Have Yourself a Merry Little Secret : a Christmas collection of historical romance (Have Yourself a Merry Little... Book 2)

by Collette Cameron

Anne loved the timbre of his voice. It was dark and decadent. It took her only a moment to realize he was speaking to her and she was gaping at him like a ninnyhammer.

  “Oh, not at all.” She paused trying to piece together exactly what had happened. “These gentlemen have been most helpful, and well, um…”

  “I see,” he interrupted, noting her pale complexion and the slight line of blood from the side of her cheek.

  To Anne’s view, there was not a fleck of emotion in his handsome visage to confirm whether or not the handsome gentleman understood her predicament or not. Anne didn’t wish for the boys to be in hot water on her account. Bristling a little she said, “Truly, all is well as you can see. I um, well, thank you Henry for saving me. I had best be on my way.”

  With the first step, pain radiated from her hip. It wasn’t so much that she couldn’t walk, it was only that the discomfort and lack of ease of the business showed on her face.

  The dark gentleman frowned. It was the first show of real emotion that Anne had seen from the man. He moved a step closer saying, “If you would wait just one moment, please?”

  At her look of annoyance, his lip twitched. He continued saying, “I am very much assured that all is well, but what I would really like to know is the truth. I can see that you are hurt, Madame. Out with it, halflings, how is it that I am finding you in the streets of Brighton when you are supposed to be safely ensconced in the hotel?”

  Henry swallowed. “Is it too late for you to play dead, Lady Anne? I may wish to join you.”

  Anne turned to him in surprise. “But Henry, you saved me? Surely that is something worth celebrating.”

  Their uncle raised a brow in interest.

  “Blast,” Brant muttered under his breath. “Sorry, Uncle Ian. We were tired of Millie mothering us to death. She’s only two years older than we are. But she is constantly telling us what to do. The very nerve! Naturally, we left the inn to look for an adventure and saw a carriage about to plow through Lady Anne. Henry shoved her out of the way and saved her.”

  Anne winced again as she tried to take another step.

  The older gentleman shook his head as if to clear it, then boldly took her arm. “I beg your pardon. I know this is highly unorthodox. But I must insist on seeing you home. If I might present myself? My name is Mr. Ian Stanford, and these two reprobates are my nephews, Brant and Henry.”

  Anne nodded in greeting before replying, “Lady Anne Collingsworth. I was just about to meet my godmother when your nephew saved me. I must be terribly late by now. If you could just see me inside the pavilion?”

  “Of course,” Stanford answered at once.

  Gently taking her arm, Stanford helped Lady Anne up a few steps. But it seemed that each movement pained her terribly. There were faint white lines around her mouth and her coloring was poor.

  He was just about to abandon this foolish nonsense when he heard a familiar voice.

  “Ian Stanford, what are you doing with my goddaughter?”

  The four of them whipped their heads around to see an elderly woman, bundled to the hilt, being escorted down the stairs by two large footmen.

  Anne felt her cheeks heat when she realized that the handsome stranger was standing a trifle close and she could smell his cologne. She hadn’t the foggiest idea of what scent he wore. But the deep spicy notes were heavenly, and she knew it wasn’t a scent she was likely to forget. He was much larger than she was, and his arm was heavily muscled.

  Lady Genevieve’s wrinkled face was tight with concern when she asked, “My dear, are you alright?”

  Before Anne could speak, Henry launched into a detailed explanation as to what had happened. Anne wasn’t sure the validity of his story. The curricle had been upgraded to a barouche pulled by four matched bays, and she hadn’t remembered the tiger jumping from the back of the vehicle to fight Henry.

  However, as the world was getting a bit topsy-turvy, she knew she wasn’t in a position to argue.

  “How fortunate that you were all here to save my dear Anne,” Lady Genevieve exclaimed. “Let’s get out of this weather. Where is Amelia?”

  “She’s at the inn in the square,” Stanford said angrily. “Where these two should have been. However, none of that matters now. Lady Anne should be seen by a physician immediately.”

