“I apologize, my dear,” she said, contritely.
He whispered in her ear and she dissolved into a fit of giggles. Everyone was in a festive mood.
Lady Ambrosia slowly walked around the room holding the mistletoe out at arm’s length, waving it in front of people, sometimes touching them with it or holding it over their heads. She was certainly mesmerizing.
I, for one, could not take my eyes off of her.
As she approached the corner where Baxter and his mates had been playing cards, she paused and retraced her steps until she stood directly in front of Baxter.
She asked him to hold out his hands and she placed the sprig of mistletoe upon them. “Oh my, yes,” she said, getting most excited indeed. “I can see that you are quite ready for love.”
I am not sure what she saw that made her believe Baxter was the one who was ready for love, but Baxter’s eyes went wide, and I saw him look toward Lord Knox, presumably for some guidance or reprieve. Baxter did not care to be the center of attention in any situation, particularly not one such as this. However, what concerned me more was what Lady Ambrosia might have to say regarding Baxter and his apparent desire for true love.
She drew Baxter into the center of the room. “It appears that this gentleman is quite ready to find love. Now it is simply a matter of finding the proper lady for him, and I feel quite confident she is here in this room. Oh, this is going to be quite an exciting evening. I can just feel it.”
Chapter 4
Mattie
I did my best not to gasp in shock or do anything else which might seem to give away my true feelings when I saw Lady Ambrosia draw Baxter into the center of the room and announce that she was about to find the proper bride for him. Surely this was some sort of party game, or even a trick on the part of Lady Tempest, who was not above pulling a few pranks.
Perhaps Baxter had arranged all of this in order to force my hand, but based upon the shocked look on his face I did not believe he had any foreknowledge of the evening’s events. He looked as shocked as I felt.
“I thank you for the kind offer, Lady Ambrosia,” Baxter said handing the piece of mistletoe back to the matchmaker. “However, I am sure you are mistaken. For I am not in the market for love.”
“Oh, kind sir,” Lady Ambrosia said, “I beg to differ. My methods are never wrong. Now let us find you a proper bride.” She glanced around the room and smiled. “Oh my, there are many lovely ladies to choose from.”
Lady Ambrosia asked all of the unmarried ladies to gather in a group. Some furniture was moved out of the way to make room for the group of potential brides for my beloved Baxter.
A few moments ago, I had thought that this would be great entertainment, but now I felt it was deadly serious. I had no idea what to do. Baxter had just said that he was not interested in love, which is, of course, what I believed to be the case all along. I congratulated myself on being correct, though it was a hollow victory.
How could I stand by and watch as he was matched with another woman? On the other hand, how could I not pay attention to every detail since it concerned something so dear to my very existence?
Once all of the unmarried ladies had gotten together in one place, Lady Ambrosia instructed us to stand an arm’s length apart. There was a bit of shuffling as we complied with her request.
“Now,” Lady Ambrosia said, her voice rising with excitement, “Baxter shall select his bride. I would ask that none of you ladies move, simply hold still. Baxter will turn his back on you and toss the piece of mistletoe over his shoulder and where it lands will be the young lady who is to be his bride. I have great faith in mistletoe.”
The young women around me giggled nervously. “Oh, he is a most handsome man indeed,” one of the tavern owner’s daughters said and all I could think about was ripping her beautiful blonde hair out. How could she dare think she was good enough for my Baxter?
“He is the manservant to Lord Knox,” another said. “What a fine position that is.”
“He is the most eligible bachelor in the entire neighborhood,” a buxom brunette announced, her eyes bright with excitement.
“How is it possible he is not yet married?” a petite woman with creamy skin wondered, an excited grin on her face.
My blood boiled. I had no idea what to do, though my hands clenched into fists at my sides and I wanted to strike at every one of the young ladies around me who might potentially be selected as the proper mate for Baxter.
“How fortunate that the vicar is also here,” Lady Tempest called out, indicating a man in religious garb. “For he shall be able to perform the marriage this very evening.”
All this had become quite serious indeed, the whole matter had gone from what appeared to be a harmless party game to some sort of devilish plan to separate me from the man I loved. Whose ghastly idea was this?
“Now,” Lady Ambrosia said addressing the room, her voice carrying to every corner. “Baxter will turn around so that he is facing away from the group of unmarried ladies, which I am sure includes his future bride. He will toss the mistletoe over his shoulder.” She waved her arm backward, miming the action Baxter would use to throw the mistletoe and somehow select a bride. “Then, remember ladies, none of you are to move. Do not try to catch the mistletoe or to have any influence over where it lands. The heart of Baxter’s true love will call to the mistletoe and it will fall at her feet.”
My heart called out to Baxter to stop this madness, but he did not. It was as though there was an awful plot against me to steal my happiness.
I watched as he took the mistletoe in hand and gave it a hearty toss over his shoulder. Please, please, please, I found myself praying, please let it land at my feet.
