Mistletoe & Michaelmas

by Rose Gordon

  Daphne picked up the top card. “King Louis the Fourteenth, decided to search the lowlands.” She shoved it in toward the bottom of the deck, then picked up the next card on top. “King James, decided to ride to the middle of the continent.” She pushed that card in the middle of the deck and picked up another from the top. “King George the Fourth grumbled about it since he is the reigning monarch, after all, but eventually agreed to ride fifty miles from his palace.” She pushed that card back into the deck near the top. “And King Henry the Eighth. Well, he was too ill to actually ride, so he stayed at the palace to wait for their return.

  “With three such strong and skilled kings on his trail, Simkin was soon captured and brought to the palace where King Henry the eighth was waiting! King Henry ordered the alarms to be sounded and messengers be sent out to find the other kings.” Vaguely aware her voice was getting louder and she was adding more emphasis than was really necessary, she continued on. “One by one the other three kings returned until they were outside the closed doors to the gate that surrounded the palace where they were made to knock on the door...” Using her knuckle, she gave three gentle taps top of the deck, then one by one, overturned the top five cards to reveal the four kings and the scoundrel jack Simkin the Dashing.

  Aaron clapped his hands together twice. “Impressive.”

  Daphne wasn't sure if he really was impressed or just saying that. Nor could she bring herself to ask him. “Do you know any tricks?”

  “None that are nice.”

  “The one where you send them all to the floor?” At his nod, she scrunched up her nose. “My father taught me that trick.”

  “But not to shuffle?”

  She took a slim stack of cards from the front of the deck and moved them to the back. She used her forefinger and her middle finger to grab up about an inch worth of cards from the middle and systematically dropped a few in the front of the deck and a few in the back. “Perhaps he thought it would make my husband happy that I couldn't gamble away his money like my mother did.”

  Something about her words hit Aaron right in the gut. “You can do such an impressive card trick, but you can't shuffle a deck. Aren’t you a mystery?” he mused, with a grin, still racking his brain to make sense of what she'd said and how to fix it.

  “I’m glad you think so. I’d hate for all of my secrets to be on display.”

  “So would I. It'll be far more enjoyable to discover them all slowly.” There he went saying something he shouldn't again. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop himself from doing so when she was around. Something about her drew the boldness right out of him.

  “My my, are you always so forward, Mr. Lentz?”

  “No.” His eyes stayed locked with hers. “Only with you.”

  That pretty faint pink blush from earlier stained her cheeks again. “And what is it about me that makes me so special?”

  “You're you.”

  Daphne idly played with the deck of cards in her hand. “I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not, Mr. Lentz.”

  “I'd be delighted to clarify that if you'll refrain from referring to me as Mr. Lentz.”

  “That is your name, is it not?”

  “It is.” He smiled. “But so is Aaron.”

  She lifted the cards in her left hand and let them slowly fall to her open right palm. “Would your middle name be Forward, perhaps?”

  “If you'd like it to be, it can.” He shrugged and reached his leg toward the hem of her skirt. She wanted to call him forward, he could be forward. “I'd prefer if you'd call me Aaron instead of Forward; but I'll take whatever you're willing to use as long as it's not Mr. Lentz.”

  “And why should I call you by your Christian name?”

  “Other than because I gave you leave to do so?”

  She nodded.

  “Calling me Mr. Lentz. It makes me feel like an old man.”

  Daphne pinched her lips together to hold in the laughter that was threatening to break free. It was a hard task, to be sure.

  “I already know you think I'm one—” he flashed her his devilishly handsome grin— “but perhaps calling me Aaron will help you forget.”

  “I never said I thought you were an old man.”

  He arched a single brow. “Never said it, but did you think it?”

  Daphne shifted uncomfortably in her seat, whether it was because their talk was making her uncomfortable or because his foot had somehow made its way under her skirt and his ankle had brushed hers, she didn't know. “Well...er...” She trailed off, her mind unable to form a coherent thought with what was going on below the table.

