UnexpectedChristmas

by Jean Hart Stewart

  She walked with her head down and didn’t see him.

  He had never felt so helpless.

  “Caro, please don’t do this to us.”

  He heard her gulp down a sob but she kept on walking.

  Watching her leave was one of the hardest things he’d ever endured but there was no use in following her now. She was not ready to listen. Besides, he needed to think.

  Satan’s bones, he would not lose her. He only had to figure out what to do next. He was an intelligent man, wasn’t he? There must be something he could do to prove his love. She would make an extraordinary marchioness someday. Her poise, her beauty, her compassionate nature, all were unsurpassed. He needed her body in his bed every night for the rest of his life. Her tight cunt clutching him as he pounded into her. The very thought of what they’d do there turned his cock to a steel rigidity pressing against his damnably tight trousers. His groan was loud and heartfelt. He had to quit thinking of what he’d like to do to her and figure out this blasted, goddamn mess.

  He wanted to marry her, by god. To make her his countess.

  So why didn’t he at least one idea of what to do next?

  * * * * *

  Disgusted with his lack of a solution, Sebastian paced the room. Soon he felt the walls creeping closer to his worried pacing and headed out the door at the end of the hall to the kitchen. If he had any hope of gaining back his wits he needed to clear his brain with some exercise and fresh air.

  He needed to start thinking with something beside his cock. His thoughts constantly on Caro, he remembered how wonderful it had felt that first day at the deserted inn, when he’d realized his strength was needed to keep them alive. Nothing had felt so good in a long while as that plebeian task of chopping wood. He and Caro could both have died in that miserable freezing excuse of an inn. Surely fate had meant them to be together. If he’d only come to that conclusion a little sooner, his path would now be easier. He’d been wasting his life, throwing it away on ephemeral pleasures that meant nothing.

  Caro had showed him what life could truly be.

  Striding along, he realized he was headed for the stables. He’d see how Thunder was faring and perhaps give him an extra rubdown. He could use the exercise.

  He was halfway to the stables when he heard Thunder’s mighty neigh. Fearing something had angered the stallion beyond endurance, he broke into a run. Even as he ran he heard the sound of shattering wood. Dammit to a roué’s hell, Thunder was beyond control and he had to find the cause and correct it before the horse injured himself or a stable hand.

  To his utter dismay he found Thunder rearing and bringing his mighty hooves down with a devastating force, seeking to shatter his stall or anything near him. Worse, much worse, Becky was in the far corner of the stall, an apple clutched in her hand, one small arm across her head.

  Sebastian rushed to his stallion, putting his hand on his flank, using his touch and his murmuring voice to try to pierce through the dark cloud of Thunder’s fury. Neither Sebastian’s voice nor his touch could reach his horse’s frenzied mind. Thunder was beyond communication. His loud and frantic neighs showed his desperate state, a state in which he sought only to destroy.

  Sebastian realized he must concentrate on saving Becky from those crashing hooves.

  With a prayer of desperation, he dropped to his knees and began to crawl toward her. Terrified, Becky crouched against the walls of the stall, her knees against her chest, drawing herself into as small a ball as she could manage. Sebastian edged along the wall, inching slowly, hoping not to draw attention to himself. Not until he’d taken Becky to safety.

  Speaking as softly as he could, he called her name.

  “Becky, can you edge along the wall and get closer to me? Move very slowly. Don’t do anything sudden to attract Thunder’s attention.”

  “I’m afraid to move, sir.” Her shaking voice underlined the extent of her terror.

  “I’m here to help. Just come as slowly as you can and keep to the side of the stall. I’ll catch you and take you to safety.”

  Her panicked eyes looked less wild. “Yes sir. I’ll try.”

  Sebastian knew the child was doing her best. Trembling and frightened, she did as he’d said. She inched along the side of the stall, the apple still clenched in her hand. He lay on his stomach, reaching toward her, hoping to grab her feet and pull her so she was sheltered by his body.

  “Drop the apple,” he said in a whisper. “Then keep backing up toward me.”

