Page 27 of The Earl’s Christmas Deal (Christmas Matches of Worth #3)
The manor echoed with the sound of excited laughter as Adam knelt beside his daughter.
“Come on, Papa,” she said, her little hands twisting in his coat as he pushed the stem of the holly into the buttonhole on her dress.
“Darling, are you certain you want to have holly against you all day? What if you should prick a finger?”
“I will be careful, Papa,” she said as the final push secured the stem, and she twirled before him. Her bright blonde ringlets bounced around her head, and Adam smiled down at her, his chest tight with affection. In spite of her five-year-old brothers, Melony had the entire household wrapped around her little finger. She had a talent for getting her way.
“Do you like my dress?” she asked, holding out her skirt for him to inspect.
“You look like a Christmas angel, my darling. Just like your mama.”
“Did I hear my name?”
Adam turned, his smile broadening as Emilia walked into the room. She had on a gown of dark green and looked absolutely stunning, as always.
“I was just saying that Melony looks like an angel,” Adam replied ruefully, and Emilia gave him a knowing look. Of all the people in the household, Adam was the most susceptible to Melony’s charms. He put it down to her being so like her mother. He longed to make her happy and indulged her every whim.
“You are as bad as Augusta,” Emilia scolded, picking up Melony, who squealed in delight as her mother spun her around as they made their way toward the parlour where their guests were assembled.
“Where are the boys?” Adam asked.
“They are both being showered with gifts. We are going to have the most spoiled children in society if we are not careful,” Emilia said with a long-suffering sigh, but Adam wasn’t fooled. He knew how much she loved the influence of her parents on the children.
As they stepped into the parlour room, the scents of pine and cinnamon wafted over them and Adam took in a long breath. It had been many years since Christmas had brought him anything but joy and seeing everyone gathered around the fire only deepened his excitement at the season.
It was Christmas Day, and his aunt had been staying with them for almost a week. She adored their boys, Michael and John, and played with them all day if she had enough stamina. Three other children sat before the fire, playing with some wooden toys. Elizabeth, Tom, and Grace Spencer were regular visitors to the house. Augusta adored them all.
Charlotte sat beside Lionel on the settee, watching the children playing.
Tom turned from his position by the fire, seeing Melony being lowered to the ground by her mother and gravitated toward her instantly. Much to the amusement of everyone present it seemed they were a love match as babies. They could hardly be separated from one another and Emilia and Charlotte often joked about their wedding day.
Adam sat beside Emilia as Augusta stepped forward alongside Thomas Sterling.
All of the children stilled in their play as Augusta looked down on them all. She had the perfect blend of stern and loving, and even Melony behaved herself when she was about.
“Who has been good this year?” Augusta asked. Thomas Sterling chuckled as Michael and John both raised their hands enthusiastically. “Have you indeed?” August asked, looking at Lord Sternwood in surprise. “Should we give them their presents, my Lord?”
“Oh, I should think so,” Lord Sternwood said happily as Melony wrapped her arms around his legs, and he lifted her up for a kiss. “I think they’ve waited long enough.”
Camilla Sterling chuckled from her chair beside the fire as there were squeals of delight all about them. Charlotte’s parents were a little further back from the rest of the group, watching the proceedings with quiet enjoyment. They had always been more reserved than the Sterlings around their grandchildren but loved them to the same degree.
Michael trotted up to his father, proudly holding out the wooden soldier that Augusta had bought him. Adam shot his aunt a warning glare, knowing how expensive it must have been, but his aunt averted her gaze, and he could only smile.
“It is most beautiful. Have you named him?” he asked.
“I am going to call him Benedict,” Michael said innocently, and Charlotte almost choked on her mulled wine.
Adam’s gut clenched at the memory of that name, but it eased immediately as his wife’s hand came to rest on his arm.
“It is a fine name, after all,” she said evenly. “And I have not heard it, nor thought of it, for nearly five years.”
Adam leaned back on the settee, putting an arm around his wife. The spectre of Benedict Easton had not troubled them for many years. He had married the younger daughter of a baron who was eager to make her way in the world, and by all accounts, they were content. Adam could only surmise that his daughters would never be happy with anything and was relieved that he no longer had to entertain them in society. They had all married and moved away outside of London, and they rarely saw or heard of the Eastons these days.
Emilia nestled into his side as he squeezed her shoulders and looked down at her.
“I have not thought of him,” she murmured. “I suppose he is living his life somewhere.”
“I imagine he is,” Adam said, his jaw clenching. “I do not wish to think of him. I could not stand the man at the best of times.”
“That is because you were falling in love with me,” she replied, and he rested his head against hers with a long sigh.
“Right from the start, I think. The moment I saw you at the piano, I was lost; I just did not know it.”
“I remember seeing you watching me and wondering what you might be thinking. You were such a handsome devil.”
Adam chuckled. “Were?”
“Oh, are you expecting compliments, my love?”
“I am. Always. I have such a beautiful wife; I wish to match her.”
“There is no doubt about that,” Emilia said cheerfully. They both laughed together as the children began to clamour for carols around the piano.
It had become one of Emilia’s favourite traditions to sit at the piano on Christmas day and sing with her family. It reminded her of everything she had lost and all she had gained with her life alongside Adam.
She was so happy with her lot in life, and things were made even better with Charlotte and Lionel in the mix. Even as she thought of them, Lionel came to stand beside her, smiling down fondly at her as Charlotte sat beside her on the stool.
Emilia chuckled as Charlotte began to play the simplest melody she could remember; one they had played as children.
“Is this a duet?”
“It is,” Lionel said sternly. “Bentley get over here, would you? We need to sing for the ladies. Thomas. Come and join us.”
Lord Sternwood approached behind them, and Emilia began to play the easiest tune she could think of, much to Charlotte’s amusement. Everyone laughed through their singing at the myriads of missed notes and the children all shouted to be let in on the joke.
Adam laid his hand around Emilia’s shoulders as she continued to play, both of them remembering how different their lives had been many Christmases ago when an arrangement of convenience had blossomed into a rich and wonderful life filled with love.
It was a beautiful scene, a family around a piano, singing carols on Christmas day. Bunches of holly were tied at the window, and the bright red berries were a cheerful reminder of the season.
As their voices raised in chorus within the cosy room, a robin hopped onto the windowsill, pecking at the stone beneath and fluttering away into the snowy landscape.
~ The End ~