Page 26

“What room have you been assigned to decorate this morning?” Mr. Woodward asked after a stretch of silence.

“The music room. And you?”

“Ah, how lovely. I have the tapestry room.”

“Well, we shall see whose work is better,” she teased.

“I wouldn’t dare compete with you, Miss Sterling.” He gave a quiet laugh. “I’m certain your work will be incomparable.”

She shook her head. “Not likely. All we have is greenery. I’m relying on Lady Dalmeer to provide a bit of ribbon.”

“My partners do not take this task lightly,” he said with a chuckle. “They purchased ribbon and gold leaf in town.”

“Did they?” Leah gasped. “You shall win for certain.”

He smiled bashfully. “I cannot take the credit.” He finally strode forward, his attention settling on the window. “Were you admiring the view?”

Leah stepped away from the window before he could reach her. “It’s a rather bleak scene today. I hope it snows before Christmas.”

“Before tomorrow?” Mr. Woodward stopped, a lopsided smile on his lips.

Leah had forgotten that it was Christmas Eve. She smiled. “I wouldn’t object to it.”

“Would you object to taking tea in the music room with me this afternoon?”

Leah’s brows shot up. “Oh—” she fumbled over her words for a moment. She never would have imagined Mr. Woodward to deliver such a well-timed invitation. He seemed proud of himself, though still a bit nervous as he awaited her response. “That sounds wonderful,” she finished.

He smiled. “Then I shall judge for myself how well you decorated.”

“That is hardly fair. When shall I judge the tapestry room?”

“On another occasion, certainly.” There wasn’t any flirtation in his voice, but Leah still interpreted it as such. “Until this afternoon, then. Say, three o’clock?”

She nodded. “Good luck with your decorating.”

“You as well.” He turned to leave the room, covering the space quickly with his long strides. The nervous energy he exuded left Leah with a sense of anxiousness.

What a peculiar man. Endearing, but peculiar.

She leaned against the wall with a deep breath as the door swung shut behind him.

Did she have her first real suitor?

Mr. Woodward had been elusive for the past couple of days, but he must have enjoyed their conversation at dinner the first night. He had his oddities, but he did seem agreeable. What more could Leah ask for?

She could hardly wait to tell Katherine.

Ten

Felix entered the music room just as Mr. Newton finished draping one end of a pine bough to the mantel. Mr. Laurence held the other end while his wife observed from several paces back, offering instruction on how to position it.

Miss Sterling approached them with a basket of holly and mistletoe, her gaze lifting as Felix strode forward.

Her steps halted.

“There you are, Mr. Hawthorne.” She lifted one sprig of holly in front of her face, examining it. “What has delayed you?”

He was only a few minutes late, which was entirely owed to Miss Sterling’s scheme. Conniving woman.