Once Upon a Christmas

by Clare Revell

  There was a distinct lack of Christmas everywhere. No tree. No tinsel. No lights. No anything.

  She shivered. No heating either. Maybe it wasn’t simply the radiator in her room that wasn’t working. When she finally did get to meet her mysterious fiancé in the flesh, she’d have a whole list of questions to ask.

  The footman opened the dining room door for her. “Morning, miss.”

  Caitlyn smiled. “Morning.”

  The room was in darkness, bar three lit candles on the table. Thick drapes hung over the windows. Hoping she didn’t trip over anything on the floor, Caitlyn strode to the windows and grabbed the curtains.

  “Leave the curtains closed, Miss Hosier.”

  Caitlyn jumped. “Oh.” She spun around. Her heart beat so fast she thought it might burst. She wasn’t alone. “Where are you?”

  “Waiting for you to join me. My apologies for the late start to the day. Normally I break my fast at seven, but I had several things I was working on until the wee small hours. It was gone three before I turned in.”

  Caitlyn peered into the gloom, but couldn’t see anything. His voice was familiar. Was this the man whom she was meant to marry? “Who are you?”

  “Hayden Shade. Master of the house, husband, take your pick.”

  “We’re not married yet,” she managed.

  “And that is the key word, Miss Hosier. Yet. A fact that will soon be rectified. You’re here to learn the ways of the household. As mistress, that is your duty.”

  “That’s a little old-fashioned.” She wrapped her arms around her middle. “How soon is the wedding?”

  “Quite soon.” His voice carried a delicious hint of a Scottish accent—one she’d always loved. “You see, my dear, your father and I have a deal. His freedom in exchange for your hand in marriage. I need a wife, he needs this problem to go away, and you, at least according to what I read on your social media page yesterday, need a focus in life, and a husband. So, kind of a win-win situation all around. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Heat flooded her face, and she was grateful the shadows hid her from him, as well. Her stomach pitted. This was really happening. Her father had sold her and her future husband had been stalking…

  “Wait a minute. You’ve been reading my social media pages?” How dare he?

  “I had to learn about you, my dear.” The disembodied voice sounded amused. “And you do seem to like blogging about coffee and food. So sit down and see what you make of this morning’s selection.”

  “Why me?” Caitlyn wasn’t really hungry anymore.

  He tapped his fingers on the table. “Surely the question should be why not you? I see something in you. Something that intrigues me.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  “But I will do. Please, Miss Hosier, sit before the food gets cold.”

  Caitlyn stepped slowly toward the table, her eyes finally adjusted to the gloom.

  The butler appeared from nowhere and pulled the chair out for her. “We laid the same place as last night for you, Miss. You will always sit here.”

  “Oh, thank you.” Caitlyn sat down and tried not to shiver as Torrance pushed her chair in. This would take some getting used to. At least no one was helping her dress. That she would put a stop to.

  “How did you sleep?” Mr. Shade asked. He moved his serviette from under the cutlery, the metal glinting in the dim light.

  She could barely make out his figure in the candlelight. “I didn’t, really. It was far too cold up there. The heating doesn’t appear to be working in my room. Or anywhere, come to that matter.” She couldn’t help but shiver now, chilled air creeping up her back.

  “I will have someone see to it.”

  She smiled into the darkness. “Thank you. That would be good.”

  Plates appeared in front of them, and then the servants left, closing the door behind them.

  Steam rose from the food on the plate. How did Caitlyn manage saying grace? Should she offer to do it for the both of them? Would he object? Before she could say anything, hands gripped hers from across the table. She jumped, the touch unexpected and cold.

  “I will say grace before we eat,” Mr. Shade said.

  “I—I’d like that.” She closed her eyes as he prayed, surprised, but pleased, a spark of hope flaring within her.

  “You appear surprised, Miss Hosier. Weren’t you expecting me to pray a blessing over the food?” He released her hands and picked up his knife and fork.

  “No…uh, it’s just with your reputation and the fact no one ever sees you…” She picked up the salt. “No, I wasn’t.”

