Their Mistletoe Matchmakers

by Keli Gwyn

  “We’re practically family. You don’t have to pull out the company manners for me.”

  She gave him a look that made him wonder if he was sporting a whipped-cream mustache himself. “Although we share the same wonderful nieces and nephew, you and I are most definitely not related.”

  Her formal tone, the same one she’d used at the wedding, grated on him. “I realize I’m not up to Crowne standards, but I’m a decent fellow.”

  She took a sudden interest in her mug, running a finger around its rim. When she finally looked at him, the stiffness was gone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it as an insult. Like you, I’m aware that we come from different worlds—and different places. That’s put us at odds, whether we like it or not. But I meant what I said yesterday. I’ll work with you to see that the children are as happy as possible throughout the holidays.”

  “They’re looking forward to Thanksgiving.”

  She nodded. “You’ve seen to that.”

  Her statement sounded more like an accusation than a compliment. Could it be she was jealous of his relationship with the children? If that was the case, she had no cause for concern. He would see that they wrote to her once she returned to Philadelphia. In the meantime, he had to do something to make her feel more welcome. “Gladys shared your menu with me, but is there anything special you’d like me to make?”

  His request earned him a hint of a smile. “Since you ask, did the woman who gave you lessons teach you how to make lemon meringue pie?”

  “Of course.” Mrs. Goodfellow had been known for that particular pie. “I’ll whip one up right away.”

  Lavinia stood, mug in hand, and he shot to his feet. “I’ll go see how the children are doing.” She crossed the room, paused in the doorway and turned to face him, wearing a warm smile. “Thank you, Henry.”

  “My pleasure.” He liked seeing her happy. She would only be here a few weeks, but perhaps he could add a little joy to her life—before she faced the future and the difficult parting that was to come.

  * * *

  A tempting assortment of savory scents filled the air the following afternoon. The dining room table, although much smaller than the one at which Lavinia had eaten her Thanksgiving dinners back home, was groaning under the weight of the dishes already on it as Henry carried in yet another.

  Clad in a black cutaway coat, white shirt and white silk cravat, he looked as fine as any waiter in her father’s restaurants. He’d even draped a white linen cloth over his arm. The children, their eyes as big as their dinner plates, delighted in his performance.

  She had to admit he’d impressed her, too, both with his cooking and his appearance. More than once, she’d caught herself staring at him, which wouldn’t do. He might be an incredibly handsome man, as well as a talented one, but he was also the man intent upon exerting his rights as the children’s guardian.

  He found a spot to squeeze in the gravy boat, surveyed the spread and nodded at her. “All’s ready for your dining pleasure, milady.”

  Dot tugged on Lavinia’s sleeve. “Why did Uncle Henry call you that?”

  Alex answered before Lavinia could. “It’s what a waiter in a fancy restaurant calls a fine lady.”

  “How do you know?” Marcie asked. “You’ve never been to a place like that.”

  “My friend Frankie went to San Francisco, and he told me.”

  “Frankie fibbed. He’s never been there. His sister told me so.” Marcie gave her head a toss and stuck her pert little nose in the air.

  Gladys put a finger to her lips and frowned. “Shh. Children in fancy restaurants don’t squabble.”

  Henry removed the cloth from his arm and took his place at the head of the table.

  Lavinia waited until the children were quiet to speak. “Your uncle put a lot of work into this meal. What do you say to him?”

  The children chorused their thanks.

  She sent Henry a smile. “I’ll add my thanks to theirs. Everything looks and smells great. Would you like to say grace?”

  “I’d be happy to.” As soon as all heads were bowed, he began. “Thank You, Lord, for this meal we’re about to enjoy and the special people around this table. We think of two loved ones who are no longer with us, and we thank You that they were in our lives for as long as they were. Be with us in the year ahead, guiding us in the paths You would have us take. In Your name, I ask these things. Amen.”

