“I know.” He sighed. “But I have to say that this particular ball is not exactly the same as all the others, is it?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not. And your father and I do understand that.” She touched a spray of fir, straightening it slightly. “Reid, I’m going to ask you for something.”
“What’s that?”
“Will you trust us? Me and your father?” She turned to him with a serious look on her face.
“Of course,” he answered immediately. “You know I do.”
“It is possible that your father may have discovered a solution to the Prudence problem. All we ask is that you keep a happy heart and smile through this evening, until we can make sure it will serve.”
Reid’s heart hammered. “Can you tell me anything else?”
She took a deep breath. “Come over here.” She led him to a nook with two chairs set next to each other. “Earlier today, your father received a note. We don’t know who it was from, but it said that Lady Prudence’s father was Jack Rowdean.”
“What?” Reid fell back in the chair. He could have anticipated many things, but notthis… “She’s Brent’ssister?”
“Step-sister, I would guess. There’s more to this, but I cannot go into it right now. I just wanted you to know that we are doing what we can on your behalf.”
“But this is good news, isn’t it?” He clung to a smidgen of hope. “We know who her father is. That’s more than anyone has known for most of her life, I believe. Does she know?”
“I think Brent will tell her. It’s only right. They are family after all. Really family.”
“I can see that. Lord, I wish I could’ve seen Brent’s face when he found out he had a half-sister.” Reid grinned.
“Look, lovey, it’s only a piece of information. And it’s good to know Prudence’s paternity. But she isstill illegitimate. Her father wasn’t her mother’s husband. It doesn’t change the fundamentals of the situation.”
Reid breathed in and out slowly, trying to accustom his brain to this new order of things. “And you say there may be more to this? Can’t you tell me?”
“I wish I could, but no. There are others involved and these things take time.” She looked away. “Now I must go and get dressed. I just wanted you to know that we love you and this is where we are at the moment in our efforts to accomplish your happiness.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Now trot along. Your festive attire awaits and we mustn’t be late for the receiving line.”
Clenching his teeth, Reid turned to leave, afraid to hope yet unable to stop. A maid passed him, dropping him a quick curtsey. She held a small dish in her hands and she took it to Lady Jocelyn.
“Reid, a moment?”
He stopped at his mother’s command. “Yes?”
“You know that there will be a table full of Christmas puddings in the dining room?”
“Yes. Those little dishes we seem to have in abundance. Every year Cook fills about a thousand of ‘em with pudding.”
“Don’t exaggerate. It’s only a hundred. And she puts little treats inside some of them for the lucky ones.”
Reid nodded, curious where this conversation was going. “Yes, I remember. I nearly broke my tooth on a halfpenny one year.”
“You were six and I think you’d lost your front teeth anyway.” His mother shrugged off the memory with a grin. “Well I want you to make sure you give this pudding to Prudence. And be certain she tries it.” She reached for a mistletoe ball and snapped off a tiny piece, putting it on the top of the tiny dish. “This pudding, Reid. It’s important. Do you understand?”
“I do. Did you put a sixpence in there for her?”
“Of course.” She moved to the massive mantel, reached up and placed the dish on the corner behind an ormolu clock, out of the way. “I’m putting it here. Don’t forget. It isimportant.”
“I have it memorized. But I wish you’d tell me why?” He stared at her, trying to guess what she might be up to.
“It’s a little something for Prudence from the family. So no matter what happens tonight she will have it to remember us by.”
No matter what happens tonight.
His heart sank once more. “Oh. All right. I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“Thank you my dear. Ohmy. Look at the time. Hurry along now.” She dragged him toward the Chillendale front hall. “I’ll see you down here within the hour.”
Confused, trying to make sense of everything his mother had said, and with half of his mind still trying to work out how he could persuade Prudence to be his and not ruin Chillendale at the same time, Reid threw up his hands and followed his parent up the staircase.
Brent’ssister. My God, that was a complete surprise.
As he entered his room, to be almost blinded by the green of his clothes for the evening, he found himself praying that something would occur to make his and Pru’s dreams come true. Because a life without her was unthinkable.
What he really needed wasn’t a Mistletoe Ball, it was a MistletoeMiracle.
