Christmas At Thorncliff Manor (Secrets At Thorncliff Manor Book 4)

by Sophie Barnes

  “No, of course not, but I—”

  “Fiona,” her father said, “let’s not begin the day with an argument. Personally, I don’t see where else he should have looked. You became the subject of attention the moment you said good morning.”

  Frowning, Fiona stabbed at her bacon, catching a piece and putting it in her mouth just in time to see Chadwick give her a victorious look that made her want to pull him out of his chair and throttle him. She paused, staring into the tea a footman had poured for her. Why was Chadwick making her so irritable today? It made no sense at all when the two of them had always enjoyed an easy sense of camaraderie. She loved his company, and yet she sensed something changing between then. It was a most unpleasant feeling.

  “We should probably gather the pine today, don’t you think?” Lady Oakland asked.

  Rachel nodded. “Did Lady Duncaster say which rooms she wished to decorate?”

  “No.”

  “Then how are we supposed to estimate the amount of pine we’ll need for the garlands?”

  “As difficult as it may be for you,” Lady Oakland told her daughter, “I would recommend simply gathering as much as we can carry and seeing how many decorations such quantities will provide.”

  “That sounds terribly inefficient,” Rachel grumbled.

  “But a great deal simpler,” Fiona said, offering Rachel a sympathetic smile, “and perhaps a bit more fun.”

  “I find your proposal quite formidable, my dear,” Lord Oakland said, addressing his wife. He sipped his coffee. “But you and I may have to leave the children to it. If you’ll recall, we have another errand to attend to.”

  “We…oh…er…yes,” Lady Oakland said, finishing off with a broad smile.

  Fiona stared at her mother’s befuddled expression. “What errand?”

  “Well, Fiona, it is Christmas, you know. I’d say your mother and I are entitled to keep a few secrets from you.”

  “Quite right,” Chadwick said, drawing Fiona’s attention toward him once more. She saw he appeared to be doing his best to keep his expression as bland as possible. Still, she didn’t miss the little twitch that pulled at the corner of his mouth. For whatever curious reason, the man was having a tremendous amount of fun. “I would be happy to escort Rachel and Fiona to the woods and help them carry the pine back to Thorncliff.”

  “That is extremely kind of you,” Lady Oakland said.

  “Although there’s really no need,” Fiona said. She caught her breath when her gaze snapped onto Chadwick’s. Never in her life had she made a deliberate effort to avoid his company and yet now… “I’m sure there are servants who might assist so Chadwick may be spared the ordeal. Would you not prefer to stay here and play cards?”

  “With whom?” he asked, the question so direct and assessing he forced her to avert her gaze. “Your parents will, by their own account, be busy as well; Rachel will go with you, Lamont is already out, and the rest of the guests are still sleeping.”

  “While I cannot speak for Belgrave, I’m sure Laura and Emily will be down soon,” Fiona told him.

  Folding his arms, Chadwick leveled her with a frank stare. “Am I mistaken, or are you deliberately trying to get rid of me?”

  “I can’t imagine she would do such a thing,” Lady Oakland said with no small degree of surprise. “Fiona has always stuck to you like glue.”

  Sitting back, stiff as a fence post, Fiona did her best to maintain her composure. “Mama is right. Of course I’m not trying to get rid of you.” She reached for her teacup and shrugged one shoulder before raising the delicate piece of china to her lips. “Don’t be silly, Chadwick. You know I adore your company.” What she hated was that she hadn’t felt like herself since he’d whispered against her ear the previous evening.

  “Excellent!” He pushed his chair back and stood. “Shall we meet in the foyer in say…half an hour? I will see about acquiring some baskets for all the pine you ladies plan on collecting.” With a wink directed at Fiona, he strode off while she stared after him, perturbed by the fact that she suddenly noticed how broad his shoulders appeared beneath the cut of his jacket.

