by Hall, Karen
“How very kind of you,” she said, taking it from him. “Thank you.”
“There you are, Mr. Clark.” Priscilla Honeywell’s voice behind Grayson interrupted any further conversation. “Grandpapa’s carriage is here and he doesn’t like the horses to get cold. Shall we go?”
“My friend needs another letter,” Grayson said suddenly, looking at Holly. “Might I call on you Monday at three o’clock?” Even if I get to see you at tomorrow s’ rehearsal, it’s not the same as being alone with you. At least I’ll get to kiss you again.
Her eyes widened. “Was the first one successful?”
“Immensely so,” Grayson said, offering up a silent prayer for forgiveness. It isn’t really a lie, Lord, but a future truth. At least I hope it will be. Might I have a little help from You in this matter?
“If you wish,” she said, placing her gloved hand on Theo’s arm. “Three o’clock Monday afternoon.”
“Monday afternoon,” Grayson repeated, watching the elegant pair depart the room. A gentle throat clearing reminded him of the young woman by his side, and holding back a sigh, Grayson turned to give his attention to Miss Priscilla Honeywell.
Chapter Four
“‘As countless are the stars in the heavens, none have the brilliance of your eyes. Neither does the brightest of diamonds match it. One look from you and I am stunned into silence, tongue--tied, unable to force even the smallest of words from my lips. But know this, dearest of ladies, one word from you, and I am yours forever.’“
Grayson looked up from the page lying on Miss Chamberlain’s desk. To hold it would give away the trembling of his hands. “What do you think?”
Those brilliant eyes sparkled back at him. “Your friend is obviously a student of Shakespeare,” she commented.
“Why do you say that?”
“‘Brevity is the soul of wit,’“ she quoted. “Or to paraphrase, in declaring one’s love. And in this case, saying just enough,and not going on and on and on is far more effective in getting the point across. than pages and pages of praise.”
“I shall tell him you think so,” Grayson promised, silently congratulating himself for running out of words. “May I read the next one?”
“Yes, indeed.” Miss Chamberlain put aside the filled page and reached for a blank sheet of paper from the stack. “You may begin, Mr. Clark.”
Grayson cleared his throat. “Ah, there is one other thing, Miss Chamberlain.”
“Yes?”
Dear Lord, if this isn’t a good idea, please shut me up now. “Since we are spending so much time together in rehearsals, would you think it too forward of me to ask you to call me by my Christian name?”
Color flooded her face, and Grayson’s heart sank. “Oh, dear,” he said. “I’ve offended you. I do beg your pardon.”
Her sudden soft laugh erased his fears. “Not at all,” she said. “I was hoping you would ask me that very thing. After all, we are friends, after a fashion, are we not? Friends call each other by their given names. I will call you Grayson if you promise to call me Holly.”
“I would be honored to name you as my friend,” Grayson said. “If you don’t think your father will mind.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Papa is far too forward thinking to mind such a thing.”
“Good,” Grayson declared, with an inward sigh of relief. “Good.”
“And now for your friend’s third letter?”
Nodding, Grayson took out another sheet of paper from his folder and squinted at it. “I really must say something to my friend about his handwriting.”
“You must be a friend indeed if you can make out his squiggles,” she said playfully.
“One can only hope,” Grayson said. “Let me see. ‘Your smile’s warmth is more than a thousand suns, and yet I am not burned. To stand in its glow is all one could hope for, for it brings me into your radiance, and being so close, brings me joy, fairest and most beloved of ladies.’“
He read very slowly, pausing to give her time to write down his words. The only sound in the room came from the tall clock in the corner, the silent chirp of the second hand whispering away the seconds. Holly’s fingers curled around the pen and she had to swallow hard before saying, “I do believe that it is quite the loveliest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“He means it most sincerely.”
Holly lifted her gaze from the paper before her to find Grayson’s amber eyes staring intently at her. “I hope his lady responds in kind,” she said at last. “You are sure he is a man of good character?”
