O Night Divine A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,100

Romulus’s expression could have turned a volcanic mountain to ice. “Your Grace, do not take us for fools. All of you set your pistols on the floor and get out of here before I really get annoyed and decide to shoot you all.”

He nudged Hyacinth aside as Innes’s four brothers scampered out.

Herbert, always a blowhard fool, paused to threaten Romulus. “This isn’t over, Brayden.”

“Yes, it is. If you so much as think of threatening my family, I shall blow so many holes through you, you’ll be nothing but scraps for the mice to eat.”

They all stood in silence as his brothers left, and Holmes securely barred the door.

Innes, needing to be certain the wretches were truly on their way, peered out the window of his study to watch them climb into the ducal carriage and be driven away. Only then did he turn back to his two Brayden guardian angels. “They’re gone.”

“Thank goodness.” Hyacinth set down her weapon and hurried to his side. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”

“No, Hyacinth. And contrary to appearances, I had the matter in hand.” He pointed to the pistol in the open drawer of his desk.

“That puny thing? He would have gotten you first.” Her eyes were aglow. She’d obviously had too much fun rescuing him. “Did you see the way he blanched when I raised that big gun and pointed it at him. Good thing he didn’t put me to the test. I don’t think it is loaded.”

“What!” He and Romulus shouted at the same time.

“Holmes and I didn’t have time to check. We were afraid your brothers were going to shoot you before we could figure out how to open up the barrel.”

Romulus wiped his forehead and then glanced at his weapon.

“Oh, do be careful, Papa. Yours is most definitely loaded. I left Holmes in the library to figure out how to do it while I held the men at bay. Good thing you showed up when you did, for I was running out of things to say. Innes, what did they want from you? Do stop shaking your head and laughing.”

“They wanted me to sign over all my assets to them, and then they were going to shoot me. Well, they were going to try. I wasn’t about to let them. Now, tell me what you are doing here. I don’t recall inviting you.”

“You left last night and forgot to take your gift. I only meant to bring it to you. Good thing I did.”

He frowned. “No, you might have been hurt.”

“So might you have been.” She was now frowning back at him. “Spare me the lecture on how you are the strong male, and I am the delicate female, and I should not have come to your rescue.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have…but thank you. In truth, you were magnificent.”

“I was?” Her smile lit up the room. “Oh, Innes. Thank you in return. You must know I’ll always look out for you. So will Papa. You are part of our family. And to that point, we also brought you a box of decorations. This house is in desperate need of cheering up. But first, open up my gift. Holmes, I think I set it down in the library near the gun cabinet.”

“Yes, Miss Hyacinth. I’ll fetch it straight away.”

She watched Innes’s butler leave before turning back to him. “And while we are waiting for him to bring it, I wanted to–”

Innes drew her into his arms and crushed his lips to hers.

She squealed and then slid her arms around his neck, kissing him back with innocent fervor.

Blessed saints.

Was this her first kiss?

It had to be, for her lips were pressed tight, and the kiss was grandmotherly. But she would learn to loosen up. He’d teach her, take his time, and show her properly. Nevertheless, her lips were soft and sweet, exactly the sort of lips one hoped for in a wife he intended to love into eternity.

He felt a joy he did not ever believe possible.

Hyacinth had been saving herself for him. She’d saved her first words for him. Her first steps. Her first Christmas gift, which was still wrapped in the box and left somewhere in his library.

He lifted her into his arms and continued to kiss her, tasting the apple cider on her lips and breathing in the scent of lavender on her skin. He felt the perfect softness of her body against his and felt his heart open up to let her in.

Perhaps she had always been