Chapter 21
After sleeping ill all night, Isabel enjoyed a simple breakfast, finished wrapping a few gifts she intended to give to the servants on the morrow for Boxing Day, and then took a walk around the grounds.
“What the devil are you doing out here?”
She had just turned into the next pathway––one that led to the house, too––to find Sebastian standing there with a frown on his face.
“Happy Christmas to you, too,” she said in response.
When he huffed, white fog blew around and obscured his face for a moment. She was dressed warmly but could still feel the frost as well. But Sebastian was hardly dressed in more than a coat; he didn’t even wear gloves.
“And a happy Christmas to you as well. The weather’s going to keep dropping. Let’s get you inside before you freeze,” he told her.
A flare of irritation swept through her as she frowned at him. “I’m just fine. I know what it’s like to be in the cold. And the sun is out, so surely it will begin to warm up.”
“No, I know my British weather.”
“I think we all do,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“It’s going to get colder,” he repeated sternly. “Do you wish to lose yourself to frostbite? Come, there is hot tea and fresh biscuits in the drawing room for you now.”
Her stomach suddenly grumbled. A second ago, Isabel had no interest in any more food. But now that she thought of it… She could eat some more.
“Fine,” she huffed. She didn’t even know why she was in an ill mood, but that was one of the reasons why she had come out here, knowing how bright and cheery everything would be inside. It simply didn’t feel very festive today.
As for yesterday, what on earth happened? All of it feels like it happened to someone else. Not to me. Was Thomas really here? And did I really ramble on like that to Sebastian? I can’t imagine what I was thinking.
She moved ahead of her husband toward the stairs, thinking to go on without him. But then there was a patch of ice she hadn’t noticed.
The world tipped.
“Careful,” Sebastian called as he wrapped a hand around her waist. The movement caught her gasp and she swallowed. As he righted her, he kept his arm around her to nudge her through the doorway. “In we go.”
“I’m not a child,” she told him.
Then came Mrs. Maple with her dressing gown. “Then you shouldn’t do childish things, going out there to catch your death. If you don’t fall ill, it’ll be a miracle. Do get yourself warm, Your Grace.”
Isabel sighed but let Sebastian take her cloak, shawl, hat, scarf, and mittens. A maid appeared with her slippers so she switched off her boots. Finally, the dressing gown was put over her clothes and someone was leading her into the drawing room.
“I’m not in distress,” she told her housekeeper.
“Your hands are shaking, and you were out there for nigh over an hour. Perhaps you’re not in distress now, but another minute might have turned the tables for you,” the older woman pointed out firmly.
A tray was presented to Isabel as she sat in a chair by the fireplace, a small table set there for her ease. She took up the steaming cup of peppermint tea but paused as Sebastian arrived to set something else on the table.
“What is this?” She asked him, eyeing the velvet box.
He stepped back. “It’s a gift. It’s Christmas.”
Her lips twitched and she offered a nod. “I suppose it is.”
“It’s tradition to exchange gifts, is it not?” He asked her and then worked his jaw. “Well, to offer gifts should you care to. But you needn’t offer me anything.”
“I do! Of course I do,” she assured him before pausing to explain, “It’s simply not ready yet. That’s all.”
“I’m a patient man.” And then he glanced at the velvet box.
Her lips twitched in amusement, and she found herself surprised she wasn’t feeling as exasperated as she had felt upon being interrupted from her morning stroll.
There was no longer the sensation of having a frozen face, but now she was warm with peppermint tea and a new gift.
It would be rude to be anything but grateful.
“Very well.” She took a quick sip of her tea before setting it down. Then she opened the box that was fairly flat but nearly the size of her head.
It was surprising to her that he would pick jewels, and even more so when she found the necklace inside. Isabel inhaled deeply. This was no ordinary necklace. An absolutely beautiful piece, one that wasn’t made of paste. She could see that right away. Nothing shined so bright as real diamonds and…
“You picked yellow?”
Seven large stones surrounded by countless diamonds. This is not something one simply walks into a store and finds with ease. But what a curious choice.
“Citrine. It wasn’t about the price,” he added and then wrinkled his nose. “That’s the color of the dress I first saw you in, and the one I married you in. I thought it might be… nice.”
Isabel’s breath caught as she listened to his hesitant explanation.
No, it wasn’t just a simple necklace. He had deliberately made his selection for occasions that meant something to both of them.
Were her hands shaking again? This husband of hers kept surprising her in ways she couldn’t understand. It made her nervous to even try.
“Thank you,” she stammered at last. “This is very lovely.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, of course! Perhaps I should put it on even now?” She smiled teasingly. “It’ll accent my pink dressing gown.”
There was a knock at the door before they could carry on, Wesley appearing with an uncomfortable expression. “Your Graces, there is a guest at the door with a delivery.”
“Is it not Christmas?” Sebastian asked. He glanced her way once more before heading to the door. “Who is it?”
“Mr. Thomas Ravenshaw.”
She jumped from her seat. “What? He’s back? Why?” Setting everything down, she hastened around the men to make her way over into the hall where her brother was holding a basket to his chest. “Thomas, what are you doing?”
Those gaunt eyes of his turned sharply back to her. “Happy Christmas, Isabel! I’m delivering you a gift, of course.”
Stopping half-way to him, she paused. A knot formed in her stomach. “I’m afraid I don’t have one for you.”