  “You don’t seem yourself today,” Rachel whispered. She and Fiona walked alongside each other with Chadwick following a short distance behind. The snow that had fallen the previous evening was thick enough for Fiona to feel her boots sinking into it with every step. It would allow Emily and Laura, who’d made their appearance a short while earlier, to take the sleigh out with Montsmouth if they wished. “If something is troubling you and you would like to discuss it, you know I’m always ready to lend an ear.”

  “Thank you, but I’m sure it’s nothing.” Linking her arm with her sister’s, Fiona tried to offer her an explanation. “Perhaps I’m simply tired. You know how I can be when I don’t get enough rest.”

  “Churlish?”

  “Very.” Grinning, Fiona was pleased to see Rachel was smiling, and so she dared say, “Lord Belgrave was rather attentive toward you last night. Tell me, what is your impression of him?”

  Glancing sideways, Rachel looked out across the frozen lake they were passing. They turned onto a path that would take them past the Chinese pavilion and directly toward the forest. “He seems pleasant enough.”

  “He showed great interest in your experiments.”

  Although she kept her face averted, Fiona heard the note of pleasure in her sister’s voice when she said, “So he did.”

  “Perhaps your statistical calculations are wrong, and there is a man worthy of your attention right here at Thorncliff.”

  Rachel’s posture immediately stiffened. A lengthy moment of silence followed, and then, “I am not the sort of woman to inspire romantic musings. As pleasant as Belgrave may seem, I very much doubt his interest in speaking with me went beyond the academic.”

  “I fear you may be too harsh on yourself,” Fiona murmured. “And I think the better question is whether or not you will be able to have a romantic interest in him.”

  “Fiona, I—”

  “If you decide you do,” Fiona continued without pause, “I will happily help you improve upon your appearance which, as you’re aware, is rather drab. But if your own sister who loves you won’t say so, then I cannot imagine who will.”

  “You know I have always valued your honesty, Fiona, but I would prefer it if a gentleman were to admire me for my mind rather than my looks.”

  “And he shall,” Fiona assured her, “but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to see you at your best.”

  They reached the path leading into the forest, only to find it blocked by a fallen tree. “Might I offer assistance?” Chadwick asked, moving closer.

  “How kind of you to notice we’re in need of it,” Rachel said. She allowed Chadwick to hold her hand for support while she stepped over the obstacle.

  “You’re next,” Chadwick said and turned toward Fiona. There was warmth in his chocolate-colored eyes, but he did not smile this time when he held out his hand in quiet invitation. Rather, he appeared uncharacteristically serious and, to Fiona’s consternation, incredibly handsome with a few stray locks of golden hair brushing across his forehead.

  Stop noticing these things! He’s like a brother to you. Nothing more.

  Swallowing, she drew the crisp winter air into her lungs and stepped hesitantly forward. She glanced down at the tree. The trunk wasn’t all that wide. “I’m sure I can manage it.”

  “Not at the risk of falling,” he told her severely. And then, before she could find a response, he’d grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her closer.

  A gasp flew from her lips when a deep sensation of warmth spiraled through her. “Chadwick!”

  His palm found her back, urging her onward. “Yes?”

  “There’s no need for you to…” He released her hand and grabbed hold of her waist. “Oh!” And then she was being lifted, up and over to where Rachel stood watching with wide-eyed dismay.

  “I grew tired of waiting,” Chadwick explained
, coming up beside them. “Shall we continue?”

  Turning numbly, Fiona fell into step beside her sister while doing her best to settle her trembling nerves. Her heart was running away with her, and her skin felt all prickly, and…oh dear, she was probably succumbing to madness.

  “This looks like an excellent spot to start,” Rachel said when they arrived at a group of handsome pine trees all dusted with snow. She pulled a pruner from her pocket and set to work, providing two full branches in short succession.

  Chadwick instantly bowed to help gather the pine in the baskets he’d brought, allowing Fiona to escape his notice by slipping between the trees to a more secluded spot. She needed to be alone with her contemplations and to add some distance to the man whose attention was rattling her brain. So she did what her sister had done and reached for her pruner, determined to distract herself from thoughts of Chadwick by focusing on her task. Clip. A fluffy bit of pine came away in her hand, the scent of it so intoxicating, she instinctively closed her eyes for a second and breathed it in.

