Colin rolled his eyes.“Yes, it fits—but barely.”
“If it fit with room to spare, it wouldn’t last through the holiday.”Ford looked to Trick.“Did you bring the brand?”
They always lit the log with a brand saved from the previous year’s log—it was one of their many traditions.Since Trick and Kendra had hosted last Christmas, it was up to them to bring the brand they’d set aside.
Trick shrugged.“I got home in the middle of the night.I assume Kendra took care of that.I’ll go ask her.”
“I’m ravenous,” Ford said, “and Hilda is putting dinner on the table.Don’t be long.”
They all set off, Ford and Jason going upstairs to fetch their wives and children while Trick and Colin headed outdoors and crossed the courtyard to the cottage.
“Yours will be the chamber at end of the corridor,” Colin said, leading Trick up the staircase.“I assume Jason and Cait’s things will have been swapped for yours by now.”
After watching his brother-in-law walk off, Colin entered the closer chamber, wondering whether to be apprehensive or pleased when he found Amy there.
“Hey,” he said softly, then added, “I’m sorry,” even though he wasn’t sure what he was sorry for.
He only knew he wanted her to be happy.
He wanted them to be happy together.
“I’m sorry, too.”Rising from where she was seated at a small parquet table with two red-velvet chairs, Amy came close.“I know I said I’d be agreeable for Christmas, and I meant that.Please forgive me.”
He moved closer and gathered her into his arms.Though he wished things were really right between them, temporarily right was better than not right at all.He gave her a gentle kiss, then smiled when she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head upon his chest.
This room had cream walls, red bedhangings, and only one window, but it was otherwise quite similar to the one next door.“Thin walls in this place,” he observed, hearing the murmur of conversation from the larger chamber.
“We cannot tell what they’re saying,” Amy pointed out.“Their voices are muffled.”
“Thank heaven for small favors.As I said, I don’t want to hear about my sister’s love life.”
The adjacent room went suddenly silent.Half a minute later, when they heard a muted moan from Kendra, Amy giggled.“I think I know what they’re doing.”
“Bloody hell.I don’t want to hearthat, either.”
“At this point, I suspect your dear sister doesn’t care,” Amy returned with a laugh that lifted his heart.
He didn’t want to be at odds with her.
But hereallydidn’t want to hear his sister make love with her husband.
Dropping a kiss on Amy’s forehead, he left the room and went down the corridor to knock on Kendra’s door.
“Time for dinner!”he called more loudly than necessary.
The moan he heard next had an entirely different tone.Kendra stomped over and opened the door.“A pox on you.I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am.”He noted with some relief that she hadn’t yet removed any clothing.“And everyone’s waiting.”
“A pox on everyone, then,” she said.“When will this family learn patience?”
Colin looked past her to Trick and was relieved to see him fully dressed as well.“How about you?”he asked.“Are you hungry?”
“He’s a man,” Amy called out from down the corridor, and they all laughed.
Well, all of them except Kendra.
As the two couples trooped down the stairs and outside—Amy calling “Dinnertime, Jewel!”as they passed her chamber—Kendra maneuvered herself beside Colin so she could elbow him in the ribs.
