Love Blossoms: 7 Spring-Fresh Christian Romances

by Kimberly Rae Jordan

  Perhaps she should see what all the fuss was about. She opened the internet on her phone. The Cumbrian Times webpage loaded. Maggie flopped back into her pillow. It was worse than she expected. A photograph showing Davis kneeling in front of Maggie filled the front page, the cluster of sparkles on her finger hard to miss. She swallowed the rising nausea as she read the headlines.

  Playboy Out to Play Again?

  Her eyes scanned further as she scrolled down the page.

  In a surprising turn of events at the annual Levens Hall Spring Ball, Lord Davis Rathbone went down on bended knee in front of three hundred guests and proposed to Keswick jeweler, Magnolia Blume. “This time it’s different. This time it’s for keeps,” Rathbone said in a brief statement to his guests shortly after his fiancée upped and did a disappearing act.

  “I didn’t even know he was seeing anyone,” his mother, Lady Rathbone, said.

  Will wedding bells toll again this summer at Levens Hall? Only if the baron can find his bride.

  For keeps? The moment he stepped inside her shop tomorrow, she’d take the ring from her finger and hand it right back. Then she’d return to life as she knew it before Davis Rathbone walked into her world and turned it upside down.

  *

  “Well, Davis, that certainly was quite some furor you caused last night. And you vanished from the ball almost as fast as your new fiancée.” Mother spread her toast with Raspberry Lavender Jam, and then cut the crisp bread into bite size pieces. Pinky in the air, she slid one into her mouth as she glanced across at Father. Waiting for his comment?

  “Don’t read too much into what you think you saw, Mother. Maggie was overwhelmed by the surprise, that’s all.” Davis sat down opposite his parents at the breakfast table. The solarium didn’t seem as warm and bright today. Already he felt Maggie’s absence, and the day had only begun. How he’d looked forward to her staying the night, as a guest, and spending time with her again today. He had not anticipated her taking off like a runaway bride. He had not anticipated proposing last night, either.

  Questions pummeled his mind as Reginald set down a plate of bacon, eggs and toast in front of Davis. Had Maggie arrived home safe? Hopefully she’d decided to overnight at her sister’s in Ambleside. If she had, would she return to Levens Hall today?

  Davis blew out a breath that captured Mother’s attention. He blocked out the drone of her voice. If Maggie did come back, it would probably only be to give him his ring and fetch her bags. From her reaction, there was no way she’d accept his impulsive proposal. He should have waited. Did he really think she’d leap at the opportunity? Maybe she knew about his past, the scandals that had followed him ruining a future with her. The Word did say ‘whatever a man sows, he will reap it.’ Perhaps it was harvest time.

  If he could only get to see her today, or at least talk to her. But that wouldn’t happen until tomorrow. He didn’t have her cellphone number, only the one for her business, and he had no clue where she lived in Keswick, only that she had an amazing view over Lake Derwentwater. Of course, he could just cruise the streets overlooking the small town until he found her black and gray BMW i3. With a population of barely five thousand, it would be a Sunday afternoon drive until he located her. But if he did take the drive and found her, would she think he was stalking her?

  Oh, Maggie. Why didn’t you stay?

  “Davis. Davis. Goodness, what planet have you been on the past few minutes?”

  He raised his gaze. “I’m sorry, Mother. You were saying?”

  “I was complimenting you on your choice of ring, not that I really got to see it. Thankfully the Cumbrian Times had a clear photo. It really is stunning.” She turned to Father. “Don’t you think, Hadley?”

  Father nodded. “Absolutely, my dear. She did a splendid job of the design.”

  “She?” Mother furrowed her brow.

  “Maggie. Davis never did quite get to finish his story yesterday.” Father’s chuckle filled the room.

  “Never mind that. It’s in the papers. How?” Davis’s knuckles whitened as his fingers wrapped around his knife and fork.

  Father motioned to Reginald. The butler retrieved the folded newspaper from the console table behind him and handed the paper to Father who opened it to reveal a photograph of Davis proposing to Maggie.

  “Front page,” Father said.

  Eyes narrowed, Davis read. “Playboy Out to Play Again?” He grabbed the paper and scanned the contents, nostrils flaring. “ How dare they? I wonder which of your esteemed guests leaked the photos and information to the press.”

