Page 8 of Christmas Secrets

“I have a loaf of bread and some cider in my travel bag.”

“And how long do you think that will last?”

“I-I don’t know,” she said, looking flustered as smoke started to fill the room.

“Allow me,” he said, walking over and hunkering down, rearranging the burnt logs that were left, and easily bringing the fire back to life.”

“That’s warmer already,” said Noel, getting closer to the flame and holding out his hands.

“Thank you, Lord Percival.” When she looked back at him over her shoulder, her bright blue eyes held such a sadness, yet at the same time gratitude. She seemed guarded, and as if she were holding back when she wanted to cry out. This girl was mysterious and he didn’t understand her.

“You can’t stay here alone with the boy.” He stood up and walked back to the table and picked up his sword. “It’s not safe. We’re close to the Scottish border. Highlanders have showed up here before.”

“They have?” She stood up so fast that she knocked into her brother and had to grab him so he wouldn’t fall.

“Holly, I’m hungry. When are we going to eat?” whined Noel.

“Stay by the fire,” she told her brother, getting a blanket off the bed and wrapping it around him. “I’ll go out to the barn and collect our things and bring back our food. Then I’ll go search for more wood for the fire.”

“And who will be here to protect the boy while you’re out looking for dry wood in a snowstorm?” asked Percival, sheathing his sword.

“I-I don’t know. I guess I hadn’t thought about that.” Her eyes flashed back up to him. “Could you stay here with Noel until I return?”

“Me?” He released a puff of air from his mouth. “You just met me. Moments ago you thought I was going to hurt you, and now you want me to stay with the boy?”

“You said you wouldn’t hurt us.” She looked at him suspiciously. “That wasn’t a lie, was it?”

“Nay, it’s the truth. However, I’m sorry, I won’t stay here playing nursemaid to a child. It’s beneath me.”

“Then I’ll take him with me.” Her defiant chin lifted into the air. She looked so determined to actually do this that it almost made him laugh aloud.

“Holly—that’s your name, isn’t it?”

“It is. Holly Wakefielde.”

“And I’m Noel Wakefielde,” said the little boy, sounding like he wanted to be included. Holly oddly looked the other way when her brother said it.

“You stay here and I’ll fetch your things and take care of the horses as well,” offered Percival. “I know where the old lady stored a lot of extra dry wood for the winter, and I believe there is some left. I’ll bring it back with me when I return.”

“Y-you will?” she asked. “You’d do us this favor? But you don’t even know us.”

“Oh, it’s not a favor,” he made sure to tell her. “I’ll require something in return.”

He watched her grip the neck of her cloak so tight that her fingers turned white.

“I am not willing to agree to that kind of favor, my lord.” The look of disgust was back on her face again.

“What kind?” he challenged her, watching her squirm, knowing exactly what she thought he meant and not correcting her.

“I am not that kind of girl!” She couldn’t even look at him now.

“You really don’t know how to cook?” he asked, watching her surprised expression as her gaze shot back to him.

“Pardon me, my lord?”

“Cook. Can you cook?” he asked.

“Why, yes I can.”

“Good. That’s all I require in return. A hot meal. I’ve brought provisions. I have enough to feed myself for a few days. I’d be willing to share it with you and the boy. I just want you to warm up some food while I tend to the other chores, because I’ll be damned cold by the time I return.”

“Of course,” she said, ever so softly. He swore he saw a stain of blush rise to her cheeks.

“My sister is a good cook!” said Noel with a smile. Then his smile slowly faded. “But she doesn’t know how to make fruit tarts like Mother used to make. She promised that Grandmother would make them for me, but now Grandmother is dead too.” He sniffled and wiped a tear from his eye. “I want Mother.”

“Noel, we’ll talk about all this later,” said Holly, removing her cloak and hanging it on a hook on the wall. She looked back at Percival. “I’ll cook for you, Lord Percival. And you can stay here until the storm lets up. However, you must promise to leave as soon as the weather clears. You must also promise never to lay a hand on me or my brother.”

He chuckled inwardly, thinking how silly this girl was, trying to make deals like this when she was powerless to do anything to stop him from doing whatever the hell he pleased.

“Your grandmother might have lived here at one time, Holly Wakefielde, but remember, this cottage is on land that belongs to my brother. He knows that I will be staying here during Christmastide, so I’m not leaving. Therefore, my dear, you will do as I say, or you and your brother will be out in the snow looking for a place to live.”

With that, he turned and left the room, hearing no argument at all from behind him.