Love Inspired Historical November 2017 Box Set

by Karen Kirst

  Lord, I’ve fallen for a man I can’t have. Even if Henry was interested in me, my father would never approve. What am I to do?

  Miss Reed waited until the room grew quiet before speaking. “Welcome to the Christmas concert. If you’re not in a festive mood already, you soon will be.” She held out a hand toward Lavinia. “Following the children’s performance, you’re invited to stay for a party hosted by Miss Crowne, who is Alex and Marcie Hawthorn’s aunt from Philadelphia. Due to circumstances beyond Miss Crowne’s control, her event this fine Friday evening is taking the place of the one she’d originally planned for tomorrow night. And now, prepare to enjoy some beloved carols sung by my talented students.”

  The pianist, Mrs. Keyes, began the prelude. The kindly woman, who also played for their church services, had accepted Lavinia’s invitation to provide the background music later.

  Miss Reed faced the children, went up on her toes and raised her hands. She brought them down on the children’s opening note. They started singing, their youthful voices filling the room. Not surprisingly, Marcie’s stood out.

  Lavinia glanced at Henry, who looked as handsome and as charming as ever, and shared a smile with him. The moment didn’t last long, but the sense of connection she experienced left her light-headed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a man’s company as much as she did his. The past two days when they’d been holed up in the kitchen baking the sweets for tonight’s party had been delightful. As though by mutual consent, they’d made no mention of the barriers between them and had embraced the time together. She was drawn to him, so much so that, at times, she wondered what it would be like if she were free to make her own choices.

  The trouble was, their situation hadn’t changed. He was determined to prevent her from taking the children to Philadelphia. Even if the children’s future wasn’t driving a wedge between Henry and her, there was the fact that they came from opposite backgrounds. He’d made it clear he valued a different way of life. Worse yet, he harbored ill will toward her father, blaming him for the breach with Pauline. Their father had been hardhearted, but he’d wanted what was best for her sister. Or so Lavinia had thought. Having experienced Pauline’s life firsthand had raised questions. But now was no time to think about that.

  Lavinia shoved aside the doubts that had crept in over the past few weeks and focused on the choir. Watching Alex and Marcie perform warmed her heart. From the moment she’d met the children, she was struck with a profound sense of pride and a love unlike anything she’d imagined possible. Pauline had tried to describe that immediate connection in her letters, but until Lavinia experienced it herself, she hadn’t understood. She did now, which was why she couldn’t leave without the children. They were a part of her heart. So was Henry.

  The thought had come as such a shock that she didn’t realize the final carol was over until Henry and Dot began clapping. Lavinia roused herself from her musings and joined the hearty applause.

  Miss Reed spun around, waved a hand toward her students and beamed. She had to wait several moments for the room to quiet. “Thank you for sharing your children with me. I’m blessed to be able to work with them. They’ll be joining you now as we await a visit from a special guest, or I should say special guests. Miss Crowne, please come here and tell us what fun awaits us.”

  Lavinia made her way to the front of the room. “Thank you, Miss Reed, for all you’ve done to make tonight’s choral performance and what’s yet to come possible. We’ll begin the remainder of this evening’s festivities with a visit from a renowned ventriloquist. After that, you’ll have an opportunity to partake of hot cider and an array of sweets as you visit with one another while Mrs. Keyes plays some more carols for your listening pleasure. And now, please welcome Mr. Quinn and his friends.”

  She took her seat, grateful for the enthusiastic applause that greeted the elegantly dressed gentleman. With his swallowtail coat, bib-front white shirt and cravat, he would fit right in with those who attended her father’s Christmas parties.

  Mr. Quinn made a sweeping bow, straightened and smiled. “Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone, but I know you didn’t come to see me. I’m just an ordinary man, but I have some delightful friends. Would you like to meet them?”

  His question was met with rousing cheers from the children—and a few parents. Things were off to a good start.

