by Hunt, Brenda
“Good night, Dulcey.” Nate watched her walk down the hall. Oh, how he liked to watch the sway of her hips. Taking a deep breath, he turned to his mother. “Well, Mother, what did you so desperately need to talk to me about?”
The countess pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes, “Don’t use that tone of voice with me, Nathaniel.”
Nate sighed. Sometimes dealing with his mother stretched his patience. She had been exceedingly difficult since he returned. She had taken an instant dislike to Dulcey and it did not bode well. She did not do well with what she considered common people.
“Yes, Mother,” he placated for the time being. He was tired and did not wish to argue. It had been a long day.
“Have you gotten a present for Abigail for Christmas? I have a new dress for her, but she will be expecting something from you as well.”
“I bought her that doll she liked before we left London. I had it packed and brought with us.” Nate walked his mother to her room. He stopped at her door. “Rest assured, Abby will have a good Christmas.”
The Countess stopped at her door her hand on the handle. “What is this meeting with this Mr. Kinley about?” Nathaniel was the heir to this place and the title, a very distant heir but the heir none the less. What did this meeting mean? She did not like it, especially since it also involved this Dulcey woman.
Nate shrugged. “I don’t know, Mother, except that he must speak with myself and Dulcey. It could be anything
anything.”
“I don’t like it. No telling what that woman influenced Lord Fergers into doing.”
Nate sighed deeply. “Mother, please.” He was tired and he did not wish to speculate on the meaning of this meeting with his mother.
“Some women, even as young as this one knows how to get an old man to do things---“
Nate interrupted, “Mother I am tired of repeating myself about your disparaging remarks concerning Dulcey. They need to stop and they need to stop, now. I will not hear you talk in that manner again. Do I make myself understood?” This was becoming too much to be anywhere near acceptable even for his mother.
The Countess pursed her lips and squinted her eyes as she looked him calculatingly. She was not about to stop, no matter what her son threatened. She did not like this Dulcey woman. No, this was far from over.
“Good night, Nathaniel.” She offered her cheek for him to kiss.
Nate barely touched her offered cheek and replied, “Good night, Mother.” He walked on to his rooms, wondering if any of his words had gotten through to her. He seriously doubted it. This was not going to be an easy Christmas.
Chapter 7
This above all: to thine own self be true.
William Shakespeare
Christmas Eve morning was bright and sunny. The snow of the past few days was quickly beginning to melt. Nate woke up early, after a rather restless night. Dreams of Dulcey had plagued his rest all through the night. Something about her had gotten under his skin. Never in his life had a woman so affected him. He was truly beginning to maybe believe the stories she told Abby about being friends with the fairies. He wondered, if they had not given her some of their fairy dust.
Nate shook his head to dispel such thoughts. As he entered the dining room, he found Dulcey already sitting at the table eating. He smiled when he saw her there. He would have several hours with her this morning. Abby would be with her governess. His mother did not usually arise before noon. He planned on enjoying this time with her.
“Good morning. I hope you slept well,” Nate said as he approached the side bar and began loading his plate. He sat down beside Dulcey as he had done the night before.
Dulcey smiled. “Good morning, Nate.” She had risen early as she always did. She had hoped Nate would not. “Yes, thank you,” she replied. She could not tell him she had tossed and turned most of the night due to dreams about him.
“Does your mother come down for breakfast?” asked Dulcey, hoping she did not. Hopefully, she would have several hours without the Countess hovering about. It was bad enough her forces were so jumbled but to add the Countess to the mix, made for a very disconcerting atmosphere. As much as she wanted peace, she knew that would not be possible.
“No, she does not. She has breakfast in her bed, sometime around noon usually,” replied Nate as he took a bite of ham.
Good, she thought. “Have my animals been brought here?” asked Dulcey. Her routine had been interrupted by coming here. As soon as she finished eating, she would check on them.