“He tries to be.” A husky note had entered Grayson’s voice. “A man can only do his best. Holly, I— that is to say—”
The door banged opened without so much as a knock, and Theo Barrett strode inside. Flakes of snow rested on the shoulders of his black overcoat and he dusted them off with a leather gloved hand.
“Sorry to interrupt, Grayson,” he said casually, pulling up a chair to Holly’s desk. “But I’ve news for Holly that won’t wait.”
“Well then, tell us!” Holly sent what she hoped was a sympathetic glance in Grayson’s direction.
The barrister’s chest seemed to swell by at least six inches. “I’ve been made a partner in the firm of Hinkle, Tyler and Ellis,” he boasted. “Youngest man ever to do so!”
“Theo, that’s wonderful!” Holly did not have to pretend to sound proud of him. He was a nice man, even if he was a bit stuffy and opinionated. He was a barrister after all, and a very nice-- looking one too. But somehow Holly could not see him acting as a messenger for a lovelorn friend.
“And so I’ve come to take you to the Palm Court for high tea to celebrate,” Theo continued. “You’ll understand, won’t you Grayson, if I steal her away from you?”
“Perfectly.” Grayson rose and bowed to Holly. “I thank you again for assisting my friend, Miss Chamberlain. Congratulations, Theo. I’m sure you’ll do well. Good afternoon to you both.”
Oh dear. He didn’t call me Holly. Perhaps he’d rather Theo find out we’re calling each other by our names at the next rehearsal. “Thank you,” Mr. Clark,” she called after his departing figure. “I’ll see you tomorrow night at the rehearsal.”
He pivoted, and the expression in his eyes showed her guess to be right. Theo was a dear, but would stand on ceremony.
“Yes, we will,” Mr. Clark affirmed with a nod. “And as Christmas is next week, my friend may need another letter or two. That is, if you have the time.”
“I’ll make the time,” Holly assured him. “How could I say no to one who writes such endearing statements to his lady?”
“I’ll tell him you said so.” The clergyman gave the briefest of bows, and left them alone.
“He’s an odd duck, don’t you think? Theo asked. “Never knew anyone like him.”
“He’s a modern man, Theo, even if he is a clergyman,” Holly scolded gently. “Not like Obadiah Slope or someone else from Thackery’s novels.”
“Who?”
Holly held back her sigh. “Never mind.” She looked down at her desk, and gasped, “Oh my goodness. He left his friend’s letters!”
She grabbed the sheets, tucked them inside the folder, and raced from the room and into the foyer. There was no sign of him. Grabbing her coat from the rack in the corner, she darted outside, scanning the neighborhood. She spotted him walking slowly down the sidewalk towards the corner, head down, his hands in his coat pockets. “Grayson, “ she called.
He spun about, and upon seeing her, his face lit up. He matched her speed in returning to meet her in the middle of the sidewalk.
“You forgot this.” Holly held out the folder.
“How silly of me,” he said, taking it from her. “I suppose I thought Theo wanted me gone as quickly as possible.”
“You mustn�
�t disappoint your friend,” Holly teased.
“Not for the world,” he agreed.
They laughed together, and Holly thought frantically of something to say, to keep them together even for a moment. “Look,” she said, choosing the safest of topics. “It’s snowing. Do you like snow, Grayson?”
“Yes. When I was growing up in the Kent countryside, my brother and sisters and I lived near a large hill, and we had great fun sledding down it. We built snow forts too, and would stay inside them for hours at a time.”
“I’ve always lived in the city,” Holly admitted. “Sledding down a hill sounds like great fun.”
“It was.” Grayson’s gaze on her face was sending the most delicious warmth coursing through her. He really did have the most amazing eyes, amber- colored and full of light, and she shivered at the memory of him kissing her during rehearsals.
But then he said, “I mustn’t keep you and I do need to get these letters to my friend. I’ll see you at the next rehearsal, Holly.”
He held out his gloved hand, and she accepted it, feeling a surprising strength in his palm and fingers, and the earlier warmth became a flow of heat, surging through her. Standing beneath the swirling snow, Holly would not have moved for the world.