In that instant, while I watched the sprig of Christmas greenery fly through the air, I knew that I could never love anyone as much as I loved Baxter. All of my hesitation melted away and I knew we were meant to be together. I smiled to myself knowing that the mistletoe would soon be settled at my feet.
That was how it was meant to be.
A squeal of delight echoed across the room and I glanced to my right where a very attractive young lady, the daughter of one of the tenant farmers, picked up the mistletoe, which had landed squarely at her feet.
My heart dropped to my toes as I watched the young woman rush forward and return the mistletoe to Baxter. The room erupted in cheers.
I did not cheer. I stopped breathing. I wanted to scream, and maybe pull her hair out. I looked around the room and everyone was overjoyed. Lady Calliope was waving her arms in the air and Colonel St. Clair whooped louder than nearly anyone else in the room.
The musicians broke into a festive tune. The room was engulfed in celebration.
All but me.
Lady Ambrosia collected the piece of mistletoe from Baxter and held it over the head of the quite pretty and extremely excited girl who was chosen for him. “It is tradition to place a kiss upon the girl standing under the mistletoe.”
“Oh yes,” Lady Tempest called out. “Kiss her, Baxter.”
No! He would not. He could not.
Apparently, he could. As I saw Baxter leaning toward her, my vision went red. I lost all sense of decorum or dignity. I pushed down two young ladies that stood in my way and rushed forward giving the farmer’s daughter a hearty hip check that sent her sprawling.
“No!” I shouted. “He is mine. He loves me.”
The room fell into a stunned silence. Time stood still and my heart thudded in my chest as I waited for Baxter to respond. My breathing was labored and I suddenly wondered if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Oh, mercy, what had come over me?
But Baxter got down on one knee, pulled a delicate ring from his pocket, and said, “Yes, Mattie, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
The entire room erupted in cheers again – even louder than before – as he slipped the ring on my finger and then enveloped me in his arms, placing a kiss upon my lips. When o
ur embrace ended, Lady Tempest let out a particularly loud cheer of congratulations.
I turned to her to share my happiness, but she had a most distressed look upon her face.
“My lady, are you unwell? Are you not happy at this turn of events?”
She clutched her stomach and said through clenched teeth, “Oh Mattie, I could not be happier for you. However, I believe it is time for the baby.”
Epilogue
Mattie
In the commotion which followed, I did manage to find the farmer’s daughter and offer her my sincere apologies, which she accepted graciously, particularly with the promise of a proper matchmaking appointment with Lady Ambrosia. The two young women whom I pushed over in my rush to get to Baxter were equally imbued with the holiday spirit and said they had never been to a Christmas party that was quite so memorable. A true statement, that.
Once those tasks were completed, all of my attention was focused on Lady Tempest. Fortunately, a doctor and midwife were among the party guests and they took over the duties of seeing my mistress through her labor and delivery.
The other party goers – whether kept in place by the heavy snow or curiosity, I do not know – continued the festivities in the drawing room.
With the doctor taking charge, my duties revolved around keeping Lady Tempest comfortable.
“I am,” gasp, “very happy for you and” gasp, “Baxter,” she said between labor pains.
“Please, my lady, we can discuss this at another time. You must focus on delivering your baby.”
“You should have,” pant, “seen the look on your face,” pant, “when the farmer’s daughter ran up to claim Baxter.”
I mopped the sweat from her brow. “I am pleased to have provided you some entertainment.”
“Oh, you have been entertaining me for years, Mattie,” she said, grimacing. “But none more so than over the last few months. How could you think that you could fool me?”
“Whatever do you mean?” I asked, wringing out the compress and applying it to her forehead again.
“You are so stubborn,” Lady Tempest said, puffing out a breath of air. “I knew you would never come clean without some help.”
Suddenly, it all became clear to me.
“You? You arranged all of this?”
“Well, I did not intend to go into labor during the party, but the rest of it... yes.”
“But... why?”
“I wish for you to be happy, my friend. And you needed a little push to help you see what was right in front of your face.”
“Speaking of pushing,” the doctor interrupted. “I believe it is time for this baby to arrive.”
Before dawn, Lady Tempest Knox was delivered of a healthy baby girl who came into the world screaming. No doubt she took after her mother.
Mattie
“Tis a shame the vicar had to leave before he could take care of making an honest woman out of you.”
It was late in the afternoon of Christmas day. After a long night attending to Lord and Lady Knox, the entire household had retired to their rooms for much deserved rest. Rather than climbing the many flights of stairs to my room in the attic, I had followed Baxter to his quarters where we had both collapsed upon the bed with fatigue and fallen asleep in each other’s arms.
However, we were both awake now and based upon the pressure against my thigh, it seemed Baxter was sufficiently rested.
“Will you still love me once I am an old married woman?”
“Check with me when you are old and I will let you know.” He drew me into his arms and covered my mouth with his in a searing kiss filled with promise of things to come. When he lifted his head he said, “Now, I believe you have a spanking to be administered before we can continue our Christmas celebration.”
