“Quite.”
“I’ve sent to York for candles and clip holders, if any are to be found,” Rose said. “If only we had more sparkling things.”
“You could hang some sugar spoons,” Holly suggested. “Tie red yarn about the handles.”
“A splendid idea!” Rose turned to one of the maids, who nodded and hurried off, no doubt to turn the idea to reality.
Holly watched a bit longer. Hadn’t Lord Thornton mentioned he was bringing gilded nuts up from London for the Dovington tree? She’d have to ask him if he might donate them to the cause.
First, of course, she’d have to tell him that the tree was here at Hartley House. She hoped he wouldn’t mind. Perhaps it would be best to wait until the evergreen was fully decorated, and surprise him with its magnificence.
Despite Theo’splan to lure Lady Holly into a game of cards, he found himself sleeping a great deal. He attributed it to thelaudanum, and resolved to bear the pain as much as possible, without its aid. The maids came in at mealtimes, rousing him as they brought his meals on a tray, and despite his resolution to stay awake, he dozed fitfully.
His fever hadn’t quite abated, and he suspected that, in addition to the ankle, he’d caught a chill from riding in the rain all day—which, of course, exacerbated his general sense of ill health. At least spending the day in slumber kept him from feeling entirely miserable.
That evening, Lady Rose visited, her arms full of greenery.
“You must have some holiday cheer,” she said with a smile, tucking a spray of holly above the headboard of his bed.
“Thank you,” he said, watching bemusedly as she proceeded to deck every surface in his room with garlands of evergreens: holly, ivy, fir branches, and the like.
“There,” she said, brushing her hands together when she finished. “That brightens things up quite a bit. And doesn’t it smell lovely?”
“Indeed.” How could he help but agree? “Thank you, Lady Rose.”
“You are most welcome. I’ll send my sister in to appreciate it.”
Before he could respond, she whisked out of the room, leaving the door half open. He heard her rapping at Lady Holly’s door, their voices in conversation. A short time later, Lady Holly peeked into his room.
“Oh, you are awake,” she said. “I never quite know whether to believe Rose or not.”
“I am.” He gave her a wry smile. “My apologies if you visited earlier, and I deprived you of your card game.”
“Not at all. Would you like to play now?”
“I would.” He levered himself up a bit more, ignoring the stab of pain from his ankle as he shifted it.
Lady Holly moved the nightstand down to make a table, then drew the chair up on the other side.
“I brought cards,” she said, laying the deck down. “And almonds, so that we can wager.”
Theo nodded, swallowing his smile. As he thought—Lady Holly was all too ready to place her bets.
They began, with Theo dealing out. To his surprise, Lady Holly lost several hands in a row, and ruefully pushed half her almonds over to him.
“I’m not the best at cards,” she said. “In truth, though it might shock you, I feel my mind is more suited to chess.”
“Do you play cards often?”
“Not at all. Might you remind me of the rules concerning the court cards once more?”
As they played, he studied her. He couldn’t decide if she was a marvelous liar, or truly unskilled. Or both.
“You’ve bested me, sir,” she finally said, pushing the last of her almonds over to him with a laugh. “I see I need to sharpen my playing skills.”
“Don’t you want to play one more hand?” he asked. Surely a gambler wouldn’t be able to say no.
“I’ve nothing left to wager.”