  Mother picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth before discarding the piece of linen beside her empty plate. “Davis, were you so captivated by the moment that you didn’t see all the cellphone cameras flashing? We can’t exactly call everyone back here and make them take a lie detector test just because you’ve made the front page again. Now, there are far more interesting things to discuss than the Cumbrian Times.” Mother leaned forward. “Tell me about Maggie. She designed her own engagement ring?”

  Davis wiped his mouth on a linen napkin, and then rose. He’d lost his appetite. Besides, the inquisition was about to begin again, and he didn’t plan to stick around for that. “I’ll leave Father to tell you. I have to get going.”

  “To where? Goodness, Hadley, did we really raise two boys who keep running off?”

  “I have a fiancée to get to. Remember. And church.” Forcing a smile to his face, Davis walked to the other side of the table and gave his mother a light kiss on her cheek. “I, at least, will return. I’ll see you later.” He tipped his head in his father’s direction. “Father.”

  By the time Davis pushed his sunglasses onto his face and slid inside his red Ferrari, his anger at this intrusion into his private life had subsided. After all, he was the one who had made the occasion public when he chose to propose in front of three hundred witnesses. Had he really thought this would stay out of the news? That was the problem. He hadn’t thought. At all. But he had no regrets about his action, only the consequences. At least he’d be giving the tabloids some good gossip to fill their pages with this time.

  The engine roared to life. Sending gravel spewing into the air, the Ferrari sped down the driveway toward Levens Hall’s gates. The uniformed gatekeeper approached the vehicle in a hurry, stopping Davis before he got to the exit.

  Davis let down the window.

  “Lord Rathbone. Good morning.” He leaned in closer.

  Davis lifted his sunglasses, setting them on top of his head. “Morning, Elliot.”

  “My Lord, you might have a small problem going out this morning.” He glanced toward the gates. A crowd of photographers had gathered beyond the estate walls, cameras already flashing. “The paparazzi have been camping outside all morning.”

  “Thanks for the warning, although I expected as much. You can open for me, Elliot.” Lowering his sunglasses, Davis revved the engine. The V8 growled beneath his touch. He grinned. “With five hundred and sixty-two horse power between me and them, I think I can outrun the cameras.” But he didn’t need to just outrun them, he needed to lose them. Permanently. And fast. They would head straight for Keswick. He needed to find Maggie before they found him cruising the town’s streets in search of her. So much for going to church—not only did he have no time, it was probably best he avoid any public appearances for now.

  What have I let you in for, my darling Maggie? Tomorrow the cameras would be swarming that small Keswick jewelry store like bees around their queen. If they weren’t already.

  *

  “Hey, little fellow. Have you just woken from hibernation?” Maggie lay flat on her belly in the long grass, eyeing the small spikey creature as it emerged from the log-pile an arms-length away. The hedgehog stared back through the green blades, unflinching, seemingly oblivious to Maggie’s presence. He wiggled his nose then grabbed at an earthworm with his long nails, pulling it out of the ground.

  “Ha-ha, you’re hungry. Can’t say I
blame you—four months without food will do that to a tiny critter.” The hedgehog sank his teeth into the worm before it could wriggle away.

  A song she and her sisters often used to sing as children came to mind as Maggie watched the hedgehog wolfing down his breakfast. “You think I should go eat worms, too?”

  She bit down on her bottom lip. She’d probably get a lecture from the rest of her family. They were sure to be annoyed with her over this engagement fiasco. To make things worse, she’d ignored their voice mails and texts. Except for grandma’s, which she’d only listened to.

  The hedgehog pulled another worm from the ground, and bile tainted Maggie’s throat. Ugh, she couldn’t eat those, even if nobody loved her at this moment. Thankfully worms belonged on the diets of critters, although Lord Rathbone needed a plateful of those wriggly legless invertebrates. He was the worst critter of them all, toying with her and putting her in this awful situation.

  But he’d said he loved her.

  Maggie pulled her cellphone from her jeans pocket and swiped the screen. More missed calls and messages. Seriously? She’d ignore them like the rest.

