But as for his other guests, too bad they were only going as far as Broadmoor to dine and would be back under his roof tonight. The sooner they were gone, the better. He did not trust Viola, for the girl thrived on mischief, and not in any adorable, madcap way.
Everyone had left him alone throughout the day, no doubt fearing he would bite their heads off if they dared approach. Even Viola, as vain as she was, understood she had overstepped the bounds.
Of course, it would not stop her from planning something cruel for tomorrow.
Hopefully, Pomeroy, with his fervent devotion to her dowry, would press his courtship suit and occupy her time.
Whitcomb, he knew, had spent most of the day entertaining Lady Willa and her family while Edward and their mother played card games with the Tenneys. He expected Edward playedothergames with Faith and Hope Tenney, but he really did not want to know what his brother was doing with those girls.
Nothing decent, if the smiles on their faces were any indication.
“You may thank me afterward,” Edward muttered, climbing into the carriage and taking a seat beside him. “The sacrifices I make for you.”
The coachman left Jonas off at the vicarage and then pressed on with the others to the Marble House Inn, which was just down the high street.
The church’s meeting room was bustling with volunteers when Jonas walked in at eight o’clock that evening. He was late, for the group had amassed an hour earlier to commence theirwork, simply staying on after the vicar’s Christmas Eve service, ready to roll up their sleeves to prepare for tomorrow’s big event.
There was still plenty to do.
Ailis, looking delicious in a plain woolen gown of dove gray that was buttoned to her throat, was on the footstool again.
He strode toward her and put his arms around her waist. “Did I not tell you that you weren’t to climb?”
She turned to him with a breathtaking smile once he set her down. “I’m so glad you made it. I knew your timing would be perfect. Or awful. Or awfully perfect.”
“Ailis…”
“Or perfectly awful. I had just climbed onto the stool to fix this sagging bough when you walked in and caught me in the act.”
“Timing is everything,” he teased.
She cast him an impudent grin. “Indeed, it is. And you are just in time to help me put up the mistletoe.”
“Does this mean I get to kiss you?”
She blushed. “I hope so.”
“That sounds promising. How many are you going to put up?” he asked, thinking he could not have arrived at a better moment.
“I have two balls of mistletoe.”
“Good, that will take us to kisses eight and nine,” he said, studying her lips with interest. They were just the sort of lips a man would not mind kissing, not thin or pinched, but full and soft.
“Eight and nine,” she said in a whisper, and looked up at him with eyes reflecting her regret. “Almost at an end.”
“Then I had better make them memorable for you.”
“All of yours have been unforgettable,” she said so quietly that he had to read her lips in order to make out her wordsabove the festive din of volunteers, who were already exhibiting particularly good cheer.
Many were in their cups, which he found rather surprising, since they were in a church and preparing for charitable festivities. He may have been partly to blame, since he had sent over a goodly supply of ale, wine, and mead along with treacle cakes and other assorted treats to provide them sustenance while they worked.
No wonder the boughs were sagging.
He assisted Ailis in straightening out those that were threatening to fall, but there really was not much left to be done with the decorations other than hang the mistletoe.
Ailis was not the only one stringing them up, but she was the only one he intended to assist and then kiss. Two other young ladies were doing the same, and each had two or three young men eager to aid them.
No one had lined up for Ailis, but this was likely because he was with her now and no one dared approach.
