is only you,” he said, low. “There will only ever be you.”
She didn’t think she would ever sleep that night. But in fact, with the echo of kisses on her lips and his words wrapped warmly around her heart, she fell into slumber almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
And she sprang back into happy wakefulness when the maid pulled back the curtains to let low, wintry sunshine into the room. “Good morning, miss! Merry Christmas. Her ladyship says to remind you to be ready for church.”
“Merry Christmas!” Emma replied gaily, slipping from the bed, desperate to see Selim again, to tell her mother and the rest of the family about her happiness.
As soon as she was washed and dressed, she all but danced her way down to the breakfast parlor, humming as she went and calling “Merry Christmas!” to the servants still busy about their work. They all smiled back at her as they answered. As though joy was contagious.
To her amazement, the breakfast room was already full of her family—apart from the children. Selim was among them. He looked up and smiled at her, rising from his chair as soon as she entered.
She grasped at once that they all knew. For Roberta burst into tears, and her mother gazed at her with such mingled happiness and sorrow that Emma wanted to weep, too.
“Oh, Mama, don’t look like that!” she cried, throwing herself at her mother’s feet. “Joe and Hazel go away all the time, and they always come back! So does John.”
“I doubt I could keep her away from you for very long if I wanted to,” Selim said. “And I don’t want to.”
“But how would it even work?” Roberta demanded, angrily dashing her hand over her eyes, while her husband patted her shoulder. “How would you marry? Would you become a Muslim?”
Their mother brightened suddenly. “Perhaps the prince would become a Christian?”
“Alas, my lady, I could not, in all conscience,” Selim said apologetically. “But I have every respect for your religion and would not expect Emma to change her beliefs.”
“So, will you come to church with us this morning?” John challenged.
Selim met his gaze with quiet understanding. “Of course.”
“You will?” Standish asked in surprise.
“Indeed. It will be excellent practice,” Selim said gravely. “I would suggest we marry according to both rites.”
Emma smiled. “So that no one can doubt us or part us.”
Across the table, Joe caught her gaze. “This is what you want, Emma?”
She smiled. “With all my heart.”
Joe’s lips quirked. “Then you have my permission and my blessing. And God help you, Selim.”
Only as they gathered in the hall ready to leave for church, did they encounter Lord Davitt.
“Ah, Lady Sayle, I’m glad I caught you,” he said civilly. “I wish to thank you most warmly for your kind hospitality, but I have decided my duty should be with my own family this day. I shall be gone by the time you return.”
“Oh! Well, we shall miss you, but of course, we quite understand,” Hazel replied, rising well to the occasion. “Give our best wishes to your family, and have a safe journey.”
Davitt bowed over her hand, then bowed to the other ladies, shook hands briefly with Joe, and finally held out his hand to Emma.
Selim stood beside her, large and immovable.
It is Christmas. One should forgive. She laid her hand in Davitt’s.
“I can only apologize,” he said quietly. “What I did was unforgivable, and I know I have ruined any chance I ever stood with you. I have no excuse.”
“Never do it again,” she murmured. “To anyone. And I shall forgive you.”
A smile flickered on his face, and then he turned and strode back across the hall to the stairs.
“You are more charitable than I,” Selim growled.
She shrugged. “I have no room for anger today. Only joy.”
“I hope that will always be the case,” Selim said as they stepped outside into the cold.
She reached up, not caring who looked, and pressed a kiss on his startled lips. “Through thick and thin, I know it will be. Merry Christmas, my love.”
Additional Dragonblade books by Author Mary Lancaster
The Husband Dilemma Series
How to Fool a Duke
Season of Scandal Series
Pursued by the Rake
Abandoned to the Prodigal
Married to the Rogue
Unmasked by her Lover
Imperial Season Series
Vienna Waltz
Vienna Woods
Vienna Dawn
Blackhaven Brides Series
The Wicked Baron
The Wicked Lady
The Wicked Rebel
The Wicked Husband
The Wicked Marquis
The Wicked Governess
The Wicked Spy
The Wicked Gypsy
The Wicked Wife
Wicked Christmas (A Novella)
The Wicked Waif
The Wicked Heir
The Wicked Captain
The Wicked Sister
Unmarriageable Series
The Deserted Heart
The Sinister Heart
The Vulgar Heart
The Broken Heart
The