  Reluctantly, she set it aside and cut a few more, the pile at her feet increasing in size while bits of snow still clinging to the branches fell lazily to the ground.

  Thwack!

  Fiona jumped when a bit of cold wetness landed against the back of her neck. Spinning around while making sure she kept her balance in the slippery snow, she found Chadwick standing some distance away with a devilish gleam to his eyes and another snowball pressed neatly between his hands.

  “I’ll get you for that!”

  Without thinking, Fiona started toward him while putting her pruner back in her pocket. He’d already turned away with a laugh, escaping between the thick branches of the trees while Fiona bent to gather up snow as she went. Spotting Rachel, who now held a knife to a larger branch, Fiona surveyed the surrounding area for any sign of her quarry, only to find herself targeted once more from behind.

  Determined to have her revenge, she turned around deftly and immediately noticed the sway of recently disturbed branches at her left. Hesitantly, she headed in that direction while glancing back over her shoulder every few paces. She would not allow herself to be surprised by him again. So she moved with careful adroitness, pushing between the pine trees until she spotted him further ahead. He appeared to be looking out from what he likely believed to be an excellent hiding place.

  Smiling with glee, Fiona edged closer and knelt down, quietly forming additional snowballs until she had ten in total. And then, with a grin of devilish delight, she launched them at her opponent, sending them flying with remarkable accuracy, one after another.

  “What the—” Turning around, Chadwick caught a missile square in the face. “Why you little—” Thwack! “You’d better run!”

  Heedless of his threat, she continued throwing the balls at him until all had been used. That was when it occurred to her he was much closer now than he’d been before, and the mischief he wore on his features was likely to see a bit of snow shoved down the back of her gown.

  Shuddering at the idea, she started to rise, but he was suddenly upon her, throwing her back against the snow while pinning her arms down and straddling her hips. “You’re a monster. Do you know that?”

  “You started it.” Could she possibly sound more childish?

  He gave her a devilish look, immediately sucking all air from her lungs. “Fiona, Fiona, what will your punishment be? I know…” He moved her arms so he could hold her wrists in place with one hand. With the other, he started tickling her sides.

  A squeal was her immediate response. He grinned with perverse delight and tickled her again until she was writhing from side to side, laughing and squealing and begging for mercy. Until he suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes and went instantly still at the sight of his dark expression. It was so foreign, she scarcely knew what to make of it. And then he suddenly pushed himself away and offered his hand to help her up.

  “Is everything all right?” Rachel asked as she broke through between the trees. “I heard Fiona screaming and feared something tragic might have occurred.”

  “We were chasing each other about,” Chadwick said. “Your sister can be quite vocal when she gets caught.” His voice was tight, and Fiona became acutely aware that he was refusing to look at her. “I’ll allow the two of you to finish your trimmings while I take a brief walk.”

  Fiona stared after him while Rachel remained at her side. For a moment there, she’d felt as though they were back to their usual pranks, but then it had ended, and she’d found herself lost and wrapped in a newfound alertness – the unfamiliar strength and power of a man’s body pushing down on her own. And it was as though her blood had grown hot in her veins. Which made no sense at all since the man in question was Chadwick.

  “I don’t understand,” she said, speaking to the vacant spot where Chadwick had stood seconds earlier.

  A pause followed, and then Rachel quietly whispered, “Perhaps you ought to take some time to reevaluate the way in which you interact with him, Fiona. You’re not the little girl you once were, and regardless of what you may think, he is hardly your brother.”

  Chapter 4

  Ordinarily, Edward loved nothing better than participating in a lively game of charades. But that had been before he’d straddled Fiona in the forest and seen baffled awareness spring to life in the depths of her dark green eyes.