  Effortlessly, Stanford contrived to gather the twins, Lady Genevieve, and Anne into the coach; soon they were headed back toward Lady Genevieve’s lovely townhome.

  Chapter 2

  “Do you want to explain why Lord Rawlings’ wayward daughter is posing as your lady’s companion of all things?” Stanford stood with his back to the fire in Lady Gen’s boudoir, eyeing her with a critical air. “Are you ill?”

  Lady Genevieve shook her blond curls, a wig that she wore most favorably. “Dearest, it is nothing of the kind. She’s not my companion, merely a friend who is staying on and helping out a little. I don’t pay the girl. Don’t be stupid. Please, come and sit beside me so that we might be comfortable, and I shall tell you the whole of it.”

  Stanford assessed her, still quite lovely in all of her years. Lady Gen was a good woman. She also tended to get involved in matchmaking schemes, and of this he was quite wary. Ian had no wish to fall into the parson’s trap. If Lady Anne and Lady Gen had worked up some sort of plan involving him, Ian would soon make short work of it.

  Briefly he remembered her creamy skin and pale complexion. Lady Anne was truly lovely. However, mistakes in his past had ruined Ian forever for love and marriage.

  “I see. Am I to suppose that Lady Anne’s presence here had nothing to do with your summoning me?” Stanford asked as he crossed the room and took a seat beside her. When Lady Gen’s cheeks pinked, he added, “I will have the truth of it. No nonsense, if you please, I have enough of that to deal with from the twins.”

  Lady Genevieve’s eyes danced as they always did when Henry and Brant were mentioned. “Is it true that they tried to smuggle a chicken into the nursery?”

  Stanford looked taken aback. “Goodness no! Wherever did you hear that?”

  “I have my sources,” Lady Gen teased.

  Ian harrumphed. “Likely Lillian wrote to you. She’s a damned fine mother. I still am amazed that Ryan managed to make her his wife. The woman is a saint to put up with my brother Ryan and the twins. She’s too good for all of the male domination in her family.”

  Lady Gen laughed. “I suppose she knew what she was getting into marrying a man with so many brothers. Tell me, how is the family?”

  While Ian filled Lady Gen in on his brother’s lives, he marveled at how comfortable it was to be speaking with the older woman. She had a way of putting everyone at ease.

  Lady Gen continued, “Now, I didn’t expect the twins to be with you. What did they do this time?”

  Stanford sighed, a hint of smile entering his eyes. “Nothing so dramatic as chicken smuggling, I assure you. It was actually Millie that asked if they could come along. I think she’s lonely.”

  Lady Genevieve arched her brow. “Amelia? Is everything well with her?”

  Stanford rolled his cane. “She’s in good health, at least as much as a thirteen-year-old girl can be. I own that I don’t understand the female mind half as well as I once thought I did.”

  He first learned about his daughter while living in America. His eldest brother had travelled across the pond with his wife Juliana to inform him that he had a daughter. Stanford had run the gamut of emotions, from anger to sorrow to eventual acceptance. By the time he was able to get back to England, his daughter Amelia was nearly six years old.

  It took quite a bit of time for father and daughter to become accustomed to one another. But somehow, they had managed to muddle through. He thought things were going well, but lately she had seemed distant.

  “She’s becoming a young lady,” Lady Gen surmised. “That’s not easy on a girl. I suppose that she has a good maid or governess?”

  Stanford nodded. “Charlotte has been with her since th
e first moment we met. She is far more than a governess; she is a friend and confidant. But I fear for Millie. It’s a cruel world out there, and I know that she’s learning more and more that very thing.”

  Lady Gen reached out a gloved hand and placed it on his. “Well, Ian, I suppose that it’s for the best that you did answer my summons then. Perhaps some time in Anne’s presence will be good for the girl.”

  Stanford shook his head. “We didn’t intend to make a long visit. It’s the holidays, and I need to get the twins back to their parents in London.”

  “It’s the third of December,” Lady Gen said archly. “You don’t need to leave right away. After all, you don’t even know why I asked you here, and already you are raring to leave.”

