The Wrong Earl For Christmas

by Rebecca Dash

  “You there!” shouted Mr. Harris. “What are you doing here? I see you. I know who you are!”

  Her father leaned so far out of the second floor window it looked as if he wanted to leap from it to get at the intruder. Mrs. Harris grabbed onto her husband, struggling to pull him back inside.

  Then Gareth was gone. He vanished into the night as suddenly as he had arrived. They didn’t have a proper goodbye. His anguished expression was enough to know how he felt about the answer. Now Elizabeth had to sit and wait for her father to come see her. She would have to listen to his wrath. And this time there would be no one else to run to. She could not escape this nightmare of a life. Not even with Gareth anymore.

  Chapter 6

  The Wishful

  Elizabeth felt the satin of the red dress she would wear for the Christmas Eve party. It was smooth and cool to the touch. Golden hellebore flowers were embroidered down its center line with swirls of golden ivy at its sides. The dressmaker created it especially for the occasion.

  “No one will attend a finer party,” said her mother. “And your gown will be the talk of it.”

  There were only a few days left until Christmas Eve, the night when Elizabeth would meet the man she would give her life, mind, body, and spirit to. The trollish man from Lortan. Hopefully she would learn to love him in time. That was all there was left to do now. She had not heard anything from Gareth since he came to her window. Her brother had even come by to offer his sympathy when he found out about the news of Father catching them in such an awkward situation. Elizabeth didn’t have enough tears for what happened. Was that the last time she would ever see him? Lord Bainford wouldn’t be welcome at the party after that. Was that really their final, short goodbye?

  Elizabeth had been confined to the house since that night. It wasn’t fair. Her father had no right to keep her imprisoned to await her most dreadful day. Yet he had every reason to. She would have escaped to find Gareth again. She would have kissed him and held him as long as it was possible. Who knew what was right anymore? Elizabeth still thought running away with him would be a scandal her family could never forgive her for. But was staying in their good graces worth her entire life?

  Charles was the only one giving her any information about Gareth, but anything he mentioned only seemed to add to her unhappiness. He told her that their parents had paid a visit to Lord Bainford. What they all spoke about exactly was kept between them. Mrs. Harris, especially, loved her secrets. Gareth was probably ready to move on.

  Elizabeth could not believe he would give up after what had passed between them. She blamed herself for that. Rejection by starlight is the worst kind of all. But the thought of him wrapping his arms around another woman the way he wrapped them around her made the ground underneath wobble and shake. As she sat in the parlor, examining that Christmas gown, she could only stare at it filled with despair.

  “It is perfect,” said her mother. “You should have the maid take it up to your room until the big day. I think so, at least. It needs to be kept safe.”

  “From what?”

  “Random acts of tea.”

  Elizabeth nodded without lifting her gaze from the floor. “I want to go outside.”

  “Your father was specific in his instructions.”

  “You cannot expect me to stay trapped in this house. It is not right.”

  Mrs. Harris sighed. “Things would be so much easier if you were not such a willful girl.”

  “I am who I must be, Mother.”

  “Very well. I will go with you then.”

  “I want to leave alone. It will be a quicker stroll that way.”

  Her mother looked at her through squinted eyes, with lips pinched together. “I am not so old I cannot keep up with your pace.”

  “I did not mean that.”

  “I know exactly what you meant. Perhaps you would rather have Charles escort you to your destination?”

  “She will just run off anyway,” he said, looking disinterested in the task.

  “Thank you, Charles! I shall be back soon.” Elizabeth rushed out of the room before anyone could object.

  “Do not stray too far from home,” Mrs. Harris called after her. “You may not like what you find.”

  Elizabeth raced through the snow in simple shoes that were never meant for such a use. She was so excited to be free of the house she didn’t want to take the time to change them, and might have frozen completely without her long redingote. She ran toward town until the exertion and the cold wind took her breath away and there was nothing left to do but slow down. That old, broken building was there in the distance by then, beyond the bare branches of the tree line.

  What if he isn’t there? That thought did not cross her mind until she was within throwing distance of the stone walls. It had been almost a week since she had last seen him. Had Gareth been to the library at all since then? Did he go there every day, waiting for no one? Maybe he didn’t even try. The thought struck a chord inside her that destroyed all enthusiasm.

  Elizabeth climbed through the window. Once inside, what she found was worse than anything she could ever have imagined. The place had been cleaned out. Nothing was there. Nothing at all. The toy swords, the old books, the cache of souvenirs and drawings in the corner had disappeared. It was as if someone came through and wiped all she held onto out of her grasp.

  She fell to her knees. There was nothing left of the life she once knew there. Not even a bookshelf inside anymore. Her tears fell on the cold floor, more pieces of her soul to leave in that room. The wind blew hard against the broken window and it rattled behind her. Elizabeth was truly alone. It was an odd feeling, and not what she expected it to be. She was free of everything then. Free to cry and remember as much as she wanted. Even with the room so empty, it still smelled the same. The remnants of the old book pages mixed with dust and stone. Elizabeth fought to stand up. If they took all her memories, she would just have to make new ones somehow.

