The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,72

money enough to solve all of our problems.”

King made a sound of disgust. “Ceci is oblivious to the world at large, and I’m afraid to say your brother is a selfish prick. I know that seems wicked of me to say so when he took it upon himself to save my sorry carcass when he could have looked away, and I know he means well, but really he just dragged me out of the gutter and threw me at your feet. It was you who did the hard bit, Livvy. It was you who saved me. More than you realise, I think.”

There was something in his voice, something sincere and wistful, and Livvy felt emotion bubble up in her chest.

On impulse she sprang to her feet and ran to him, throwing her arms about his waist and holding on tight, her face buried against his chest. Oh, and he smelled so wonderful. Fresh linen and soap and a clean, male, musky scent that made her a little giddy. He froze, rigid beneath her embrace at first, and then his arms closed about her and he held her tight.

“Livvy,” he said, his voice soft. “I can’t….”

“Shut up,” she told him, using her most severe scolding tone and clinging harder.

His chest moved in a slight huff of laughter and he stroked her hair.

“Don’t speak,” she said, barely a whisper now. “Don’t tell me no. Just hold me. Please.”

She felt rather than heard him nod, and he did as she asked, holding her silently until Spargo knocked to announce the arrival of the tea tray.

Chapter Fifteen

15th December 1818.

Wrapped about a small boy’s finger.

After the stresses of the day, Livvy was too weary to implement her plan to seduce King. Her heart was heavy and her mind too troubled. That Charlie had been such a fool by repeating the same mistake was more than she could accept. She wanted to scream and cry with frustration, but it was too much to face yet, and depression brought a strange sense of lethargy. The future seemed an unfriendly and frightening expanse that stretched before her, and the thought of dealing with it had exhaustion settling heavily in her bones. She just wanted to curl up in her bed and pull the covers over her head and stay there, possibly forever. Except once she was there, she wished King were with her. Oh, but he gave the most marvellous hugs. It was like being wrapped up in a deliciously warm blanket and knowing you were quite perfectly safe, that nothing bad could ever happen to you again. Nonsense, of course, but it was how he made her feel and that was all that mattered. Still, she knew he would balk if she pursued him now. He would believe she was upset and not thinking straight and that she would regret her actions in the morning. Livvy knew better but judged it best to leave things a couple of days, so he could see she wasn’t acting out of impulse. So, life went on as before.

King did not exactly avoid her, but he kept his distance, surprisingly spending more time with the children that she would have expected. He seemed to have taken a shine to George, and the feeling was obviously mutual as the little boy trailed after him and constantly asked for “Ing” whenever he was out of sight. Harry too was in awe of him, and if his clothes had allowed for it, would have become quite the peacock as he tried to emulate his hero. Even Susan was smitten and would go all pink and silly, and giggle whenever King spoke to her, for which Jane teased her mercilessly.

Preparations for the coming festivities continued, though to Livvy there was a Last Supper feel to the affair now. She was determined that the children would have a wonderful Christmas, a celebration that they could remember as a happy time and something to cheer them when they were forced to face leaving their home and… and what, Livvy did not know. She did not know yet how bad the debts were, if they could be managed by renting out the house and selling off anything with any value. She wondered how Ceci would take it when she realised her gowns and jewellery must be sold off. The cold, panicky sensation that would sometimes clutch at her heart and send her stomach roiling when Mr Skewes’ offer repeated in her ears she tried hard to ignore. Would