  Mr. Quinn wheeled out a cart, sat on the stool behind it and whisked off the first of three brightly colored cloths with his free hand. “Meet Goldie, the sweetest little lady in the entire Mother Lode. Why don’t you say hello to the boys and girls, Goldie?”

  His blonde sidekick spun to face him. “Because I don’t wanna. I want to eat some of those treats the nice lady was talking about instead. They smell really good. Mmm.”

  The room exploded with laughter, easing the tension in Lavinia’s shoulders. Mr. Quinn had grabbed the children’s attention from the start. They sat enraptured the entire forty-five minutes as Goldie and her pals, Frank N. Sense and Murray, carried on a lively conversation that included a recounting of their visit to the manger when they’d delivered gifts to the baby Jesus. The talented entertainer invited different children to the front to assist him throughout his performance, including Marcie, who enjoyed being in the limelight, and Alex, who looked like he wanted to slip between the floorboards.

  All too soon, Mr. Quinn brought his portion of the evening’s festivities to a close. Lavinia thanked him and invited the guests to enjoy the refreshments. As Henry had predicted, the table set up with gingerbread trees, frosting and candied fruit bits was a huge hit. Two of the older students had volunteered to help the younger children decorate their trees, leaving Lavinia free to mingle.

  Alex and Marcie were huddled in a corner with some friends. Her nephew’s animated gestures came as a surprise. He usually let others take the lead. It was nice to see him overcoming his reticence. He glanced her way and waved. Lavinia waved back.

  “Aunt Livy!”

  She spun around to find Dot sitting on Henry’s shoulders. “Oh, my! I didn’t expect to see you up there.”

  “There’s so many people. I asked Uncle Henry to put me up here so I can see everything.”

  “What a good idea. Your uncle’s tall, so you have a great view now, don’t you?”

  Dot nodded. “I’m so high up that I can see a feather coming out of your hat. I’ll stick it back in, but you gotta be still.”

  Henry smiled at Lavinia. “Everything’s going well. You must be pleased.”

  “Very much so. Mr. Quinn was wonderful. I laughed so hard at times that my sides ached. Forgive me for doubting you.”

  He spoke with sincerity. “I was happy to help.”

  “You’ve gone above and beyond. I’m in your debt.”

  “You don’t owe me a thing. Friends help each other.”

  He’d said the word friends, but the attraction in his arresting blue eyes gave her the impression he meant more than that. Or was she imagining things? That must be it. She averted her gaze, not an easy task when she couldn’t move her head. “Are you done, Dot?”

  “Yep. Would you put me down, Uncle Henry? I wanna get something to eat.”

  “Certainly.” He lifted her over his head and set her down.

  Dot joined her siblings, who welcomed her into their group without protest. How odd. They usually didn’t want their little sister tagging along when they were with their school chums.

  Lavinia cast a sidelong glance at Henry, but he was looking at the children. “It’s nice to see them having fun.” He turned to her. “I didn’t support your plan at first, but this party was a good idea.”

  She smiled. “We still have the one with the congregation to look forward to on Christmas Eve, too.” Along with more baking—and more of his delightful company.

  “Aunt Livy!” The voice was M
arcie’s this time. She stood with Alex on one side of her and Dot on the other, all three of them looking up at her and grinning mischievously.

  Something was afoot. “What is it?”

  Alex answered, his tone gleeful. “There’s some mistletoe on your hat. And we’re at a Christmas party, so you know what that means, don’t you? Uncle Henry has to give you a kiss.”

  Lavinia’s hand flew to her hat brim. Sure enough, there was a sprig of the felt-like foliage tucked among the plumage. So that’s what Dot had been up to.

  The children’s friends rushed over. “Kiss her!” they cried in unison.

  “What are you waiting for, Mr. Henry? Give her a kiss!” a familiar voiced called above the hubbub.

  Lavinia scanned the crowd, looking for Gladys. She found her former housekeeper on the arm of her new husband, sporting a smirk. When had they returned?

  The children gathered around Henry and Lavinia and set up a chant. “Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”

  A couple of the older boys added some rhythmic stomping and were soon joined by the rest of the children.

