always been that way, even before her brother had ascended to the title, and they had just been gentlemen and ladies in a small town.
Mistletoe. The last decoration to go up, but it had far more importance to her. The last few years, she had stolen a kiss from one man, every Christmas, and every time she had been certain he would declare his love for her and make her an offer of marriage.
An offer that never came.
“No, I am going to put my foot down and put it right here, at the foot of the stairs,” said William firmly. “Come, Chalmesbury.”
Prudence hooked her legs over the arm of the chair to watch the butler stand on a chair and carefully tie the mistletoe above the first step with a piece of golden ribbon.
“And about time, too,” Charlotte said with a smile, sinking into a chair opposite Prudence. “You know it is almost six o’clock? Our guest will be here any moment, and the snow has been coming down all day.”
“It always snows at Pendle Hall,” John shrugged. “He’ll find a way through. Any more mistletoe you want up, Will?”
Prudence’s heart skipped a beat. “Oh, yes, we must have more.”
Her cheeks pinked as the family turned around to stare.
“God, Pru, I had forgotten you were still there,” said John easily, making her blush deepen. “What do you want mistletoe for, anyway? Got suitors lined up around the house just waiting for a kiss?”
“Goodness, I hope not,” teased William. “I am still in shock after Honora’s marriage–I’m not sure I would survive my other sister’s wedding!”
The hall echoed with laughter, and Prudence prayed the flagstones would split apart and swallow her. It was never easy, being the youngest of four. But when your sister goes missing for three years, your brothers become the definition of protective. Honora had been found, eventually, but Prudence was still guarded like a precious jewel.
“Th-There is no one lined outside,” she said to defend herself but was interrupted by Charlotte.
“Leave the girl alone, and help me with this wreath,” she said, lifting the heaviest wreath Prudence had ever seen. “I must go and see Mrs. Chalmesbury soon, and see little William.”
The two gentlemen stepped over to rescue her, and Prudence was left alone with her own thoughts.
Leave the girl alone. She was no longer a girl, though none of her family seemed able to see that. Why, she had turned eighteen almost two months ago, and she was of age.
Besides, she did not need a line of gentlemen encircling Pendle Hall. There was only one man she wanted to meet under the mistletoe. This time, it would be different.
“Who is this Reverend Michaels?” Charlotte’s voice cut into Prudence’s mind.
“Old Alex? You remember, he came last year in that gaggle of gentleman William invited. He was the son of our vicar, back when we were peasants.”
William pushed him and laughed. “We were hardly peasants! We grew up with Alex, Charlotte, he is the same age as John here or roundabouts. Had a deep affection for Pru, didn’t he, John?”
Prudence’s gaze snapped to her brother as he nodded. “Scrumping, riding, running about like wild people. The two of them were untamable.”
She could not help but smile. Wonderful days. Childlike, innocent, but it was not long before she had started to consider Alexander as…well. Hers.
“And then this blighter inherited a dukedom, and poor old Michaels had to find a profession,” John continued, looking around the decorated hall in appreciation. “Became a vicar, poor sod.”
Charlotte’s voice rose in censure, but Prudence was no longer listening. She was lost in thoughts of Alexander.
Handsome, charming, his only fault was a lack of declarations of love for herself. He had been remarkably close, she was sure, last year. They had lingered together in the evening with everyone else in bed, and he had leaned forward and kissed her…
“–foolish, Alexander!”
Prudence was brought back into the room by the repetition of his name. William was laughing, and Charlotte seemed to be scolding John.
“Most unkind!”
“Can I help it if it is true?” John protested. “He will be here soon, so perhaps it is best if I get it all out of my system.”
He grinned at Prudence, clearly expecting her to join in with his merriment, and she forced a smile. Her heart was doing that uncomfortable thumping thing again. To think, Alexander will be here within the hour.
This year would be different. This year, Alexander would not look at her and see a child. She would