwarted you and I regret it.”
“Go on your mission. I shall do my part here. Bring her back with you if you can.”
He jumped up and stomped down the steps, pulling on his gloves. At the door he saluted her.
She decided to take her father’s advice for once and lose herself in the dancing. It might be the only chance she got to dance with Richard.
* * * * *
Richard had just seen Dinah coming down the stairs when his mother grabbed him. “You must cry off from Ophelia, Richard. I won’t have that silly watering pot in my house.”
Richard stared at her in confusion. “She doesn’t cry much. She just faints.”
“I mean Mary Ann.”
Dinah ran up to them. “Father’s gone to apologize to Mary Ann and perhaps bring her home.”
“I hope he succeeds or I may have to find another residence,” Mrs. Chandler said.
Richard grabbed Dinah’s hand. “Dance with me. If all else fails I plan to elope with you.”
Mrs. Chandler nodded her approval to this idea and tottered toward the matron’s corner.
“Would you really do something so unconventional?”
“If I see no other way out of the trap.”
Dinah raised her gaze toward his face. “Ophelia will be inconsolable.”
“Ophelia is always inconsolable. I wish your brother joy of her.”
They gave themselves over utterly to the passion of the dance, realizing they might not have many more moments like this.
After two sets, George reappeared and said Ophelia was dressing.
“What does she mean to do?” Dinah asked.
“I seriously do not know.” George began dancing as though he were the life of the party.
Half an hour later he almost missed the entrance of his father with Mary Ann on his arm.
When the set ended and they were about to go to the supper table, which was now laden with cold meats and all the desserts Dinah could think of. Her father led Mary Ann in and seated her at a table, then went to get her a plate of food.
“At least she came.” Dinah fanned herself as she stared at the smiling Mary Ann. She wasn’t ecstatic but she was smiling.
“Does this help or hurt our cause?” Richard asked.
George pasted a smile on his face, the best he could do in his state of misery. He was holding a glass of wine and downed it in one draught. “Who can say?”
The big entrance had drawn attention away from Ophelia’s descent of the stairs. Richard saw George gazing in that direction and there could be only one reason for his rapt attention. Ophelia walked up to the three of them rather limply, as though approaching her executioner.
“Richard, I cannot marry you.”
He let out a long breath. “Very well.” He realized his voice conveyed relief rather than regret but she did not seem to notice.
“I’m in love with George.” She went to George and rested a hand on his arm, which he covered with his.
“Thank you, my sweet angel,” George said.
“I’m very sorry I did not tell you sooner. Mother has been angry with me for keeping you both in suspense. It was unfair of me.”
Dinah knew a moment of dizziness herself. Suddenly the world opened up and they had a future. Everything was now possible for them—the lasting joy of this Christmas and of all the holidays to come.
She embraced Ophelia. “My dear, we have only to look at the two of you to know you belong together.”
With a silly smile on his face, George led Ophelia to their father and presented his future bride.
“Perfect,” their father said, and he was not being ironic. He meant it and kissed Ophelia on each cheek. Mary Ann nodded her approval.
“Well, she didn’t faint,” Richard said.
“Father is not always menacing, not when he is happy.”
“Shall we have a public announcement as well or must I speak to your father first?”
“If you wish, but he already gave tacit consent when I spoke with him earlier. It was always my mother he loved. He just wanted to make peace with an old acquaintance.”
“Let’s be private about it, then, and speak somewhere before the fantastic supper. What are we to have again?”
“Fruit soup, cakes of all kinds, cold sliced meats and champagne for those brave enough.”
Richard took her hand and led her out under the starry sky, pulling a rug off the hall settle to wrap her in. “I promise that I will be by your side forever if you will marry me.”
“I will, for you have shown me what joy is and what family should be. I will never forget this night.”
“I won’t either and I suppose we will laugh about it one day. For now I just want to hold you.”
“It has all turned out better than we could have expected.” She sheltered in the warmth of his embrace and looked at the stars in the cold, clear night.
“Yes, Mary Ann can live here with George and Ophelia. We will share Chandler house with Mother. What about your father?”
“He will stay at his town house or go roaming the world in his usual fashion.”
“Let’s hope we can hold him here until the weddings. I think he should be our guest when he comes to visit, which I hope he will do often. I have my old friend back.”
“How strange is our love. I have known you only a few short days, yet I know you better than anyone else I have ever met.”
Richard exhaled a trail of breath into the frosty air. “And I am as certain of you as if I had known you all my life.”
“Because we are so much alike, selfless souls who normally put everyone else first.”
“Now it is our turn to be happy. So how would you rate this particular Christmas?”
“The very best ever,” she said
“I hope we can exceed it in the future. I keep thinking, if not for your pursuit of the Christmas spirit we might never have known and loved each other.”
“In a few weeks we should travel away from here and let my brother and Ophelia to their contentment while we seek adventure on the road.”
“Is that Shakespeare?”
“No.” She reached up to grab his lapels.
“It sounds like him. A writer as well as an artist?”
“I have many talents.”
“I will take pleasure in discovering them all.” He pulled her toward him for a kiss that left anyone who chanced to see it with little doubt of their intentions or their love.
About Barbara Miller
Barbara Miller teaches in the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University. She has published mysteries, young adult novels and historical romances, including one nominated for a Rita. She lives on a farm with her husband and a pack of unruly dogs.
Barbara welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Barbara Miller
A Cotillion Country Christmas anthology
Christmas Bequest
Dreams of Christmas
Fortune’s Folly
Governess for a Week
If Wishes Were Kisses
Knights Errant
Music Master
Red Satin
Reluctant Heir
Twelve Days of Christmas
Two Hearts
Viscount for Hire
Print books by Barbara Miller
A Cotillion Country Christmas anthology
Christmas Kisses anthology
Cotillion Christmas Surprises anthology
Cotillion Christmas Traditions anthology
Eye Walker
Fortune’s Folly
Governess for a Week
Music Master
Reluctant Heir
Two Hearts
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Christmas Fete
ISBN 9781419992346
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Christmas Fete Copyright © 2014 Barbara Miller
Cover design by Dar Albert
Cover photography by public domain images, Period Images and © bernanamoglu
Electronic book publication October 2014
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