  There was no escaping this time. Lavinia lifted her head, looked in Henry’s eyes and was lost in the deep blue depths. The admiration she’d seen earlier was back. There was no mistaking it. He wanted to kiss her.

  The voices faded, leaving the rush of blood in her ears the only sound she could hear.

  Henry’s gaze locked with hers, filled with a silent question.

  She gave him the barest of nods, but it was enough.

  He tilted his head and leaned toward her.

  She closed her eyes and waited, curiosity and excitement leaving her light-headed.

  Henry’s lips met hers, a soft brush filled with promise. The sensation was so beautiful, so overwhelming that she swayed.

  He reached out, gripped her by the upper arms and pressed his mouth to hers firmly and completely, giving her a kiss. A real kiss. Her very first.

  She’d dreamed of this moment for years, and it had finally arrived. She responded as best as she knew how, savoring the experience. Oh, that this moment could last forever.

  All too soon, Henry pulled back and grinned. Lavinia gazed at him. She couldn’t speak. She could scarcely breathe.

  The whoops, hollers and cheers from the children brought her back to the present. She’d just kissed Henry Hawthorn in front of a crowd of witnesses. And she’d liked it. They had to have seen that.

  Lavinia quickly schooled her features. She smiled and replied in what she hoped was a lighthearted tone, although to her ears it sounded a bit breathy. “All right, my darling nieces and nephew, you’ve succeeded in having your fun. Now, go enjoy this time with your friends.” She waved the children away.

  Thankfully, the guests returned to their conversations and the dessert tables, which left her alone with Henry. How was she to act after that kiss?

  He reached toward her hat. “Since this has served its purpose, let me take care of it.” He slipped the sprig of mistletoe in the breast pocket of his frock coat.

  “I’m sorry about that,” she said in her normal voice. “I had a hunch they were plotting something, but I had no idea they would put us on the spot the way they did.”

  The engaging smile of his that she loved appeared in full force. “I’m not sorry. What man wouldn’t welcome an opportunity to kiss the loveliest lady in the room?”

  His comment, although delightful, took her aback. She had no idea how to respond. Thankfully, Gladys chose that moment to approach them.

  “I’m so glad Emery and I got back to town in time for the party. We were expecting it to take place tomorrow at the meeting hall. I gather things changed.”

  Lavinia quickly filled Gladys in.

  “I’m sorry about the setbacks, but things worked out quite nicely from what I see. The choir did a fine job, and the ventriloquist was wonderful, but—” Gladys smiled “—my favorite part was seeing the children’s latest matchmaking attempt work out so well. I told them not to give up.”

  “You encouraged them?” Lavinia hadn’t meant for her question to have such an edge, but Gladys had no business interfering.

  “Of course I did. I see the way you two look at each other.”

  “It’s not like that. We were just…” How could she explain what had happened when she wasn’t even sure herself?

  Gladys raised an eyebrow. “Just what? Enjoying yourselves? That’s what it looked like from where I stood.”

  She had, but that was beside the point. “Henry and I couldn’t very well make a fuss in front of so many people. We satisfied everyone, and now we can put the matter behind us.”

  “And you agree with this, Mr. Henry?” Gladys stood with her hand on her hips, awaiting his reply.

  The light had left his eyes, and he looked…disappointed? Or was it hurt? “I don’t wish to discuss the matter now. We’re here to enjoy the evening, are we not? If you’ll excuse me, ladies.” He performed a crisp bow and left.

  Gladys clucked her tongue. “I’ve known you since you were a girl in short skirts, Lavinia. You’ve never let a man kiss you before, but speaking as one smitten woman to another, it was clear you welcomed Henry’s. I’ve watched you two fall for each other, and I couldn’t be happier.”

  “It’s not like that.” She liked him. She was probably even smitten, but he’d said nothing to indicate that he returned her feelings. “Besides, even if we were interested in each other—and I’m not saying we are—there could never be anything between us. Henry and I don’t share the same values. Father would never forgive me if I chose a man who lacked his approval.”

