Snowbound Fairy Christmas

by Hunt, Brenda

Dulcey was not surprised by the information Peggy stated. She was curious. “What is her maid asking about?”

  “Mainly now about you. Wants to know everything we know about you and Lord James. Some of the things she be asking, suggesting, they aren’t very nice, miss.” Peggy looked away.

  “Like what Peggy?” asked Dulcey, yet, she knew what she was looking for.

  “Now, miss Dulcey, them too ugly to even say again.” Peggy did not want to repeat the questions that were asked. She would not upset Miss Dulcey with that ugliness. Everyone who worked here at Brandanlyn knew what that maid said was not true.

  “Besides Mr. Evers set her straight, he did. Told her if she ever said anything of the sort again, she was not welcome in the servants’ quarters and when she asked about her meals, he told her he didn’t care if she ever ate again. And he told her if she went complaining to the Countess, he’d be telling his lordship. His lordship has threatened to ship the Countess back to Shefley Hall,” explained Peggy.

  Dulcey closed her eyes in pain. No wonder, the Countess did not like her, if Nate was threatening all of this. She must try to get along with Lady Shefley, at least for the next few days. After her meeting with Mr. Kinley, she would go back home. It was too difficult being this close to Nate. Once back at the cottage, her life would go back to normal, to what it was like before Nate and Abby wondered into her life. Why was it, her heart did not believe a word her head was telling her? Nothing would be normal ever again.

  “We must be nice to the Countess. I feel she is a very unhappy person,” said Dulcey.

  “Humph!” replied Peggy. “Tis no reason to make everyone else’s life miserable.”

  “It’s Christmas, Peggy. Let’s try.”

  Peggy nodded. “Yes, Miss Dulcey. For you, I will do this.”

  “Thank you.”

  Dulcey looked at her reflection in the mirror. Peggy had done an exceptional job with her hair. She had braided it then wrapped it around her head like a coronet. Her dress of soft dark blood red velvet was trimmed in gold braid about the hem and end of her long sleeves. It hugged her body. The gold ribbon tied under her waist hung mid-way down the front of her dress. She wore red kid leather slippers on her feet. Peggy handed her the gold and red shawl to wrap about her shoulders.

  She wondered why she had dressed as she had. Could it be the conversation of Lady Shefley last evening, criticizing her inability to be presentable to London society? Lord James had always told her, she would be acceptable wherever she went. No, it was Christmas, she wanted to be at her best.

  “You look lovely. We miss him, too. Merry Christmas, miss.”

  Dulcey smiled with tears in her eyes. “Yes. Merry Christmas, Peggy.”

  Dulcey walked down the hall. She met Abby and Miss Franny at the head of the stairs.

  “Merry Christmas, Dulcey!” She skipped to Dulcey’s side and grabbed her hand.

  Dulcey smiled. “Merry Christmas, Abby. Merry Christmas, Miss Franny.”

  “Merry Christmas, Miss Dulcey.”

  “I have a present for you, Dulcey,” said Abby as she tugged Dulcey by the hand, down the stairs.

  “You do?” asked Dulcey. “I’ll let you in on a secret,

  secret, Poppet. I have one for you, too.”

  Abby eyes widened and a huge smile crossed her face. “Can I open it now?”

  Nate stood at the bottom of the stairs and watched the trio come down the stairs. Dulcey took his breath away. The red of her dress brought out the green in her eyes, the gold trim, the gold of her hair. He could feel his body responding to her. He was grateful the pants he wore today were not tight. Otherwise, everyone would know how he lusted after her. Damn, she stirred his blood. Last night’s restless sleep did not help. How many times had he awakened with dreams of Dulcey? With dreams of her body under his.

  Reining in the direction of his thoughts, he turned to Abby. “No, Poppet, presents will be opened after breakfast. After your grandmother comes down.”

  Abby frowned. “She takes forever.”

  Nate smiled. “We shall see, Poppet.” He turned, “Merry Christmas, Miss Franny. Merry Christmas, Dulcey.”

  “Merry Christmas, Lord Beckham,” replied Miss Franny and smiled.

  Dulcey felt Nate’s eyes devour her. She looked away and replied softly. “Good morning, my lord. Merry Christmas.”

