“Oh!” Emily interrupted, taking the slip from her and handing her another. “Read this one instead.”
Sarah looked at it and read, “Happy am I, Miss Bride-to-Be. For my true love and I are soon to mar-ry.”
Emily gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. It’s the best I could do on short notice.”
Mr. Henshall stepped up beside Sarah, took her hand, and said, “By any name, Sarah, you’re my heart’s desire.” He glanced at the slip in his other hand and crumpled it into a ball. “I drew Giles Diligent. The verse is nonsense, but my devotion is true. I shall love ye diligently all the days of my life.” He kissed her cheek.
“Awww!” Georgie exclaimed.
“Hear, hear.” Colin applauded, and Sarah noticed the two share triumphant, conspirators’ smiles.
William Hammond raised his glass. “A toast to the bride and groom to be!”
They all toasted the couple.
As the toast ended, Major Jack Hutton returned in full dress uniform. Real medals. Real sword. And a masculine, commanding presence that drew all eyes.
Viola rose, hand to her bosom. “Good heavens. Is it any wonder I fell in love with you?”
In reply, he slid an arm around her waist, pulled her close to his side, and kissed her.
Well, Sarah thought.If that is what marriage is like,then,yes,please.
After that, the guests did their best to remain in character throughout the rest of the evening. In fact, Mira, as Cupid, kept flitting around the room despite her father’s insistence that she stop and finish her cake.
The youngest among them played a game of Hunt the Slipper and then bobbed for apples. Mira, Cora, Effie, Georgie, Colin, and even Mr. Gwilt joined in the fun, while the others opted not to dunk their faces and end up wet.
When the games concluded, Colin rose and said, “Come, dear sister-in-law, won’t you favor us with some music?”
Viola, ever shy of solo attention, replied, “If Mr. Henshall shall accompany me.”
He rose and bowed. “My pleasure.”
Callum accompanied Viola on his guitar for a few songs, and Effie sang one as well.
Then, it was time for dancing.
Soon, they were all dancing as rehearsed. A country dance, the Duke of Kent’s Waltz, a quadrille, and a reel. Mr. Gwilt, still embodying his role as king for the evening, stepped and hopped and clapped with zeal and confidence. He was a pleasure to watch.
Sarah recalled attending an evening party with Claire and William a few months ago at the Killerton estate. She had observed the other couples dancing, feeling wistful and out of place and wondering if she would ever have a chance to dance with Callum Henshall. Now here she was, dancing with him and about to marry him on the morrow.
He had once told her he was not much of a dancer—an opinion Effie shared—but Sarah thought he danced well, or at least as well as she did and with even more enthusiasm. And despite her earlier admonitions to dance with decorum, that night even Sarah kicked up her heels with the best of them.
After dancing with her and then Effie, Callum took Sarah’s hand and led her from the loud, crowded drawing room across the passage into the cooler, quieter parlour.
“Good idea,” Sarah said. “I could use a rest.”
“Not exactly what I had in mind...” He tipped his head to the side, indicating the kissing bough still hanging in the parlour doorway.
He led her to stand beneath it, wrapped his arms around her, and drew her close.
“One more kiss beneath the mistletoe, my jo?”
She smiled sweetly up at him. “Or two.”
He smiled back, his pupils seeming to grow larger and darker as he gazed at her. Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her tenderly, and Sarah reached up and twined her hands behind his neck, kissing him back with all the love and adoration she felt.
Happy Christmas,indeed.
