Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,25

bliss. Everything he could ever want was right here: Mary, Stevie, the Ballards, and his beloved Darnley.

“I can’t tell you how happy this makes me,” Mrs. Ballard said, moving to them. “I’ve been carrying this letter from your father around in my apron pocket since the day you arrived. He instructed me to give it to you upon the announcement that you were going to marry Mrs. Milne.”

Mary’s mouth opened. “I should have know the old lord was scheming to get us together! How could he possibly have known such a thing?”

Mrs. Ballard shrugged. “The old lord was very shrewd. Especially about people. You two are to read the letter.” She turned to Stevie. “Come, Master Stevie. I shall need help setting the table tonight. Your mother tells me you’re a great helper.”

“Oh, I am.”

“Come down for supper after you read the letter,” she told them.

Mary gave David a tender look. “I suppose you can come into my chamber.”

They sat on the settee near her fire. It saddened him to see his father’s distinctive handwriting. How he wished his father could still be with them. Especially now. He unfolded the letter and began to read.

My Dear Son,

I know you must have been hurt when you learned that I left Darnley to Mary Milne. Then when I compelled you to spend Christmas with the strange woman you must have been angry.

But I had confidence that because you were an honorable son you would comply with my wishes. And since you are now reading this, it appears all my wishes have come to fruition.

First, I must explain that even had you not fallen in love with Mrs. Milne, I would have left Darnley to her because she loved it like no one else, other than you, ever has, but unlike you, she had a great need for it. She and her sweet son. They had no one to look after them.

With no expectations, she was incredibly kind to me in my final days, as she has been to many others near Lower Worthington. She’s possibly the most genuinely altruistic person it’s ever been my pleasure to know.

The longer I was with her, the more convinced I became that she would be the perfect wife for you. And you are and always have been the most important person in my life.

This is why from the grave I have endeavored to play matchmaker for my two favorite people. May you and Mary have a long and happy life together.

Your Devoted Father

By the time they’d finished reading the letter, neither of them had a dry eye.

They sat staring into the fire for a few moments when David spoke. “My love?”

“Yes?”

“I would ask that you write a letter now.”

“What kind of letter?”

“One that our groom could deliver to Blatherwick tonight.”

She gave him a sly smile. “It was a wicked thing that I did.”

“Only to me. That man deserves it.”

“I’ll dash it off before I come down for supper.”

Epilogue

Christmas Day

Mary had known this was going to be a wonderful Christmas, but even she hadn’t dreamed it would be the happiest day of her life. Early that morning they rose and exchanged gifts. It no longer bothered her that she had nothing for David. He’d convinced her that giving him her love was the greatest gift he could ever receive.

Stevie’s excitement over her gift of a game of spillikins was soon forgotten when David presented him with his own pony. “Now, son,” David said soothingly, “I know how much you’re longing to go ride your gift, but it’s too cold this morning. You’ll just have to be patient.”

It was impossible to love a man more than she loved David at that moment.

Then he turned to her, love brimming from his dark eyes. “And for you, love, I bought every beautiful piece of fabric that was to be had in Lower Worthington. You have to be sick of that same blue dress.”

“Indeed, I am!”

He left the room and came back with a box from which he began to withdraw lovely lengths of muslin and wool and silk in blue and ivory and butter yellow and scarlet. Her mouth gaped open. She’d never seen such beautiful materials.

“And there’s a skilled needlewoman in Lower Worthington who’s pledged to sew whatever will suit the new Lady Paxton.”

Mary was in a daze.

An hour later she was still in a daze when, shortly before the villagers were to arrive for the Christmas morning service, with Mr. and Mrs. Ballard as witnesses, Mary stood at