  Turning on her camera, she focused on the hedgehog and clicked, smiling as she examined the photograph. Perfect.

  She set her phone down on the grass then slowly reached out and wrapped her hand around the hedgehog’s prickly body. It curled into a ball, spines erect, and began to make huffing, puffing, and popping noises.

  “There, there. Nothing to be afraid of,” Maggie cooed as she turned the curled hedgie onto its back. Soon the hedgehog relaxed and laid down its quills. Tiny paws wriggled, exposing their pink undersides right before a cute little nose made its way out of hiding. The rest of the hedgehog’s face and small rounded ears followed next.

  “Ah, you are a cute little fellow, not like that pompous Davis Rathbone.” Maggie sighed as she brought the critter close to her body. Sensing her clothing, its quills flared again before it tried to burrow into her jersey.

  “Who am I trying to kid? Davis isn’t pompous at all. And he’s just as cute as you.” Way more, actually.

  Hearing a car, Maggie set the hedgehog down in the grass. It scurried away, and she soon lost sight of him, the only evidence of his presence the long blades swaying with his forward movement.

  A silver Mercedes slowed and turned into her driveway. Poppy. She should’ve known her sister would find the time today to make the drive to Keswick. This news was far too big to keep her at home. Surprising she hadn’t arrived earlier.

  The car stopped in front of Maggie’s house, and the driver’s door opened. As did the passenger door and one at the back.

  Heather. Lily.

  Lily waved as she ran behind the car to the other side and opened the door. She ducked her head inside. When she straightened, little Connor held his mom around her neck, his mouth hidden behind a pale blue pacifier. He rested his head on her shoulder before rubbing his eyes with a chubby fist.

  Maggie made her way across the garden toward her sisters, bending to pluck a daisy from the grass in her stride. As she brought the tiny bloom to her nose, she remembered the ring. Too late to take it off, her sisters were already headed her way, their eyes firmly fixed on her left hand.

  Poppy squealed as she ran toward Maggie. “Let me see.” At least she seemed happy. Heather’s face, on the other hand, was the picture of concern. And Lily? It was usually hard to tell what she was thinking. Had been that way since her husband died.

  Poppy grabbed Maggie’s hand the minute she was within reach. “Oh–my–word. Will you look at that rock!”

  Heather and Lily peered over Poppy’s shoulder.

  “You look like you need a hug.” Poppy drew Maggie into her embrace. “We got here as soon as we could. Dad wanted us to go to church with him and Mom, but we stood our ground. Soon as Lily had Connor dressed and fed, we left. Mom called as we got to Keswick, said it was a circus. Everyone wanted to know all the details, which of course they didn’t have.”

  Pulling back, she gave Maggie’s shoulder a light smack and laughed. “And you didn’t tell me yesterday morning. Pretended you didn’t know the man. You’re wicked.”

  “I–I don’t.”

  Lily stepped forward, shifting Connor to her other hip. “Really, Maggie. You expect us to believe that this baron just decided to give you, a total stranger, that ring.”

  “Maggie…” Heather dragged out her name.

  Uh-oh. She was in for one of her sister’s famous speeches. Why did Heather think everyone needed her help and advice?

  Heather’s eyes widened as she lifted Maggie’s hand, taking her turn to examine the rock. “We all know how concerned you’ve been about turning thirty in a few months’ time—single—but that’s nothing to be ashamed of, and certainly no reason to go and get yourself engaged to someone without getting to know them first. Baron or not.”

  A grin made its way onto Lily’s face. “I do believe he’s quite a catch, though.” She glanced briefly at Heather as if to check her sister’s reaction.

  “He is,” Poppy confirmed. “The most eligible bachelor in Britain. Nothing to turn your nose up at, or your hand.” Her smile eased. “Although his reputation is concerning.”

  Maggie yanked her hand back. “I’m not engaged. It’s not what you think.” She shoved through her sisters and thumped her way back inside. Poppy, Lily and Heather followed like shadows, kicking off their shoes at the door, same as Maggie.

  Poppy bounced into the corner of one of Maggie’s couches and pulled her stockinged feet up onto the cushion. She patted the empty seat beside her. “Come, sit. Tell us every last detail about last night.”