  ***

  Gareth meandered toward the library door. It had been open to him for several days. It wasn’t anywhere near as fun as climbing through the window, but more practical for the task. His footmen had already taken the last of the things in the room away, just as Mrs. Harris requested when Elizabeth’s parents paid him a visit. They all sat in his study and spoke of matters too serious for the time of day. The woman had a lot of bold requests.

  “My daughter has too many memories there,” she said. “Do not let her go back to them. That is not a proper strategy for moving forward.”

  “Forgetting the past is the surest method of making the same mistakes.”

  “And is it a mistake we are making with her? Do you want to be the man who slashes wooden swords with Elizabeth forever, Lord Bainford? That can only be someone who stands in her way.”

  “I would gladly stand in the way of some things. I would like to be the man who marries her.”

  “That was a fine plan you had to reveal your intentions then.” Mr. Harris raised his voice. “Turning up at her window in the dead of night. I am most annoyed that my rifle was not in quick reach.”

  His wife put her hand on his arm and he calmed.

  “That visit was inappropriate,” said Mrs. Harris. “Things are not done in such a manner.”

  Gareth considered his answer. “It is inappropriate for you to force Elizabeth into a marriage she does not want. I have seen the man you have chosen for her to marry and I can promise you he will never make her happy.”

  “Are you sure of what you saw, Lord Bainford? Are you certain of anything except your own impulsive action?”

  They spoke for over an hour in the study.

  Gareth stood outside the abandoned library, leaning against the side of it. A gust of wind chilled him thoroughly. He did not know why he came back. The work had already been completed. Perhaps it was for one more look at the place.

  The sound of movement from inside awakened him from the trance. He was back in the present, and someone
was there. He and his footmen were the only souls in the library for days. Except once when Charles stopped by to review what was left of their memories. He didn’t take anything with him though. It was time to move on. That is what everyone must do.

  Gareth pushed himself away from the building and opened the door half way. He was ready to leave the past behind. Shuffling and scraping sounds came from inside the library. He peeked in to see, squinting against the darkness.

  “Hello?” he called out.

  “Who is there?” A sweet voice called back, almost like it was a dream.

  It could not be her. Mr. Harris had forbidden his daughter to leave their home. Gareth had to be just hearing her voice again, like an echo of what was once there. With each gust of wind he would hear it. A laugh in the distance made him imagine her smiling, dimpled cheeks.

  “Elizabeth?” he whispered.

  There was no response. Lord Bainford thought he might be going insane. Nothing between them had worked out as he wanted. He didn’t know how it had come to this point. He had avoided her, cleared the library of all their memories, and there was nothing left. It was horrible to do all that behind her back.

  Footsteps were soft on the floor as Elizabeth stepped out of the shadows at the other side of the room. Gareth gulped hard. He tried to make his breathing steady as he came inside. Her face was young and beautiful. At one time it was full of hope, but that was gone. He reached out to her, and she placed her hands inside his. Gareth had no words, only dreams to keep him going.

  “I cannot believe I found you here,” she said. “I must look a mess from the run over.”

  “I like it.”

  “You enjoy ladies who are a wreck?”

  “You are always beautiful. That is what I enjoy.”

  They stood there staring into each other’s eyes, not saying anything at all. Words can hurt. Being together in silence never would. She smiled, and he tried to commit it to memory exactly as it was. Elizabeth loved the way he stared at her. Neither one could determine how much time had passed. Her father would surely look for her if she did not return.

  “I am so happy to find you again,” she finally said. “I do not know what I would do if I had to face this alone.”

  “It seems we always find each other. But there is nothing to face. It is just an empty room.”

  “Is that all it is to you? Someone has destroyed our secret place.”

  He wanted to kiss her. Maybe the last kiss they would ever have. Maybe all he could do to stop her from asking questions he did not want to answer. She began to cry. It was difficult to watch.

  “I have no wish to lie to you,” he said.

  “We never have before.”

  Gareth opened his mouth, but no words came out.

  “What is it?” she said.

  “I had everything removed.”

  Elizabeth pulled her hands away. “You? You did this? But why?”

  “Your parents asked me to. They wish for nothing to prevent you from moving forward in your obligations.”

  “Moving forward and marrying a vile man? And this was your response, Lord Bainford? To destroy the precious few memories we have left?”

  “I could never destroy our memories. They are with us forever, in our hearts. This is just a room.”

  Her tears fell faster. It stung him sharply.

  “A room we played in as children,” she said. “Our secret place. A room we met in as adults and shared every part of our lives with each other. Perhaps the room we fell in love in. And you tore it apart because my parents asked you to.”

  “There are things you do not understand.”

  “I understand it all perfectly well, my lord. After all the years that have passed between us and all your wonderful words, you are nothing more than a pawn in my destruction.”

  “I would go away before I ever did that. I would leave.”

  “Then do so now. But go to the devil instead.”

