Page 69 of How the Belle Stole Christmas

Nico hid in the night-dark forest outside the hospital, half dressed for the evening’s activities.

His greatcoat wine red. Red, too, the cravat and nightcap he’d stuffed in his pocket.

He’d been collecting the garments all year, wanting to make himself a little bit merrier than he’d been last year in all black.

Though—and the objection sounded like Jane in his head—black was certainly more practical.

He’d visited Bowen Hall for only as long as it took to grab what he needed, and he’d spent the rest of the day in an out-of-the-way run-down pub by the docks, plotting.

The duke’s presence complicated matters but changed little.

Nico still planned on stealing into the hospital to leave his gifts.

Now more than ever the children would need them.

And the damned duke certainly wouldn’t allow them to have any drop of joy.

Likely because he hadn’t any joy himself, the humorless arse.

The only good thing was that the duke had certainly locked Jane away, stationed a guard at her door. No matter what happened tonight, she’d be safe in bed.

Rembrandt swatted him on the back of the legs with his whip of a tail.

Nico cursed and hopped away. “Damn donkey.”

Remmy snorted. Might have rolled his eyes. Hard to tell in the dark, but Remmy was always rolling his eyes. Felix butted Nico’s leg with his head. They were right. It was time to move.

The snow that had begun to fall earlier that morning had continued, slowly, softly, but relentlessly, and several inches covered the ground.

Beneath the spindly tree branches, though, the hard ground remained relatively clear, and all three eyed the drift of snow they would need to step into.

They shivered. Nico’s boots would save him, but the same could not be said for the donkey and the fox.

But they stepped forward anyway, and Nico followed. Dangerous to creep toward the castle with nothing but the dark to hide them. The guards occupied their expected places, small, lurching shadows in the distance.

As he approached the house, he tied his cravat around his head, placing the holes he’d cut in it over his eyes. He pulled his cap on low. Not to hide his identity from the duke or his mercenaries. They knew now who he was. But if the children awoke… he wanted them to have the mystery, the magic.

“Who goes there?” Both Kringles guarding the west side of the house closest the garden froze, their large bodies turning toward him.

“Just me! Sir Nicholas.”

The guards exchanged a look, and one said, “Sorry ’bout this, Sir Nicholas, but we have to capture you.” He had a scar running across one cheekbone and spoke with gruff, military precision.

“We don’t want ta hurt ya,” the other said. He had the same blunt features as his brother, but he wore what looked to be a soft, sky-blue knit cap. Looked cozy. “Would much appreciate it if you come willingly.”

“Hmm. I might. If you tell me about Jane.”

Another exchanged look. The guards shifted from foot to foot.

“He don’t need to know,” Military Kringle said.

Cozy Kringle made a little sound of disagreement. “Don’t see why not.”

“Not being paid to talk, are we?”

But Cozy Kringle had already shoved his brother behind him. “She ain’t been here since yesterday morning. Escaped right out the window. You… you okay, Sir Nick?”

“He’s losing his mind, he is.”

“Never been scared of a grin before.”

“Aw, it’s not scary. He’s gone for the girl, is all.”

Nico was gone for the girl. Didn’t think he could tumble any more in love with Jane Dean, then she went and climbed out a first-floor window. But where had she gone?

“Look, fellows,” Nico said, “you know who I am and why I’m here.

I’m determined to complete my task this night and leave as soon as can be.

” Then find out where Jane was hiding out.

He admired her courage, but damn it, now she wasn’t stashed safely abovestairs.

Although she had saved him the trouble of stealing her away.

“Why don’t you just let me do it. Pretend you saw nothing. ”

Military Kringle stood up straight, cracked his neck left and right. “I’m here to protect the children, and that I’ll do.”

“Good man. That’s exactly what I want to. I’m not here to hurt them. Come closer.”

Military Kringle stood his ground, but Cozy Kringle stepped gingerly forward.

“Meet Rembrandt, the donkey, and Felix, the fox. They accompany me most places. Well, not Remmy. He prefers the comforts of the barn, and he’s quite put out I’ve dragged him into this cold winter night, but Felix is always up for a little bit of good mischief.”

Military Kringle snorted but leaned forward as far as his body would allow without falling for a better look. “The sacks on the ass. What’s in ’em?”

