A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Chapter Twenty

“The Yule Log has been determined!” Samuel laughed as Lady Hesterway and Lord Hesterway each began to rush towards the log that Charlotte had chosen. She had been given the honor of picking out the Yule Log for this Christmas Season and, when he had been invited to join them, Samuel had been thrilled. In the last sennight, nothing about Lady Barcsay nor Lady Foster had been spoken. Nor had he seen Charlotte in order to speak with her, for, much to his own surprise as well as to hers, there had been the sudden, unexpected arrival of her brother, Lord Barcsay. Quite what had taken place, Samuel was uncertain, but Charlotte had written him a note, explaining that there had been a great deal to discuss and determine but that she would speak to him of it all very soon.

Samuel had been glad for that. As yet, she had not pushed him away from her, had not severed their connection and as Samuel pondered over her, he discovered that his thoughts and attention increasingly focused on her, revealing just how much he truly cared for the lady. It was as though he could not breathe without her being either present or resting there in his mind, as though every bit of energy he had longed to be directed solely towards her. Being here with her now brought him such joy, Samuel never wanted to depart from her side again.

I must tell her how I feel.

“Oh, do be careful, Amelia!”

Samuel laughed aloud at Charlotte’s cry, seeing her smiling and laughing as Lord Hesterway made to sit down on the Yule Log, only for Lady Hesterway to catch his arm and pull him so hard, he was forced to stagger forward to regain his balance. As he watched, Lady Hesterway promptly sat down and let out a cry of triumph, leaving Lord Hesterway to groan at his defeat… though Samuel caught the twinkle in his eye. It was clear that the fellow loved his wife and that, Samuel considered, was a situation that he himself very much sought also.

A quick rush of heat ran from his toes to the crown of his head as Miss Millerton turned her attention to him, the warmth in her eyes – despite the cold of the day and the snow on the ground – making him smile back at her. As yet, they had not been in company alone together for they had arrived in one carriage and he had come in his own – but all Samuel wanted was to be with her. She was all to him, everything that he wanted and everything that he desired. Indeed, he had found himself in love before with Lady Grifford but his connection with Charlotte was different. All that she said, all that she did was genuine and he prayed that the care and consideration she had shown him came from her heart so that they might find themselves surrounded by nothing but happiness. Quite how they were to find that time, Samuel did not know but he was willing to wait until Charlotte was ready. He could not imagine all that she had endured thus far though he did also pray that she had found some relief in discovering the truth.

“I think that it is your sister who will be blessed with good fortune,” Samuel murmured, as Charlotte came towards him. He took her in as she laughed, her face wreathed with smiles, her copper curls vivid against the white snow behind her. It was her eyes, however, which caught his attention the most. They were just as beautiful as they had ever been but there was a new vivacity which he had not seen before, a brightness which made her entire expression light up. The urge to take her in his arms was so strong that Samuel could not help but move towards her, his hands going out to her – and much to his relief, she stepped closer to him also. His fingers twined through hers and they stood close together, leaving Lord and Lady Hesterway to their own laughter over the Yule Log.

“My dear, are you quite all right?” Samuel looked into her eyes, seeing her smile though a niggle of worry still settled in his heart. “I know we have not spoken but I have been thinking of you often.”

She smiled at him. “As have I of you,” she answered, snowflakes gently beginning to fall around them both. “My brother’s sudden arrival surprised all of us, though it was very timely indeed. He had already been to the townhouse where my stepmother was residing and instructed the staff that she was to take her leave. From what I understand, the carriage had already been prepared, though I am not certain as to where she was going. I do not think it would have been the Dower house, for she would have been afraid of my brother knowing that he was aware now of our confusion over the will. She probably must have ended up at her sister’s trying to avoid the gossip that shall start in the ton.” Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment. “But then he went to the solicitors and all was just as we expected. It was there, a little damaged in places but perfectly legible.”

Samuel nodded. “And the addendum?”

She shook her head. “It was not there. The solicitor who previously did not know what we were talking about confirmed that with my brother and promised that there would be a thorough investigation as to which of the men in his employ had agreed to Lady Barcsay’s demands.” Wincing, she shook her head. “I am quite sure that Lady Barcsay would have been either threatening or sweetly coercive, but regardless of whatever way she chose, there was someone in the solicitor’s involved.”

