“Of course,” Colin said.“And speaking of plum pudding, I’m hungry.We’ve been waiting for Kendra for dinner.”
“You and your Chase stomach,” Amy said with a little huff.“It’s barely past noon.Now you’ll wait while the cats are removed so Kendra can join us in the dining room.”
“We’ll choose the Yule Log, then we’ll have dinner, then we’ll light the log,” Ford said.“Which will begin our celebrations.”
“Good plan,” Caithren said as an army of servants began to troop in, armed with buckets, mops, brooms, and rags.“Because God knows we certainly aren’t celebratory now.”
Jason headed toward the entry hall.“Let’s go.”
Kendra looked beseechingly toward Trick, who just shrugged as he followed her brothers outside.She sneezed a particularly pathetic sneeze, hoping he would hear it and feel guilty that he was leaving her to go cut a stupid log.
Never mind that she loved Christmas.
“Come along.”Amy drew her in the opposite direction, through the house.
“I’ll come too,” Cait said, jumping up to follow them.“I want to make sure all my things are moved out.”
The three of them went through a side door and into a courtyard, across which stood the newly renovated “cottage,” which was actually a three-story house built of sturdy stone.
“It’s not that cold out here,” Kendra muttered, still wrapped in her own cloak since she’d never even bothered to sit down.“The blasted cats won’t die.They’re wild animals, for heaven’s sake.”
Shivering in just her gown, Amy chuckled as they crossed the courtyard, each step making crunching sounds on the snow-encrusted grass.“The cottage turned out lovely.You’re lucky to be sneezing so you can stay here.Did you know it used to be called the Priest’s House, back when the property was owned by a monastery?”
“Fascinating,” Kendra said sarcastically.
Amy opened the door and led her into a bright common room.It had a table surrounded by six chairs, plus extra seating that looked plush and comfortable.Everything smelled fresh and new, which should have pleased Kendra—except nothing could please her right now.
“See, they forgot our backgammon set,” Cait exclaimed, gesturing to where it sat on the table.“I knew they’d forget something.”
Kendra couldn’t bring herself to care.
“Look here,” Amy said cheerfully.“They removed the old kitchen and added a bedchamber there instead.”
An open door on the right revealed a room with two single beds.Cait peeked inside.“Well, at least they’ve moved all of Griffin’s and Adam’s things.Cas and Pol will have this room now.”She turned to start up the wooden staircase.
Amy drew Kendra after her.“There are three beautiful new bedchambers upstairs.Jewel is staying in the smallest one—as the oldest cousin, she’s been granted the luxury of her own room.And the attic is partitioned into four chambers where all of our staff will sleep.”
“Fascinating,” Kendra repeated.
Halfway up the stairs, Amy stopped and swiveled to her.“Why do you seem so vexed?Surely it cannot just be the cats.”
“My apologies.”Belatedly realizing she was acting beastly, Kendra sighed.Her dear sisters-in-law deserved better.“I’m not happy that Trick isn’t here.”
“But he is here.”A frown appeared between Amy’s dark brows.“He’s helping choose the Yule Log.”
Cait nodded.“Did you want to be doing that instead?Itisfun—”
“No, that’s not it.”Clasping her hands together in frustration, Kendra decided to confide in the two best friends she had.“Trick is here, but he’s nothere.”Her knuckles were turning white.“He was gone for more than nine weeks—over two months!—and he just returned in the middle of the night.And then we had to come here…before we even managed to make love!And it’s not that we haven’t tried—”
“Do stop,” interrupted a deep voice from below.“I’d rather not hear about my sister’s love life.”
With a gasp, Amy whirled.“Well, then you shouldn’t be eavesdropping.You’re supposed to be choosing the Yule Log.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Colin backed away, his hands held up defensively.“I returned for my cloak.”
“Then get it and get out.”
Colin just looked at her for a long, tense moment.
