Page 127 of How the Belle Stole Christmas

Christmas Day

Darville House

Ethan glanced around the great hall and found a smile touching his lips. He was amazed at how easily those came to him these days. Claire had truly turned his world upside down and repaired that which had been broken.

Her face was wreathed with bright joyfulness, happiness radiating from every inch of her.

He wanted to take all the credit for that, but he knew that having her father there was a part of the reason.

When she had made the suggestion, Ethan had been more than happy to host the season at Darville house.

It had been shut up for far too long and he found that instead of anxiousness, he felt an easy and relaxed atmosphere.

His sister, her husband, and their children were also present and he could tell that the reunion had lifted the spirits of his staff as well.

Tobin and Mrs. Peel were almost beside themselves fussing over the décor before the guests had arrived and after hiring a few extra hands from the village to cook and prepare the Christmas meal, it had been a holiday worth celebrating.

He had invited his aunt, Lady Mimbley, of course, but since she was feeling under the weather, she sent her regrets in the form of an extravagant bouquet of hothouse poinsettias.

His sister teased if he might carve the roast beef, and Claire’s eyes had brightened when she saw that sugared plums had been brought out. He’d grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Just for you, my love.”

Dinner was one of the finest that Ethan could remember, but he was eager to see his family open their gifts.

The day after they had declared their intentions to one another, Ethan had ordered his carriage and together, he and Claire had made their way to the village of Tetbury to purchase so many presents that the boot had nearly been overloaded.

But then, he’d had a lot of time to make up for.

However, it was the one special gift he’d chosen that first day he’d traveled to the village that he was waiting for Claire to open.

As she tore off the brown packaging, he saw her laugh at the nutcracker soldier that was revealed.

“Since you were so adept at cracking my nuts, I thought it only fitting.”

He saw her father give a light snort, although he pretended that he hadn’t heard the comment that was intended for her ears alone.

As the merriment continued on around them, Ethan’s expression turned sober as he kissed Claire lightly, not caring if they were being observed or not.

When she returned the embrace, he could tell she was of the same bent. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.

His smile grew. “Indeed. It is.”