“That,” he pointed, “Is Timothy Dixon and the other is Charles Gate,” he finished in bored tones. “It’s the night before Christmas Eve and I should have closed up ages ago. I should be seated in front of a merry little fire in my parlour with my sweet wife, sipping warm eggnog. But no,” he drawled. “Here I am, waiting on those two drunks who choose to buy the cheapest rum, which isn’t even worth my while. And then they take the whole day and night drinking it, as if trying to show others that they, too, can afford alcohol.” He tossed the cloth he was holding onto the counter. “I’ve tried to get them to leave and go home but they’re too stubborn to listen to me.”
“Does this mean they will be here the whole night then?”
The tavern owner nodded, “Sometimes, I even lock them inside here and go home, but when I come back the next day, they’ve made a pretty mess of things.”
“May I?” Trevor growled deep in his throat.
The tavern keeper shrugged, “Do whatever you want but you’ll only be wasting your words with those two.”
Trevor chuckled to himself. He had no intention of wasting his words on the two drunkards. They were both of average height and build and no match for him. He first carried the protesting Charles out and tossed him into the snow. Then he returned for Timothy Dixon, who tried to take a swing at him but ended up sprawled flat on his face.
“Stop embarrassing yourself,” Trevor told him as he frog-marched the fellow out of the tavern.
“Thank you, Sir, whoever you are. Please pass by any time and have a drink on me,” the now happy tavern owner said as he quickly locked up the place.
Charles Gate had staggered off into the night when they got outside. Trevor thought about leaving Tim to do the same, but then Ariel’s sweet face came into his mind. She didn’t need any more trouble in her life. It looked like the snow might come down again, and he didn’t want Timothy buried under it. So, he half dragged, half carried the man and deposited him on his doorstep. He knocked, for he could see that a candle was still burning in one of the rooms, and then melted away into the darkness.
5
Bright Night
Ariel was drifting on the fringes of sleep when she heard heavy footsteps outside their cottage. Heart pounding, she slowly got out of bed and crept toward the cupboard where she pulled out the old rifle she kept there for her own protection.
She didn’t like handling guns, but her mother had called it a necessary evil. Most intruders thought twice about confronting someone who was holding a gun, and her father had taught her how to use it. That was the only dangerous venture her mother had agreed to and encouraged.
“We may not always be there to protect our daughter,” Margaret Dixon had said. “And so we have to teach her how to take care of herself.”
The candle in the small parlour was nearly burnt out, and she quickly replaced it with another one. Trevor had given her a handful of them, and she smiled as once again, her thoughts returned to him. He really was a kind and generous man.
She thought she heard something like a grunt outside the door and at first thought it was a wild pig that had strayed from the woods, for they sometimes did that.
“Who is there?” she asked in a fearful voice but at first only silence greeted her words. Then she heard her father’s drunken voice as he broke out into one of his favourite ballads and her heart settled down. Putting the rifle aside, she opened the door and slipped her hands under his armpits and dragged him in.
“Oh Papa! What am I going to do with you?”
She noticed that he didn’t have a bottle in his hand and like he usually did. And she was surprised that he’d come in earlier than usual. He usually staggered home after the first cock had crowed and sometimes never.
“Papa, you’re breaking my heart,” she wept as she dumped him on the floor and locked the door securely. “Do you want to die and leave me all alone in this world? I promised Mama that I would always take care of you, but now I don’t know what to do.”
Timothy hiccupped and continued with his drunken singing. “Get me my bottle,” he said as she dragged him to the room.
“There’s no more drink.”
“Get my bottle,” he said and lashed out, the blow catching her on the side of the head. She went backwards reeling and struck her head on the wall, and everything went dark for a few seconds.
When she regained her senses and picked herself up from the floor, her father had fallen face first across the bed and was snoring.
Her cheek and head hurt but she dashed the tears away and stood looking down at her father.
“Oh Pa, you’re really breaking my heart,” she carried the candle out of her father’s bedroom and returned to her own. What was she going to do with her father?
The first thing Trevor noticed when Ariel came to the manor the next day was that she had a scarf around her head and it covered her face. Even though it was a chilly morning, for it had snowed heavily in the night, he expected her to take the scarf off once she entered the house.
For the first time in a long while, he’d gone to the shed at the back of the house and chopped up enough wood for a merry fire. And he’d also found himself humming as he cleaned up the living room in anticipation of his visitor.
Ariel looked quite pale, and he frowned. This wasn’t the same cheerful young woman he’d met the previous day. Something was definitely wrong.
“Ariel,” he called out softly, startling her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled, lowering herself on the couch and bowed her head.
“I know it was chilly outside, but you can take the scarf off now.”
She shook her head, feeling a little lightheaded.
Trevor came and crouched before her and reached for the scarf, but her fingers tightened around it.
“In a game of pitting strength against each other, we both know what the outcome will be,” he said in his deep quiet voice. With a swift tag, he pulled the scarf off and then stared at the bruise on her cheek. It had turned purple and looked really ugly.