  He wanted her to be able to clutch herself to him as soon as he could get his arms around her but she didn’t seem to hear or understand. Still she kept slowly coming. Thunder was still rearing and bringing the mighty weight of his front hooves crashing against the sides of the stall. He’d already hit the boards where she’d been crouching. Sebastian prayed silently as the child backed slowly to him.

  Finally he could grab her feet and he pulled her to him, sheltering her with his body. Just then Thunder seemed to notice their activity and, rearing and neighing, brought his hooves down with all his force. Sebastian hunched quickly with Becky sheltered by his body, his arms wrapped around her. He heard bones in his arm crack but he kept inching away, Becky secured with his other arm. And then one of the stable hands advanced, pitchfork in hand, and held the stallion at bay. Thunder roared with pain as the tines penetrated his chest but the mad glint in his eyes disappeared and two more stable hands pulled Sebastian and Becky to safety.

  Sebastian lay still, cradling his broken arm with his uninjured one, watching as Becky ran to Caro and buried her face in Caro’s skirts.

  How long had Caro been there?

  “I only wanted to give him an apple. I’m so sorry, so very sorry,” Becky sobbed.

  Caro knelt to soothe the child but her eyes were on Sebastian.

  “I have never seen a braver deed. How badly are you hurt, Sebastian?”

  He looked up at her and managed a shaky smile.

  “Only my arm. I’m not sure I should jar it by walking just yet. It truly hurts like hell.”

  Caro turned to two of the stable hands. “Get a door and lift him on it gently. We must get him to the house and a doctor. And see to Thunder. That is the first thing he’ll want to know when he revives.”

  Sebastian protested in a weak voice that he could manage on his own but she hushed him.

  “That arm should not be jarred unnecessarily until the fracture is set. It’s a fair distance to the house. Now be quiet, Sebastian, and let us get you to a sofa, at least.”

  One stable hand stepped up and spoke to Sebastian.

  “We didn’t want to have to use the pitchfork, sir, but now I wish we’d done it sooner.”

  Sebastian nodded but said nothing.

  Staying beside him every step of the way, Caro directed them to the sitting room. Wide-eyed servants watched the little procession as it passed. Not bothering to single one of them out, she issued a general request that the marquess be notified immediately. She was not surprised when Sebastian’s father, white-faced and anxious, soon stood looking down at his son.

  “What happened, my dear?” He turned partway to her, even though he didn’t move from Sebastian’s side.

  Caro suppressed her start of surprise that his tone to her was still so friendly and she answered readily.

  “Sebastian saved the life of the little girl I brought with me from my school. She’d gone to give Thunder an apple and was cowering in his stall. Sebastian rescued her from his flailing hooves but couldn’t escape one blow to his arm.”

  The marquess raised anguished eyes. “You mean that brute of a horse struck him? Full force? Dear god in heaven, he might lose that arm.”

  Caro drew herself up. “I won’t let that happen. I swear I won’t. The servants have gone for the doctor. We can do nothing now but wait.”

  Sebastian’s voice called out, stronger than she’d expected.

  “Caro, come here.”

  As she hurried to his side he grabbed h
er hand. “Caro, promise me. Promise you’ll not let them take my arm.”

  She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “I promise, Sebastian. I promise.”

  As she raised her head she met his father’s eyes, defiance and resolution plain in hers. The marquess stared at her, said nothing and walked to the side of the room, where he sat down heavily in the biggest armchair. He bowed his head in his hands as they all waited, Caro holding Sebastian’s uninjured hand tightly in hers.

  * * * * *

  When the doctor arrived, he turned out to be a nattily dressed man with a well-trimmed goatee and moustache. His eyes swept first around the rich splendor of the room then he spotted the marquess and bowed to him and finally glanced toward his patient.

  “I am Dr. Kimberly, my lord,” he said to the earl. “I’m sorry to meet you under such circumstances.”

  Crossing to Sebastian, he looked him over, but when he put out his hand to grab Sebastian’s arm Caro moved in front of him.