  “I have the strongest suspicion that your desire to have me here has everything to do with the lovely young woman that is even now being observed by the physician. Lady Gen if this is one of your matchmaking schemes...”

  Lady Gen dramatically clasp her hands together. “You wound me! I would never be so cavalier with your heart. Now dearest, I am not going to argue with you. I won’t lie and say that I hadn’t hoped you wouldn’t take one look at Lady Anne and fall passionately in love.”

  Ian broke in, “See here, I won’t have you getting that young lady’s hopes up.”

  A scowl crossed the older woman’s face. “Let me finish! I had harbored secret hopes, but that wasn’t my intent. I have been approached by some investors, and I needed your advice.”

  It wasn’t a secret that Ian Stanford was the devil’s own at investments. Shrewd and cunning, it seemed that everything he touched turned a profit. Lady Gen launched into business mode and the two of them happily spent the next hour discussing different propositions. When it became clear that he would need to stay on and meet these investors, Stanford grudgingly promised to extend his visit a few days.

  As dusk began to settle Lady Gen spoke up, “We should see what’s taking the physician so long. I am worried about Anne. She took a nasty fall. “

  Stanford immediately stood and went to the door. “I will find out, madam, don’t fret yourself. I will find out for you.”

  “Thank you, Ian. I shall feel so much better when you have Millie here and I can see her for myself. You know that Brighton is lovely at Christmastime.”

  Stanford looked into her pleading eyes and cursed softly under his breath. “A few days only. I will fetch Millie from the inn after I have spoken to the physician. I’m sure the twins have raided your kitchen long before now. But you need some sustenance. I will arrange for a light dinner to be brought up to you as well.”

  Lady Gen beamed at him. “That will be delightful! I couldn’t be happier.”

  As Stanford walked away from the drawing room, he couldn’t help but wonder if he hadn’t been very carefully manipulated into the older woman’s hands. A bark of laughter escaped his lips. She was one incredible woman.

  Chapter 3

  Upon hearing that Lady Anne would make a full recovery, the impromptu house party settled in for the evening with its new occupants. Lady Gen smiled to herself as she heard the twins racing along the hallways long after they should have been in bed. They would give Ian a run for his money, and Lady Gen was almost sure that was what he needed to shake himself out of his complacency.

  It was tragic what had happened to Amelia’s mother. Vivian was a lovely girl who died too soon. Lady Gen was still a little miffed that the chit hadn’t contacted Ian before the child was born. Amelia, for all of her family’s wealth and privilege, would always be seen as a bastard.

  Ian hadn’t cared much about society, but he cared deeply about protecting his daughter. Lady Gen knew that Ian didn’t believe that he deserved to find love and happiness. The mistakes of the past didn’t have to rule the decisions of the future unless he let them.

  Shaking her head, Lady Gen focused on helping the poor dears. It was obvious to her that Anne and Ian were perfect for each other. She couldn’t have contrived a better meeting. However, it was a shame that Anne had been so knocked around. No, it was up to her to make these children see sense.

  Lady Gen had always loved children and felt it was a shame that she hadn’t any of her own. However, over the years Lady Gen had found it far easier to borrow some of her friends' offspring to mother whenever she had a hankering. That way she could return them whenever she was finished.

  But it wasn’t until she had begun matchmaking with Henrietta and Lord Warner that Lady Gen truly found her calling. It was no secret that she loved a good love story. The secret was that Ian didn’t realize he had the starring role, and hopefully he wouldn’t find out until it was too late, and he was already desperately in love.

  Smiling to herself, Lady Gen finished off the rest of her tea and gave her maid instructions to prepare for bed.

  It was a similar scene in the gold guest room, where Stanford mused about Lady Gen’s investments as he sat by the fire in a high-backed chair. His blood raced in his veins at the prospect for striking a good bargain for the older woman. He loved business and commerce, much to the aristocracy's shame.

  It was not good Ton to be involved in anything even remotely smelling of trade. Ian didn’t give a damn what was considered good Ton. But he had no wish to embarrass his family. He also knew that it was important to walk a thin line for his daughter’s sake. She already had more stacked against her than most young ladies of her station.