  Silence followed, broken by sniffles from the girls. Even Alex swiped at his eyes. Lavinia struggled to breathe, which was not an easy task given the ache lodged in her chest. Unable to speak, she grabbed the nearest bowl, scooped some mashed potatoes and helped Dot do the same.

  Henry picked up the serving fork and carving knife. “Who wants a drumstick?” His well-timed question dispelled the fog of grief that had descended. Excited chatter soon filled the room.

  They lingered over the meal, enjoying the delectable dishes. Lavinia sampled each one. Although everything tasted good, she agreed with Marcie. Stuffing was her favorite, and Henry’s was the best she’d ever had. His cooking was on par with that of the chefs her father hired for his restaurants.

  To Lavinia’s surprise, Gladys was the last one done. She dabbed at her mouth and laid her napkin on the table. “You outdid yourself, Mr. Henry. Everything was delicious.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad you liked it. I noticed you tucked in a fair amount.”

  “I reckon that’s because food tastes better when someone else fixes it.”

  He acknowledged Gladys’s compliment with a wink. “Is anyone ready for dessert?”

  Alex shook his head. “I’m too full.”

  “Me, too.” Dot patted her stomach, producing three resounding thumps as evidence.

  “I can squeeze in one more bite of stuffing.” Marcie forked a bite, ate it and licked the tines.

  Lavinia overlooked the informality. It’s what the children were used to. There would be time enough to teach them proper etiquette when she got them back home. “I suggest we wait awhile. It’s a clear day. Perhaps the children would like to play outside, provided they put on their coats first.”

  They voiced their approval of the plan and darted out of the dining room.

  Gladys hopped up and began clearing the table, prompting Henry to stand as well. The children raced through the room and headed for the back door, with Marcie in the lead.

  Lavinia rose and reached for Dot’s plate.

  “You don’t need to do that, Miss Lavinia. I’m feeling a bit better this afternoon, and I want to help. It’s the least I can do after Mr. Henry did all the cooking. You two go on out and enjoy watching the children romp around.”

  Lavinia wasn’t eager to spend time with Henry after their talk the day before. Following the startling revelation that he was an accomplished cook, she’d left the kitchen to collect her thoughts. Before she could, he’d shown up in the parlor bearing the prettiest mug of hot cocoa she’d ever seen with artfully carved chocolate curls on top of creamy white whipped cream. If she wasn’t mistaken, he’d even added a pinch of cinnamon to the steaming beverage.

  She still couldn’t believe that he was trained by a student of Mrs. Elizabeth Goodfellow, the renowned cooking instructor who’d run the most highly regarded cooking school in the country, conveniently located in Philadelphia.

  And she, Miss Lavinia Hélène Crowne, daughter of a highly successful hotelier, couldn’t even fry an egg. If only she’d been allowed to learn some basic cooking skills, as many of her friends had, she would be able to provide meals for the children. Henry could do so, but she had to rely on Gladys.

  Henry was quick to thank Gladys for her offer of help. “I put the block of ice in a pan at the base of the pie safe and covered the door with some towels, so you can store the leftovers there.”

  Gladys sent him on
e of her rare smiles. “You made us an icebox? How clever.”

  He laughed. “You haven’t seen it yet. It’s not pretty.”

  “If it keeps the food from spoiling, I don’t care what it looks like.” Gladys entered the kitchen with a dish in each hand, leaving Lavinia alone with Henry.

  An awkward silence descended on the room.

  “Do you want—”

  “I’ll go fetch—” she said at the same time.

  He nodded at her. “Ladies first.”

  “I was going to say that I’ll get my cloak and head out back. And you?”

  “You answered my question. I was going to see if you wanted to join the children.”

  He waited in the dining room while she retrieved her cloak. They passed Gladys on their way out.

  The late November day was clear but chilly. A breeze sent crispy brown leaves from the massive oak tree somersaulting over the ground. The large limb that had trapped her was nowhere to be seen.

  “When did you find time to move the branch?”