  He nodded, the movement barely noticeable. “Did your father explain this situation to you?”

  Caitlyn sighed softly. “He said I have to marry you or he goes to prison.”

  “A rather blunt way of putting it, but an accurate one.”

  She cut the bacon and dipped it into the egg. “What did he do that was so bad?”

  “Didn’t he tell you? Your father is a thief and an embezzler. He stole the tax money to feed his gambling habit. So, if I pressed charges against him, he’s also in trouble with the tax office.”

  Caitlyn’s gaze dropped to her plate, any appetite she did have vanishing immediately. Her stomach clenched and turned. She swallowed. “How much? I have some savings. Perhaps I could pay it back.”

  He laughed. “You have a spare five million lying around?”

  Shock rammed her in the gut, knocking her back in her chair. Five million? “He…he said he’d come into some money. He cleared the mortgage, bought me a piano.” She pressed a hand to her middle. “I—”

  “Eat, my dear. Don’t let good food go to waste.”

  No longer hungry in the least, Caitlyn forced herself to take several small bites, remembering Auntie Naomi’s many lectures on wasting food. “What do you want from me?”

  “Marriage, children, everything a wife normally provides for a husband. I have a lawyer coming over at eleven with some paperwork to sign. A pre-nuptial agreement and papers to say you are marrying me of your own free will.”

  “I’m doing this to keep my father out of prison.” Caitlyn put the cutlery down and leaned back in her chair. She glanced at her watch, bringing it close to her face in order to see the time.

  “But you are choosing to do this? No one is putting a gun to your pretty little head and forcing you to marry me?”

  Caitlyn hesitated. She wasn’t sure she liked him, this man hiding in the darkness. How could she marry, never mind love, and spend the rest of her life with someone who’d made such a deal with her father? Someone she couldn’t see. Someone with something to hide. But the cost if she backed out was too much to bear. “I choose this,” she whispered.

  He clapped his hands. “Good. Then you’ll have no problems signing the papers. The wedding will take place here in the next few days. Once I have finalized everything.”

  “Here?” she asked. Her dream wedding evaporated in front of her.

  “Yes, yes, here.” Mr. Shade sounded irritated. “There’s a chapel here we can use. Will that be a problem?”

  “No. As a little girl, I always imagined getting married in the church I grew up in.”

  “Not possible.” He snapped, tossing his serviette to the table and ringing a bell, presumably for the servants. “The dreams of our youth have to give way to the sharp reality of adulthood. You will work with the staff today, learning how to run the house. As mistress, that will be your job from now on.”

  “I have a job.” Caitlyn checked her watch and stood. “In fact, I need to leave now or I’ll be late. So if your chauffeur could please run me into town I’d be grateful.”

  “Sit down!” His sharp tone made her insides scurry for cover, but she remained on her feet. “Your job is here, or were you not listening?”

  “I can’t simply quit my job like that.” She clicked her fingers. “I have people depending on me. Neither can I realistically marry someone I can’t see.”

  �
��I said, sit down, Miss Hosier. The choice to marry me, as I already made clear, is yours and yours completely. However, all it takes is one phone call to the police, and your father will never see the light of day again. Except through a prison cell window.” He didn’t speak again, the silence chilling her even more than the frigid air.

  Caitlyn dropped heavily into her chair. “I ought to ring work, in that case.”

  “Already taken care of. You’re leaving to get married. Your things will be brought over today, apart from your piano, as there is one here that you can use. Should you wish to play, that is.” He shifted in his chair. “Now, I won’t tell you again. We have a busy day and you need to eat the toast if nothing else.”

  “OK.” Caitlyn picked up the toast, reluctantly breaking off pieces and nibbling it. Around her the servants cleared the main dishes away. It was a shame her appetite had been ruined. She didn’t remember the last time there had been bacon and eggs for breakfast.

  “Do you own a dress?”

  She shook her head. “I explained last night. I have a skirt, but that’s it. I don’t do dresses.”

