The Secret Christmas Ciphers (8 page)

Mrs. Brownley arrived within minutes, puffing a bit as though she’d hurried down the long and chilly corridors. She dropped a curtsey and quickly surveyed the room. “Good day, Lady Westdale. Is this to become your sitting room then?”

Pleased that the woman she’d known for many years was so accepting of her new role in the castle, Abigail smiled and nodded. “I’ve always admired this room and I’m looking forward to making use of it while overseeing some of my duties.”

Mrs. Brownley nodded approvingly. “Excellent, my lady. How may I be of service?”

“You can tell me if there are any problems that I need to be concerned with.”

“Now that you ask, my lady, Cook has been wondering what plans you might have in regards to Christmas. The last few years the family did little to celebrate the holiday, and while Lord Melton had no objections to the servants enjoying their own games and such, we all miss the Yule log and wassail bowl and all the garlands and so forth that the late Lady Melton always oversaw.”

Mrs. Brownley’s words sent Abigail’s spirits soaring. She’d always loved observing Christmas. When she’d been in charge of her father’s household, she’d made sure that all of the traditions of the season were celebrated. At the same time, she’d felt some degree of pity for the inhabitants of Melton Castle. The earl showed no interest in the holiday, and the stepsisters had pretty much left everything in the hands of the servants.

But now the servants were turning to Abigail, accepting her as mistress of the castle, so obviously she would be perfectly within her rights to take over that responsibility. No one else had bothered in the years since the second countess died, and it seemed clear the servants were hoping for a more cheerful Christmas this year.

After telling Mrs. Brownley she could assure Cook that they would have all the traditional dishes this year, including mincemeat pies and, of course, the Christmas pudding, the two sat down in Abigail’s new sitting room to makes lists regarding the other activities related to the season. While Abigail longed to hold a Christmas ball at the castle, she realized she would have to put that off until a year when Derek and his father were less involved with the war efforts.

“But never fear, Mrs. Brownley,” she told the housekeeper. “We’ll certainly have a Yule log and send the men out for holly and ivy and mistletoe so we can decorate properly. And I see no reason we should not invite most of the neighbors in for an afternoon of charades, cards and a traditional dinner.”

By the time she’d finished with her responsibilities, the day was more than half gone, and Abigail had been wondering for the last hour what Derek had been doing. Perhaps he was still in the library, but she had no intention of checking to see. The library was beginning to hold too many unhappy memories for her.

At the same time, she needed to tell him that she felt she was needed here at the Castle and thus had decided not to return to London with him. She doubted he would object. In fact, considering their most recent contretemps, he’d probably be thrilled to have her stay in the country.

Suddenly almost overcome by the exhaustion of a short night and the frustrations of her and Derek’s continuing clashes, Abigail found herself fighting back tears. Figuring a nap was in order, she’d just left her sitting room and was headed toward the stairs to go up to her bedchamber when a commotion sounded from the front of the house. She turned toward the entrance hall and was halfway down the corridor when Derek stepped out of the library. He gave her a tentative smile. “I heard a coach arriving so I assume the roads have cleared.”

Abigail couldn’t bring herself to return the smile but she did fall into step beside him. “I wonder who it can be.”

“I’m not sure, but I thought I recognized the voice of one of the twins.”

“Were they expected back so soon?”

Abigail’s question was answered when a footman opened the front door and the twin sisters hurried into the entrance hall. Both smiled with apparent delight when they saw Abigail and Derek.

Sophia spoke first. “Thank goodness! We were so afraid no one from the family would be here.”

Louisa slipped out of her pelisse and dropped it onto a nearby chair. “We didn’t have time to send word to anyone that we were coming. Aunt Bertha developed a putrid fever and feared she was contagious, so she insisted we leave Bath immediately. I don’t think we’re in danger of contracting the illness because we both feel just wonderful.”

“And it’s so good to be home,” Sophia added, looking around her as though finding pleasure in the familiar surroundings. “I had not thought I would miss Melton Castle but I did.”