  “His arm is broken, sir, as you can plainly see. I’m sure you don’t mean to touch it unnecessarily.”

  The doctor drew himself up haughtily. “I don’t know who you are, young lady, but of course I mean to touch it. I must rotate it in different directions to ascertain the position of the break.”

  Watching Sebastian pale at the thought of having his arm rotated, she wished she had the authority to order the unfeeling brute from the room. Still she spoke in her best teacher’s manner, calm and authoritative. She was used to quelling rebellious students, after all.

  “Are you sure that is wise just yet, sir? Do you have something for the pain? And could you explain to me, ignorant as I am, why a broken bone should be rotated? It sounds so unnecessary to me. Isn’t setting it the most important thing?”

  The doctor turned so red Caro wondered if he would turn into a patient himself.

  “My dear young lady, I am an expert in broken bones. I must try different motions to ascertain the extent of the damage.”

  Sebastian spoke in a pleasant voice.

  “My fiancée is most often right. From what I can tell I have a serious break and rotation is impossible in any case.”

  The marquess had crossed the room and stood with his hand on his son’s shoulder.

  “I assume you are practiced in bone-setting? Then do it quickly and properly and I’ll double your fee.”

  The doctor’s color gradually faded as the thought a rich man’s patronage flitted across his easily read features.

  “As you say, my lord. Perhaps I can do without the rotation in this instance.”

  He took off his coat and laid it aside with ceremony. As he advanced on Sebastian Caro again stepped between them.

  “I would request two things, sir. Some laudanum for Lord Sebastian, and that you wash your hands thoroughly before you start.”

  He stared at her as if she were insane.

  “Of course I will give him some laudanum if his lordship desires. But you are insulting, young lady. My hands are perfectly clean.”

  Caro smiled pleasantly.

  “I’m sure they are, sir. Just mark it down as a peccadillo of an overanxious fiancée.”

  Sebastian was openly grinning and the marquess moved in.

  “My soon-to-be daughter-in-law is unusually concerned about cleanliness. It would please me if you humored her.”

  Dr. Kimberly accepted he was outnumbered, and although he was still flushed he seemed in command of himself. He held out his hands as Caro poured brandy over them. He moved to the patient.

  “You do seem unusually alert, my lord. Will you swallow the laudanum, please?”

  Sebastian growled.

  “I don’t need soporifics. Go ahead, doctor.”

  Again Caro acted. Taking Sebastian’s hands in hers, she leaned over and kissed his forehead.

  “Please, Sebastian. I can’t stand to see you suffer. Take the laudanum. Please. For my sake.”

  With a grin, Sebastian conceded.

  “For you, then, Caro. You know I’d do anything for you.”

  He swallowed the large dose she’d taken from the doctor and lay back. Caro fussed about him, adjusting the blanket so it lay over his legs, smoothing his hair and ensuring the laudanum had a little time to act. By the time the doctor moved in Sebastian was pleasantly numb.

  Still, the process of having his bones twisted into place was almost unendurable. He fastened on Caro’s hands in a grip that wrenched her slight frame but she gave no sign of her discomfort. Sebastian himself made not a sound.

  The doctor at least seemed competent in setting bones, as he pulled the pieces together and then applied a splint to hold them in place. He asked a servant to bring in another bag from his carriage and pulled out more splints and Caro nodded approvingly that he seemed to know this part of his job. Just to be sure, she grabbed some gauze from the doctor’s kit and wrapped it around Sebastian’s arm. At least he’d have a little protection from the stiffness of the splints. She smiled sweetly at the doctor, who glared at her but started to bind the splints to Sebastian’s arm. His far from gentle touch made Caro grind her teeth to keep from commenting again as she watched Sebastian fight valiantly not to give in to the pain. When he finally slipped into blessed unconsciousness, Caro breathed a sigh of deep relief.

  The marquess, who stayed in the background, watching and praying, had no doubt of the love between his son and Caro. Nor of her courage and wisdom. Even if he’d not already become reconciled to Caro as his daughter-in-law, he would be now. This slip of a girl, the image of his beloved Althea, obviously held Sebastian’s heart in her capable hands. Regardless of gossip or backlash from his friends and Lady Cecilia’s father, these two belonged together in a way he’d seldom witnessed from members of the ton.