  “So you do think I'm old.”

  “No. I...um—” Her words died on her lips as a wide grin split his face.

  Winking at her, he said, “It's all right. I am old.” He ran the tip of his index finger over the faint lines that fanned out around his eyes. “But not as old as I look.”

  “Well, that's good, you look to be at least fifty.”

  “So young?” Grinning, he bobbed his head as if he were bowing to her. “Why thank you.”

  This time Daphne couldn't stop her laughter any more than she could stop the spring rain. “I do hope you know I was only jesting.”

  “Oh.” Mr. Lentz, or Forward, as was a more appropriate name for him, twisted his lips into such an overstretched frown his row of bottom teeth showed. “I didn't realize. Unfortunately, I wasn't jesting...”

  Finally spending more than ten years as a vicar and hearing delicate matters had a reward! Aaron schooled his features to look impassive while the fetching young lady seated across from him moved her lips, but made no sound.

  He wasn't fifty. At least not yet. He would be one day, but he still had more than a decade to reach that rank. But she didn't need to know that quite yet.

  “May I ask just how old you are?”

  “You may ask.” Aaron set his foot back on the floor where it was safer, then held his hands out for the deck of cards. “But keep in mind my dignity and pride.”

  “And tender sensibilities,” Daphne teased, handing him the cards.

  “Yes, those, too.” Aaron shuffled the deck. “I was born in seventeen seventy-eight.”

  Silence momentarily enveloped them.

  “That makes you thirty eight.”

  “No, not yet,” Aaron said in mock indignation. He shuffled the cards again then before pushing together the two stacks of cards that were merged in the middle, he lifted his thumbs, and used his fingers that were under the cards to push them up like a bridge and let them shuffle again from bottom to top. “But I will be on December thirtieth.”

  “Oh, forgive me for aging you.”

  “I'll consider it,” Aaron said, plunking down the deck of cards in front of Daphne. “But for now I'll teach you how to shuffle.”

  Chapter Four

  Daphne was in trouble. Deep trouble.

  And it had nothing to do with the current interrogation being conducted by Jane...

  It took every ounce of determination Daphne possessed to keep a straight face and act disinterested when Jane asked her about her card game, and then consequently her luncheon seated next to Aaron.

  A delicious tingle ran up her spine at the memory of his low voice whispering against her ear and his hands over top of hers as he taught her how to shuffle a deck of cards.

  “I'll take that to mean you had an enjoyable time,” Jane said, a broad smile spreading her lips and a glint of laughter in her brown eyes.

  “Well, of course. He didn't threaten to eat me at luncheon.”

  “No, I'm sure he'd rather expend his energy in other ways,” Jane murmured. She cleared her throat. “Do you think you'd enjoy his company for more than just a card game or meals?”

  Daphne frowned. Was Jane trying to marry her off to the first bidder, too? Surely if anyone would understand not wanting to be forced off on someone it'd be Jane. “I've only just met him yesterday!” Never mind that he'd already given her leave to use his Christian nam
e and she'd certainly not admit to anyone that his very presence brought her entire being to life.

  “Yes, I know you hardly know him.” Jane's tone was quiet. She tilted her head to the side. “I only asked if you'd like to spend time a little more time with him—not a lifetime. But now that you mention it...”

  Daphne's top teeth dug into her bottom lip. She hardly knew anything about Aaron other than he was a shameless flirt and nearly twenty years older than her. She frowned. That alone would be enough for her brother Michael to refuse his suit.

  “Perhaps you'd enjoy a sleigh ride with Mr. Lentz tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Oh.” Daphne's heart slammed in her chest and her pulse quickened. When had he asked Jane for permission to take her on a sleigh ride? Or had he? “Did he ask your permission?”

  Jane just smiled. “Yes, you goose.”

  “And what did you tell him?”

  “What was I supposed to tell him?” Jane inquired, pulling a hairpin from her bun.

  That brought Daphne up short. What was Jane supposed to have said?