  “I saw to that while you and Dot went to the grocer’s to pick up the spices I needed yesterday. It’s behind the shed, waiting to be cut into firewood. I’ll get the lumber and shingles tomorrow and repair the shed on Saturday, provided the weather holds.”

  The children were involved in a rousing game of tag, zigzagging across the backyard. Marcie chased after Alex with Dot not far behind. How they could run after all they’d eaten was a mystery.

  Lavinia took a seat on the porch swing, sitting to one side so there would be room for Henry. He inclined his head toward the open spot as if asking permission. She nodded. He sat and promptly pushed his feet against the floor, setting them rocking.

  She leaned back and closed her eyes, relishing the soothing motion of the swing. The children’s laughter helped drown out the distant rumble of the stamp mill at Leland Stanford’s Lincoln Mine north of town, which operated around the clock, even on holidays.

  The quest for gold drove the town and many of its inhabitants. Although Mr. Stanford’s formerly fledgling mine was now doing well, most of the men who’d come west in the hope of striking it rich had little to show for their efforts. She’d been happy that Jack had come to California prepared to ply his trade, knowing a blacksmith’s services would be in high demand. He’d done all right for himself and built a nice home for his family, a larger one than she would have expected.

  Lavinia stood and ran a hand along the wrought iron railing with its decorative pattern. The front porch had a matching railing, but the one on the staircase inside the house was even more beautiful. “This reminds me of Jack and Pauline. I can see my sister’s creative flair in the twists and curlicues, along with your brother’s fine workmanship.”

  Henry smiled. “Pauline did have an eye for design. She wanted something even more elaborate, but I had to remind her that there was a limit to my, er, a blacksmith’s abilities.” He looked away, but not before she saw his lips pressed firmly together, obviously regretting his slip.

  “I see. He was the salesman, but you did much of the work. Your talent is evident here as well as at the Crowne Jewel. Father might not have been happy about hiring Jack and having him win my sister’s heart, but he’s pleased with the job you did. Whenever he gives a tour of that hotel, he points out your artistry.”

  The swing’s chains attached to the balcony overhead creaked rhythmically as Henry kept the swing in motion. “I appreciate the compliment, but I haven’t practiced that trade in years. Long enough for these to come clean.” He held up his hands and turned them so she could see the palms and then the backs. “I can offer to shake a lady’s hand these days without offending her sensibilities.”

  She hadn’t thought about his coal-stained hands since the wedding, but his comment caused a memory to rush in. He’d held out a hand to her when she’d arrived at the Hawthorns’ home for the wedding, but she hadn’t been sure whether she should shake it or not. “My hesitation that day had nothing to do with your appearance. My mother had taught me that it was a woman’s place to make the offer, so yours gave me pause.”

  He frowned. “I see. It wasn’t the stains then but my lack of manners. It must have been hard for you to be among so many common folks who don’t put as much stock in minding their p’s and q’s as those in your social circles.”

  She straightened to her full height and lifted her chin. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do, Henry. I wanted to be at Pauline’s wedding so much that I went up against my father. He pushed back—hard—but I stood my ground. Even though I knew I’d be walking into a situation where people would pass judgment and whisper about me and my family, I didn’t let that stop me. I was prepared to stand by my sister no matter what. And I did.”

  She drew in a calming breath and released the fists she hadn’t realized she’d formed. She’d spoken without thinking, but she didn’t regret her outburst as much as she ought to. The record needed to be set straight. She might have a wealthy father, but she wasn’t unfeeling.

  “I’m glad you came. Pauline put on a brave front, but your father’s decision not to attend the wedding crushed her. I was ready to give him a piece of my mind, but she made me promise not to. She knew if I did, he wouldn’t let you come, and she wanted you there very much.”

  Her vision blurred, and she blinked to clear it. “She wasn’t just my sister. She was my best friend. I can’t believe I’ll never see her again.”

