Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,47

spared the boy some time.

When she saw the dark shape of a carriage approaching the manor through the swirling snow, her first thought wasn’t about danger from Mr. Roper but the likely loss of her time alone with Hector. Eventually, though, she couldn’t pretend she didn’t see the distant carriage, and she pressed her hand to the cold glass to peer out.

“There’s a carriage,” she called finally.

Hector was suddenly at her back, looking out the window with her. “Do you recognize it?”

“No. Do you?”

“It’s a wealthy man’s carriage.”

“Then it is not my father-in-law, unless he went to my father first, and together they’ve divined our location.”

“It’s too far away to tell still who it might be.”

Hector’s fingers stole around her waist, a light touch that made her turn. She was very nearly in his arms then—close but so far away. She thought of his offer for a second kiss and wet her lips in anticipation.

He smiled gently. “It will be all right, Ruby. I’ll be right by your side, no matter who comes. I won’t let them tear apart your family.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling the frustration of her situation and regret. If not for her promise to her uncle, she might have taken that second kiss, and then perhaps a third, too, with no thought to the consequences.

Hector stepped aside.

Ruby immediately went to check her son, hiding her flaming cheeks. Pip could amuse himself while she was away for a little while greeting the newcomers. She had to know who was arriving. She needed to see who her uncle had chosen for her to wed—if that is who it was approaching.

Hector’s footsteps sounded behind her. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I’ll just need my scarf.” When she had it, she turned back to find Lord Stockwick helping her boy into his coat. “What are you doing?”

“Taking him with us.”

“That’s not a good idea.” Pip was supposed to stay out of sight. “Lord Vyne might not like it.”

“To hell with what he wants. If that’s who you fear it might be, I’m not letting your boy out of our sight. Come on. There’s no time like the present to confront your would-be oppressors,” he announced.

“Oh,” she said, chasing after him and Pip as they reached the door. “I hadn’t wanted to put him in the middle of any argument.”

Hector paused as he considered her words. “Then I will ask my valet to watch over him while we are gone. I’m sure he’d be only too happy to play with a few toys instead of pressing my cravats.”

“That’s very kind of you but not necessary,” she promised.

“It is entirely prudent. You’ll only worry otherwise.” He jerked his head toward the door. “Come along, young Pip. I want you to meet my valet.”

Her boy ran to Hector, a tiny toy horse clutched to his chest. Pip tugged on Hector’s hand to make him look down. “Do you have a real horse?”

“Indeed I do. His name is Scout, but I’m afraid I had to leave him in London in his warm stable.”

“My papa had a gray horse to pull his wagon.”

“A wagon, you say,” Hector repeated, and then smiled.

Ruby looked away. She hadn’t married a wealthy man, and by the time of his death, they’d lived a much simpler life than she’d ever imagined living. But Pip didn’t know he should hide their lack of wealth and importance yet. She was grateful that Hector had accepted her tale and not chided her for following her heart, like her family had done.

Hector and Pip went down along the halls together, talking of horses and carriages. They stopped at a far door, and Hector spoke briefly to a man inside. The valet appeared and agreed to return Pip to the upstairs parlor to play.

She winced. “I won’t be very long. Pip shouldn’t need anything but watching.”

“If it’s all right with you, I’ll ask for cake and milk to be sent up for the boy. Boys are always hungry. Take your time.”

Hector took her arm. “Let’s get us downstairs quickly. Dear God, The Vynes has always been a damn drafty place, and it seems worse this year.”

“So you come here every year?”

“No. But I was here last year, and again a few years before that.”

“I haven’t been here since…

“Not since you lost your silver bell, I suppose. I wonder if we could find it this year.”

She sighed.

“I do regret I tormented you as a boy. Moving the bell about the room when your back was turned wasn’t very