  He grunted. “You do now. I will arrange for some to be delivered and fitted today. What size are you?”

  Caitlyn folded her arms and pouted. She didn’t care if she was being wrong or bratty. She had rights and could already see them being eroded. “I said I don’t wear dresses. Which part of no don’t you—”

  “And I don’t agree with women, or my wife, wearing men’s apparel.” He slammed his hand on the table, making her along with the remaining crockery jump. “Miss Hosier. There are house rules and you will obey them. Is that clear?”

  

  The woman in front of Hayden leapt almost out of her skin and paled. He’d arranged the light so he could see his blonde fiancée perfectly. A myriad of emotions flickered across her exquisite features.

  Eyes wide, she stepped back from the table. “R—rules?”

  “Yes, yes,” he muttered. “Every house has rules, and this one is no exception. There is no answering back. I am master of the house, and I expect to be obeyed by everyone. Unless you are riding, you will wear dresses. They are more feminine. And they don’t have to be full length, although that would be my preference. Evening dresses should be formal length, but no more jeans.”

  She scowled. “Why don’t you just pick them yourself?”

  Hayden sighed. “I am tired of your attitude. You said you agreed to this arrangement. That includes abiding by my rules. Perhaps I should pick the dresses myself.” He tapped his fingers on the table top. “Are you always this rude?”

  “I’m sorry,” Miss Hosier replied. “I’m cold and I didn’t sleep. And when I’m tired, I get bratty. Auntie Naomi is forever telling me off for it.”

  Hayden raised an eyebrow. That was a first. A woman who admitted when she was in the wrong. “If you let me know your dress size, I’ll have the designer bring a selection for you to try on later.”

  “A twelve or fourteen, depending on the cut.”

  He ran an admiring gaze over her curvaceous figure and nodded. She wouldn’t know how much he’d been observing her, as she couldn’t see him. Or the rush of heat that would be so very apparent in his face. He glanced up at the butler. “Torrance, see to it, will you?”

  Torrance gathered the remaining cutlery. “Immediately, sir.”

  Hayden turned his attention back to Miss Hosier. “Once we are married, you’ll move into my suite of rooms. Although you’ll have your own adjoining suite, consisting of sitting room, bathroom and bedroom.”

  Her face changed and her eyes widened, in what he assumed was surprise. “I’m sorry. Did you say my own bedroom?”

  He nodded. “For when I need to be alone.”

  She tilted her head, setting her hands on her hips. “Then why not simply put me there now? Save heating a different part of the house.”

  Hayden swallowed. That wasn’t a good idea. What if she discovered his secret too soon? “There is a connecting door. I…”

  “Surely, it has a lock if you’re afraid you can’t control yourself until the wedding night.” She heaved a sigh. “Lock it. Or I can put a chair in front of it. I mean, this is my home as well, right?”

  Hayden let out a slow breath. As reluctant as he was to do this, she did have a point. Not merely about this being her home, but the heating. He’d turned it off in the unused parts of the house in an effort to save money. Not that he needed to. “Very well.” He turned to the butler. “Torrance, have Miss Hosier’s things moved to the suite adjoining mine.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I can help. I haven’t unpacked anything yet.”

  He glanced at her. “They can manage. You and I can spend the time together before the lawyer arrives. I can show you part of the house.”

  Caitlyn nodded. “I’d like that.”

  He indicated the door. “Shall we?”

  She tucked her hands into her pockets and headed across the room. She walked like a lady, just didn’t dress like one. That he would alter very soon. But her attitude left a lot to be desired. Had her father not taught her how to speak with respect to her elders and betters? Not that there was much between them in age, but in everything else they were worlds apart.

  He was a fool to even think this would work. A moment of weakness in not calling the police. Not wanting to admit he’d been a fool to trust someone with his fortune. That wouldn’t happen again.

  As Hayden walked down the dimly lit corridors with her, the darkness seemed lighter somehow. As if her mere presence brightened the space around her.