  Nate raised an eyebrow in question. When had she changed and stopped calling him by his name? He remembered she had called him such last night as well. He offered Dulcey his arm.

  Dulcey hesitated for a moment, then placed her arm through his. When his hand covered hers, she felt the sensation deep within her. Why did he make her feel so?

  Nate felt her hand tremble against his arm. He smiled. He was not going to let the fact that she was beneath his social status ruin this day. This was Christmas and he planned on enjoying every minute of it. Tomorrow, he would deal with all that, just not today. Today, he wanted Abby and Dulcey to have a good Christmas.

  Miss Franny helped Abby at the sideboard load her plate and sit at the table.

  Dulcey followed after she put some ham, eggs and toasted bread on her plate. She was not very hungry this morning. She watched as Nate sat down at the head of the table his plate piled high with food.

  Nate looked at Abby. “Take your time eating, Poppet.”

  “But Uncle Nate, you said we could open presents after breakfast.”

  Nate chuckled, glad to see Abby was being anxious to open presents as any child would. He worried about her. “I know Poppet, but the waiting is the most fun.”

  Abby looked at him through narrowed eyes and shook her head. She didn’t understand what Uncle Nate was talking about. Unwrapping the presents was the best part.

  “I promise you, we will open presents.”

  Abby sighed and ate slower.

  “Dulcey says she has a present for me, too”

  Nate raised his eyebrow. Dulcey had not been able to leave the house due to the snow so where had she gotten a present?

  “I’ll explain later,” she replied with a smile.

  Nate nodded. “How did you spend your Christmases here, Dulcey?”

  Dulcey smiled as she remembered past Christmases. She entertained them with stories of times she had spent here, of some of the gifts Lord James had given her

  Nate listened and saw the love in her eyes when she talked about Lord James. A knot of jealousy grew in his stomach. What was their relationship? All the innuendoes his mother had instilled in his head reared their ugly head to make him question Dulcey’s relationship. But something didn’t make any sense. From the information Simmons had supplied to him, Dulcey lived here from a small child. That could only mean she was his illegitimate daughter. How would that affect him?

  Could he marry a baron’s bastard child? Where had that thought come from? Marriage? He looked at Dulcey differently.

  “We’ve finished eating, Uncle Nate. Can we go open presents now?” interrupted Abby.

  “We’ll see, Poppet. Let’s all of us go to the green room and I will send someone upstairs to check on your Grandmother.”

  Abby grabbed hold of Miss Franny’s hand and pulled her out of the dining room.

  Nate rose and offered his arm once again to Dulcey. The touch of her hand on his arm felt right. If he stayed at Brandanlyn, what would it matter who Dulcey was related to? According to Simmons, Dulcey was well liked here. It would not matter to them.

  Dulcey walked to green drawing room in silence. She felt Nate, no, Lord Beckham, she told herself, was deep in thought. At the open doorway, he stopped for a moment.

  Abby giggled. “Look up Uncle Nate.”

  Nate looked up to see the mistletoe they had hung yesterday. Here he was again with Dulcey at his side, standing under the mistletoe.

  “You have to kiss her again,” encouraged Abby.

  Dulcey looked up to Nate and saw the raw passion in his eyes. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions. The forces that a
lways surrounded her, protected her were as tangled as the wool before she combed it. She wanted to, no, needed to take her time and sort through all these feelings but Nate’s nearness seemed to be cause of all those tangles.

  “You have to kiss her Uncle Nate,” said Abby impatiently.

  “Yes I do, don’t I?” replied Nate. He could see the confusion but he could also see the desire flare in her eyes. He lowered his lips and claimed Dulcey’s slowly, drinking in the sweet taste of her. Marriage to Dulcey meant he could have her, every sweet part of her. Being Lord James bastard child should not interfere with marrying her. Reluctantly he released her lips realizing, he could have her after all.

  Dulcey looked up mesmerized by the look in his eyes. Her breathing was shallow, her heart wanting to beat out of her chest. She felt hot and cold all at the same time. She was so glad he had a strong hold of her because she had little doubt she could have stood on her own.

  “Nathaniel, what is going on here?” demanded the Countess as she walked up.

  Nathaniel raised his eyes in frustration.