Abigail realized it was too soon to know for sure, but she thought she detected signs of the girls having matured during their stay in Bath. She certainly hoped so, because she didn’t relish the thoughts of having to deal with their mischievousness alone, and she knew Derek would be returning to the city very soon.

She wondered if Derek was thinking along the same lines because he immediately placed his hand at the small of her back as though to lend her support. However, before either of them could say a word, the footman again pulled the door open and peered outside. “There’s another coach turned down the drive, milord,” he stated.

Derek moved his hand away from her back and strode toward the front door. He looked outside and then turned back to address Abigail and the twins. “It appears to be Father’s coach. I suspect he’s wondering why I haven’t hurried back to London.”

Abigail stepped up beside him and together they watched the coach roll to a stop in front of the portico. The sun now shone brightly, and water dripped from eaves and branches as the snow melted.

The footman rushed down the steps and pulled the coach door open, then held out his hand to help Catherine alight. Her father followed.

“It’s Catherine,” Sophia cried, looking past Abigail and Derek. “And Father! How wonderful.”

Catherine’s eyes widened when she heard her sister’s voice and she then lifted her skirt and dashed up the stairs. Soon a joyful and noisy reunion was taking place in the entrance hall.

Abigail smiled at the obvious delight of the sisters in seeing each other again but then cut her gaze toward her father-in-law. The earl, who clutched a bulging bundle of papers under his arm, regarded Derek with a solemn expression. “I brought more. Did you have any luck with the mysterious one?”

Derek nodded. “Yes, with Abigail’s help. Come to the library and I’ll show you.”

His father nodded in return. “We’ll be up most of the night working on the ones I brought with me, and then we’ll need to leave first light tomorrow to return them.”

Abigail wanted to offer to help but realized that her first responsibility lay with making certain the sisters didn’t discover what their father and Derek were doing. She didn’t trust them to keep a secret.

So she smiled at Derek, widening her eyes just enough to indicate that her words held more meaning than might appear on the surface. “I’ll visit with Cook to ensure that we have an adequate meal tonight, and I’ll make sure Mrs. Brownley sends maids to air the beds and see to it that fires are laid in the bedchambers.”

A smile brightened his eyes as he lowered one lid in a half wink. “Thank you, my dear.”

Good heavens, was he flirting with her, perhaps hoping to placate her after their earlier disagreement? She could feel her cheeks heating with a blush, but he had already turned away, following his father toward the library.

Knowing her duty, Abigail gently steered the sisters into one of the drawing rooms where a fire had been laid and then excused herself to make arrangements with the servants for the comfort of her new family.

Midnight was near when Abigail finally freed herself from the company of the sisters. Sophia and Louisa had insisted that she listen to descriptions of all the various functions they had attended in Bath along with lengthy discussions about the various gentlemen who had asked for introductions. Then Catherine had reported on her triumphs during the Little Season and her hopes for the following spring when she would be formally out.

After accompanying the girls upstairs, Abigail entered her chamber and looked toward the connecting door between her and Derek’s rooms. She had been wondering for the past hour if he might visit her this evening, and she’d already decided that she was not yet ready for them to consummate their marriage. They had to come to some sort of understanding prior to that happening.

Not wanting to ring for her maid at such a late hour, Abigail tried to undress herself but found the task beyond her abilities. Finally, she lay down on top of the bed and pulled a coverlet over her. She expected only to doze lightly, but when she finally awoke, the fire had gone out, the room was frigid, and the sky was turning light.

Tossing the coverlet back, she jumped to her feet, slipped on her shoes, patted her hair into place, and hurried out into the corridor and down the stairs. The clattering of a coach’s wheels on the driveway outside told its own story. She’d missed seeing Derek off.

That realization brought with it a sudden bout of regret. What if she never saw him again? Tears stung the backs of her eyes, while her throat tightened and her belly clenched. Obviously she still loved him. Was she allowing her pride to destroy her chances for happiness with Derek? Or the possibility of having his child someday?

She realized then that the footman was regarding her with a slight frown, as though uncertain what to do. Suddenly aware that she stood staring at the closed entrance door with tears shimmering in her eyes, she fought for control of her unruly emotions.