“Who did this to you, Ariel?” the sound was like a deep growl and she felt frightened. “Ariel, who hurt you?”
“He didn’t mean to do it,” she said in a soft voice, tears filling her eyes.
“Did your father do this to you?” He rose to his feet and sat down next to her, pulling her until she was on his lap. “I’m so sorry.”
No one had showed her such kindness and tenderness time since her mother’s death months ago and Ariel cuddled up to his chest and wept.
“Hush, my little one,” Trevor said over and over again, gently stroking her hair until the weeping died down.
“I’m sorry,” Ariel hiccoughed.
“Child, you’ve been carrying a very heavy load for a long while now. But you’ll be all right, for you are a strong young woman, Ariel.” He gently got her off his lap and back onto the couch. “Now tell me what really happened.”
She twisted her fingers nervously. “Pa didn’t mean to hit me.”
“Just tell me what happened,” he insisted, and she did so in halting terms.
“Has this ever happened before?” She turned her face away and he had his answer. “I see,” he said.
“Please,” Ariel turned her watery eyes to him. “My father is a good man. Mama’s death hit him hard because they were so much in love. And he wasn’t always a drunkard. I know that one day he’ll come back to his senses.”
“Well,” Trevor said with controlled emotions. “You’re all right now.” It was clear she loved her father and would defend him at all times, even when he was abusive toward her. But dwelling on the subject was upsetting to her. So he decided to get off the topic, at least for the moment. “Ariel, I notice that you speak like one who received some form of education; did you have a governess or something?”
She shook her head, glad that he was off the topic about her father.
“Mama was a seamstress, and she made clothes for the baron’s serva
nts. Baroness Catherine insisted that those working in her household should be cultured, as she liked to put it. So, Mama had to learn how to speak like the other servants, and she would teach me also.”
“You mother must have been a very remarkable woman.”
“She was,” Ariel felt the tears returning but rapidly blinked them away. “I caught a rabbit and wanted to prepare some stew for you.”
“You’re a very fascinating young woman,” Trevor got to his feet. “Where is it?”
“I hid it in the bushes outside the house,” she jumped to her feet. “Let me get it,” and before he could say anything else, she’d darted out of the house.
She returned with her trophy and made her way to his large kitchen. He followed her slowly and watched as she skilfully skinned and dressed the rabbit. She then skewered it and set it over the fire in the heath.
“It amazes me that in large houses such as this one, the fire never dies down,” Ariel said, breaking the silence that was stretching out her nerves. The duke’s gaze was unnerving especially because he just sat at the kitchen table watching her as she worked.
“Ariel, you don’t have to be nervous around me.”
“I know,” she gave him a sheepish grin.
“Good. Now, will you be all right on your own for a little while? I want to ride out to the village square to attend to some business.”
“Don’t you mind that people will see you?”
He smiled, “They have to see me sometime,” and inwardly he added that the most important person to him didn’t care about the scars on his face or the fact that he didn’t have vision in one eye. But he didn’t voice that thought out loud.
“I need to get my valet back, and also make arrangements for the other servants to come back to work.”
“You want to reopen the house?”
“Yes,” he smiled gently at her, and Ariel completely lost her heart to him in that moment.
“I’ll lock the front door. Make sure you don’t open up for anyone until I get back. And also, feel free to explore the house even though later when we have the time, I’ll give you a more extensive tour of the place.”
“Thank you.”
He walked toward the door and then returned. “You have very expressive eyes, and I know you want to know what happened to my face.”
“No ...”
“Ariel, the one thing I can’t really stand from those around me is lies. Now, do you want me to tell you what happened to me?”
“Your Grace ...”
“No matter, I’ll tell you more when I get back. Remember, don’t open the door for anyone unless it’s me.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
After visiting his much-surprised valet at the man’s home, Trevor made his way to the tavern which was almost empty since it was mid morning. But the man he sought was already seated at a table and from the still-full bottle, it was clear that he hadn’t started drinking yet.
“Timothy Dixon,” he said as he slid into the chair across from Ariel’s father. Timothy’s eyes widened in recognition. “Yes, I can see that you have recognized me since you’re not yet drunk.” Trevor leaned forward so the conversation would be private. “Let me give you just one final warning. I’m the duke of this county, and I expect my people to adhere to certain standards of conduct. Drunkenness isn’t one of them and you should consider yourself warned. If you ever lay a finger on your beautiful daughter again.…”
“Who, Ariel?” The man looked slightly confused. “I would never lay a finger on my daughter.”
“Sane and sober, you wouldn’t. But when you get drunk, you lose control of yourself and strike her. Mr. Dixon, I won’t repeat this warning to you again. If I ever hear that you’ve laid a finger on your daughter again, you’ll rue the day you became a citizen of this county. Do I make myself clear?”
Timothy cowered at the violence he sensed in the other man. “It was all an accident.”