I sat up. “What?”
He sat up as well, his dark gaze holding mine. “Did you or did you not push two young ladies to the floor last evening? Not to mention the hip check you gave to the young woman who was most eager to be my bride.”
“Have you gone mad?”
“Whatever do you mean?” Though he tried to maintain a stern countenance, the corners of his mouth began to twitch. “Now,” he said, “get yourself into position.” He pointed to the hard chair which he preferred for me to lean upon during chastisement.
“Yes, sir,” I said, rushing to comply. I had a feeling this was going to be an entertaining and invigorating Christmas afternoon.
“That’s my good girl. But, one more thing before you get situated.” He assisted me with the closures on my dress, then slid it from my shoulders and helped me to step out of it. “Hmm.” He studied me as I stood before him in my chemise. “Yes, that must come off as well.” He lifted it over my head. “The floor is a bit cool, so I shall permit you to retain your stockings. No cold feet in my bed.”
“Of course not, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“My, you are an obedient miss today. You must be concerned about Father Christmas finding out how very naughty you have been.”
“I am more concerned about you than Father Christmas.”
“You are a wise woman. Now, assume the position.”
I did as he instructed and leaned over, my hands braced on the hard wooden seat.
I could hear him pacing behind me. “Now, Mattie, tell me why you felt it necessary to assault several young ladies last night, causing them embarrassment and pain.”
“Assault?” The word escaped my mouth before I realized it and I gasped.
His hard hand patted my backside. “You were quite aggressive, Mattie. There must have been something you wanted very badly.”
In my mind’s eye I relived the whole scene from the night before. I had finally realized how much I wanted Baxter, and only Baxter, and then he was taken from me and set up to wed another woman, a complete stranger. It was horrible and I shuddered at the remembrance.
“Yes,” I said. “Very badly.”
He continued swatting my bottom. The playful slaps were more comforting than painful, the steady rhythm soothed me. “What, pray tell, was the thing you wanted so desperately you were willing to behave egregiously to get it?”
“Y-you. I-I was afraid you would marry that other girl.”
“And you did not think that was a good idea?” he teased.
“No,” I said. “When I thought you might marry her, it was horrible. I was so frightened and I was so mad at myself for not ever accepting your proposals before.”
“As I recall,” he said, “you still have not accepted.”
“What? Is that true?” I stood and stared at him. “How could that be? I am wearing your ring.”
“I still would like to hear you say yes,” he said with a smile. “Well, let us make absolutely sure.” He got down on one knee and again took my hand in his. “Mattie, will you be my bride?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I cried.
Baxter wrapped his arms around me and gently carried me to the bed where he laid me down with tender care before stripping off his clothes and joining me. I reveled in the feel of his muscled body against mine. I stroked my hands over his shoulders and down his strong arms, arms which held me close and brought me comfort.
He rolled me onto my back and hovered over me. I skimmed my hands the length of his body, my fingertips tingling over his skin. He gazed at me intensely, his eyes full of love and devotion. Shifting my hips, I opened myself to him and he entered me without preamble.
Unlike our hurried matings of the past, today we were at leisure to enjoy each other’s bodies and whisper words of love and desire. Soon, passion overtook us and we reached our completion in a shattering moment of joined ecstasy.
As we settled back down to earth, Baxter pulled me close and tucked the blankets around us.
“Merry Christmas, Baxter,” I said, my heart filled with love.
The End.
A Note to Readers:
I hope you enjoyed His Yuletide Bride (A Regency Christmas Treat), a tale from times long ago. T
his is book 2.5 in my Regency Matchmaker series. For more about the characters in this book, please check out His Tempestuous Bride which tells the story of Lady Tempest and Lord James Knox, and His Mischievous Bride, a tale of second chance love when Lady Calliope is reunited with her first love, Colonel William St. Clair. A third full length novel in this series is in the works, so stay tuned for that as well. I’m typing as fast as I can!
I would love to be able to keep in touch with you. Please sign up for my newsletter to get first notice of new books, contests and inside scoop in my life as a somewhat nutty author of historical spanking fiction. Just click here. http://eepurl.com/dgJKVj
Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and peace, love and romance in 2019. I am truly blessed to be able to share my writing with readers from around the world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Celeste
Celeste Jones
One day while out to lunch with my mother, she leaned across the table and whispered, “Have you ever heard of spanking... you know, like with sex?” A friend of my mother had confided in her that she wrote spanking stories for Discipline and Desire. My mother, convinced that her daughter could do anything, suggested I give it a try. I guess mothers do know best because I’ve been having a great deal of fun writing spanking stories and I owe it all to my mother.
http://www.writercelestejones. blogspot.com
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Regency Matchmaker Series
His Tempestuous Bride – Book One
His Mischievous Bride – Book Two
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12 Naughty Days of Christmas 2018
12 Naughty Days of Christmas 2018 Page 15