A Christmas Surprise Page 13

  “And who is this gentleman?” Aleece asked, fixing her eyes on the last man.

  “That, my darling, is my former commander, Colonel Martel,” Thomas announced.

  “Colonel Martel.” Aleece saluted him as she had the Duke of Somerset and wasn’t surprised when he returned it.

  “And you, sir, I take it are the love of my daughter’s life?” Eleanor stated.

  Aleece wasn’t surprised to see her mother step up and buss Thomas on the cheek.

  “Yes, Your Grace.”

  “Well, son, I am glad to say you have made an excellent choice in a wife,” Kenneth said.

  Aleece took a step back so she could look at both men. She then settled a glare on Mr. Thomas.

  “What does he mean ‘son’?”

  “Exactly that, my dear, but let us deal with that in a moment. We still have my kidnapper to deal with,” he pleaded.

  “I assume you are referring to the ruffian cowering in the corner,” Martel queried.

  “We can deal with him in a moment. First, I want to know what Somerset meant by ‘son’,” Aleece said as she scowled at Mr. Thomas.

  “Just that, my dear…” he started but quickly was silenced when the saber in Aleece’s hand was directed at him.

  “Don’t you even begin to ‘my dear’ me. If what Somerset said is true then you’ve deceived me from the first moment we met,” she all but screamed.

  “Darling, we never meant it to go on for so long,” her father said as he used a finger to move the saber point in a safe direction.

  “Ah, but you did.”

  “Yes,” Somerset interjected, “and for that we are truly sorry. In retrospect, your father and I should have made him tell you precisely who he was. I’m sure his reasons are sound, maybe sounder than his brain.”

  With a glare Aleece glanced over to him. “And exactly what would those reasons be? And they’d better be good as my saber is hungry for a little more blood.”

  “It’s very simple—”

  “Simple, like your mind probably,” she countered.

  “Woman, silence,” he said. “Will you let me finish.”

  “If, and I repeat if, we are to marry that is the last time you will ever tell me to be silent. Now that we have that settled, why the act?”

  “Having spent the past many years in the army, I learned that to succeed you had to have people who believed and trusted in you and your decisions. I wanted to find a wife who cared not only for herself, me, and our children, but the people who worked on the many estates I have and will inherit. Not some silly girl with more hair than brains. Thus the reason I presented myself as a well-heeled gentleman. I knew the mammas wouldn’t be interested in me, as they wanted their half-witted daughters to marry a peer.

  “This allowed me to search out the perfect, for both of us, companion to spend the rest of my life with. When I first saw then met you, Aleece, combined with the report Jeff gave me I knew you were the one who would be my wife. When I arrived here the day of the fire and saw you risk everything to save an infant, that cemented it. If I hadn’t let the masquerade go on for so long, I would have approached the duke and offered for you. As it was I had to play the charade out, and trust me, if your father had selected another man, I would have interceded.”

  Aleece glared at the two dukes then turned to her mother. “Mother, what do you think I should do? Granted both fathers deserve some sort of punishment for what they did and I’m sure he also does,” Aleece said with a glance to him.

  “Well, darling, one way to get a man to listen is hit him where it hurts, in the purse.” She turned to the two dukes and grinned. “Gentlemen, I’m sure the contract is already made out and only requires both parties signature, but a revision is in order. Each of you will increase Lady Aleece’s allowance by ten thousand pounds annually.” She then looked over to Thomas. “And you, sir, will never, ever lie to Aleece again.”

  As one, all three agreed.

  “Good, now that that’s settled, let’s deal with that boy,” Aleece announced.

  “Colonel, everyone, this isn’t Seth Travers, whom we thought had started the fire at the Smyth’s house, but the actual culprit, Casey Travers, his twin brother,” Aleece announced.

  “Yes, I can tell by the ear,” Simon said. “Why, boy, did you do that dreadful thing? Don’t you know you could have been the instrument of someone’s death? Well, out with it!”