“You’ve got a lot going for you,” Trevor said with a growl. “A home and a daughter who loves you so much that she risks her life for you every day. What sort of a father are you? Do you know that a father is supposed to protect and provide for his offspring? Yet you leave that innocent and vulnerable girl to fend for herself. It’s just a matter of time before some unscrupulous character takes advantage of your drunkenness and attacks that poor child. Do you know how many dangers your daughter is exposed to everyday as she goes hunting in the woods just to make sure there’s food on the table and a roof over your heads? What if you one day come home drunk as usual and find that someone has attacked your daughter and ravished her? Is that what you want for your child? And what would your beloved wife say if she were to return and see the harm you’re doing to her beautiful girl?” Trevor’s eyes were blazing. “Like I said, I won’t repeat this conversation with you ever again. Consider yourself warned,” and he swiftly rose to his feet, tossed a gold guinea to the happy tavern owner and left.
Oswald, his old valet, had promised to recruit some servants, but they would be coming by the house on the twenty-seventh. It was Christmas Eve after all, and everyone needed to be with their families.
He mounted his horse, a smile on his face, and was unaware of the dashing picture he made as he rode back home to the beautiful young woman who was waiting for him. And he left tongues wagging as he tipped his hat at his stunned citizens.
Even the sun peeped through the clouds to smile upon the day.
Ariel had just finished serving the rabbit when she thought she heard a carriage at the front door. As far as she knew, Trevor had gone out on horseback and she wondered if perhaps he might have decided to get himself a carriage.
The large knocker sounded, and she knew it couldn’t be Trevor. He would have come through the back. His warning rang in her mind and she stayed right where she was, heart pounding. Who could have decided to pay the duke a visit on a day such as this one? she wondered.
Just as she was nervously twisting her hands, she heard someone riding up to the back door and a few minutes later there was a soft knock. “Ariel, it’s me.”
She ran to the door and unbolted it, letting the duke in. “There’s someone at the front door.”
“I know,” his lips tightened. He’d recognized the carriage. “Stay here and let me deal with whoever it is.”
Ariel thought he was acting oddly, but she simply nodded and went back to whatever she was doing.
Trevor watched her bent head for a brief moment then walked out of the kitchen and to the front door to open it.
“Oh Trevor, my love,” Chloe stood outside his door. “Aren’t you going to let me in?”
“Forgive my manners, Lady Chloe, but I don’t understand what you’re doing here. Where is your husband?”
“I left him in Paris and decided to come and see you.”
“Why?” He was truly curious. Now that he’d gotten over her, he wondered what he’d seen in her in the first place. “It’s not proper for a lady to be alone in a man’s house. People might not understand.”
“Oh Trevor,” he saw tears well up in her eyes, “I realise that I made a terrible mistake.”
“What sort of a mistake did you make?”
“Please allow me to come in,” she pulled her gloves off. “It’s not proper for my groomsmen to see me standing out here.”
“Very well then,” Trevor opened the door and allowed her in.
“This place looks dismal. What have you done to it, Trevor?” Chloe touched the surfaces. “There’s dust all over the place,” she grimaced. “Where are the servants?”
“I don’t have any,” Trevor followed her into the living room. “What do you want, Chloe.”
“Trevor,” she came close to him, but he put her away. “You know that I never stopped loving you.”
He gave her a sad smile, “You really had a fine way of showing your love to me.”
“I made a terrible mistake and I’m sorry.”
“Well, I forgave you a long
time ago because I realised that being bitter at you and Percy was only harming me.” He looked at her. “Why can’t you look at me in the face, Chloe?” This he said because he saw her avoiding direct eye contact with him. “These scars,” he touched his face, “Will never fade and I can’t see with my left eye. Why are you here Chloe, when you made it so obvious that Percy was your choice?”
Ariel was curious about who the visitor was, and she tiptoed toward the living room to find out. She didn’t want Trevor to know she was eavesdropping on the conversation. From the open door, she saw a very beautiful woman who was well adorned.
“We were engaged to be married, Trevor. Please don’t do this to me.”
“Lady Chloe, I’m not doing anything to you. You were the one who chose to run away with my best friend while I lay in pain after the accident you caused.”
“Trevor, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to drop the candle on the drapes as you were sleeping.”
“I don’t want to go back to that terrible day when I nearly died,” he turned away from her, fighting for control. “I was badly injured and when I regained consciousness, the first thing my valet told me was that my money and the jewellery my grandmother had left me was missing. And you were gone. Imagine my astonishment when my man brought me the newspaper and I saw your engagement and then marriage to my best friend.”
“It was a terrible mistake, and you know that Percy was the one who made me do it. He was always jealous of you, but he’s not even half the man you are, Trevor.”
“Listen, Chloe, three years ago, I would have taken you back at the drop of a hat. But now …” he shook his head, “A lot had happened in this time that we’ve been apart, and unlike Percy, I would never betray my best friend like this. You need to leave before your servants begin to talk.”
“I came here to be with you, Trevor. This can be our own little secret.”
He threw his head back and laughed, “Dear woman, you really must be out of your mind to imagine that I would do something as heinous as to get involved with a married woman.”
Beauty & the Beast: Christmas Regency Romance (A Regency Christmas Book 1) Page 3