Page 8

A lice hoped Miss Kilchrest’s behavior had been enough to warn off Isaac.

She’d been too upset, herself, to stay and talk sense into the man.

That he’d come immediately to Billy’s defense despite not understanding his circumstances only further endeared Isaac to her.

He was a good man, no matter how misguided his matrimonial ambitions.

She packed her small satchel and pulled on her heavy woolen coat. ’Twas a cold Christmas morning, perfect for staying tucked in bed curled up under the blankets. But ’twas also a Sunday and Alice had no choice but to step out into the weather and make her trek back to the farm where she worked.

The hour was early, an approach she’d adopted weeks earlier after her falling out with Isaac.

Avoiding him was easier, kinder on her too tender heart.

That morning there’d be no Billy to see her off.

He’d been nearly in tears by the time she’d delivered him home.

His Da had thought it best to not wake him that morning, and not to find him work at the Kilchrests’ again.

Alice slipped her satchel over her shoulder. She wound a thick scarf about her neck and tied her battered bonnet tight on her head. She couldn’t hide in the warmth of her grandparents’ house forever.

The air hung heavy and cold as she stepped out on to the streets of Cavan. A cold and lonely Christmas Day, indeed. If only men weren’t so infernally blind and stubborn, she might have been spending her Christmas morning with Isaac at her side rather than missing him as she was.

Perhaps men weren’t the only ones who clung to foolish notions.

’Twas something of a shame to mar the fresh, untouched layer of snow with her trudging footsteps. So few things in life worked out neat and tidy.

She passed the church where Isaac would be attending services.

And if I must be passed over for something, I suppose church on a Christmas morning isn’t so bad a thing.

Alice turned her face into the light wind and continued on her way. The miles back toward Killeshandra would not be pleasant, that was quite sure and certain. Some other poor traveler was but a few streets ahead of her, braving the same elements.

She held her coat closer to her with her gloved hands. Perhaps if she thought hard on the blankets and the warm fire in the kitchen hearth in the farmhouse at the end of that long road she’d not feel the chill quite so deep and acute. If nothing else, the anticipation quickened her steps.

She quickly came up even with her fellow traveler. He, apparently, hadn’t a sufficient imagination to push him onward.

Alice set her mind to offering him an encouraging smile and a Christmas greeting as she passed by. A person ought to receive at least that when alone on a morning such as that one. No sooner had she reached the stranger’s side, than he spoke.

“Have ya a friend to walk around Lough Oughter with ya?”

Her gaze immediately jumped to his face. “Isaac?”

He didn’t look at her, but kept his eyes trained ahead. “Might I make the journey back with ya?”

She didn’t answer right off, but continued walking in confused silence. She’d not at all expected to see him on the road.

“Why is it ye’re not in church this morning? I’ve never known ya to miss services. And on Christmas Day of all days.” ’Twas more shocking the longer she thought on it.

He finally looked at her, but his expression was one of apprehension. “I didn’t know when ye’d be passing by, and I didn’t dare risk missing ya. I’ve been out here some time already.”

“Out here? In this weather?” Heavens, the man must have been near frozen.

Alice opened her satchel as they continued walking, digging through her meager belongings until she found the woolen scarf her cousin had knitted for her.

She’d kept it tucked away should she need more bundling during the walk home.

But one look at Isaac’s red nose and bare neck made up her mind on that score.

He was still clearly unsure of himself. Did he think she disliked him? That she didn’t want him about? He’d been thick-headed and stubborn, but love doesn’t fly away for such reasons as that.

“Come, then,” she instructed, sopping and motioning him closer to her.

She began wrapping the scarf about his neck.

“I can’t take yer scarf, Alice. Suppose ya need it yer own self?”

She shook her head. “I’ve a warm one on already. Now ya just take this and don’t make a great fuss over it.”

He held quite still as she finished wrapping and tying.

Alice’s heart pounded clear into her fingertips.

Except for the occasional moment when he helped her over a muddy bit of road or bumped against her on accident, they’d never really touched.

Yet, wrapping her scarf about his neck, her hands brushed against him.

She felt the tiny moment of contact clear to her very soul.

She gazed up to find his eyes locked with her own.

