Better than a Present Page 4

  “It’s too bad you don’t have a special someone who can join you this evening,” Sara sighed.

  Samantha grunted indelicately as she heard her sister once again lament the fact that there was no important man in her life. She started to reply and thought of Paul. She looked up from her plate to stare out of a nearby window. The time she had spent with him and the discussions they had that morning now seemed imaginary, as if it was something she had dreamed. She refocused her gaze on her sister and quickly answered, “We have been over this before. I’m perfectly happy as I am.”

  “So you say. You don’t know what you’re missing,” her sister rose from the table and pushed back her chair. “I’m sure you’re sick of hearing me go on and on about the subject. It’s Christmas Eve so I’ll refrain from saying anymore for a few days.”

  “Thank you.” Samantha sighed with relief. “I know you only have my best interests at heart.”

  “I believe it would be more proper to say your happiness is my concern. Enough of that for now. I’ll leave you to finish your meal in peace. I’m off to make sure all the preparations are going smoothly. I’ll see you later, Samantha.”

  Samantha pushed away her plate of unfinished food after Sara left the room. She wasn’t hungry anymore. Her thoughts focused on Lord Paul. She realized, with a deep sense of regret, there was no chance she could further her acquaintance with him. He believed she was a groom in Viscount Dixon’s employ. What reason could he ever have to wish to continue a discussion he had had with a minor servant while waiting out a snow storm? Additionally, if he were to see her dressed as a lady in the near future, there was a good chance he would recognize her and her deception would be discovered.

  Her heart felt heavy in her chest as it became apparent to her that she had finally met a man who she enjoyed talking to, a gentleman who made her pulse beat faster whenever she looked at him or came in contact with him. But she could not make herself known to him. To do so would ruin her reputation. What occurred today would have to become nothing more than a pleasurable memory.

  The door was thrust open and an attractive woman with abundant brown hair slightly streaked with gray tucked under a jaunty red cap, burst into the room. “My dear Samantha, there you are. I have missed you so!”

  “Aunt Grace!” Samantha was enveloped in a heavily-perfumed hug and then released. “I’m very glad to see you as well.”

  “Meet Sir Chester Booth, Samantha. Chester, dear, this is my other niece, Lady Samantha Grayson.”

  A tall, dignified gentleman with a thick crop of gray hair on his head and a gentle smile on his face paused on the threshold and bowed. “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Samantha.”

  She curtseyed to the gentleman. “I’m very happy to make your acquaintance, Sir Chester.”

  “We met your sister in the hallway. She is quite busy overseeing the preparations for this afternoon,” Lady Anson remarked as she took off her fur-lined pelisse and dropped it on a nearby chair. “I imagine it is quite important to her to have the Christmas Eve celebrations go off without a hitch. It is her first major event as hostess since her marriage.”

  “Yes, I’m sure Sara wishes to prove that she deserves to carry the title of Viscountess Dixon while at the same time hoping to make her new husband proud of her. Are your rooms prepared? Would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea? There are some ham and eggs left. I could request Cook to heat them up for you.”

  “It would be lovely to have some refreshment. Chester, dear, put your coat over here next to mine. Grimm is seeing to our bags. We’ll go up to our rooms after we have a spot of tea. Maybe Chester would like a bit of ham?”

  “I’ll take a slice. No need to heat it up, though.”

  Samantha poured the hot liquid into two cups. “How was the journey?”

  “Uneventful until it suddenly started to snow. We were worried we might be forced to spend the night at an inn, were we not, Chester?”

  Sir Chester frowned as he heard the question. “I was somewhat concerned over the state of the roads but the storm seemed to pass as quickly as it started and our coachman had no problems.”

  “The countryside is quite beautiful here. Have you had a chance to take any walks around the area since you arrived, Samantha?” Her aunt stirred in milk and sugar and sipped her tea.

  “Yes, I have. I agree with you, Aunt. Even in winter, the woods surrounding the house are very lovely.”

  “I seem to recall…Burton Keep is close by, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is the nearest property to the north. Are you familiar with it?”