  Oh, why did her heart yearn to relive every second of yesterday with her sisters? She shouldn’t go there again, dwell on those thoughts, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Maggie fell into the seat beside Poppy. Heather took the third place on the couch while Lily eased into a wing chair. She loosened her blouse and set about feeding Connor.

  “Isn’t he getting too old for that?” Maggie questioned, stalling for time, fighting the itch to give a moment by moment account of her day at Levens Hall.

  Lily smiled and looked down at her son suckling at her breast. She smoothed his soft blond hair. “Not yet. I’ll feed him for as long as I can. I’m sure I’ll know the day he’s no longer a baby. Besides, mother’s milk is best.”

  Poppy clicked her fingers in front of Maggie’s face. “Levens Hall? Davis Rathbone? Engagement?”

  Maggie gazed down at her hand, twisting the ring round and round. “Well, I arrived there at noon, as requested.” She went on to give them a full account of the day and evening, from the instant she was greeted at her window by Excalibur’s dark shadow, to her running down the steps of Levens Hall, leaving her shoes behind like Cinderella.

  Flinging back her head, Poppy sank into the cushions with a screech. “How romantic!” She sat up and eased closer, sliding her arm around Maggie’s. “But, didn’t I warn you to be careful? Do you think he’s changed like he claims, or does he want you as another notch in his belt? Don’t let that happen, Maggie.”

  A sigh weighed on her chest, and Maggie allowed it release. “I–I don’t know. I’d like to think he’s changed. He’s nice, and thoughtful. Definitely charming, and he seems to have a heart for God.” Rising slowly, she stood. “But what does that matter anyway? When I next see him, this ring is going straight back.”

  The unusual roar of an engine sounded outside, and Maggie rushed to the window, followed again by her shadows. They eased the curtains open and peeked at the bright red Ferrari that pulled to a stop beside Poppy’s Merc.

  All four gasped. All four uttered the same two words.

  “It’s him.”

  Chapter Seven

  Davis peeked through the Ferrari’s windshield. It was a good call to start with the houses at the top of the hill overlooking Keswick, an even better one to stop and ask the elderly couple out for a walk if they knew where Magno
lia Blume lived. Two blocks later he drove up the driveway of Maggie’s house. Her car was nowhere to be seen. She must’ve parked inside her garage. Was she hiding from the paparazzi already?

  The slate-roofed stone cottage was quaint, exactly the kind of home he expected Maggie to have. Cream gable decorations under the roof and dormer window eaves added that Maggie touch.

  He glanced out the side window. How peaceful it was here, the view over Lake Derwentwater amazing. Would that peace shatter once he knocked on her front door? Should he even knock? She had company. Couldn’t be a boyfriend—she had intimated that she didn’t have one.

  No turning back now. He’d come this far, and he needed to speak to Maggie. Today. Hopefully, whoever was inside would grant him time with her.

  Davis pulled the handle to his right, and the vertical door eased skyward.

  As he stretched his body out of the low seats, he glanced up. A movement at the window near the front door caught his attention. He removed his sunglasses to get a better look. The faces outlined at the glass scattered, and the curtain fell back in place.

  With a smile on his face, Davis leaned inside the Ferrari and placed his sunglasses on the dashboard before making his way up the cobbled path lined with daffodils. Looked like he was about to meet some of the family.

  *

  The four women huddled at the front door, each wanting a turn to peek through the keyhole. Poppy giggled in the background.

  Enough! Maggie turned around, her back against the door, covering the peephole. Her siblings inched away. She glared at them. “Right, out of here, all three…no, four of you.” She gave little Connor’s cheek a light squeeze, and then shooed them away, arms flailing. The baby’s lip began to quiver, and he let out a loud wail.

  “Now look what you’ve done.” Eyes narrowed, Lily drew Connor to her chest and rested her head on his, shushing him.

  “I’m sorry, but—”

  The knock at the door brought a hush over the sisters. Their eyes widened. Good grief, did he have to come at a time when pandemonium reigned in her home? Maggie glanced down at her left hand, and a pang of regret stabbed at her. She hadn’t anticipated parting with the ring this soon. It would have been nice to keep it one more day.