They stood there at the very edge of Cavan Town directly on the road leading away, simply looking at one another. Each breath they took fogged the air between them.

“I’ve been a fool, Alice,” Isaac whispered.

“Have ya now?” Her voice emerged even quieter than his.

His hand lightly touched her cheek, just inside the brim of her bonnet. Such a look of sad regret weighed down his handsome face. “I’m too stubborn by half, ya know. And when my mind’s set to something I don’t always heed the world about me. I miss a great many important things that way.”

For the first time in some weeks, Alice’s heart smiled along with her lips. “Ya are terrible stubborn, Isaac Dancy.”

His eyes slid over her smiling face and some of the heaviness left his expression. His hand slid from her face to her shoulder, down to her arm and took hold of her hand. “I hope, Alice, ye’re every bit as forgiving as I am dimwitted.”

“I’m a woman.” She shrugged. “We’ve had to be forgiving since time began.”

“And, speaking of which.” He set something in her free hand.

What in heaven’s name? She examined the little cloth-wrapped bundle. “What is it?”

“’Tis a present, it is. A Christmas gift.”

“For me?” She’d not been expecting that.

“It’s certainly not for Miss Kilchrest.”

Alice shot him a look of warning at that. If the man truly wanted to get back in her good graces he’d do well to leave a certain woman’s name out of things.

Isaac looked immediately contrite, but with a hint of amusement in his eyes. Here was the banter she’d missed between them. Here was his silent, lighthearted laughter. She’d needed it these past weeks.

She untied the fabric and unwound the gift. After unlooping for a moment, she reached the center. ’Twas the most beautiful bit of jewelry she’d ever seen. Clearly it was a pin, but with a peg on the side. Alice pushed the peg in and the round blue and gold case opened.

“A watch.” She’d always wanted a timepiece of her own. But never had she imagined one so beautiful.

“Ya need one, ya know,” Isaac said. “Always pestering me to know the hour.” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “A man can only take so much aggravation.”

“I don’t know how to read it,” she warned him.

His smiled was kind and tender. “We’ve a long walk ahead of us. I’d be happy to show ya how.”

Alice ran her finger over the delicate flowers on the deep blue watch case, inlaid in gold. Beautiful.

“This must have come very dear.” She knew he was not a wealthy man. He was not destitute but hardly had endless coffers at his disposal.

“It matches yer eyes, Alice. Matches quite perfectly. I couldn’t pass it by.”

Matches yer eyes. That he even knew the color of her eyes came as both a surprise and a comfort. Perhaps she’d not been so overlooked all those months. “Ya had to have purchased this before the party last night.” Before Miss Kilchrest made her nature quite clear.

Isaac nodded. “I knew, in my heart, I didn't belong in the world of Miss Kilchrest. The evening only confirmed it.”

Alice pinned the watch to the front of her coat, careful to clasp it securely. “Will it do, do ya think?”

“Lovely.” But he wasn’t looking at the watch. “I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.”

“Blinded by ambition, ya were.”

He nodded solemnly. “And by my own stupidity.”

“Aye. That, as well.” She set a hand on his chest for balance as she stretched on her toes and placed a single, brief kiss on his cheek. “I thank ya for the fine Christmas present. I’ll cherish it always.”

“Will ya let me cherish you, Alice?” One of his arms wrapped around her, keeping her nearby.

“Will ya at least let me prove to ya that I can, that I will ? All these months, I’ve grown to care more for you than any person I know.

I tell ya my thoughts and worries. I trust ya with my concerns.

I miss ya when ye’re away and worry over ya when ye’re not close by. All these months and I never realized—”

“Ya talk too much, Isaac Dancy.” She took hold of the scarf about his neck and pulled him within an inch of herself. “’Tisn't words I’m needing just now.”

His smile tipped a bit roguishly. “I’m most happy to oblige.”

And he was. And did. His lips met hers in a caress so gentle at first, she hardly knew he’d begun kissing her. But his efforts quickly grew more urgent. Alice slid her arms around his neck and held fast to him.

Here was the affection she’d longed for from him, the reassurance that he cared for her just as she cared for him. Twas home.

Flakes of snow drifted softly and slowly down around them as they sealed quite a few unspoken promises with a fine bit of kissing on a peaceful Christmas morning on the road to Cavan Town.