  “How am I meant to see anything?” Caitlyn asked. “Do you have something against the light?”

  In his mind she was now Caitlyn, even though he couldn’t permit himself to call her that. Not yet. Perhaps after the wedding. He shook his head. “Not at all. I simply prefer the dark.”

  “I don’t. I like to be able to see where I’m going. It would also be nice to see the man I’m meant to marry.”

  Hayden reached behind him, pulling his hood over his face. He opened the door in front of them. “After you.” He remained in the shadows of the hallway. “There’s a light switch to your left.”

  Caitlyn flicked on the light. “Wow!” Her gasp of excitement lifted his flagging spirit. Finally he’d managed to please her. She almost jumped for joy. “It’s a library. It’s huge.” She skipped over to the shelves and ran her fingertips along the spines of some of the books. “Have you read all of them?”

  Hayden chuckled. “Such enthusiasm. There are several thousand books. It would take more than one lifetime to read so many. But feel free to try.” He paused. “I assume you like it?”

  She whirled around. “I love it. But then if you quit my job for me, you’d know that.”

  He tilted his head. “The books need cataloguing. Perhaps, as a librarian, you’d be willing to do it for me.”

  “I’d love to.” She turned back to the shelves, gently pulling off one particularly old volume. She whipped around, eyes widening with what Hayden hoped was joy. “This is a first edition.”

  Torrance appeared. “Mr. Briggs is here, sir.”

  Trying to conceal his disappointment, Hayden nodded. “Come, Miss Hosier. We are needed elsewhere. Mr. Briggs is my lawyer. He has the papers to make our union official.”

  Caitlyn turned. “Oh…OK.”

  “You can come back to the library later. It isn’t going anywhere.”

  She walked with him, her hand tantalizingly close. “Where’s your Christmas tree?”

  “I don’t have one. I don’t decorate either.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because of something that happened many years ago.” He didn’t want to elaborate, but she was bound to ask. “There was an accident. People died and were hurt. We don’t do Christmas in this house.”

  He caught the sad expression on her face. “So don’t even think about it. Consider it another rule, dearie. One that must be
kept.”

  4

  Caitlyn stared after the retreating figure. For a bloke with a cane he sure moved fast when he put his mind to it. No Christmas? What had she gotten herself into?

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Come on, Miss Hosier. Mustn’t keep Mr. Briggs waiting. He’s a busy man. As am I.”

  She followed him into a small room off the large entrance hall. Once again the curtains were pulled and the room was in the dark, apart from a small lamp on the desk.

  “Thank you for coming, Mr. Briggs.” Mr. Shade’s voice came from the other side of the desk. A creaking indicated he’d sat down, a tap showing he’d leaned his cane against the woodwork. “This is Caitlyn Hosier, my fiancée. Sit down, my dear. You’re making the place untidy.”

  Caitlyn rolled her eyes as she sat. “I’m not some kind of a pet.”

  The lawyer turned. “Caitlyn?”

  She smiled in relief at a familiar face in the dark. “Lance. I wasn’t expecting to see you. I thought maybe your father would…”

  Lance smiled and shook her hand. “Dad’s retired now. I’ve taken over the business.”

  Mr. Shade coughed. “Since you two know each other, we can dispense with the formalities and get on with the signing.”

  Lance nodded. “Yes. It’s all set. Pastor Nolan can conduct and legalize the ceremony.”

  “May I read the agreement?”

  Was Mr. Shade clapping his hands in glee? It certainly sounded like it from the jubilant tone of his voice.

  Lance handed him the papers to read. He glanced at Caitlyn. “This is sudden. Last I heard you were dating David…”

  “Who’s David?” Mr. Shade asked sharply.

  “A friend. And we weren’t dating. It was one dinner. Though I had hoped he’d ask me to the Paradise Christmas Ball this year. But I haven’t spoken to him since that meal and that was several weeks ago. Anyway, things change, and now Mr. Shade and I are getting married.”

  “Mr. Shade?” Lance frowned. “You’re engaged and still not on first name terms?”