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J onas walked Ailis out of his study, not surprised to find his mother and Edward hovering close by. “Did you think I was going to eat her alive?” he said in response to their sighs of relief when she walked out unharmed.

How could they think he would ever hurt her?

Well, they could not have truly believed he was capable of it, or they would not have sent her into his study while he was on a rampage.

“What are you doing buzzing around me like so many annoying bees?”

“We were worried about you,” his mother replied. “Am I not permitted to show concern for my beloved son?”

“If I were so beloved, you would have left me alone from the start,” he grumbled. “Is that little viper you brought along with you gone yet?”

He had not outright ordered any of their guests to leave, but why would they stay when he was never going to offer for any of them?

Edward arched an eyebrow. “If you mean Lady Viola, no. She came prepared to dazzle you, and apparently that requires a lot of clothing. It will take her at least another three or four days to properly pack up for her return to London.”

“And the others? Have they decided to stay or go?”

“They are staying,” Edward said. “As I said, dazzling a duke takes a large wardrobe and a lot of planning. With Lady Viola out of contention, I would not be surprised if the remaining diamonds foolishly believed their chances of marrying you had improved.”

“Are they serious?”

“They are determined, I will give them that. By the way, you have arranged a supper party tonight for all our guests at the Marble House Inn in Broadmoor.”

“I have?” Jonas shook his head and groaned. “Why in heaven’s name did I do that?”

“Because everyone was still overset by this morning’s incident and needed to calm down.

Like it or not, these diamonds and their parents are here until after Christmas.

It is unfair to have them travel back to London before the week is out.

Besides, Pomeroy needs a few more days because he intends to offer for Viola. ”

Jonas could not hold back his laughter. “Is he deranged?”

“No, just poor, and she comes with an enormous dowry. As an only child, she also stands to inherit quite a sum once Carstairs passes on. None of his entailed properties, of course. But her father dotes on her and is going to leave her everything he can. Pomeroy’s a good man.

He won’t waste any of it and he won’t ever leave Viola without means.

She’ll maintain her own residence in London and carry on like the princess she believes she is. ”

Jonas felt sorry for Edward’s friend, for he wasn’t sure marriage to a girl like Viola was worth it even if she came with a king’s ransom.

“Whitcomb intends to propose to Lady Willa for similar reasons,” his brother continued. “So, all’s well that ends well, isn’t it? Their families will believe you are the rudest duke in all of England, but they will be content with the end result of their visit.”

“And what about the Tenney sisters?” Ailis asked.

Edward grinned wickedly. “They’ll join me in my bed tonight. I’ll keep those two satisfied.”

Their mother smacked him on the head. “Idiot. Is that any way to speak in front of Miss Temple?”

Ailis blushed, but she was smiling.

Jonas found himself relaxing, too. Ailis was prim and innocent, but she was no sour prune.

“I don’t suppose either of you will consider packing up?” Jonas asked his mother and Edward.

“Of course not,” she shot back. “We are family and devoted to you, so you cannot kick us out.”

“Well, I can,” he corrected her. “But you feel entitled to ignore my wishes.”

“Family should be together at Christmas,” Ailis said quietly.

Jonas heard the wealth of her pain, for he knew she had lost her entire family and still struggled with that loss.

She only had her uncle now, but for how long? The vicar was not a young man. What would she do once he was gone?

She had mentioned having a small inheritance, but this was not possibly enough to nourish Ailis’s beautiful soul.

“You are right, Miss Temple.” He placed his hand over hers and gave it a light squeeze. “We shall have a Langford family Christmas this year. They are safe from my wrath…for now.”

She nodded her approval. “I’m glad it is all settled. I had better return home. Today and tomorrow are my busiest days.”

“I’ll see you safely back to the vicarage,” Jonas said.

“It isn’t necessary. However, I would appreciate the use of your carriage rather than walking.”

“Walking? In the cold and ice? Perish the thought. The ducal coach it shall be for you. I’ll see you later tonight for the decorating.”

Her eyes widened. “That would be wonderful. We’re starting at seven o’clock. I did not think you would join us.”

Because he was a surly arse and had never shown up in all the years before this, Jonas knew. But things had changed and he was going to make the effort for Ailis. “I’ll see you then,” he confirmed.