But then he broke the spell by releasing her hand, raising two fingers to the brim of his hat in salute, and departed, leaving Holly to stare after his tall figure. She wasn’t sure if the sudden tears pricking her eyes were from the snow or the certain knowledge that the letters would soon be delivered to Priscilla Honeywell. In spite of all Holly’ s advantages, her father was after all “in trade,” and men, as everyone knew, always wanted to “marry up.” How could she compete with a baronet’s beautiful granddaughter? She should be grateful for Theo’s attentions. Marrying Holly was certainly to his advantage as his father was only a solicitor in a small firm.
“Blast, she muttered as she began her return to the waiting Theo. “Why must love be so complicated?”
Chapter Five
“Places!” Matthew shouted. Everyone on stage for the Cratchit family’s scene!”
It was five days before Christmas Eve, and Grayson’s duties at work had kept him at St. Martin’s. So much so there had been no time to think of composing the last two letters to Holly, much less return to her office and have her write them out.
And of course, he was trying his very best to respond to Priscilla Honeywell’s gentle flirtation. It must be working, for he had dined no less than four times with her parents in the last six days. He had increased his daily walk by two miles just to work off the richness of the Honeywell table.
But recalling Tobais Small’s visit to the rectory last evening, Grayson suppressed a shudder. Small’s gleeful attitude suggested a check for St. Martin’s new roof was about to be deposited in the bank.
“Good work, my boy!” he had praised. “I know of course you can’t do much until Advent is over as far as proposing to her. But Honeywell tells me his granddaughter has always wanted a Valentine’s Day wedding, so you have plenty of time to take care of things.”
Marry Priscilla Honeywell? That had certainly not been part of the bargain.
“All right, Cratchits! I’ve a new twist to add to your scene.” Matthew stood in front of the stage, arms akimbo. He waited patiently as the various Cratchit children took their places.“I’ve just learned that our Freddie--or should I say our Peter Cratchit-- plays the squeezebox. So in the family scene, we’re going to add a little dancing to the convivial atmosphere. Holly, Grayson, you know how to dance, don’t you?”
“You want us to dance together?” Holly gasped.
“I say, is that really necessary?” Theo protested.
“I want people to see the love the Cratchits have for each other,” Matthew growled. “Who’s directing this play, I ask?”
“I know how to dance,” Grayson affirmed. “Is it to be a waltz, Freddie? Or a jig?”
“I can do both,” Freddie said proudly, holding up the squeezebox. “What do you want me to play, Mr. Timmons?”
“Let’s start with a jig,” Matthew said. “Holly and Grayson will start by dancing with the other children, then you can segue into a waltz. Let’s get started. I’ll cue you, Freddie.”
Never in Grayson’s wildest imaginings had he dreamed of dancing with Holly Chamberlain, much less holding her in his arms. But when the time came, Freddie changed the lively jigs and reels into a slow, stately waltz. The children dropped back, and Grayson bowed to his partner. “Mrs. Cratchit,” he intoned loudly, “might I have the honor of this dance?”
She caught his mood and made a deep curtsy. “You may indeed, Mr. Cratchit.”
The children giggled as they came together and Grayson swept Holly in carefully controlled movements about the parish hall stage. Her long, slender fingers curled around his, and in her smile he found all he could want.
“You dance beautifully, Mrs. Cratchit,” he praised, not knowing what else to say and not daring to say more, lest he give his heart away in front of everyone.
“As do you, my love,” she answered, and the children laughed again.
“Look, Tim, Mama and Papa are dancing,” Clara/Martha said.
“Hurrah!” Dick/Tim cried, beating the floor with his crutch.
The entire cast--except Theo-- burst into laughter and applauded as the too brief waltz came to an end. Grayson gave a theatrical bow and kissed Holly’s hand. “Well done, my dear!” he said.
“Oh, that’s good, that’s very good!” Matthew called. “Am I brilliant, or am I brilliant?”
“You’re brilliant,” the cast answered dutifully.