  “I have never visited there but I have a loose connection to the owner. I believe Adrian Russell, Marquess of Burton resides there. Your late Uncle Robert was close friends with his father the Duke of Haverston.”

  Sir Chester spoke up. “My dear, you’re correct. I had forgotten Burton Keep was located in Berkhamsted.”

  “I think I heard that Lord Burton was married a few years ago. I can’t remember the lady’s name.”

  “I believe you are thinking of Lady Rebecca Hastings.”

  “Yes, that’s right, Samantha.” Her aunt beamed at her. “I wasn’t aware you were acquainted with her.”

  Samantha realized she had made a comment without thinking of the ramifications. “Oh, I have never met the lady or Lord Burton. I…I did some research on the estates in the area and found their story quite interesting.”

  “I believe the viscount and his wife were childhood sweethearts?” Her aunt was not about to let the subject drop.

  “They grew up together, yes. But I’m not certain when the attachment was actually formed,” Samantha prevaricated.

  Sir Chester drank the rest of his tea and cleared his throat before speaking. “I think I recall that Lady Rebecca was previously engaged to the Earl of Archly. He was killed in the Battle of Waterloo.”

  Lady Anson reached across the table to affectionately pat him on the cheek. “Wonderful, my dear. I remember the story now. A trifle sad but overall quite lovely and romantic in the end, I believe. But Lord Burton had a brother, let me think…Paul; Lord Paul Russell is his name. I had heard that he was in town during the last Season. Unfortunately our paths never crossed. I remember him as a pleasing, handsome young man. I was looking forward to introducing him to you, Samantha.”

  Thankfully, Samantha wasn’t required to reply to her aunt’s startling comment. At that moment, Sara entered the breakfast room.

  “I’m sorry that I did not greet you properly when you arrived, Aunt Grace, Sir Chester.” Sara gave her aunt a hug. “Grimm has seen to your bags. You are both welcome to rest in your rooms before we gather for the festivities in a few hours.”

  “I believe I will retire for a short time before I dress for the evening. Long journeys do wear me out.”

  Sir Chester came to his feet and assisted their aunt as she rose from her chair. “Some delicious smells are coming from your kitchen, Lady Dixon. I look forward to this afternoon’s meal.”

  Sara smiled warmly. “Thank you so much for your kind words. My cook, Miss Mott and I have tirelessly worked on a special menu for the holiday. I hope you will enjoy it.”

  “If the aromas are anything to go by, I’m sure I will.”

  Lady Anson put her hand on her swain’s sleeve as they prepared to leave the room. “We will see both of you later then.”

  “Yes, Aunt, I will have Grimm take care of your coats.”

  Samantha and Sara observed the couple as they strolled out of the room. Just before disappearing around the doorway, they saw their aunt smile up at her companion and bat her eyelashes at him in a coy manner.

  “It looks as if Aunt Grace plans to do more than rest in her room before dinner,” Sara commented with a grin.

  For some reason, Samantha had an image of Paul as he threw his arm wide to catch her when she tripped over the threshold at the cottage. She relived those moments when she was cradled securely against his muscular chest.

  “Luc
ky, lucky lady,” Samantha replied with a sigh before she too walked away from her astonished sister and exited the room.

  Chapter Four

  The dining room glistened in the warm light cast by two large silver candelabras placed at either end of the long table. Gleaming white porcelain dinner plates framed by well-polished silverware lay in front of each of the guest’s chairs. Empty crystal wine goblets sparkled invitingly at each plate. The table itself was covered in a white damask tablecloth. Sprigs of holly, rosemary and laurel were artfully scattered across the middle of the surface.

  Samantha slipped into her place at the table. She was tardy getting to dinner because just as she was leaving her bedchamber, Bertha had asked her advice on whether it was proper for her to respond to some advances a footman from the Dixon household was making to her. Samantha had offered her maid her opinion on the predicament but it had caused her to be late arriving at the dining room.

  She took a moment to study the festive decorations with appreciation. Sara should be proud of herself and her staff.

