Page 30 of Christmas Secrets

“Where are the fruit tarts?” asked Noel, getting to his knees on the bench and leaning on the table to talk to Percival. “I thought you said there would be fruit tarts but I don’t see any.” He pouted.

“Just be patient,” he told the boy. “They are coming right now, along with the mince pie and seed cake.” Noel’s pout turned into a smile when the servers came with the sweets.

“I want one of each flavor,” shouted Noel, standing up on the bench now and grabbing for one off the full tray that the server placed on the table.

“Noel, sit down before you fall.” Holly pulled him back down to a sitting position. Everyone started grabbing for the tarts and the boy wasn’t able to reach them. He looked up with wide eyes, looking like he was about to cry.

“Hold it!” Percival got up and scooped up two handfuls of tarts in flavors of cherry, apple, plum, and pear. He brought them over and put them down in front of Noel. “All right, continue,” he said sitting back down. Noel’s eyes opened wide as he dug his spoon into one after another, wanting to taste each one.

The musicians started playing music while some of the trestle tables at the other end of the hall were dismantled to make more room to dance.

“Noel will be busy for a while,” Percival told Holly. “Would you care to dance?”

“Dance?” Her head snapped up and that frightened look was back on her face again. “Me?”

Percival laughed. “Of course, you. Whom do you think I am talking to?”

“Well, I... don’t know.”

Holly’s heartskipped a beat when Percival asked her to dance. She wanted to dance, but wasn’t even sure how. Or at least she didn’t know how the nobles did it. Plus, it probably wasn’t a good idea. She didn’t belong on the dance floor. Serfs never danced alongside nobles. There was really no reason for her to be there unless she was clearing away the trenchers or perhaps serving wine.

“You don’t know?” Percival looked at her and grinned. He was getting relaxed from all the whisky and she noticed the look of lust in his eyes. She liked it, actually. He was so handsome and so kind that she couldn’t stop staring. “Of course, you would, Holly,” he continued. “It’s Christmas.”

Percival seemed to be feeling much too carefree. It was probably from not having any sleep and drinking too much of that Highland whisky called Mountain Magic. He pulled Holly to her feet and dragged her out to the middle of the floor to dance.

“Percival, nay. I can’t dance.”

“Of course you can. I insist.”

“Nay! You don’t understand. I don’t know how to do it,” she whispered.

He squinted at her and made a face. “You don’t know how? Really?”

“Well, I know how commoners dance, but I’m sure it isn’t the same as the way nobles do it.”

“It’s easy. Just follow my lead.” He grabbed her and pulled her closer.

He was a good dancer, even when drunk, and this impressed Holly. However, she was a little tipsy from too much wine. Between that and her lack of experience, she kept stepping on his feet and stumbling, not able to get the timing right.

“Ooooh!” she cried out, losing her balance when Percival spun her around too fast. She was going down and could do nothing to stop it. Percival’s strong arms were there instantly to catch her and to keep her from hitting the floor and embarrassing herself even more. He held her protectively in a lunge, staring down at her as she stared up at him. With their eyes interlocked, nothing in the world mattered. Everyone else in the room and all the voices seemed to fade away. Then, as if in one of her dreams, he slowly leaned closer and lowered his mouth to hers. Her eyes closed as their lips met, melding together as if that was where they truly belonged. He kissed her long and passionately, and she honestly never wanted it to end.”

With her eyes still closed, she held on to Percival, feeling so safe and so loved that she never wanted to wake up if this were really just a dream. Then the music stopped and she heard the clapping, bringing her back to her senses. Her eyes popped open and still in the lunge, she looked up to see everyone staring down at her. It wasn’t a dream, but more like a nightmare. Had she just really kissed Percival, a noble, in front of a hall filled with people? She felt like such a fake wearing the dress of a noble and dancing! She was a liar and an imposter, reveling in the comfort of being in the handsome lord’s arms. Holly didn’t deserve this. She shouldn’t be here and doing the things she was doing. What was the matter with her? She needed to get out of here fast.

“Percival? Percival, let me up,” she pleaded. When she looked up at his face his eyes were closed and even though he still held her securely, she swore he was asleep. “Wake up!”

His eyes popped open. “I’m awake! I’m awake, honest I am.” He pulled her back to an upright position.

“Congratulations, ye finally used the kissin’ bough!” called out Morag from across the room.

“I don’t want to hear you griping anymore about Christmas or anything that goes along with it,” shouted his brother.

“Holly, I need to use the garderobe.” Noel’s little face looked up at her as he tugged on her long sleeve.

“I will take him,” offered Percival, his eyes closing and his body swaying while he spoke.

“Nay, I will do it,” said Holly, putting her hand on him to steady him. “You just sit down and relax before you fall over, being so tired.” Holly helped Percival over to the table and got him seated on the bench. She started thinking mayhap it wasn’t a good idea to let him bring her here. He should have stayed back at the cabin to sleep, and she and Noel should have stayed where they belonged. As much as she enjoyed the food, the gown, and even the dancing, it all felt wrong. She should have told him she was a serf. If so, he never would be helping her to pretend she was someone she was not. Her stomach twisted into a knot and her head spun with confusion. What was happening to her? And why had she allowed it to happen? Nothing good could come from this, she was sure.

“Hurry back,” Percival said with a silly grin, and his eyes closed once more. She took Noel’s hand to lead him away and when she looked back, Percival’s head was down on the trestle table and he was fast asleep.