Besides, having given her kisses number six and seven, he owed her the bank drafts for each.

He owed her so much more, of course. She had given him all of her heart, and asked for nothing in return.

This was why she was like no other.

Even a scarred duke was a catch, but he knew Ailis would never consider him one in any ton sense of the word. She was not looking to check off a list of attributes that included wealth or title, power or its misuse, to further her goals. Her list led with the requirement of love.

Marriage to Ailis would mean sharing one’s bed. Sharing one’s heart. Holding true to one’s vows for all of one’s life.

While others might lie to him and claim not to care about his scars in order to gain his favor, Ailis never would.

She had told him that she did not care about them, and he believed her. She would not see them because she looked at him through the eyes of love.

He saw her safely into his carriage and stood at the entryway until the conveyance was out of sight. Edward and his mother were still lingering in the hall when he walked back in, and both were staring at him. “What?”

Despite having held back his temper and making nice with one and all while Ailis was present, he was not in good humor now that she was gone. She had a way of bringing sunshine into his home. He felt the loss of her warming light immediately upon her departure.

“What?” he repeated, when his mother and brother just gaped at him. If either of them dared make a snide comment about Ailis, he would kick them out into the cold.

“That girl is…” his mother said. “That girl is…heaven sent.”

“She won my heart when she showed up at your dinner party in that chicken hat,” Edward added with a grin.

Jonas eased.

Yes, Ailis was the best thing ever to happen to Broadmoor. She was the best thing for him, as well.

All these years, he had been in too much of a fog to see what was before his very eyes.

“What are you going to do about decorating Langford Hall?” his brother asked.

“Grimes and Mrs. Fitch will take care of it while you’ll be hosting the supper party I supposedly reserved at the Marble House Inn, and I will be at the vicarage helping Ailis and her uncle prepare for tomorrow’s big event.”

“I could join you at the vicarage,” Edward offered. “Mother can play host at the inn.”

Jonas laughed. “Oh, no. I’m not letting you off that easy. You are to join her and suffer through that meal.”

The hours did not pass quickly enough for Jonas. It felt like an eternity before he finally made his way to the vicarage.

At the same time, the others left for the inn and their supper.

He hoped these unwanted guests would disappear in a snowstorm, save for his mother and brother, of course. Blood was blood, even when said kin were as irritating as nettles.

But it did feel right to have them here with him. Perhaps next year he would invite his sisters and their brood, too. He could not recall a time when the laughter of children rang in these halls.

But as for his other guests, too bad they were only going as far as Broadmoor to dine and would be back under his roof tonight. The sooner they were gone, the better. He did not trust Viola, for the girl thrived on mischief, and not in any adorable, madcap way.

Everyone had left him alone throughout the day, no doubt fearing he would bite their heads off if they dared approach. Even Viola, as vain as she was, understood she had overstepped the bounds.

Of course, it would not stop her from planning something cruel for tomorrow.

Hopefully, Pomeroy, with his fervent devotion to her dowry, would press his courtship suit and occupy her time.

Whitcomb, he knew, had spent most of the day entertaining Lady Willa and her family while Edward and their mother played card games with the Tenneys. He expected Edward played other games with Faith and Hope Tenney, but he really did not want to know what his brother was doing with those girls.

Nothing decent, if the smiles on their faces were any indication.

“You may thank me afterward,” Edward muttered, climbing into the carriage and taking a seat beside him. “The sacrifices I make for you.”

The coachman left Jonas off at the vicarage and then pressed on with the others to the Marble House Inn, which was just down the high street.

The church’s meeting room was bustling with volunteers when Jonas walked in at eight o’clock that evening.

He was late, for the group had amassed an hour earlier to commence their work, simply staying on after the vicar’s Christmas Eve service, ready to roll up their sleeves to prepare for tomorrow’s big event.

There was still plenty to do.

Ailis, looking delicious in a plain woolen gown of dove gray that was buttoned to her throat, was on the footstool again.

He strode toward her and put his arms around her waist. “Did I not tell you that you weren’t to climb?”

She turned to him with a breathtaking smile once he set her down. “I’m so glad you made it. I knew your timing would be perfect. Or awful. Or awfully perfect.”

“Ailis…”