Letting out a long, slow breath, Samuel held her gaze steadily. “But it is over.”

Her smile was bright but her eyes glistened with tears. “Yes, it is. My father did not want me to give up my future for my stepmother, did not desire for me to be her companion. She made it all up, manipulating me to make sure she had what she wanted from me. That is why Lady Foster was here this Christmas Season, keeping a watch on me. It was solely so that Lady Barcsay could be quite certain that I would not either look into the matter or find myself falling in love. Either of those situations would have brought about a circumstance she did not want… and yet, I appear to have done both.”

It took Samuel a few minutes to understand what it was she meant. The way that her cheeks flushed with color and caught her lip in between her teeth made his heart stir all over again and, with a flood of energy pouring through him, he released her hands only to catch her around her waist. He did not even stop to think about Lord and Lady Hesterway, looking down at the lady in his arms and finding his heart flooding with love for her.

“You mean to say that you have fallen in love with me, Charlotte?”

She nodded, her smile a little uncertain, a trifle hesitant. “I believe that I have. I know that this was not a situation that either of us expected. I understand that there was a time when you did not want to be truly engaged, did not even want to think about matrimony, but –”

“But that is not something that I want any longer,” he interrupted, as snowflakes began to fall a little harder now, landing on her bonnet and shoulders. “I thought that I wanted nothing more than to remain alone. I believed that setting up this false engagement would bring me the relief that I desired but instead, I found myself quite captured by you, Charlotte. I did not want to think of it, did not want to even admit it to myself but still, it remained. It was only when I went to call on Lady Grifford that I realised the true depth of my affections.” Seeing her eyes flare, Samuel moved closer still, his arms still about her. “I know that we have not spoken of what you saw on the terrace but I can assure you, I did not want her anywhere near me.”

“She was trying to throw herself into your arms,” Charlotte answered, as Samuel nodded, a knot in his throat. “I understand.”

“I rejected her. I told her that there could be nothing between us.” Samuel licked his lips, a slight nervousness running through him now as he fought to find the words to express just how much he had come to care for her. “I have never felt the way that I do now, even though I have believed myself in love before.”

Charlotte’s smile grew big and bright, her eyes rounding at the corners. “Then you are in love with me also?”

Samuel nodded, a knot forming in his throat at the sheer happiness he felt. “Yes, Charlotte. I have been afraid of losing you, frightened that what you saw with Lady Grifford and I would have pushed you away. When I realised that, the dread which overtook me was so severe, it felt as though I was crippled in both body and spirit.”

Charlotte reached up and pressed one hand to his cheek, her eyes soft. “How could I step away from you when you have been nothing but compassionate and caring towards me?” Her thumb ran back and forth, ever so gently, but slowly beginning to ignite a fire within Samuel’s heart. “I will not pretend that I was not astonished by what I saw and indeed, frightened as to what that might have meant, but now, I have no fear or doubt.” Her hand ran down towards his heart and settled there. “You love me just as I love you. Nothing could make me any happier.”

It was on the tip of Samuel’s tongue to ask her, right then and there, if she would marry him but a shout from Lord Hesterway broke through his intentions. Sighing, Samuel pulled back from Charlotte gently, longing growing all the steadier as she too let out a sorrowful sigh, clearly a little regretful over moving away from him. Samuel caught her hand and held it still as they made their way back to the carriage alongside Lord and Lady Hesterway, the Yule Log being left for the servants to return to the townhouse.

“I hope we will talk again very soon, Charlotte,” he murmured out of the side of his mouth, as she looked back at him. “There is still more than I should like to say.”

A smile lit her features and she nodded, her fingers squeezing his. “Just as soon as we can,” she answered, quietly. “I want nothing more than to be in your company, Crestwood.”

“Just as I want to be in yours,” he promised, his mind already beginning to whirl over what it was he wanted now to do. There would be Lord Barcsay to speak to, should he still be in London, and with Christmas only a few days away, there was not much time for such a conversation. Determined, Samuel lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it, before helping her up to the carriage. Soon, he swore silently to himself, he would never have to step away from Charlotte again. Soon, they would be together, for the rest of their days.