  Abby giggled. “Uncle Nate kissed Dulcey. He had to. They walked under the mistletoe, Grandmother. It’s tadditon.”

  “Tradition,” corrected the Countess automatically. She clenched her fist at her side in vexation. This relationship was developing much too fast. It needed to stop. It needed to stop now. She needed to get that woman out of this house. “Yes, well, Nathaniel, tradition or not, there is Abbigail in the room. You need to think about the decorum of the situation,” admonished the Countess.

  “But Grandmother, Uncle Nate has his decorum. He has his pants on.”

  Nathaniel tried desperately not to laugh, but the laughter could not be held in as he looked first at Dulcey, then at Abby.

  Dulcey placed her hand over her mouth to stop the laughter that tried to bubble out. The Countess walked over to Abby and looked from Dulcey to Nate in confusion.

  “What is Abbigail talking about?” questioned Lady Shefley curtly.

  Nate turned to his mother with a smile still on his face. “A misunderstanding, mother.”

  “I would like an explanation, a detailed explanation.”

  “Not now, Mother. It’s Christmas and Abby has been waiting patiently to open presents.”

  Lady Shefley looked from one to the other through narrowed eyes. Something had happened at that cottage and she was determined to find out what. What was this about Nathaniel having his pants on?

  Nate watched as his mother walked into the room and sat down in the large dark green winged chair like a queen sitting on her throne. Nate shook his head. She would never change and that frightened him. But this was Christmas day and not the time to deal with it. “Ah, Evers shall I light the yule log. Do you have a bit of last year’s one?”

  “Of course, my lord. I’ve prepared it so you have but to light it.”

  “Good,” replied Nate. He made a big production with the lighting of the yule log, getting Abby to assist him.

  “Can we open presents now, Uncle Nate?’

  Nate rubbed his chin, deep in thought, then turned to Abby with a big smile, “Yes, Poppet. I think you have waited long enough.”

  Abby clapped her hands. “Where are them?”

  “Abigail I suggest you calm down,” corrected the Countess from her chair.

  Nate eyes narrowed. How could one person take the joy out of so many things? “Mother we are about to open presents. Allow Abby some excitement.” He turned to Abby. “That one with the red ribbon over there, I believe it has your name on it. Why don’t you get it and bring it here.”

  Abby ran to where Nate pointed and carried the gift

  back to where she sat her eyes wide with anticipation.

  “Go on, Poppet, open it,” said Nate.

  Abby tore the paper apart and squealed with delight when the doll became visible to her. “It’s the one in the window.” She hugged it tight. She ran to Nate and hugged him tight. “I love her! I love her!”

  Nate hugged her back. Watching her, filled his heart with joy. He was truly beginning to like this family life. It had is moments. “I thought you would.”

  “What do you say when you get a gift, Abigail?” admonished the Countess.

  Abby looked at her grandmother, then turned to her uncle, and gave him the biggest smile, “Thank you, Uncle Nate.”

  “You are very welcome, Poppet.”

  Leta, the countess’s maid walked in with a present and gave it to the countess. She nodded to the countess as she handed the gift to her.

  So this was Leta, thought Dulcey. She was thin, dressed all in black, her gray hair pulled tight in a bun at the back of her head making her hawkish nose more pronounced.

  Dulcey met Leta’s dark beady eyes when she looked at her. She felt a shiver, a disturbance in the force, but it was gone so quickly Dulcey shook her heard in perplexity. So many things lately with her force were muddled. This was another time when she couldn’t trust herself. These feelings were new and strange to her, not being able to trust the forces about her.

  “Abigail, come to your grandmother.”

  Abigail walked slowly to her grandmother her new doll held tightly in her arms.

  Nate came to her side. “Give me your new doll to hold.”

  “Here is my gift.”

  Abby took the package from the Countess and open it slowly. Abby pulled out a new dress of light pink and pair of shoes to match. Abby smiled. “Thank you Grandmother.”

  Lady Shefley nodded.

  “That’s a lovely dress, Abby,” said Dulcey. “I think that’s a big girl’s dress and such a pretty color. You will need a special occasion to wear it.”

  “Yes, indeed and you will need to save me a dance on your dance card,” teased Nate.