“Good morning, James.” She forced a smile. “I had hoped to see my husband and the earl off. Obviously I missed them. Did both seem well?”

James’s expression lightened. “Yes, my lady. Although my understanding is that they were occupied in the library until the wee hours of the morning.”

“Just as I feared,” Abigail said, continuing to smile. She realized she must present a strange sight, still wearing her clothing from last evening and with her hair half falling down around her ears. “In that case, I’ll freshen up and then have breakfast. I assume the gentlemen ate before they left?”

“Yes, my lady. And the breakfast food should still be on the sideboard.”

“Excellent.” Abigail nodded once, then hurried upstairs to her chamber and rang for her maid. There was no use allowing herself to continue grieving over her and Derek’s problems. Christmas would soon be here, and she owed it to the servants to ensure that this year, Melton Castle observed all the traditions of the season.

To Abigail’s surprise, all three of the sisters entered into her Christmas plans with great enthusiasm. They were particularly delighted at the idea of having some sort of party for the neighbors, and they happily agreed to help write out the invitations. It didn’t take long to settle on a date. They decided to hold the entertainment on Christmas Eve so that everyone could enjoy the traditional Yule log and wassail bowl, along with Cook’s wonderful plum pudding.

Abigail invited several of the guests to spend the night at the castle and then attend church with them on Christmas morning. Most had accepted, so Abigail and Mrs. Brownley inspected the extra bedchambers to see which would need a thorough cleaning and which could get by with just being aired and the beds made up.

Too, there was the greenery to be gathered. In addition to the holly and mistletoe, the men servants who went out to the woods would bring in ivy, rosemary, laurel, and other evergreens. The sisters, fortunately, took many of the responsibilities off Abigail’s shoulders. They decided on the Christmas candles and arranged the greenery that would wreath the candles in preparation to their being lit. One day the three girls even walked to the village to buy silk ribbons that they then entwined with mistletoe to create kissing balls to hang in various doorways.

Although she felt a bit guilty, Abigail couldn’t help experiencing a strong sense of relief that her father and his new wife were spending the holidays in Bath. She really could not imagine either of them relaxing enough to enjoy an afternoon and evening of charades, singing, and cards prior to partaking of a late supper.

With so much activity going on, Abigail could sometimes put Derek out of her mind until she turned in for the evening. Then she would lie alone in her bed wondering where he was and when he might be able to return home again.

She did so wish he could be with them for Christmas, but she had little hope of that happening. She just prayed that wherever he spent Christmas, he would be both safe and warm.

Especially safe.

A week before Christmas, Abigail received a brief letter from Derek saying he and his father were quite busy and not likely to return to the castle anytime soon. He told her to spend whatever funds she felt were necessary to prepare baskets for the poor to be distributed on Boxing Day.

Abigail wished there had been more to the missive, but she knew she had no right to expect more. She and Derek had married for reasons of expediency, and she feared they would never find the depth of feelings she had once believed existed between them. After all, he had proposed to another woman. She had been foolish indeed to hope that in some small portion of his heart, he had remained true to her.

Although she hadn’t really expected Derek to return for Christmas, the certain knowledge that neither he nor his father would be with them threatened to put a damper on her joys in preparing for the season. She was determined, however, to hide her distress so that the servants, the sisters, and their neighbors would not be aware of her feelings.

And as Christmas Eve neared, she certainly had no trouble filling her days with chores that helped deflect her thoughts from Derek. Between the cooking, decorating and preparing bedchambers for their guests, she stayed on the go throughout each day and went to bed so exhausted that she rarely had trouble going to sleep.

Finally, December twenty-third rolled around. Their entertainment for the neighbors was now just a day away and all preparations were nearing completion. To the best of Abigail’s knowledge, everything was on schedule, so she decided to slip away to the library to rest a few minutes. She’d just gotten situated in a chair in front of the fire with a book in her lap when one of the footmen entered the room and approached her. She suppressed a sigh and looked up. “Did you need me, James?”