  As his lips parted, she turned away without another word and climbed through the window for the final time. He could only stand in their abandoned library, wishing that happiness may find her one day. And perhaps find him as well.

  Gareth walked home with slow, dragging steps, kicking snow. The hope of running away with Elizabeth Harris was lost. The dream of ever having her in his arms again was only a fairy tale like the books he’d once read with her as children. Did he make the right decision? Was the library all they had left to share from now until forever? Was there any way of ever knowing how things would turn out in this world?

  Chapter 7

  Happy Christmas

  Christmas Eve had come all too quickly. But as painful as Elizabeth expected it to be, the day was far from it. She always had the spark of happiness somewhere inside her for the season. It kept her going. Even though the emotional turmoil she had experienced over the last few weeks would take years to recover from, she could smile through it for the celebration. She had to try her best to, anyway.

  Most of the guests had already arrived. The house was decorated and full of cheer downstairs. She was still in her room, getting ready to make an appearance, as she was expected to. Getting ready to meet the man who she would spend the rest of her life with.

  Elizabeth looked out her window at the carriages that still rolled in. Everyone from children to elders stepped out. Snow fell over them all. The entire town seemed to want to attend their Christmas Eve celebration. Except for Gareth. He was the only one she wanted to see, despite the fight they had. Maybe just to fight with him again. She still felt betrayed even if her heart longed for him. Their relationship had gone from friendship to love, and from love to being strangers. That was the best term for them. Elizabeth did not know the man anymore, the one who would side with her parents against her about this. She let out a deep sigh, and it made her eyes water and her lips quiver as if their fight had just taken place.

  There was a knock at the door that threw her thoughts off. Elizabeth pulled silk gloves snug on her fingers as she called out. Her brother entered the room. She could hear all the chatter downstairs as soon as he opened the door.

  “Will you be ready soon? Everyone is waiting for the hostess,” said Charles.

  “Did they send you in to check on me? Mother already wanted to argue about my hair. She was exasperated by the time she left.”

  Charles glanced at the half-braided bun that her maid had created.

  “No one sent me. And you look ravishing,” he said.

  “No critiques from you?”

  “I never have an opinion on a woman’s hair. It is an area I know little about. I can only look on in amazement at whatever has been done.”

  “I do not know if that makes you a wise man or a coward.”

  “They are frequently the same thing. Are you ready to make an appearance at the party you organized?”

  “It was like planning my own festive funeral.”

  “Elizabeth, please listen to me. The house is decorated perfectly. Our guests are enjoying themselves. The syllabub is spectacular. And we are going to light the Yule log soon.”

  “And my future husband?”

  “He is downstairs, waiting to greet you.”

  A ball of anger inside her grew. Several seconds went by. It felt longer. Someone laughed merrily downstairs. A cool breeze came through the window that tickled her face and made her turn toward it. The room grew smaller as the walls seemed like they were closing in. Elizabeth had to get out of there. She took a step toward the opening. It was the only solution. She could climb down and be gone.

  “I know what you are thinking,” said Charles.

  “Are you going to stop me?”

  “No. I will not even tell our parents about it. The decision is yours. But Lord Bainford will not be there. Why go back to a library that has been cleared out already? There aren’t even memories left.”

  “I still remember. And I am ready to run away with him now, if he will still have me. There may be a chance he is
there.”

  “On Christmas Eve? I know you convinced him to make a cake of himself all throughout Lortan, but even he has better things to do than stand around in abandoned structures today.”

  She turned away from the window. Her brother was right.

  “Children run away, Elizabeth. And your guests have arrived. Come downstairs and, at least, meet the man that our mother has matched you with. She did not do too badly with me.”

  “But I have heard horrible things about him.”

  “The choice is yours. But if you keep running when will you ever stop?”

  Elizabeth was silent.

  Charles nodded, then turned to leave. “I hope you come downstairs, my dear sister. It is Christmas Eve.” He closed the door behind him.

  She watched the snow fall outside.

  ***

  Elizabeth stood at the top of the stairs. Wreaths tied with red ribbon hung on the wall all the way down. Someone played a lively violin below. People spoke happily. Boots clapped the floor in a random, spontaneous dance. She took a deep breath before descending. Charles was there with his wife at the bottom.

  “I thought you would have piked off by now,” he smiled.

  “I almost did,” said Elizabeth. “But a cup of syllabub sounds wonderful right now. Several, perhaps.”

  “Do not be so glum,” said Melony. “It is a celebration. And you look wonderful in that dress.”

  The house was filled with guests and cheer. Elizabeth wished she could help the way she felt or the expression that had taken over her face. She drifted through the crowd toward the refreshment table, but stopped in the middle of the room near the tree.

  It was magnificent. Strings of almonds and raisins were tied around it. Flowers made of colored paper were nestled in its branches. Dolls sat in its nooks. Fruits and sweet meats hung from it in nets. Small candles of various hues lit the entire thing like a glowing beacon of hope. Father had indeed managed to fit a shining, silver star on top. Elizabeth had helped to decorate the tree, but seeing it lit in all its glory took her breath away.