Nico grasped the smaller sack and opened it up. “I spent one Christmas inside those walls, you know.”

“You?” Cozy Kringle peered into the bag.

Nico nodded. “I suppose I’m here tonight for the same reason I was here last Christmas Eve.

I came then because I wanted to make sure the children were safe, happy.

I came then because I wanted to give them the sort of joy I knew as a child before I lost my father.

” This could be a fateful miscalculation.

The men might disappoint him. But they had not shot him yet.

So, he continued. “You fellows have been inside the dormitory. You know how cold it can get. How cold it likely is right now. What you might not know is how thin the blankets are. However much the duke is paying you, he’s not spending even half as much on these children.

Any bit of comfort you spy has been glamoured to appear that way.

If we were able to strip back the illusion, you would find a much different story.

I want to give them something real. There—in the second pack on Remmy, you’ll find bundles of coal.

Special stuff from a fellow alchemist. It will last much longer than usual.

I know you do not trust me, and you’re being paid not to trust me, but check in the sack yourself.

You do not have to let me into the hospital.

Just take the packages to the children. Please. ”

Cozy Kringle rummaged through the sack. “He’s telling the truth. Nothing but coal here. Already warm, too.” He shoved the sack toward his brother. “Take it inside.”

“Wait!” Nico flung out the arm holding the smaller bag. “There’s more. This one has toys inside it. I made them myself. I would like the children to have them, too.”

The guards exchanged another look.

“Duke’s more likely to find out about that,” said Military Kringle

“Come, brother,” Cozy Kringle countered, “don’t you wish we would have had something like this? In the workhouse? Imagine the little faces when they wake up.”

“Imagine the duke’s face when he finds out.”

“So? Whatever happens, we’ll bear it. We don’t need him. You know why we took this job.”

Military Kringle opened the sack, looked inside, and pulled out a silver fox. He held it up to the moonlight. “Cute,” he grunted.

“Would you like it?” Nico asked. “It’s yours if so.”

Military Kringle looked up, startled. “You’re sure? It’s not for a child?”

Nico had been right to bet on charm over force. The Kringles’ resolve was crumbling. “I made something for all the Kringles, too.”

The man’s hand fisted around the small statue.

And when he opened it up again, it was no longer the shape of a fox but the shape of a big strong mountain of a man.

Military Kringle was silent a long moment, then he swiped his knuckles beneath his eye as if cleaning up a tear.

“Thank you.” He slipped the token into his pocket.

“I made certain figures for each child. You won’t know which ones belong to whom.

” Nico was pushing his luck. He should move to the edge of the forest now and wait to ensure everything had gone right and let the guards handle the gifts.

But he couldn’t seem to stop his stupid mouth.

“Let me come along, and I’ll help you disperse them. ”

Military Kringle hesitated, his head cocked. “I shouldn’t. Technically, if we keep you out of the house, we’re doing our job.”

“I understand. I do. But—”

Military Kringle crumbled. “Oh, come on, then. Just stop blabbing.”

Nico grinned and joined them.

And was slammed to the ground between one step and the next.

The breath rushed out of him as the hard ground rose up the meet him.

Hell. One of the other Kringles must have seen him, attacked.

He struggled to pull air back into his lungs with the body sprawled atop him.

But… it couldn’t be one of the guards. Too light for a mountain-sized Kringle.

And the body smelled like winter and woman.

And skirts tangled with his legs. And soft, gloved palms—small and delicate—cupped his face.

Jane.

“Nico,” she breathed. “Nico, I’m so sorry.” Jane sat atop him, refusing to let him up. She yelled at the Kringles, righteous and bold. “I will not let you hurt him!”

Nico sucked in breath. Air finally. And the best thing to do with it—a chuckle. For Jane’s courage and for her beauty. A laugh because he was entirely gone for her, wrapped up in everything she was and could be. A laugh because he knew what he would do next, and how she would respond.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, rolled until he pinned her beneath him, and then, still laughing, he covered her puzzled, pouty lips with his own.

If she must be shot, kissing Nico was a terribly good way to go. He kissed and smiled at the same time. He kissed as if they were not being watched. He kissed as if her lips were the only important matter in the entire world.

He kissed so thoroughly she almost did not want to stop him.

She had no choice.

She broke the kiss with a gasp, pushing at his chest. “Nico! This is not the time!”