But reaching her, he glanced up at the doorframe they stood under. She followed his gaze to see the mistletoe hung there as it was every year. Before it even occurred to her that he might do something outlandish like kiss her with his entire family in the room and possibly watching, he kissed her, and quite thoroughly, too.
A few breathless moments later, he said, "Do I need to ask my question—again?"
She smiled, knowing exactly which question he meant.
"No, you don't," she whispered, so they wouldn't be overheard. "And my answer is yes, though with one condition."
"Which is?"
"I'll marry you, Jason, if you'll agree that we won't tell anyone about it, aside from your family, of course."
"Molly—" he began with a sigh.
"No, hear me out. I know that's not what you were hoping I'd say, after reading about your grandparents. But things were different for them. She was a stranger to the area. The people here and in Havers didn't know her most of their lives. It was easy for them to ignore inquiries, or put them off, so that no one ever did really know the truth. But you can't deny that they didn't own up to the truth, that only a select few ever knew—and besides, her father was a Russian noble, even if her mother wasn't."
He rolled his eyes. "And your point?"
"You know I can't say the same, Jason. And still won't bring more scandal on your family, when it's already borne so many scandals in the past. If you can't agree to keep a marriage between us secret, then we'll just have to go on as we have been."
"Then I suppose I'll have to agree to those term of course."
She gave him a suspicious look, considering she had been anticipating much more of an argument from him "You wouldn't agree now, only to change your mind after we're married, would you?"
He feigned a hurt look before asking her, "You don't trust me?"
She scowled. "I know you, Jason Malory. You'll do or say just about anything to get your way."
He grinned. "Then you should know that I'd never do anything to get you seriously annoyed with me."
"No, not unless you thought you could talk me around it. Need I remind you that I'd consider this a serious breach of promise?"
"Need I remind you just how happy you've made me, agreeing to be my wife—finally?"
"You're changing the subject, Jason."
"You noticed?"
She sighed. "As long as we understand each other."
"Oh, we do, sweetheart." His smile was so very tender. "We always have."
Behind them, they heard a cough, which reminded them both that they weren't alone. They turned as one to face the room, and found every member of his family staring at them. Molly started blushing. Jason was grinning from ear to ear, and he didn't waste time explaining why.
"Allow me to announce," he said, taking Molly's hand in his, "Molly has given me the greatest Christmas gift I could have asked for in agreeing to be my wife." Which, of course, started everyone talking at once.
"About bloody time," James commented first.
"You can say that again," Derek said, and with a whoop of delight, came forward to hug his parents.
"It's too bad this wasn't settled sooner," Reggie remarked, smiling. "We could have had a Christmas wedding today."
"Who says we can't?" James replied. "I happen to know the elder has had a special license ready and waiting for quite a few years now. And if I know my brother, he isn't going to give Molly a chance to change her mind."
"Goodness! So this didn't just develop?"
Nicholas chuckled at his wife. "Take a good look at Derek and Molly, standing there together, sweetheart. That ought to give you your answer."
Reggie did, then said, "Oh, my. I think Uncle James said it aptly."