  “Your Grace, it was because of that Sally girl. If she hadn’t refused my brother, he’d be safe,” Casey mumbled.

  “What do you mean safe?”

  “Aye, my brother got drunk when she refused him and was swept up by the pressgang. I know what I done was wrong, but I just couldn’t help it. For what it’s worth, I’m truly sorry for all the hardship I caused and wish I could undo what I did.”

  Aleece couldn’t help but notice how downcast the boy seemed. What she did find interesting was whom Casey was looking at when he’d been talking.

  “Well, I guess it’s off to the hulk for me, right, Your Grace?”

  “Yes. I’ll send for the constable, but in the meantime, we will secure you in the cellar.”

  “Father,” Aleece interjected. “Might he be better off working off the monies it will take to rebuild the Smyth house?”

  “I don’t understand,” he replied.

  Aleece looked over to Martel. “I don’t know if any of you noticed but he has been looking toward the colonel since he entered.” She glanced over to Casey then said, “Father, might I suggest that Casey join the Guards in whatever capacity the colonel sees fit. This way part of his wages could be withheld and sent to the Smyth’s to purchase lost goods.”

  She peered around, wondering what her father and the colonel thought of her idea. Aleece watched as they talked in hushed tones as she settled a hand on her stomach, hoping to quell the nervousness within while feigning a smile when she joined her mother.

  Casey, she was pleased to see, was led away by Martel and Debbi, who’d remained outside.

  When a warm hand touched her, she relinquished her weapon.

  “Probably a wise move, darling,” Mr. Thomas whispered in her ear.

  “Now that everything is settled I have one question, m’ lord, how were you able to escape them? Surely they knew you or at least your father?” Aleece asked but with a crinkled brow to make sure he knew she still wasn’t pleased with him.

  “Aleece, can this wait until after we return to the ball in both our honors,” her mother, who’d been silent until now, pleaded.

  With a disgusted huff, Aleece took his arm and led the way toward the mansion.

  “M’ lord, if you expect a positive answer this evening then briefly, how did you avoid the mommas and their charges?” Aleece said, more an order than request.

  “As you know, the ancestral home is in Northern England and when I was old enough I went to Eton then directly to university. When I came down, I followed pater’s footsteps and went into the Guards.”

  “So you never made an appearance in a Season, and being so far removed we would never have met.” A happier more relieved sounding Aleece replied.

  “Yes. Then when I was wounded, I came home to repair and, once well enough, made the occasional trip to London. I knew at some point I would need to take a wife and wanted to scout out the enemy, so to speak. But, as a female, you know that. The ton is the one place where you women are the hunters, we the hunted.”

  “I would have to agree with you on that point. But I wasn’t looking for just any husband, I wanted the right one. A man who would love me, and as far as you being next for the dukedom, even if I had known, it would not have mattered. I fell in love with you the first time we met at Almacks.”

  “Yes, it was the same with me. But, and I am sure you understand, I needed to make sure. That’s why I kept up the ruse and might I add if I wasn’t the one picked by our fathers, I still would have appeared at the ball and asked for your hand.”

  Aleece gently squeez
ed his arm to focus his attention directly to her. “You know there is no reason why you can’t teach the ton a lesson in love.

  “Slip away and I’ll give the excuse that you went to change or something. All the guests should have arrived by now, not to mention wondering why and where the hostess and host were. They, along with your father, will be explaining away what happened so that will give you a the opportunity to not only clean up, but make an majestic entrance, right down the grand staircase.”

  “Give me ten minutes to make my arrival and make sure you are in the middle of the floor.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  With a bright smile, Lady Aleece glanced toward the top of the grand staircase leading into the ballroom. There, in all his magnificent handsomeness, he stood whispering something to Horsfall. She could only guess it would be direction on how to introduce him to the slowly hushing crowd.

  She watched as he straightened and began to scan the multitude spread out before him. With one nervous stride then increasingly relaxed steps Aleece glided to the center of the room. She noticed several guests tried to impede her progress but with ease she deflected questioning glances.

