“Mama,” Holly called down the table. “Richard is staying for Christmas, isn’t he?”
“Of course he is, darling. How else can we show him our gratitude? We can’t keep telling him because he blushes. So he’s our official guest for as long as he wishes.” Lady Hazel nodded and smiled at him, then calmly turned back to her conversation with Ashe and Florinda.
Cherry, seated on the other side of Richard, leaned over toward him. “Might as well accept it, Richard. You’ve been sort of adopted, I suppose. After what you’ve been through, it’s the least the family can do for you.” She stifled a chuckle. “Besides,you have to put up with Holly and distract her, so we’ll get a bit of peace and quiet this year.”
“I don’t…”
Holly’s indrawn breath was loud in Richard’s ear, and without thinking, he put his hand on hers and laughed. “Hush. Don’t rise to her bait. She’s only teasing you.”
“Hmmm.” Holly narrowed her eyes. “All right. I’ll behave.” She glanced at him, a wicked grin flickering over her face. “For now.”
*~~*~~*
The afternoon passed quickly—too quickly for Holly’s liking.
She was enjoying herself in a new way, she realised. No longer one of three girls, she felt for the first time that she had come into her own as an adult. Her Mama included her in conversations, her brother’s teasing was gentle now, more respectful of her as a person, rather than a nuisance, and Cherry didn’t hesitate to beckon her to the seat beside her as she chatted with their Papa.
The only thing missing, in her eyes, was Willow, and she knew she had to ask her mother if there had been any word at all.
Lady Hazel had nodded, and pulled her slightly aside. “She can’t make it home for Christmas, Holly.”
“Oh no.”
“The messenger arrived less than an hour ago. She is with Madame Lépine.”
“Our French mistress?” breathed Holly. “Good heavens, what is Willow doing withher?”
“Apparently, they met six weeks or so ago. Madame had an accident, Willow was there, and one thing led to another. She has been caring for her since then, I understand. Madame’sinjuries were serious, and Willow’s note made is clear that she is not expected to last much longer. She is alone, with no family.”
“Oh no, how sad.” Holly frowned. “I can see why Willow won’t leave. Not now. Not at this time of year. There will be other Christmases for us, but for Madame?”
Lady Hazel put her arms around her daughter and held her tightly. “I’m not quite sure how I ended up with such wonderful young women, but always remember I’m soveryproud of you and Willow.”
Holly rested her cheek against her mother’s for a moment or two, then eased away. “I’m going to miss her this year, you know.”
“As will I,” answered Lady Hazel. “But you have a gentleman to look after, my dear. And he’s looking a little lost amongst all these Trease…”
She laughed at that, as her mother had intended. “I will go and rescue him, Mama.” She paused. “He is a nice man, isn’t he?”
“I think he is, dear. Yes. And I know your Papa has already spoken most highly of him to Ashe.”
“That’s good,” she replied absently. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Lady Hazel moved away as Florinda attempted to heave herself off the couch and raised her hand for help. Holly smiled as together the two women accomplished the task, and moved slowly around the room, giving Florinda a chance to stretch her legs.
The gentlemen, finished doing their after-lunch gentlemanly things, had joined them, and the noise level rose appropriately.
As she gazed over the assembly, her eyes met Richard’s, and he smiled.
For a moment Holly’s heart missed a beat, and she sucked in a breath of air, hoping she wasn’t going to faint like some silly heroine in a romance novel.
He must have seen her expression, since he nodded briefly to Ashe and Sir Duncan, then left them and came to her side.
“Are you all right? You looked a little pale there, for a moment or two.”
It took a moment for his words to make their way through the strange fog that had apparently descended inside her brain.
“Holly?”
