Page 43 of One Naughty Christmas Night

“We have an announcement,” he said, putting his hands on the table. “We’ve already told our immediate family, so we wanted to tell you all that—”

“Mommy and Daddy are giving me a little brother or sister!” Sammy cried, the table erupting into cheers.

Victoria turned to Heath, a sparkle in his eye.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, both standing to join the throng of people congratulating them.

“Because it wasn’t my news to share,” he said, reminding her that he hadn’t told her about Valentina being pregnant with Sammy until she announced it.

“Dratted man,” she said, swatting his shoulder.

Making space around the happy couple, Victoria hugged Valentina and congratulated her.

***

The families gathered in the parlor after breakfast, the other guests opting to return to their rooms or getting ready to leave the castle.

Victoria came back into the parlor from the library, and Heath looked up, watching as she settled into a chair with a new book.

“Did you hear that Bastion and his wife left last night?” Quinn asked, tossing a couple of cards onto the table. “His parents didn’t know until they found his note that they’d decided to quit the Christmas party.”

“I hadn’t heard that,” Heath replied, setting down his cards as he exchanged glances with Victoria.

“I wonder what could have caused it,” Quinn said.

“Your guess would be as good as mine,” Heath replied, looking over his cards.

“The other morning, in your room,” Quinn said, gathering his cards as he lost, “Was Victoria there?”

Heath pinned him with a glance. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“Unless Valentina made a quick escape from your bedroom to ours, Victoria is the only other person who could have been in there.” He set a new round down. “I asked her, and she informed me that she gave Victoria the same perfume she wears for her birthday.”

“And what if she was there?” Heath muttered, dropping cards he didn’t need.

“I thought you two gave that up after the Duke caught her coming from your room that night. The Murrays were quite distressed by that turn of events.”

“I would say that would be an incorrect assumption. We were just more careful not to get caught.”

Quinn muttered something about people being stupid under his breath, and Heath laughed.

“Don’t worry, brother,” he assured him, finishing the round, trouncing Quinn soundly.

“I love you, but you’re quite terrible at cards.”

Quinn laughed, gathering the cards again. “Indeed I am.”

“Another round?” he asked, holding them up.

“Not right now,” Heath said, excusing himself to sit next to Victoria.

“Can I speak to you for a moment?” he asked. She looked up at him, then set her book down on the table. Her mother gave them a peculiar look, and her father beamed.

Heath had spoken to Lord Murray earlier in the morning, gaining his blessing when he expressed his desire to marry Victoria.

“About damn time,” he said, sending Heath on his way.

Heath drew her to the tree, his hands shaking as he dug into his pocket.