become the premier purveyor of news by the end of the year.”
Hollis smiled. “Last year, I might have said so. But my Christmas wish is that everything stop changing so fast. But if everything must change, that I be allowed to change with it.”
“I don’t know what that means,” her father said. “What does that mean?”
“Just that everyone is leaving, Pappa, and lives are changing, and I am...not changing. I am standing right where I’ve been for a very long time.”
“Oh, Hollis,” Caroline said sadly. “It won’t be as bad as you think.”
“Well,” she said with a lighthearted shrug. “It seems that way to me. Mr. Brendan, it is to you.”
All eyes turned to Marek. He’d been thinking since this game started. Of how little time he had left. Of the things he’d learned about himself since he’d arrived in London. Of regrets and lost opportunities. “Someone asked me recently who I am,” he said. “And I realized that for many years, I’ve been between two worlds, neither firmly in one nor the other. It is difficult to explain, but I’ve been in a land of no one.” He’d kept himself apart from the living. It was a wonder he hadn’t turned into a ghost.
Everyone was looking around, clearly confused. “It’s impossible to explain, but my Christmas wish is to plant myself fully in one world.”
“What world?” the duchess asked.
“A world where there is laughter and love and companionship.” He looked at Hollis. “A world, any world, where Hollis is, frankly.”
Someone gasped. Lady Chartier grabbed the duchess by the wrist, her eyes wide. “Did he...? Did I hear...?”
“Sssh,” the duchess said, and leaned forward, her gaze on Marek.
But Hollis didn’t move. Her gaze was on the floor. She was entirely immobile, and he wondered if he’d said the wrong thing.
“This is not how I meant to say it, Hollis,” he said apologetically. “But as they say, ‘Make use of time, let not advantage slip.’”
“Ah,” Donovan said, nodding appreciatively. “A little Shakespeare for you, Mrs. Honeycutt.”
She slowly lifted her head and met Marek’s gaze with two pools of blue. He couldn’t guess what she was thinking. He felt a little as if he was swinging at the end of his rope. In an effort to make it right, he stepped closer. “This is not how or when or really even what I meant to say it...but I am painfully conscious of the time and will not let the advantage slip. I am asking you to come with me, Hollis. Come to St. Edys, to Wesloria. I am twice the man I am when you are near.”
“Oh,” the duchess murmured. “Oh my.”
“What is happening?” the judge asked.
“I don’t know, exactly, Pappa,” the duchess whispered loudly.
“To Wesloria?” Hollis asked, her voice a whisper. She searched the faces around her, as if she thought it might be a joke.
Marek took her hand and forced her to look at him. “Do you love me?” he asked. “God knows that I love you.”
Her mouth dropped open. He had stunned her. Hell, he’d stunned them all. Now everyone was gaping. He was stunned. He was nothing like the man he’d always been in this moment. All these years, quiet as a mouse, kept to himself, and this was the way he would step into the world he’d chosen?
“Hollis,” Donovan said beneath his breath.
She blinked. “Yes,” she said to Marek. “I—I do. I do love you.”
There were more gasps, but Marek ignored everyone but her. “Then come to Wesloria. You don’t have to answer me straightaway. But...unfortunately, you must answer me soon. Do you understand, Hollis? You know I must return. You know why. But my hand to God I don’t want to return without you.”
“I can’t,” Hollis said. “This is not... I don’t know what...” She looked at Donovan.
“Aye, she needs a bit of time to think it through,” Donovan said crisply.
“She doesn’t!” the duchess exclaimed and gained her feet, moving to her sister’s side. “Hollis?” She took her sister’s face in her hands and forced her to look at her. “You love him. The cat is clawing you apart, remember? You’ve lamented that we’re all moving on. You grieved Percy well, darling. You were the best widow a man could ever hope for. But you are young, and you love him—what holds you?”
“Is this true?” her father asked. “My daughter loves this man?”
“I think she does, Your Honor,” Lady Chartier said, her voice shaking with emotion.
“Why have I not heard of it?” Iddesleigh demanded, his voice