  “Why didn’t you come for a visit in all these years?”

  “I wanted to.”

  “But your father wouldn’t agree to it? That’s what Pauline told me when I asked her.”

  She turned away, gripped the railing and fought to keep the rush of memories at bay. Many times, she’d stood at the door to her father’s study with the intention of going inside and making another request, but any mention of Pauline resulted in a heated rehashing of all the ways his eldest child had failed him and a reminder that as far as he was concerned, he only had one daughter. Lavinia spun around. “If I’d had the means, I would have come.”

  Henry nodded. “Even if it meant defying him?”

  “I’d have found a way.”

  He stared at her for the longest time, his gaze passing from her head to her feet and back again. “I’m not an expert on etiquette, as you well know, but I’ve wondered about something. Your dress is pretty and reminds me of the cranberry sauce we just had. Most women who’ve lost a close family member wear black, but I’ve yet to see you in it. Why is that? I know you loved Pauline deeply, so I figure there must be an explanation.”

  She returned to the swing, sat and faced him. Although she wasn’t about to tell him how her father had insisted the entire family go into mourning after Pauline left, she could tell him how she’d chosen to honor her sister now. “She loved Christmas more than anyone I know. The tree wouldn’t even have been removed after one party, and yet she’d start talking about her plans for the next—which friends she would invite to Father’s party, what she’d wear, who she’d have make her gown. I could count on one thing, though. Her dress would be red, green or a combination of the two. She loved those colors so much that she wore them all year long. I’m wearing them in remembrance of her.”

  “I understand your reasons and admire your decision, but how will you deal with those who might question you?”

  “I’ll tell them what happened when I arrived in Sutter Creek wearing a mourning gown. I’d only been here an hour when Dot asked why I was dressed in black. Alex told her it was because their mama and papa had died. The poor dear burst into tears and sobbed for a good ten minutes, soaking my shoulder and ripping my heart to pieces. She begged me not to wear the dress ever again. I took her to my room, opened my trunks and let her go through them and pick out what she wanted me to wear. She chose the dress I have on.”

 
He brushed a hand over his sleeve. “I don’t wear a black armband for similar reasons. Dot made a fuss when I did, so I took it off. No one seems to have noticed. They haven’t mentioned it anyhow.”

  “My color choice raised some eyebrows when we went to the school for the church service this past Sunday, but to their credit, no one has said anything to me or to the children.”

  He nodded, his bright blue eyes shining with approval. “It appears the lovely Lavinia Crowne has more gumption than I gave her credit for.”

  Her? Lovely? With her unruly curls and pointed chin? She wasn’t, but it was nice to have a handsome gentleman say so. “I might not be as courageous as my adventure-seeking sister, but there are times when I’ll go after what I believe is right.”

  “I’ve seen as much. I do the same.”

  She knew that all too well. He had every intention of keeping the children here, and so far, he’d presented a stronger case than she had. A judge was sure to rule in his favor.

  But that was about to change. She was going to show Henry, the children and the people of Sutter Creek how a Crowne celebrated Christmas. When they witnessed the party she had planned, they’d realize she was capable of offering the children far more than their small-town uncle could.

  Chapter Four

  “Uncle Henry.”

  Henry dragged his gaze from the guest room window on the second floor where Lavinia had stood moments before, her eyes riveted on him as he knelt on the shed’s lean-to roof two days later. He focused his attention on his nephew, who had accepted his invitation to help with the repairs. “What, Buddy?”

  “Did I do it right?” Alex looked up, a plea for approval in a pair of blue eyes so like his father’s.

  Henry felt the familiar stab of pain that came whenever he thought of Jack. The girls had taken after Pauline with her curly brown hair. Alex’s resemblance to his father was striking, although the boy’s thick wavy locks were a shade darker than Jack’s, more coriander-colored than cumin. “You’ve done a great job lining up the lower edge of the shingle with the others in this row, but we need to leave a little room between them on the sides.”