Page 142 of Snowbound Surrender

He reached out a hand toward her, though for what purpose he wasn’t sure, when a voice cut through the frosty air toward them.

“Hunter? Scarlett? Where in heaven’s name are you?”

“Nia!” Scarlett called out, making her way to the break in the trees. “We’ll be there momentarily!”

The moment broken, Hunter picked up the log and began trudging after her. Damn his sister. He had been looking forward to another stolen kiss with his wife. It seemed the only way he could capture her was to take her unaware, and he didn’t know when he would have another moment like this one. Christmas only lasted so long.

“There you are!” Lavinia called from the doorway. Heaven forbid his sister would spend one moment more than necessary out of doors. “My goodness, I have been lookingeverywherefor you!”

“We can’t have been gone more than an hour,” Hunter grumbled, and Scarlett shot him a look of consternation.

“It islovelyto see you,” she emphasized. “How did you make it through the snow?"

“The sleigh, as much as I hate it. But I could hardly believe it when I heard my brother would be in residence over Christmas! Why, I suppose there is a first for everything. And oh, Scarlett, the house looks absolutely beautiful.”

“Doesn’t it, though?” Scarlett asked, clasping her hands together.

“I can hardly believe Hunter allowed it!”

“Well,” he said, and they both turned to him. “It is not as though I allowed it, exactly. If I had not offered my assistance, I believe Scarlett would have killed herself in an attempt to drape the very ceiling in evergreen boughs.”

Lavinia smirked at him, to which he sighed. He loved his sister, but oh, she could be annoying, with her assumptions about his every action.

“You must stay for dinner tonight, Lavinia,” Scarlett said. “I know Hunter would love the opportunity to spend time with you. It’s been so long.”

Actually, Hunter would have preferred to spend the evening better getting to know his wife, but he supposed dinner with Lavinia would have to come first.

At Scarlett’s look of encouragement, he forced a smile on his face. “Yes, Nia,” he managed. “Do stay for dinner.”

“Lovely!” she said, clapping her hands. “I’m so glad you asked because, in fact, I brought Baxter with me. He’s waiting in the billiard room. I do believe he has helped himself to your brandy, Hunter, I hope you do not mind. Anyway, you know how I feel about the sleigh and the cold. That is how much I love you, brother. Now, we must discuss tomorrow. We will go to mass and then have a small dinner party, and of course you must attend. Baxter’s family was supposed to join us, but with the snow preventing travel, it will likely be the four of us as well as Lord and Lady Raymond — Madeline, of course. We’ve met them in the village, Scarlett, you remember her? Oh, and I can hardly forget the New Year’s party we will have. I told you of that, didn’t I? No? Well. It will be great fun, and you must attend.”

“Tomorrow is fine. As for New Year’s, we — I, ah … will likely be back in London by then,” Hunter managed. He had forgotten that his sister could speak with greater speed and alacrity than even the most experienced lord of the House. And Baxter. He groaned inwardly. The man was an absolute bore. But he loved Lavinia, and for that, Hunter couldn’t fault him. “But thank you.”

“Well, then, you must come, Scarlett — if you are staying here,” she said, to which Scarlett nodded and Hunter’s heart fell slightly. He had hoped that perhaps she would change her mind and accompany him back to London. But apparently, a few stolen kisses meant nothing had changed regarding their future together.

“I suppose I should go see to Baxter,” he said, handing his cloak to the patiently waiting Spicer.

“My lord,” Spicer said in a low voice as he stepped up next to him. “Perhaps before you see to Lord Keppel, you might like to light the Yule log with my lady?”

“Ah, yes, very good, Spicer,” he said. If Scarlett took such joy from finding the damn log, then lighting it should be even more thrilling.

“Lady Keppel.” Mrs. Shepherd bustled into the room. “How lovely to see you, my dear! I have had Cook prepare your favorite biscuits and they are set out for you in the drawing room. Do come.”

Lavinia looked back at Scarlett, clearly torn between seeing the log lit and her waiting biscuits, but Scarlett waved her on. “Go on, Nia,” she said. “I’ll quickly prepare for dinner and be with you in a moment.”

“Very good,” his sister said, stealing a glance at Hunter as well as his wife before smiling surreptitiously and then sauntering out of the room behind the housekeeper.

“Well,” said Hunter after a moment when silence stretched between them awkwardly. “We best light the thing, shall we?”

“Yes, let’s!” exclaimed Scarlett, clapping her hands together with the excitement of a child, and Hunter grinned. “Where shall we light it, do you think?”

“Oak Hall,” he decided immediately. “Then we shall see it every time we walk through.”

“That’s perfect,” she said, smiling at him in approval, and his heart flipped over in his chest. What was this now? Of course he wanted some closeness with his wife, to find some common ground, to try to beget an heir, but he hadn’t expected these …feelingsto begin to stir for her. It was just the blasted Christmas celebrations. He pushed his emotion aside as he hefted the log in his arms. He would be more than pleased if she overcame her adversity toward him, but he didn’t need to become a lovesick pup himself.

They crossed the entrance together and were stepping into Oak Hall when Hunter heard Spicer clear his throat. With some exasperation, he turned to his valet, who stood in the entryway still. What did the man want now?

“Yes, Spicer?” he asked, trying to maintain patience.