  Abby giggled. “I can’t dance, Uncle Nate.”

  “Oh well, then I will just have to wait until you grow up.”

  “Nonsense. That is a long time from now. There is no need to talk about that now. Well, now that gifts have been opened, you may go upstairs with Miss Bennett and play with your new doll,” dismissed Lady Shefley.

  “But Uncle Nate, I haven’t given Dulcey her Christmas present,” cried Abby looking from Nate to Dulcey.

  Nate turned to his mother. “We are not finished opening gifts, mother. If you do not wish to stay then you are free to go back up to your suite. Abby has something for Dulcey.”

  Lady Shefley shuddered in distaste. “Nathaniel, boxing day is tomorrow. Do not confuse the child.”

  Nate blew a long breath out in suppressed anger. He had to remind himself this was Christmas Day. “Dulcey is a guest in this house and not a servant. Please remember that fact, Mother. ”

  “So you say.”

  She looked at Dulcey with a look that Dulcey interpreted as the Countess considered one of the servants.

  “Yes, I so say.” Nate looked at her through narrowed eyes till she dropped her gaze in surrender. He turned to Abby with a smile, “Get your gift for Dulcey, Poppet. I am sure she is dying to know what you have for her.”

  Abby looked at her grandmother who was looking at Dulcey.

  “Go on now, Abby. Get your gift for Dulcey,” encouraged Nate. He gave her a wink and a nod.

  Abby smiled and moved to Miss Franny’s side. She took the package handed her and presented it to Dulcey like it was something of great value.

  Dulcey took Abby’s gift tenderly in her hands. The smile of pride on her face touched Dulcey’s heart. If she could have a wish for Christmas, then she, Dulcey, would wish to make Abby her little girl. But it was not to be.

  Carefully, Dulcey unwrapped her gift. It was a hand drawn picture. Immediately, she recognized three stick people, a cottage and snow. She smiled at Abby. “Oh, Abby, I love it.”

  Abby grinned. “It me and you and Uncle Nate at your house in the snow,” said Abby as she pointed to each and every thing she had drawn.

  “Yes, I can see it all. You did such a good job. I could see r
ight away what it was,” complimented Dulcey. She would treasure it always as a reminder of this time. She felt the tears gather in her eyes.

  “What’s the fuss all about? It’s just a child’s drawing,” stated the Countess.

  Nate threw his mother a look of disdain. Must she always be so condescending.

  Dulcey gave her a look of annoyance. The countess could say anything she wanted about her, but to berate Abby was unpardonable. Dulcey hugged Abby tightly. “Darling, I shall treasure it always. I know exactly where I will put it.”

  “Where?” asked Abby.

  “On my mantle, so I can see it every day. Now, it is my turn to give you my gift.” Dulcey rose and walked over to behind the brown chair near the window. She removed a small package and handed it to Dulcey.

  Abby slowly unwrapped the gift. She looked up in wonder with a large smile on her face as she pulled the pendant from the velvet lined box. “For me?”

  Dulcey smiled. “Yes, darling. It’s a moonstone. It was given to me when I was a little girl. It will protect you and bring you luck,” explained Dulcey. She knew Abby would be the closest thing to a child she would ever have.

  “By the fairies?” asked Abby, her eyes wide with awe.

  Dulcey had not thought of it being from the fairies but it had come from Grammy.

  “Fairies aren’t real, Abigail. And I’m afraid Abigail can’t accept the gift. It is too much for a child. Frankly, I don’t see how you can afford something this costly,” said Lady Shefley vexed that this young woman constantly instilled herself into her family. How dare she!

  Abby looked to Nate, crestfallen. She did not want to give Dulcey’s present back. It came from Dulcey and her fairies. It was special.

  “Mother,” admonished Nate.

  Dulcey interrupted. She was not going to allow the Countess to ruin this for her or Abby. “It is something given to me by my Grammy. It is my decision to give it to who I want to. I chose to give it to Abby.” She looked from the Countess to Nate. She was adamant about this.

  Nate nodded. “Mother, Dulcey is right. I see nothing wrong with giving Abby this pendant, if she so wishes. It is very thoughtful of her.”

  “I want to keep my fairy necklace,” cried Abby.