“Well then, let’s go on,” Matthew said, taking the pencil from behind his ear and making a note on the tattered script pages. “We start where Scrooge says. . .”
By evening’s end and to everyone’s relief, Matthew announced they needed only one more rehearsal, in full dress, to polish things up.
“You’ve all been splendid,” he praised the cast. “And a special thanks to the children and their parents, for being such troopers. Don’t forget, curtain goes up here on Christmas Eve at five o’clock, so everyone needs to be here by three. Now, Mrs. Allen, little Dick’s mother, and Sir Cyrus our patron, have not only put up refreshments for us tonight, but will do so after the play not only to celebrate our production, but also Miss Honeywell’s twenty--first birthday. So let’s enjoy ourselves. I for one, need a cup of tea.”
The assembly headed for the stairs in back of the stage, men to the left, ladies to the right. Grayson watched Holly depart with the other women, enjoying the sway of her old-fashioned skirt. With a sigh, he headed backstage to change clothing. At the bottom of the stairs, Grayson noted the tall figure of Theo talking with Oliver Simpson who played Scrooge’s nephew Fred, and he ducked behind a large stack of boards piled in the shadows.
“I’ll pick up the ring on Christmas Eve, and propose to Holly on Christmas Day evening,” Theo said. “Her father always has an open house then and I thought that would be the perfect time.”
“Couldn’t have chosen a better woman for a wife,” Oliver said. “You’re quite sure she’ll say yes?”
“I wouldn’t have bought the ring if I weren’t, old man,” Theo boasted.
Heart sinking, Grayson waited until they headed back into the Parish Hall. He had two days until Christmas Eve to come up with the right words for the last letters to Holly. But try as he might, no words were coming. Writing his Christmas Eve’s sermon had been far easier than this. He would have to force his brain into action before Theo put the ring on Holly’s finger.
He entered the Parish Hall and spied his beloved standing with Miss Honeywell and her grandfather. Sir Cyrus beamed and waved to Grayson to join them.
“Good work, Grayson,” he boomed. “Splendid portrayal of Bob Cratchit.
”
“Thank you, Sir Cyrus,” Grayson said, trying not to gulp as Miss Honeywell came to stand as close to him as manners would allow.and not look improper forcing him to stand as close to Miss Honeywell as manners would allow. She batted her eyelashes at him with such rapidity, Grayson wasn’t sure if she were trying to flirt, or if she had something in her eyes.
“I do believe that Grayson’ s portrayal is quite poignant,” she cooed, actually laying her hand on his arm. “Grandpapa, do say I might invite Grayson to share Christmas Day dinner with us.”
“Anything you want, my dear,” Sir Cyrus said, giving Grayson a wide smile.
Grayson’s heart sank again. Why do I have a feeling that its my goose that’s about to be roasted and presented on the Honeywell table for Christmas dinner?
Chapter Six
“And God bless us, every one!” the cast shouted at the crowd packing St. Martin’s parish hall to overflowing. Wild applause broke out as they came forward, holding hands to take their bows. The children earned their own huge round of cheers and whistles as did the rest of those filling the cast’s minor roles. the cast minor characters.
When Holly and Grayson stepped to the edge of the stage, he took her hand and bowed to her. She followed with a curtsy and the applause grew in its strength.
They stepped back, and Theo Barrett stepped up to receive a thunderous ovation from the gathering. He nodded and smiled and motioned for Matthew to join them for still more applause. Then the curtain came down, and the cast scattered, eager to be with friends and family. Grayson looked for Holly, but she was gone. As she would be by this time tomorrow afternoon. Gone from him forever.
And he would be dining with Miss Honeywell and her grandfather.
At least he had come up with two short missives and made it to Holly’s office for her to write them out. He sighed, thinking of his poor, short attempts at putting his heart on paper.
There is none like you, fairest of ladies. One moment, one hour by your side, hearing the sound of your beloved voice protects me and surrounds me with such riches, that I am in all amazement. You hold my heart in your hand, and there I would rest forever.