The urge to fall asleep after frigging himself raw to the memory of the scent of spring at her nape, and the way her skin had flushed like ripe strawberries at his touch, was almost painful. But he ignored it, because after seeing her home,and with the knowledge they’d be surrounded by her family tomorrow, it felt like sacrilege.
He arrived at the Wainwright doorstep with a satchel full of oranges and chocolate. He wasn’t sure of his reception and he wasn’t above resorting to the bribery of those susceptible to it. Mainly the children.
When he knocked, the door was flung open by a flustered Jess. She ushered him in and two bright-eyed girls came to a staggering halt directly in front of him.
“You’re Ella’s uncle. Where is she?” One of them demanded in an imperious tone.
“Callie, that’s enough.” Jess’s older sister scolded as she laid a hand on the imp’s shoulder.
Cad shrugged and grinned down at the squirming child. “I don’t mind. As you know, Mistress St. Simon, I am accustomed to the often unreasonable antics of children.”
Thaddeus St. Simon curled an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Well met, Morgan,” he said as he extended his hand in greeting.
The shake was firm this time, but not as crushing as it had been on their first meeting. Cadoc nodded. “St. Simon.”
He crouched closer to the floor so he could answer the girl’s question, because he didn’t believe in ignoring children. Even if their parents believed the children were being impertinent. “Ella and Davy have gone to visit their cousins in Wales over the holidays.”
Callie crinkled her nose. “Ella said she gets to play cricket with her brother and all her boy cousins. It’s not fair. All we have in our family are girls.”
“Girls can play cricket.”
“Indeed they can,” Emily Wainwright confirmed. “I was one of the best bowlers in my year.”
“I smell oranges, Mum. I think he brought us some,” a sweetly earnest voice observed.
Jess smiled. “You needn’t hide behind your mother’s skirts, Claire.”
A diminutive little girl with cherub cheeks and fiery braids stepped away from the shelter of Jess’s eldest sister and her husband. “Did you bring us oranges?” She asked as she peered up at him.
She was fairly quivering in excitement and Cadoc couldn’t repress his grin. “Indeed I have brought oranges. You have a keen sense of smell, poppet.”
“Papa has given us permission to play hide and seek. Might the winner have an orange as a prize?” The forthright twin’s eyes were gleaming.
“I think that is a capital idea - as long as you think there are enough hiding places.”
When Cadoc raised a brow in her direction, Jess shook her head in admonishment. As if she knew the mischief he was brewing.
“Dinner’s ready,” one of Jess’s sisters called from the kitchen. Emily and the twins gamboled past them, eager to have the first pick of seating. The pace of the parents was more sedate.
“I guess I should be grateful my brother-in-law didn’t give them permission to play snapdragon instead. They’d probably end up with grave injuries, or burn the house down in the process,” Jess grumbled as they made their way to the parlor.
Two long tables had been shoved together, with benches as seating.
As soon as everyone had taken their place, the girls started chattering. Thaddeus gestured for silence and they turned penitent gazes toward the head of the table.
“My wife and I,” he turned a worshipful gaze to Jess’s eldest sister and clasped her hand, “would like to start a new holiday tradition. We’d like to go around the table and have everyone name something they are thankful for.”
The impish twin bounced in her seat. “May I go first, Papa?”
Thaddeus grinned. “As if anyone could stop you when you’ve put your mind to something, Callie. You may proceed.”
She folded her hands primly in her lap, but her eyes were shining with mischief. “I’m thankful for snow, and sleds, and warm scones, and my new mama. And for the oranges Mr. Morgan brought.”
“That’s more than one,” said the quieter twin, Clarissa.
Callista rolled her eyes. “No one’s stopping you from picking five things as well, Rissa.”
Clarissa glared back. “Then I’m picking five things too. I’m thankful for fairy tales, warm socks, our new pony, my new mama and my new little sister, and,” she gave her twin an arch look. “The bar of chocolate I spied in Mr. Morgan’s satchel.”
