Free UnexpectedChristmas by Jean Hart Stewart Page B

smile in his direction. She turned back to Marianne.
    “Indeed, I am quite persuaded after all. I will wear
whatever you choose, Marianne. But I’m a little thinner than I was.”
    Marianne beamed as if heaven had opened the pearly gates.
    “I visit so often I keep a small wardrobe here. I have
several gowns that have for some reason grown too tight for me. And my maid
Rosie is a genius at sewing. I’ll be back in a minute with some gowns and
Rosie. Can I trust you for a minute or two, Seb?”
    She flounced out of the room with a grin that plainly said
she’d be happy if they misbehaved. Sebastian took Caro’s hands in a tight grip.
    “Do not do anything repugnant to you, my love. You are
perfect just as you are. I do not care what you wear.”
    Caro looked directly into his eyes for the first time since
he’d spirited her away from that damnable girl’s school. By god, if the
headmistress were only a man he’d demand satisfaction from her for her
mistreatment of this lady. The thought of applying a whip to that sadistic body
was tempting.
    Then Caro directed a full smile at him.
    “Thank you, my lord. You offer sage advice. Your sister is
my dear friend and I would trust her to do what is best for me.”
    He damn near grabbed her in his arms. She was looking at
him, if not with the love he wanted, still without the animosity so evident
before.
    A small step forward. He’d make do with that for now. He
strode to her, holding her lightly in his arms and dropping a kiss on her hair.
    “Caro, will you ever let me back in your heart? These last
weeks have shown me how much you mean to me. I am nothing without you.”
    She looked directly into his eyes for a moment while he
prayed his contrite and loving soul was on display. Her face softened slightly
even as she moved away from him.
    “We shall see, my lord. Right now I am bewildered, as well
as very tired.”
    “Sebastian.” He ground out the word.
    She looked at her toes and then raised her eyes to his.
    “Sebastian,” she breathed. Her beautiful eyes were clear and
guileless.
    Sebastian glowed.
    “When you have rested perhaps you’d like to walk around the
property a little. There is a beautiful wood with quite old trees. We could
look for the Yule log and perhaps some mistletoe. And some holly. The woods
have them all and we bring them in at Christmastime. It’s the most festive time
of the year for both staff and the family.”
    Her face lit. “Oh I’d like that above all things. I’ll rest
a little and then we’ll go searching. We always had a Yule log when I was
smaller.”
    “And a kissing bough?” Sebastian wondered if he’d pushed too
far but she laughed, a genuine sound of pleasure.
    “Do you truly have mistletoe? And red ribbons to tie around
it after you’ve made it into a kissing bough?”
    “Mistletoe is scarce but there’s some if we search. We’ve
always found it and I refuse to believe we can’t find it again.”
    “Oh I love the Christmas traditions.”
    He grinned. “We all do here at Somerdale. We always make the
kissing bough out of mistletoe loaded with as many berries as we can find. The
maids find any excuse to be accidentally under a bough when a handsome footman
is passing by. Then of course he steals a kiss and one white berry from the
mistletoe. So after you rest, dress as warmly as you can. I’ll ask Marianne to
loan you boots and a warm coat, as well as heavy leather gloves.”
    She looked a little doubtful and he took one of her hands in
his.
    “You do remember how prickly picking holly can be, don’t
you? You wouldn’t want me to be accused of leading a guest to injury, would
you? Surely you can borrow the items needed to save me from such criticism?”
    She smiled the radiant smile he’d seen too seldom. Certainly
at the snowball fight. Now at the thought of picking out a Yule log and some
mistletoe. She was completely unspoiled and he loved her for it but he intended
to cosset her beyond belief after they