  “Is anything the matter?” her brother-in-law asked from his seat at the head of the table.

  “No, no, my maid needed some advice on a personal matter. I’m sorry to be late.” Samantha frowned in consternation as she realized that her tardiness caused him to worry.

  “To the contrary, I believe you are just in time,” Lawrence’s thick blond hair shone brightly in the candle light and a diamond pin sparkled from his intricately tied cravat as he grinned at Samantha.

  The door to the dining room opened with a flourish and Grimm entered carrying a large platter containing sliced roast beef surrounded by potatoes and squash. Two other servants followed in his wake; one carried a carved, cooked goose with stuffing and the other bore a large silver vessel from which a sweet and spicy smelling steam arose.

  “Ah,” Sir Chester sniffed the air appreciatively. “The Wassail Bowl, I believe.”

  Grimm carefully supervised the placement of the dishes. The Wassail Bowl was set on a nearby side table. The butler put the roast beef down in front of Lord Dixon. The goose was placed near Sara. Then Grimm picked up a heavily-decorated silver ladle and lowered it into the bowl of spiced wine and roasted apples. The other servants brought over the empty glasses. The butler carefully and deliberately spooned the warm wine into the crystal goblets while the guests helped themselves to the feast on the table.

  When everyone had been served both food and drink, the viscount rose from his chair. He picked up his wine glass and saluted Sara.

  “To my wife, Lady Sara Dixon, who has worked resolutely over this past week with our cook, Miss Mott and our butler, Grimm to ensure we begin the holidays with this extraordinary Christmas Eve meal. Thank you, my dear.”

  Sara raised her glass as well. “You’re quite welcome, Lawrence. It was a delight planning my first holiday meal in my own home. I hope you all enjoy it.”

  Samantha, Aunt Grace and Sir Chester all stood up and raised their glasses in unison. Samantha spoke first. “Happy Christmas to everyone; you did extremely well, Sara.”

  “Everything looks delicious. I’m very proud of you.” Lady Anson smiled at Sara.

  “It’s been a long time since I saw such a spread,” added Sir Chester, enthusiastically. “Thank you so much for including me in your invitation to visit your home for the holidays, Lady Dixon.”

  Everyone settled back in their seats and applied themselves to the meal. The tone of the conversation was lively and happy. Sara pointed out the new ruby necklace that her husband had given her and Lord Dixon brought notice to his new diamond stick pin that Sara had presented to him just before dinner.

  “Sir Chester was kind enough to give me this bauble,” Aunt Grace preened as she turned her head so they could all get a view of the sparkling jeweled comb that was securely anchored at the crown of her head.

  “My hands will never be cold again. Lady Anson has provided me with a pair of handsome fur-lined gloves,” Sir Chester announced with an appreciative grin directed to the lady at his side.

  “I wish to thank Sara and Lawrence for the beautiful beaded reticule you both gave me.” Samanthasmiled warmly at her sister and brother-in-law.

  “You’re welcome, I thought the reticule would go well with most of the colors you seem to favor,” Sara acknowledged her sister’s words of thanks. “You look very beautiful in the gown you are wearing tonight as well.”

  Samantha looked down at her new deep green satin gown that exactly matched the color of her eyes. The sleeves were full and tapered; the neckline fashionably low. She had wanted a new dress for the holidays and had been lucky enough to find a bolt of this luscious green material in London. She had splurged and spent some extra pin money on the fabric and had a dressmaker who was currently all the rage in the city make the gown for her. She completed her festive outfit with a pearl necklace that had been her mother’s and dainty pearl earrings that Sara had given her on her twentieth birthday dangled from her earlobes.

  “I agree; your dress is lovely. You must tell me the shop in London where you found such a pleasing shade of green satin.” Her aunt beamed at her from her seat across the table.

  “It’s at a mercer’s called Ford, on Piccadilly, Aunt.”

  “I know of that shop. I will make a point to visit there soon.”

  “I want to thank you for the extremely soft satin nightgown you gave me as well.”

