Page 1 of One Naughty Christmas Night
Candles lit the hallway of the Wellingtons’ Scottish castle, guiding Lady Victoria Murray to the parlor where her family and friends awaited her.
The smell of popcorn wafted through the hall, coming from the long garlands of it hanging from every surface. The bright yellow kernels were intertwined with pine greenery, large brown pinecones, and brilliant red berries accompanying it.
Wilhelmina Howard, Duchess of Wellington, had spared no expense this year for her family’s Christmas party; the entire castle was covered in opulent holiday decor.
Victoria arrived at the parlor door, unsurprised to see a tall man waiting there for her.
Heath Howard, the duchess’ youngest son and her lifelong best friend, leaned against the doorframe. His brandy eyes connected with hers, watching as she closed the distance between them.
“Enjoying the decorations?” he asked, glancing back down the hall.
“I am. I always enjoy your mother’s beautiful display every year.”
He leaned close to her, his voice deep in her ear. “Samantha has made a game out of causing my mother stress by eating every popcorn garland she comes across.”
“Your niece is as bad as Quinn when he was younger,” Victoria replied, referencing his older brother.
Quinn too had eaten the popcorn garland and was known to still do it just to cause his mother consternation at Christmastime.
“She absolutely is, and I tell Quinn that all the time. I don’t think he believes me.”
“I do believe you; I’m simply trying to spare my wife the stress of raising another me.”
Quinn Howard joined them in the doorway, a glass of his favorite brandy in hand.
“Hello, Quinn,” Victoria said, her skirts pooling as she curtsied.
“Hello, Victoria. The mothers are waiting, but be warned, Lucinda is here.”
Oh no, not her.
“It will be fine, Victoria,” Heath whispered, giving her a gentle nudge towards the mothers.
“But Lucinda—”
“I know.”
A long sigh came from her, but she made her way over to them, taking a seat next to her mother.
“Victoria, dear, there you are,” Wilhelmina said, handing her a cup of tea.
“Hello, Willie,” Victoria replied, adopting the nickname she insisted they call her.
Victoria and Heath’s families had been great friends since before either of their parents had any children at all; all the Howard and Murray children grew up together over the years.
As the youngest of his two siblings, and Victoria the youngest of four, they were always paired up when their elder siblings spent time together, as they preferred to leave the younger two at home.
That fit Heath and Victoria fine, especially now that their elder siblings were all married and most of them with children. Victoria enjoyed being an aunt but was supremely glad she could leave the children with her siblings and retreat to her quiet home with her parents.
She glanced around the full parlor; most of the people were already here for the Christmas party.
The Murrays never missed the Christmas party thrown by the Howards; the tradition was so long-standing that Victoria knew of no other way to celebrate the holiday.
“Did I miss anything important?” she asked, taking a sip of her tea.
“Nothing of note, no,” her mother stated firmly.
“That’s a lie, Mrs. Murray, and you and I are very aware of it.” Victoria looked over at Lucinda Howard, a dreaded Wellington cousin who oft hung on Quinn’s coat tails.