  Gladys took Lavinia’s hands in hers. “My dear girl, it’s high time you start thinking for yourself. Your sister did that, and look at what she gained.”

  “Look at what she lost. I won’t disappoint Father the way Pauline did.”

  “I’ve said my peace, but I’ll leave you with this. Think about your Heavenly Father and what He wants for you.” Gladys gave Lavinia’s hands a squeeze and headed over to the children.

  Her maid-turned-housekeeper-turned-friend meant well, but Gladys hadn’t been privy to the scathing comments about Pauline that Lavinia had heard her father make over the years. She couldn’t bear to think of him saying such things about her. Pauline had let him down, but Lavinia refused to do so.

  She’d enjoyed Henry’s kiss. There was no denying it. He’d said he enjoyed kissing her, too, but his curt comments and abrupt departure made her wonder if she’d imagined the attraction she’d seen in his eyes. Perhaps the kiss had meant nothing to him, after all.

  Henry might be a wonderful man who caused her to feel things no man before him ever had, but she couldn’t entertain fanciful thoughts about him. Her father had made it clear Henry was no different in his eyes than Jack. The sooner she won her case, was granted guardianship of the children, left Sutter Creek behind and returned to the life that awaited her back home, the better. Memories of her time here would fade. One day she would meet a man who would make her as light-headed as she’d been when Henry’s lips—

  Stop that, Lavinia. You must get a hold of yourself.

  She summoned her best parlor smile and spent the next hour making the rounds. Despite the party not working out the way she’d planned, her guests had enjoyed themselves. Several had even gone so far as to say it was the best party they’d ever attended. She’d succeeded in achieving her goal of gaining the community’s support, despite the changes she’d been forced to make, and yet her victory felt hollow.

  The first family left the schoolhouse just as a gentleman wearing an overcoat as fine as Henry’s entered. She would have recognized the man’s raven hair and green eyes anywhere.

  Stuart Worthington.

  He spotted her and strode her way. Although he was as good-looking as ever, he
was the last person she wanted to see when her emotions were running amok. What would Henry think?

  “Lavinia, what a pleasure.” He lifted her hand and planted a kiss on the back of it.

  “I, um, wasn’t expecting you so soon. Has something come up?”

  “Nothing’s amiss. I just thought it would be more pleasant to spend Christmas here in Sutter Creek with you than alone in San Francisco.”

  How was she to deal with Henry and Stuart in the same town at the same time, especially after what had just taken place? Thankfully manners dictated her response. “Of course. I’m sure you’re eager to meet the children.”

  His warm smile came as a surprise. “By all means. I understand I just missed their performance. I’m sorry about that. I would have liked to have seen it.”

  “Really? I didn’t know you had an interest in children.” Despite the many conversations they’d had, the topic hadn’t come up.

  “Very much so. I look forward to having a family one day. Now that my career is getting established, I can think about making that happen.”

  Stuart had been the consummate gentleman on the trip west, keeping things between them cordial. His statement, coupled with the quick raising of his eyebrows, caused a warning gong to sound in her head. Was he hoping to woo her, after all?

  “How did things go in San Francisco? Do you have a favorable report for Father?”

  He blinked twice, and his professional manner reasserted itself, much to her relief. “I do. The city is well on its way to becoming one of the largest and most influential in California. By establishing a hotel now, we could secure a piece of property in the area between Market and Montgomery. I’ve scouted out several prime locations.”

  “He’ll be happy to hear that.”

  “I hope so. Now, would you be so kind as to introduce me to your nieces and nephew?”

  “Certainly.” He seemed genuinely interested in meeting them, and yet she couldn’t help but wonder about his motives. She’d had no such qualms in the past, but he hadn’t made his intentions quite so obvious before. “I must ask you not to mention my plans to take them to Philadelphia. I’ve encountered some hurdles.” She updated him on her pending court case.