“Yes, I was told Lil John went after them yesterday and they are safely in the barn.” Nate watched her. What woman had he ever known would be worried about the animals, but Dulcey was. Today, she was dressed in a light brown straw colored wool dress. On most of the women in London, it would have looked drab, but on Dulcey it brought out the honey color of her hair and skin. She wore her hair again in a long braid that reached to the bottom of her back.
Again, Nate wondered what she would look like with her hair undone, the only thing covering her. He could feel himself responding to that vision in his mind. He shook his head to dispel those thoughts, but it was becoming more and more difficult.
“Tomorrow is Christmas day. How did you and Lord James celebrate it?”
Dulcey smiled, remembering past Christmases. Lord James had always enjoyed Christmas. She had always spent several weeks here at Brandanlyn. As a child, she always had several presents to open, a new doll, a new book, always new clothes. Most of her clothes remained here at the manor house then, just as they did now.
“We usually attended church in the morning but with still so much snow on the roads we might forgo that this year.” Nate nodded in agreement. “We usually had a large breakfast when we returned home. Sometimes when we had several guests from around the area, we had a large late luncheon instead. When it was just us, after we ate, we would sit in the green drawing room and talk.”
She still felt the pain of his loss. So much had changed since he died. And more change was coming. She just she wished she knew what. Just when she needed to be able to see what was coming her ability to see was murky and unclear. It made her uneasy. In the past, it had always meant it was something in her future, but it had never been this strange, this unreadable.
Nate nodded. It was what he had in mind. Because of the snow storm, he had decided not to invite some of his neighbors. Maybe, he would have a party of some sort later.
“Does Cook know what to prepare or shall I talk to her?” It would be better for him to talk to cook than his mother. From all reports, his mother had been up to her usual autocratic self and alienated the staff with her demands.
“I can talk to Cook for you. I did it for Lord James. Is there anything special, you or your mother would care for?” asked Dulcey. She had seen to it in the past. Lord James had insisted, saying she needed to know how to, when she ran a home of her own.
Nate gazed at her thoughtfully. She continued to surprise him. “Please do. I’m sure anything you plan will be fine. Please, tell Cook she is to take orders from you only, from now on.”
“Certainly. But your mother will want to have some say in it.”
“Mother does not always deal well with new servants. I would rather you handle it, if you don’t mind?” Hopefully, he could avoid the havoc his mother was capable of causing.
Dulcey finished eating. She wanted to check on her animals and talk to Cook and said as much.
Nate nodded and watched her walk off to the kitchen. As much as he wanted to follow her, he decided for both of their sakes it was best, he let her go alone. But he was beginning to very much like watching her walk away, watching the way her hips swayed so temptingly. He let out a sigh of frustration. How his body wanted her.
He needed to find out more about Dulcey. Perhaps, Lord Fergers kept something in his study that would explain how Dulcey was enmeshed into all of this. There had to be a reason why Lord James had provided for Dulcey as he had. He refused to think along the li
nes his mother had suggested, yet he could not help but wonder if Dulcey was not his bastard child. Much that he hated to think along those lines, it did make sense. Yes, perhaps there was a clue in his study. He would look and he would find something.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dulcey found her animals safe and very well taken care of. She knew she would. She knew Lil John would. After a short conversation with him, Dulcey went back into the house through the kitchen. She spoke with Cook and decided on the menu for Christmas, soup, roasted goose, smoked ham, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and of course plum pudding.
“Will ye be making yer gingerbread planks, miss? We all like them. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them,” said Cook.
Dulcey smiled. “I had planned on it. I was hoping to have Abby help me. We made some at the cottage and she enjoyed it so. That is, if we are not troubling you.”
Cook smiled. “Not at all, Miss Dulcey. That little one needs some mothering.” Cook then frowned. “That Countess ain’t much of one.”
Dulcey sighed in resignation. She was reluctant to disagree for she felt the same way but she would not say so in front of Cook, no matter how much she agreed.
