Their Mistletoe Matchmakers. Keli Gwyn

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СКАЧАТЬ curls piled on her head caught his eye, especially the one that had broken free of her pins. He reached out to sweep it behind her ear, brushing her petal-soft cheek in the process. The shock reflected in her chocolate-brown eyes mirrored the surge of it coursing through him. What had he been thinking? He yanked his wayward hand back. “I’d love to hear your plan.”

      Her eyes grew even wider.

      What was happening? First his hand had acted of its own accord, and then his mouth had followed suit. “That is, I’d like to hear it.”

      “You would?” Her expression softened, but her gaze remained fixed on him. Confused, curious and...captivating.

      He scrambled to remember what they’d been talking about. Ah, yes. Her plan. “By all means. Alex is ready to try a few shingles on his own, so we can go down and talk if you’d like.” He sent his nephew an encouraging smile.

      Alex’s mouth went slack. “Really, Uncle Henry? You’re going to let me do it all by myself? Do you think I can?”

      “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t. Just take your time and remember all I’ve taught you.”

      Lavinia’s gaze bounced from Henry to Alex and back again. She scraped her lower lip between her teeth, a most distracting gesture, and then opened her mouth to speak but snapped it shut instead. Thankfully, she’d chosen not to challenge his authority in front of the impressionable boy.

      Alex didn’t miss much, though, as evidenced by the keen gaze he’d directed at his aunt. “You don’t have to worry, Aunt Livy. I’ll be careful.”

      “I know that. I’m just not used to boys. Your mother and I weren’t allowed to climb on roofs and such. The only things we climbed were stairs.”

      Alex’s brow furrowed, and then understanding dawned. He laughed. “You were joking, weren’t you?”

      “I suppose I was. Partly.”

      “So you’ve never climbed a tree or anything?”

      Lavinia’s eyes widened. “I should say not. A lady minds her manners.”

      “But you weren’t always a lady. You used to be a girl, like Marcie and Dot.”

      “I was, true, but...”

      Henry stifled a laugh at the unbidden image of Lavinia up a tree that popped into his head. “Some fathers don’t let their daughters do everything they want to do.” The words were barely out of his mouth when he realized his mistake. “What I meant to say was—”

      “I know exactly what you meant.” Lavinia shot a dark look his way and started down the ladder with far too much speed for a woman in high-heeled boots.

      Henry clutched the side rails to steady it. “Be careful!”

      “I’m fine.” Her response came quickly, with an edge to it, but at least she’d slowed her descent.

      As soon as she was safely on the ground, Henry scrambled down the ladder after her. He joined her under the oak a few feet away, far enough from the shed to give Alex a feeling of independence but close enough to rush to his nephew’s aid if need be. Not that the careful boy would get into any trouble.

      Unlike you, Hawthorn. He’d managed to insult Lavinia again. He’d had no intention of doing so, but he was a much better cook than he was a conversationalist. He could hold his own with the rugged miners who stayed in his hotel, but when it came to society ladies, he was out of his element. Unless the lady was talking about food. He’d gotten on fine with the woman who’d taught him everything she’d learned at Mrs. Goodfellow’s cooking school.

      “I didn’t mean anything by what I said.”

      She studied him with narrowed eyes. “Didn’t you? I know you don’t think well of Father, but he was only trying to ensure our safety. A person could get hurt falling from a tree.”

      “Not if that person knew what he—or she—was doing.”

      “Perhaps, but I trust you have no intention of encouraging the children to climb trees, especially the girls. I couldn’t bear it if anything were to happen to one of them.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “We’ve dealt with more than enough tragedy.”

      “I won’t encourage them, but Alex’s friend Frankie has been urging him to climb one, so I intend to show him how it’s done. That way he’ll know what to do should he give way to the pressure. I’ll point out how far I’m comfortable having him go. Not that I expect him to climb too high on his own. He’s a cautious one.”

      “I’m aware of that. I might not have spent as much time with the children as you have, but I’ve gotten to know them quite well.”

      He’d trod into dangerous territory again. Best to avoid tricky topics altogether. “You said you had a plan. Care to tell me about it?”

      Her wariness fell away, and the excitement he’d seen earlier returned. “Gladly.” She watched Alex pound a nail after checking the shingle’s position three times. “I want the children to see why Pauline loved Christmas as much as she did, so I’m going to throw a party like those we had growing up.”

      His sister-in-law had told him about the lavish affairs her father had hosted. “Wouldn’t a ball be a bit much? The children are too young to dance.”

      Lavinia laughed and swatted his arm. “I know that, Henry.”

      He’d enjoyed the contact more than he should have, innocent though it was. Lavinia was a lovely lady, but she was a lady who had definite ideas about how things should be done. She was also the lady determined to take Jack and Pauline’s children away from him. Not that he was concerned. She had no grounds for guardianship, whereas he had the law on his side. “What are you planning, then?”

      She glanced around the yard, as though assuring herself no one was around, and launched into a lively description. “For starters, I’m going to rent the meeting hall in that vacant building downtown, the one that used to be a hotel. It will make a wonderful venue for the party.”

      “Why can’t you just have it here?”

      Her musical laugh rang out once again. “Here?” She glanced at the house. “It’s much too small.”

      Warning bells rang. Loudly. “Just how many people do you plan on inviting? Alex’s only close friend is Frankie. Marcie pals around with Norma’s eldest daughter, Olivia, and two other schoolgirls, and little Dot plays with Norma’s younger daughter, Yvonne. Those children and their families could fit in the parlor.”

      Lavinia stared at him with the look of a schoolmarm attempting to explain something to an unperceptive pupil. “I thought Pauline told you about our parties.”

      “She did. They were some of her most treasured memories.”

      “I can understand that. They’re grand events. It would appear she didn’t make it clear how many people attend them, though. Our friends come, of course, but Father also invites everyone who works at the Crowne Jewel and their families, as well as our household servants. He hires staff to fill their positions for the evening.”

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