  She lifted her eyes to him, a warming smile on her face. Only when she witnessed his advance to the center of the top stair did she let herself show worry. Whatever he was going to do, it would most certainly set a new standard. She returned his subtle nod and waited as still unannounced descended the staircase.

  All around, Aleece could hear people start to talk in hushed tones. Then, like on some unseen direction, the mass of people parted leaving a path for him to approach her. A stirring from both sides of the room near the stairs brought forth four tall, broad-shouldered men. Each a match in height and breadth except in hair color to him. They, she wasn’t surprised, were dressed out in the uniform of the Guards.

  Silence once again filled the huge ballroom, as with bated breath Aleece watched her love took the final step down to be surrounded by the men. As one, the five marched toward her, not stopping until the two leading soldier were just past where she stood. This set Thomas two feet in front of her.

  She held out her hands, feeling his warmth invade her body as his encircled hers.

  “As you all are aware, besides starting a new tradition of having the annual Christmas ball held here, but to also announce the engagement of Lady Aleece to a gentleman of her parent’s choice,” he said, then added, “I am here to offer for Lady Aleece.”

  A little surprised but enjoying every moment, Aleece wondered why the officers. A second later her question was answered.

  She wasn’t surprised when he went down on one knee.

  “Lady Aleece, as you have captured my heart, I have tasked these fellow Guardsmen to take you captive until we can be bound together in marriage.”

  “My darling Thomas, Marquess of Langdonly, it will be my pleasure to be your wife.”

  “I prayed that would be your answer, for I have obtained a special license, so we can wed now,” he announced, rising to his feet.

  The roar of cheers and applause was close to deafening as people pushed closer to congratulate the couple. Fortunately, the Guardsmen were able to keep them back, only letting the Duke and Duchess of Carlisle and the Duke of Somerset near the couple.

  To cement her commitment, Aleece wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his lips down of hers.

  “Well, it would seem we are going to have a wedding,” Eleanor whispered into her daughter’s ear.

  Not wanting to let her lips leave Thomas’s, Aleece broke the kiss and glanced over to her mother.

  “Yes we do. Seems between what we are wearing and this, again the bar has been raised in the bon ton by the Carlisle and Somerset dukedoms.”

  By then Aleece’s father along with Kenneth had joined the three. Standing between the men was the exceedingly nervous parish priest.

  “Well, I see no reason to postpone the wedding any longer than necessary, and the good Reverend Gray said he would be honored to perform the ceremony here and now,” Aleece’s father announced so everyone could hear.

  Ten minutes later, in front of the majority of the ton, a more relaxed Gray said, “I now pronounce you wife and husband.”

  As the couple turned to the ensemble mass Horsfall pronounced, “It is my great honor to present the Marquess and Marchioness of Langdonly.”

  The rest of the evening passed in a blur of congratulatory hand pumps and slaps on Thomas’s back. Marchioness Langdonly was greeted with busses on the cheek, but couldn’t help but feel her face warm when she heard a few ribald comments tossed to her husband.

  About the Author

  It was from my parents that I developed a love for books. My father, a medieval scholar, collect-ed the works of Sir Walter Scott with The Lady of the Lake, then and now my favorite. My mother collect Thomas Hardy. No comment on him.

  When I was in high school I use to infuriate my English teachers by wanting to write my way, not the way they taught the class. Needless to say, I didn’t quietly rebel and usually won my argument.

  Later when I started writing, with a focus toward being published, I remembered what I’d learned in school. All, that is, except for commas which I still can’t figure out.

  After much trial and a lot of errors I developed my own, I sincerely hope, unique style or voice. Of course, my style now includes writing parts of my books in a POV, which threw my editor for a loop until she realized that a collie was the hero of the stories.