  Jane slid another pin from her hair, making her long hair fall all around her. “Do you want to go?”

  Yes. “I shouldn't.”

  “Shouldn't?” Jane set her hairpins on her vanity. “Is there something about Mr. Lentz you find disagreeable?”

  “No.”

  Jane waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, so then you find him too agreeable.”

  “No!” Daphne choked. She cleared her throat, flushing. “I just meant—” She shook her head and flopped down on her sister's bed. “I don't know.”

  “He's quite handsome, isn't he?”

  Daphne couldn't argue that. An image of his high cheekbones, chiseled jaw, faint lines in his face and sparsely greying temples flashed in her mind. “In a...mature sort of way, yes.”

  Jane idly twisted a lock of her mahogany hair. “I think he's handsome.”

  “He is,” Daphne agreed.

  “I saw the way you smiled when he came into the library this morning, Daphne.” Jane's tone held no sort of condescension or mockery, just sisterly concern. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you're attracted to him.”

  Daphne opened her mouth to refute her sister's assessment, but came up short.

  “I'd say the interest is reciprocated—and sincere,” Jane said softly. “Or else I wouldn't have even considered leaving the drawing room this morning nor would he have asked my permission to take you on a sleigh ride.”

  Again, Daphne wanted to say something, but this time before she could, Jane spoke again.

  “It's a sleigh ride, Daph, not a trip to Scotland—” she pursed her lips, her eyes widening— “at least it had better not be.” She closed her eyes and gave her head a slight shake. “I think you should go.”

  Daphne did, too… “But what if...”

  “What if you realize you're genuinely attracted to him?”

  It was a little late for that, but Daphne nodded anyway.

  “Then I'd say you'd make both you and Mr. Lentz quite happy.”

  Daphne grinned ruefully. “And Gareth since he'll no longer have to act as guardian and find some unsuspecting soul to chain me to.”

  “Indeed.”

  Chapter Five

  “What a lovely day for a sleigh ride,” Jane commented as she straightened the collar of Daphne's brown fur coat.

  “Are you sure you and Gareth wouldn't like to join us?” Daphne offered, gesturing in the direction of the large oak door that was still closed and shielding them from the elements that required her to wear such a heavy garment. She'd be lying if she didn't admit—even if just to herself—that she hoped Jane would decline.

  “No, I don't think so,” Jane said, then cast Aaron a pointed look that Daphne couldn't interpret as anything other than some sort of warning, but for what Daphne didn't know.

  Aaron winked at Jane, then held his arm out toward Daphne. “Shall we?”

  Daphne placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and waited while Dawson opened the door for them, revealing the most beautiful sight Daphne had ever beheld. Lain out before them was a beautiful white picturesque scene of white flakes gently swirling about, covering the tops of the trees in the distance.

  Aaron led Daphne down the snowy steps and toward the sleigh that waited for them in the drive.

  “Thank you for inviting me on a sleigh ride.”

  “You're welcome.” He helped her into the sleigh, then took his seat next to her and snapped the reins. The sound of sleigh bells tinkling floated to her ears. “I'm glad you accepted.”

  “Accepted? I don't recall you asking me,” she teased.

  “Perhaps that's because I already knew your answer.”

  “Ooooooh.” Daphne pressed her lips into a line. “I understand now. You thought asking my chaperone would spare your poor heart from rejection.”

  A sharp bark of laughter escaped his lips. "My poor heart, indeed." He reached over and took her hand in his. “If I didn't think you wanted to come, I wouldn't have asked your sister. I just thought it was the appropriate step.”

  “And if she'd said no?”

  Aaron snapped the reins again and the horses picked up their pace, kicking up a cloud of snow right in front of Daphne and Aaron. "I wouldn't have said anything to her...we'd have just gone."

  “You are a brave man,” Daphne said.

  “You have no idea just how brave I'm being,” Aaron muttered under his breath as he steered the sleigh toward a little cusp of white frosted trees to the northeast.