“Having you in my life again is the only gift that matters,” Thomas vowed before stepping forward. His eyes widened with eagerness. “I have just the thing for you.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Sebastian who stood in the doorway with that familiar impassive expression. But he didn’t stand in the way and he didn’t make any threats, which she appreciated. Then Isabel turned back to her brother with the intention to return whatever gift he offered.
“I suppose I can at least see… oh!” Isabel startled at the sight of a small white paw slip past a flap of the basket. “What on earth is that?”
“A cat, of course. She’s a perfect beauty for my beautiful sister,” Thomas added.
It was a heavily layered and needlessly flower compliment, so she ignored that.
As she gently reached into the basket, he carried on.
“I know you always wanted one. And now you don’t live with Mother.
Poor woman, sick as anything with cat hair.
Can’t you have her here? Her name is Pearl on account of her coat. ”
The cooing sounds slipped awfully naturally off her tongue as she cradled the little cat in her arms. It had short hair, all white, but it was softer than anything she had ever touched in all her life. She felt like she was holding a cloud.
“She is beautiful,” Isabel couldn’t help but agree. “Aren’t you, you beauty? Pearl, what a perfect name.”
“I knew you had to have her.”
“But…” She tried to remember her concerns. Her intended refusal of the gift. “Oh, Thomas, you shouldn’t have. I cannot possibly accept.”
Behind her came Sebastian. She felt his presence as he looked over her shoulder. “A cat like that you don’t find on the streets. Expensive?”
Thomas made a face. “I shouldn’t like to discuss money on a gift. Not when it’s Christmas.”
“I didn’t know you like cats,” Sebastian said quietly.
Shaking her head, Isabel gave a short chuckle.
“I was mad for them when I was a child. Whenever we went out to the countryside, I’d steal away to the barn for the working cats.
I would be covered in scratches and absolutely blissful.
Mother made me wash in a bath outside so I wouldn’t irritate her nose and throat.
But I haven’t wanted a cat in years. Not since I was a child. ”
“Nonsense,” Thomas decided. “It’s time you had one now. You can manage that now as a duchess, can’t you, sister?”
She couldn’t read Sebastian’s expression and wondered at the chaos that a cat could cause here. “I… I don’t know. I’m not sure what to do with a cat now.”
“Well, you’re holding her like a natural.”
Isabel giggled as the cat played at the ties of her dressing gown, swiping its paws about. She fixed her hold to confirm it was indeed a girl. A sweet little kitten named Pearl. Now that she was holding her, Isabel didn’t think she could ever put the pet down.
“I suppose I can keep her,” she sighed at last. “Thank you, Thomas. How thoughtful. Do come in, then. Wesley can take your cloak. I’m sure you’re hungry. Would you like some tea?”
“Oh, yes, please! Darjeeling if you have it, but only the one with the darkest powder. I’m famished. You don’t have any pheasant or lamb, do you?” He asked hopefully while removing his hat and cloak. “Oh, hold on, Wesley, old chap. I have one more thing for my sister.”
She had started to move back toward the drawing room but stopped. “Thomas, you shouldn’t have.”
“But I had to,” he beamed. And that smile took her back years to when they were children. He hadn’t always ignored her, after all. There had been days when they scampered about like the best of friends. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a folded pack of papers that he brought out to show her.
“Clementi… Goodness, I thought we had lost that!” Isabel drew forward to confirm it was one of the music sheets she had been missing for the last ten or so years. “It’s Mother’s favorite.”
“And one of yours. You’ll have to play for us, won’t you? I suppose the duke hasn’t even heard you play.”
Sebastian stood at a distance, close yet far. “I have.”
Isabel clung to her new kitten while trying to usher the men into the room. “Do take your seats. We’ll sit for a spell and then go to the music room afterward.”
“I can’t.” Her husband stiffened where he stood in the hall. “I’m on my way into the village to deliver gifts to the people there.”
“Oh. Oh, I didn’t know you were doing that. I should go with you, I should think,” she added. Had he told her would do this? But Sebastian never spent Christmas here at Eastwynd. Pulling her thoughts together, Isabel wasn’t sure she should take the cat outside. “I just need to get ready.”
“No need,” Sebastian reassured her with a slight shake of his head. “You can have time with your brother and your new cat. I shouldn’t be gone long. Perhaps I can hear you play then?”
She beamed, accepting what felt like a compromise.
It didn’t seem like he was comfortable around Thomas.
Which Isabel understood. She wasn’t sure how she felt either yet.
And hadn’t Sebastian said he once had an older brother?
She needed to learn more about that. But then the cat tried escaping her hands and Isabel was distracted, trying to keep Pearl from hurting herself.
By the time she straightened up, Sebastian was gone.
Thomas was standing at the fire with a proud smile on his face. “What a fine Christmas this is, Isabel! How lucky I am to have you in my life again. I cannot ever imagine being apart from you so long. What shall we do this fine Christmas day?”
Her eyes drifted to the open doorway, empty since her husband had taken his leave. She wished he would stay. Sebastian was always such a grounding presence. With Thomas, she still wasn’t sure what to think or do or stay.
I’ll be reasonable and polite. But I won’t raise my expectations or my hopes. Besides, it is Christmas. What else am I supposed to do but spend time with my family? I can only pray that this will all go merrily.