  Also from Astraea Press

  Prologue

  The magic of Christmas captivated Grace Hashiver each year. Yet as each year passed, she gave into the call of sleep and failed to wake in time to see Father Christmas. Tonight she was not making that same mistake. She softly tiptoed down the hardwood stairs without making a sound. This year she was a year older, a year wiser — she was eight. Her lace nightgown whispered against the wooden floor as she made it down the stairs and through the hall undetected.

  The light was dim but brighter than usual from the extra candles her father always requested to stay lit all night on Christmas Eve. She took a deep breath and exhaled before tiptoeing to the parlor where the Christmas tree beckoned. After a quick glance behind her, she walked into the room, richly scented from the cedar boughs placed over the hearth. The tree had no presents, so she breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't missed the magic. The fire crackled as she sat in the chair facing the tree and struggled to stay awake as time ticked forward.

  Something poked at Grace. The incessant prodding pulled her from a blissful dream. A moment later she had the brief sensation of weightlessness until the floor broke her fall.

  "What…" She began to pull her foggy mind into gear but paused, hearing a snicker. Ewan.

  "What're you doin' on the floor, Gracie?"

  "I wasn't on the floor 'til you poked me!" Grace whispered back in a voice that betrayed her intense fury.

  "Were too. I saw you. Curled up like your mum's poodle."

  "If anyone looks like a poodle, it's you, Ewan!" she said as she fumbled trying to pick herself up off the cold floor.

  "I do not. Besides, boys can have curls just as easily as girls," he said with all the confidence his eleven years afforded him.

  "What are you doing here anyway?" Grace asked, standing up and pushing her braids over her shoulder. "You've no manners, wandering around in the middle of the night." She shook a finger at him.

  "Oh, and I guess you're better? You're here too, ya know." He crossed his arms and waited for her response in his usual arrogant fashion, tapping his toe.

  "Yes, but I live here. You. Do. Not," she enunciated, crossing her arms as well as she leaned forward, squinting.

  "True, but that means I'm your guest. You've gotta serve me." Ewan's chin tilted upward as he smiled at his own brilliance.

  Grace widened her eyes. "Serve you? I'm not your maid. I doubt there's a maid that would willingly serve you — you… arrogant worm." Her anger increased as Ewan refuse
d to be properly insulted — worse, he laughed at her efforts.

  "Yep, that's the rules; you've gotta serve me. I'm your guest, so, I'd like you to move over so I can have this seat by the tree." He moved to sit down.

  "No!" Grace shouted as she lunged for the chair.

  He lunged at the same time, pushing her away. Grace tried to move him, but he was too strong, too big. The fury built inside Grace, causing her to look for a weapon or something to help her remove the miserable boy from the chair. She noticed her father's brandy. She rushed over to the side table, grabbed the decanter, and poured it on Ewan. Though not enough to get the chair wet, it was enough to soak his nightshirt. Ewan froze, giving Grace a glare that chilled her insides.

  "What is going on here!" came a voice that made both Grace and Ewan gasp.

  Ewan's eyes widened. Grace turned slowly and saw her father's bewildered expression. He took in the sight of Grace still holding his now empty brandy decanter, and Ewan soaked with its contents.

  "He — he — he…" Grace tried to think fast, but all she could think about was how she simply just wanted Ewan gone. He had been a thorn in her side all week, teasing, pulling her hair, calling her awful names — and as of yet, she hadn't once bested him. So, Grace lied. "Papa, I told Ewan you wouldn't approve of him drinking your brandy, but well, he insisted and when I tried to take it away…"

  She began to cry out of fear, knowing if she were caught in her lie, she'd be punished severely.

  "Ewan!" Grace's father scolded.

  "Sir, I never — I didn't — She—" Ewan sputtered as he stood pointing at Grace, trying to explain the truth.

  "Ewan, you march to your room and change."

  Ewan began to protest again, but Grace's father held up his hand to silence his efforts. "No. Not another word. We'll speak more about this in the morning. Your parents will surely have something to say about sneaking around a host's home and pilfering brandy."