  “Well, if driving the sleigh is too taxing for you, I'd be glad to take over for you.”

  Casting Daphne a sidelong glance he pulled the horses to a stop. “All right, they're all yours.”

  “Uh...um...I...”

  “Are going to drive this sleigh.” He placed the reins in her loose grasp, then folded his arms and propped his booted feet up on the runner.

  Daphne cursed her dratted tongue. “I can't.”

  “Sure you can,” he encouraged. “Just give the horses a gentle snap. Oh, and whistle. Whistling helps.”

  She frowned. “Are you funning me?”

  “I've never understood that expression, but no, I'm not funning you.” He dropped his feet back down to the floorboard and scooted closer to her, wrapping his right arm around her. “Can I help you?”

  Yes, because if he didn’t, she'd melt into a little pool of mush right then and there. “No, you can drive, I was only jesting.”

  “I'm not.” His embrace tightened momentarily. “You're going to drive or we'll have to sit right here until spring when we'll eventually thaw out.”

  “Or whenever Gareth comes after you to demand satisfaction for keeping me so long and ruining my reputation.”

  “Then I guess if you don't want to marry me—” he flashed her a warm grin— “or have my blood on your hands, then you'd better snap those reins.”

  Reluctantly, Daphne gave the reins a little snap...and simultaneously squeezed her eyes shut. A chuckle rumbled in Aaron's chest, but she didn't care.

  The horses took off, and Aaron's hands slightly increased their hold on hers. He whistled and snapped the reins again. “Open your eyes, you're missing it.”

  “Missing what?”

  “Where we're going.”

  “Is that so special?” She rather enjoyed the feeling of being in Aaron's warm embrace with the entire world shut out from view.

  “I'd say so, because if you don't open your eyes and steer we'll run straight into that tree.”

  Daphne's eyes sprang open and she would have yanked on the reins had Aaron not stopped her. “You tricked me,” she said when she realized they were nowhere near a tree.”

  “I did no such thing,” he huffed in with the most ridiculous amount of mock indignation she'd ever heard. “It might have taken a good ten minutes at the speed we're going, but eventually...”

  She nudged his side with her elbow. “All right, you want to see me steer, I'll steer.
”

  A loud whoop rang out, making her laugh.

  Daphne carefully pulled back on the left rein and was pleased when, like she'd hoped, the horses turned slightly to the left. Gaining a bit more confidence in her steering ability, Daphne gave a low whistle and snapped the reins again.

  Obediently, the horses picked up pace and another whistle sounded. “Has anyone ever told you what a mystery you are?”

  “Only you.”

  “Well, it's the truth.” He gave her a light squeeze. “One minute you're as sarcastic as the ocean is deep, the next you're full of wit and wonder. Other times you seem so quiet and uncertain and a moment later you're displaying your skills with no hint of hesitancy or weariness. You truly are a mysterious creature.”

  She twisted her lips. “Has anyone of your sex ever considered those of my sex don’t enjoy being referred to as creatures?”

  Aaron cocked his head to the side. “I’m sure at least one of us has considered it...”

  “But they just don’t care?” she finished for him.

  “I wouldn’t say they don’t care.” He sighed, then idly tapped his finger against his jaw. “No, you were right. They don’t care.”

  “There you are being incorrigible again.” Daphne swatted his shoulder.

  Aaron reached up and caught her hand, then brought her fingers against his lips. “You know you like it.”

  “I do.” Her admission was so low and quiet he wouldn't have known she made it had he not been staring at her lips. He wanted so badly to kiss them. They were pink and lush. Made for kissing. “And I think you like it.”

  “I know I will,” Aaron murmured, closing the gap between them—

  Daphne jerked back with a slight squeak. Was he about to kiss her? The frozen expression on his face, complete with puckered lips confirmed that he was. And she backed off like a ninny. A million thoughts raced through her mind. None of which brought about the right words to say to erase the tension of this moment.

  “Wh-what are you doing?” she stammered, feeling every ounce the fool he probably thought her to be!