  The way he’d longed to have lived with Althea.

  He closed his eyes briefly.

  He’d not put a single impediment in their way.

  Chapter Five

  Caro was more tired than she could ever remember but Sebastian was finally asleep. He’d clung to her hand until the laudanum had taken effect. His arm was encased with the heavy splints and she knew he’d awaken during the night again and again. He’d refused to take the full amount of the drug and still she had to check on Becky.

  She found the girl cuddled in Marianne’s arms. She stepped toward them, knowing this must be dealt with.

  At the sight of Caro, Becky shrank back.

  “You must hate me. Everyone hates me. You most of all. Lord Sebastian is suffering dreadful pain because I disobeyed him. Thunder is ruined with the pitchfork marks on him. You must wish you’d never seen me.”

  Caro’s generous heart clenched. This child must not be left feeling guilt that might possibly mar her life. And yet her disobedience needed to be dealt with.

  “Well, part of what you say is true, Becky. You do have some unsuitable conduct to atone for. I don’t think Thunder is permanently scarred. The marks will fade and be covered by his beautiful coat. You should definitely apologize to Lord Sebastian. I think you will find the forgiveness there you need. And you might consider how you could make it up to him.”

  Caro said nothing more but Becky’s tears stopped as she listened to her beloved teacher. Caro waited, giving the child time to absorb the new ideas.

  Her brow furrowed as she considered what to do.

  “I know how to muck out a stall. My parents always made me take care of my horse. Do you think Lord Sebastian would let me help in that way, if I promised to faithfully follow the stablemaster’s orders? I’ll stay away from Thunder. I’ll do whatever I’m told to do.”

  Caro swallowed her sigh of relief. Turning the child’s thoughts to constructive action was a good first step. Still, she doubted if Becky would ever forget this day.

  She nodded gravely. “You can apologize to Lord Sebastian in a day or so. He’s asleep right now. I’ll take you to talk to the stablemaster a little later. I find I need to rest.”

  She turned
away, weary in body and spirit. She heard Marianne speaking to Becky and blessed her friend’s compassion when it was her beloved brother who been injured.

  She slowly walked to her room. She heard them assisting Sebastian to his bed and closed her eyes at the sounds of his painful progress. At least the laudanum still had him somewhat in its grip and he would get some sleep.

  She was not sure she could sleep herself but she meant to try. More exhausted than she’d realized, her last thought was of how she must leave as soon as someone could take both her and Becky back to the school. And, of course, when she was assured Sebastian was healing.

  She’d not stay and ruin her beloved’s life.

  He had no idea of what it was like to be treated like a leper. No friends and no one to even talk to. She’d been lonely for so long. Without anyone at all to share her sorrow. She’d not let Sebastian endure that kind of life.

  * * * * *

  When Sebastian woke, he was disappointed Caro wasn’t with him. Instead an official-looking nurse sat in the room. Immediately scorning his selfish thoughts, he lay back and waited for Caro. It was only two days to Christmas. The staff had seen to decorating the house, and pines and holly decorated the hall and the first floor rooms. Red and green ribbons were twined around the railings of the great stairway. He’d noticed them before this damnable business with his horse.

  Pray all the saints the spirit of Christmas would imbue this house and his Caro’s heart.

  Blast these damn heavy splints. He’d meant to do so much these two days. He’d wanted to take a private walk with Caro and look for another sprig of mistletoe to hold over her head while he kissed her breathless. He’d wanted to seduce her by any possible means until he got her wholehearted consent to their marriage.

  He’d hoped to be married on Christmas day.

  He’d secured the license before going to the school to bring her to his home.

  At least he no longer had to fight his father. While he’d been fully prepared to do so rather than give up Caro, it was relief to find him so approving. His sire’s eyes were filled with wonder every time he looked at Caro, and after her skillful management of that stupid sawbones, now with an added respect.