  “I hope you enjoy it, my dear. I find wearing smooth, silky garments such as the one I found for you can actually relax me and provide me with a better night’s sleep,” Aunt Grace commented with a sly grin at Samantha.

  “I must say that all the ladies look beautiful this evening.” Lawrence took a sip of wine and cleared his throat. “If everyone has finished their meal, I would like to make a suggestion. Because this is Christmas Eve, I propose that Sir Chester and I forgo our after dinner brandy and we join the women in the drawing room for a game of Blindman’s Buff.”

  Aunt Grace clapped her hands and laughed merrily. “I haven’t played that since I was a young girl.”

  “Is that the one that requires a blindfold?” Sir Chester frowned in confusion.

  “Yes, that’s right. We determine one person who is ‘it’,” Lawrence replied. “They are blindfolded and the rest of us move around the room occasionally poking or buffing the person who can’t see. They must attempt to grab one of us as we pass by. When someone is caught, ‘it’ must guess who has been captured. When a correct surmise is given, the trapped individual becomes the new ‘it’.”

  “Are you certain we have enough people to make the game a challenge?” asked Samantha somewhat skeptically.

  “I remember playing it as a youth with my three other cousins. You quickly learn how important your sense of touch is when you can’t see. Even so, I recall that it was quite confusing to determine which cousin was actually near me because as soon as I thought I knew, someone else would move in. And remember, the person must be caught before you can make a guess.”

  Sara giggled and stood up from her place at the end of the table. “I should enjoy playing the game, my dear. I’ll instruct Grimm to bring the gingerbread and butter shortbread to the drawing room along with the brandy and tea.”

  “Gingerbread as well?” Sir Chester questioned with great enthusiasm. “You have excelled yourself, Lady Dixon.”

  Samantha got up from her seat and placed her hand on Sir Chester’s sleeve as he came to a stop by her chair with her aunt hanging onto his other arm. The three of them followed Lawrence and Sara down the hallway to the drawing room.

  A large fire fueled by a huge log burned merrily in the massive fireplace. Garlands of holly and laurel hung on the mantel and framed the walls of the room. In the center, a kissing bough gaily decorated with many white berries and sprigs of mistletoe hung from the chandelier.

  “Ah, wonderful, but we must make certain the height is correct,” Lawrence led his wife to the middle of the room and promptly
gave her a kiss on the lips underneath the bough. He reached up and pulled one white berry down and placed it in Sara’s hand. “Exactly right, my dear.”

  “I’m glad, Lawrence.” Sara gave her husband a tender smile.

  Sir Chester hastily dropped Samantha’s arm leaving her standing just inside the room. He guided her aunt forward. “I’m never one to miss such an opportunity.”

  Sir Chester took his time with his kiss and Lady Anson certainly wasn’t complaining. She appeared to savor his embrace and give herself up to the enjoyment of it until he slowly backed away. “My goodness, that was quite something, Chester,” her aunt exclaimed somewhat breathlessly. She looked dreamily up at her swain as he dropped a white berry into her hand.

  Samantha studied the two happy couples from her vantage point in the doorway. Once again her thoughts strayed to Lord Paul and the time they had shared together that morning. She missed his warm smile and his pleasing company. It would be wonderful to have him here and to be able to kiss him under the bough.

  “Here is Grimm with the blindfold. Why don’t you go first, Samantha?”

  Samantha flinched as she heard her brother-in-law’s voice. She had been lost in her own daydream and hadn’t been listening at all.

  “You want me to start?” she frowned at the piece of black cloth Grimm held in his hands.

  “Yes, don’t be shy, Samantha,” Lawrence teased her. “I’ll wager you capture one of us before too much time has passed.”

  “Remember this is the first time I have played this game. Be kind to me.” She giggled and held still while Grimm tied the blindfold over her eyes.

  She found she agreed with Lawrence’s earlier statement as Grimm guided her forward. Without her sight, her sense of hearing was certainly heightened. She was very aware of the slightest noise; clicking of heels on the wooden floor, the cracking and popping sounds of wood burning in the fireplace, and the swishing sound of her dress as the material caressed her legs when she shifted around the room.