  His arousal had struck him like a shovel to the back of the head. Holy hell! What the devil had he been thinking to allow such inappropriate contact between them? Obviously, he hadn’t been using his head at all. That much was clear. He’d simply reacted on instinct until he’d been left with no choice but to add significant distance between them. Because the alternative…

  He dared not even think of what that might have led to, not only because it would probably mean getting murdered by her six siblings but, more importantly, because he feared what it would do to his relationship with her. Revealing the way he truly felt would alter everything between them. And yet, the way she’d gazed up at him with slightly parted lips suggested she might finally be starting to view him in a different light.

  She was young – only nineteen years to his thirty – and yet, as much as he’d tried to consider other women over the course of the last few months, none of them had captured his attention the way she did. So he watched her now while she mimed her clues, either shaking her head or nodding in response to the eager guesses being made. Her hair was a wild collection of curls that he longed to unpin and watch fall down her back, her features so soft he’d always compared her to Da Vinci’s depiction of the angel in Virgin of the Rocks. She was perfect in every way, the only woman with whom he envisioned forming an attachment. He loved her, damn it, so there could be no other. It had to be her, and only her.

  “It’s your turn,” Emily said, forcing him out of his reverie. She stood before him, holding a box with one final piece of folded paper toward him.

  He picked it up and glanced at it carefully, so the others would not be able to see. “You’ll never guess this one,” he said with exaggeration. Everyone loved the prankster in him, so that was what he’d deliver while keeping the sentimental romantic to himself. “I dare say it is quite impossible.” Allowing a grin, he got to his feet and strode to the center of the room.

  “We’ll soon prove you wrong,” Belgrave said with a laugh.

  Laura clapped her hands. “Oh, indeed we shall.”

  Edward held up one finger.

  “One word,” Fiona called, leaning forward in her seat.

  Rewarding her with a gentle smile, Edward nodded before spreading his hands and moving them in a square, cube-like, outline.

  Emily jumped in her seat. “A box!”

  Edward wiped his hand over his forehead to indicate she was on the right track. He then tugged on his ear.

  “Rhymes with,” Lady Oakland called out.

  Pointing to the front of his throat, he glanced around the room and waited, a smile pulling at his
lips while he watched their puzzled expressions. And then Fiona suddenly snapped her fingers together. “Adam’s apple rhymes with a word for box. It’s tabernacle!” She bounced in her seat, grinning with unabashed enthusiasm.

  Edward gallantly bowed in her direction. “Well done, Imp.” He’d deliberately used the endearment he’d given her when she was little, for it allowed him to remember she deserved a suitor closer to her own age. But when he raised his gaze and his eyes caught hers, he saw she had stilled. A look of confusion marred her features. It was almost as if she could not comprehend what he’d said.

  “Well, that was fun,” Emily said.

  Laura stood. “I plan to put out some treats for the birds and squirrels down by the lake. Would anyone care to join me?”

  “I think I could use some fresh air,” Lamont said.

  “I will go too,” Rachel told her, after which Emily, Belgrave, and Montsmouth quickly joined the group.

  “We’ll take our afternoon naps then,” Lady Oakland said, a wink directed at her husband.

  Lady Duncaster chuckled. “Afternoon naps indeed.” She exited the room, while Lady Oakland turned a deep shade of pink.

  Edward smiled as the gathering dispersed. “What about you?” he asked Fiona when he saw she remained behind. “Don’t you wish to join them?”

  A lovely rose-colored hue crept into her cheeks. “No. I believe our walk this morning has given me enough outdoor exercise for the day.”

  Edward’s chest tightened. He felt his heart drum slightly faster as he watched her lick her lips in a nervous gesture that made him want to pull her into his arms and taste her. Instead, he remained where he was. “Well then…would you like to join me for a cup of tea?”

  Her eyes brightened with sudden interest. “Let’s order hot chocolate instead.” She went to the bell pull and called for a maid. “Shall we sit by the fire?”

  “Of course.” He followed her over while trying to figure out how best to escape the stilted atmosphere that seemed to have settled between them. If only things could go back to the way they’d once been. If only he hadn’t knocked her onto her back and climbed over her. “About this morning,” he said while she lowered herself to the loveseat facing the fireplace.