“Would now be a good time? I’m not sure if Abby has lessons this morning.”
“Now would be fine. I do believe Miss Franny said there were no lessons planned for the next few days being Christmas and all.”
Dulcey nodded. “Good. I’ll go upstairs and fetch her. Oh, and have you seen Lord Beckham?”
Cook smiled. “He went in Lord James study right after breakfast, he did. I don’t believe he’s come out.”
Dulcey nodded again and left in search of Abby, thinking it would be good Nate was busy in Lord James study. Why she couldn’t say but it would be easier for her, if he wasn’t helping again. It only brought back memories of his kiss, something she was trying very hard to forget but with very little luck on that account.
Abby and Miss Franny were in the nursery just as Dulcey suspected. The moment she walked through the door, Abby ran to her and hugged her. “Dulcey!”
“Hello, Poppet. Good morning, Miss Franny.” Dulcey smiled and hugged Abby back in return. “I have a surprise for you, if Miss Franny says it is all right.”
“What? What?” asked Abby wiggling, unable to stand still.
“I have talked with Cook and she says it is fine with her, if we come down to the kitchen and make some more of the gingerbread planks. That is, if Miss Franny says it is all right.”
Abby faced broke out in a big smile and she clapped her hands. “Oh, please, Miss Franny. We made them at Dulcey’s house. They are so, so good. Can Miss Franny come too? Please?”
Dulcey smiled. “Of course Miss Franny can come, too. But maybe she has something she would like to do instead, since you will be with me.” Dulcey looked at Franny who nodded her head.
“I would love to join you. It sounds like a wonderful adventure,” agreed Franny. Gingerbread planks did sound delicious.
Dulcey took Abby’s hand and said, "Well, then let us adventure on.”
The three of them invaded Cooks domain. Cook had everything set up for them when they arrived. Several of the kitchen staff joined in with the making, much to everyone’s delight. Soon the kitchen had the wonderful smell of gingerbread wafting through the house along with laughter from everyone involved.
Chapter 8
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person
Is essential to your own……
Robert A. Heinlein
Nate walked out of Lord James’s study disappointed, for he had not been able to find anything that had given him any clue to his relationship with Dulcey. Maybe, Mr. Kinley would have the answers. The sweet smell of gingerbread met him in the hall as he walked out. He looked at Evers who smiled, “I know that smell. Dulcey must be in the kitchen.”
Evers nodded. “Yes, my lord, and so is Miss Abby and Miss Franny. Last time I peeked in, they were all having a grand time.”
Nate smiled, nodded and walked off toward the kitchen with a spring in his step. Thoughts of finding out about Dulcey’s relationship to Lord James pushed to the far recesses of his mind.
He pushed open the door to the kitchen. Abby had flour in her hair and on her face, but then so did Dulcey and Miss Franny. There was a pan of gingerbread planks cooling on the table with several missing. From the looks of things, the missing planks were being thoroughly enjoyed by all in the kitchen.
“Now this is not fair. The lord of the manor not invited to this party. Shame on all of you,” stated Nate trying to be stern but not being able to carry it off cause of the smile on his face.
Cook and a couple of the servants were momentarily startled, but then seeing his lordship’s smile, they relaxed.
“Oh, Uncle Nate, stop being silly. We saved one for you. We have some more in the oven, too.”
Nate laughed. “Well on that invitation, don’t mind if I do steal one.” He took one and bit into the warm gingerbread. It was just as good as he remembered. He licked his lips and looked at Dulcey, remembering licking the crumbs off her lips just a couple of days ago. He watched her blush and look away, knowing she was remembering that kiss, too.
“Delicious,” said Nate, meaning not only the gingerbread but the kiss as well.
“Indeed, my lord. It would not be Christmas without Miss Dulcey making her gingerbread,” replied Cook. All the servants in the kitchen nodded.