  A small knock had Ian’s head popping up to see his daughter standing at the door.

  “Amelia are you well?” He asked.

  The lovely girl was on the cusp of becoming a woman. In some ways this terrified Ian almost as much as the small five-year-old had all of those years ago. She looked so much like her mother. Her blonde locks were so pale that they resembled the yellow roses that grew outside of his eldest brother’s ducal estate, Chatterling.

  “Indeed father, I am most well. I have come to hear the story about the mysterious lady that Henry saved. It would seem that the twins are quite out of charity with you.”

  Ian fought back a smile. “I can only imagine what they might have told you. What is the offense?”

  Amelia went over to a chair where her father was sitting and perched on the arm. “Well, now that Henry is a hero, he can’t be expected to go to bed early like a baby. By putting them in the nursery you have gone and ruined his life completely.”

  “His entire life?” Ian asked dryly. “That takes a fair bit of talent, even for me.”

  Amelia grinned. “Did you really tell the twins that they couldn’t return to Eton next term?”

  Ian looked taken aback. “Dear heavens, no! Even if I wanted to tease them, it wouldn’t be my place. I am more than certain your Uncle and Aunt will be sending those twits back as soon as the school will have them. Why would they torture themselves that way?”

  Amelia laughed as she watched her father pick up his quizzing glass and adjust his perfectly formed cravat. She had watched him do such things her entire life. There was something terribly comforting in the familiar gestures.

  “I had a feeling it wasn’t as bad as they professed,” she confided. “Did you threaten to feed them gruel?”

  “That’s not a bad idea. Sadly, I didn’t come up with it. I told them that they couldn’t have dessert if they weren’t going to follow directions. It’s an unfamiliar city. They shouldn’t have gone out exploring on their own.”

  Amelia nodded. “I understand. I would imagine that Uncle Ryan and Aunt Lillian would be rather put out if we were to lose them.”

  Ian shook his head. “Sometimes you are far too much like your old man for your own good.”

  Amelia shuddered playfully. “Please do not tell me that I look like a grown man. There is only so much abuse I can take.”

  Ian’s lips twitched. “You know very well that you don’t have my coloring. You are the spitting image of your mother, you know that.”

  Amelia nodded, but the playfulness had left her.


  Ian never discouraged his daughter from speaking about Vivian, who had died when Amelia was incredibly young.

  Leaning over, Ian kissed her temple and asked, “Are you troubled?”

  She shook her head. “No, Papa, all is well. I just miss her sometimes. I can’t explain it. Sometimes I can’t remember her at all, and other times I wonder if what I do remember is based more off of what others have told me. How can I wish for someone I barely knew? I don’t mean to sound melancholy. I wish I remembered her better.”

  Ian nodded, not knowing what to say.

  He had plenty of misgivings of his own. Ian had wished that Vivian had told him about the child. For a long time, he had harbored anger against a dead woman for cheating him out of the first years of Amelia’s life. It was unreasonable, he knew that. But he couldn’t help how he felt.

  Because Vivian had kept Amelia a secret, she was born a bastard. This was yet another grievance to lay at the dead woman’s door. Ian knew he needed to let these things go. But they still festered under the skin like wounds that wouldn’t heal.

  “Papa?” Amelia questioned. “You look upset.”

  His handsome face broke into a crooked smile. “Never fear, I am well. Just thinking up punishments for the twins.”

  She laughed. “Well, what can you tell me about the mysterious Lady Anne?”

  Ian paused for a moment as he thought about the lovely young woman. It wouldn't do to show too much attention toward the girl. The last thing he wanted to do was raise the hopes of his daughter or of the lady in question. He decided that the bare minimum would have to do.

  “Lady Anne is the only child of the Earl of Rawlings. She has been living a quiet life here with Lady Genevieve for the last few years. I honestly don’t know much else. I met her after Henry had knocked her down and she seemed muddled.”

  Millie’s face fell. “Oh, that’s it?”

  Ian knew by her expression that he had made the right decision. The sooner he could leave Brighton, the better.