“Then we must keep this tradition going Cook,” replied Nate as he walked over to where Dulcey and Abby were. He flicked some flour off the end of Abby’s nose. “What do you think Poppet? Shall we keep making gingerbread for Christmas?”
Abby thought about it and pouted. “But I don’t want it just for Christmas. Can’t we have it all the time?”
Nate laughed. “We will just have to see. After all, we can’t keep Dulcey here making gingerbread all the time. Then we would get tired of the gingerbread and it wouldn’t be a treat.”
Abby looked at him and thought for a moment very seriously about it. “Maybe,” she replied, “not all the time. Just some of the time, so we don’t forget what it tastes like.”
Nate laughed. He could hear some of the staff chuckling as well. Dulcey had a smile on her face. It came to Nate. “Well then, we will just have to keep Dulcey here.” He looked at Dulcey with meaning.
Abby looked at him puzzled. “She is here.”
“That she is Poppet.”
The door suddenly opened and the countess walked in, a frown on her face. “What is going on here?” She took one look at Abby with flour all over her. “Abigail Beckham you are covered in flour. Who allowed this to happen? Miss Bennett, please take Abigail up to her room and get her cleaned up this instant. This child should not be in the kitchens. Nathaniel what are you thinking allowing this child to socialize with the servants.”
The servants scattered. Abby’s bottom lip began to quiver and tears came into her eyes. Miss Franny grabbed hold of Abby’s hand. Dulcey came to stand in front of the Countess before Nate could say anything.
“My apologies, Countess Shefley. Abby helped me make some gingerbread planks in my home while we were stranded. I thought she would like to help again. It is tradition here at Brandanlyn.” Dulcey stood in front of the Countess, shielding Abby.
“I should have known you were behind this. The daughter of an earl and my granddaughter will not associate with the servants,” stated the Countess in no uncertain terms. She would simply not allow this! And how dare this woman stand there making excuses!
Nate came and stood at Dulcey’s side. “Mother, if I remember right, who decides what Abby is allowed or not allowed to do is my decision, not yours. I see nothing wrong with Abby helping make gingerbread for Christmas. I think it is a nice tradition and I see no harm in it.”
The Countess fumed with indignation. How dare her son redress her in front of the servants! It was all that, Dulcey woman’s fault. Nathaniel had been fairly biddable b
efore, but since his tarriance in the storm with that woman, he was acting defiant. She did not like the effect this woman was having on her son. No, this had to stop.
“Miss Bennett, take Abbigail upstairs as I have instructed and you and I, Nathaniel shall talk in my drawing room, now.” She brushed passed Dulcey and totally ignored her.
Nate turned to Miss Bennett and Abby. “Go upstairs and get cleaned up, Poppet. I will talk to grandmother about this. Neither one of you are in any trouble.” He looked at Miss Bennett to reassure her. Both nodded and slowly left the kitchen.
Dulcey stood motionless, dejected. This was not going well, not well at all. It seemed as though the Countess was forever finding fault with her. She had never met a woman such as her. The forces had warned her about the Countess but they had not been very specific.
Nate came and stood before Dulcey. He raised her chin with his fingers until she looked him into his eyes. “This was not your fault.” Damn, he hated what his mother had just done. They all had been having a good time and she had come in and spoiled it all. Why was he surprised? Hadn’t she done that kind of thing all of his life? He did not want that for Abby. He wanted her to enjoy things, even the simple things.
The tenderness she saw reflected in his eyes was nearly her undoing. “I just wanted to share with Abby some of the happy memories I have had here,” explained Dulcey. She knew Abby had had a hard time not having a mother. She could relate to that. But she had people who cared about her, Grammy and Lord James. She wondered who cared for Abby. Nate did, but was it enough?
“I know. I am very grateful for that. I’m new at this parenting thing and I didn’t exactly have the best of teachers,” he replied, thinking of his mother.
Dulcey nodded. She turned to Cook. “Will you see to the rest of the gingerbread?”