One Perfect Christmas (Short Story) Read Free Page A

of Bascomb smoothed the skirt of her deep blue lace-over-silk
     gown, clearly pleased by his comment. She made an elegant figure, sapphires and diamonds
     glittering at her throat and ears. “Lucas, you are so like your father—God rest his
     soul.”
    Lucas acknowledged his dearly departed father with a respectful dip of his chin. “God
     rest his soul.”
    The valet straightened the line of the coat across Lucas’s shoulders and awaited further
     instructions.
    “That will be all, Meeks. Thank you.”
    The aged servant bowed and exited the room noiselessly.
    “Shall we?” Lucas asked his mother, offering his arm.
    “As I said, so like your father,” the dowager duchess continued as though she’d never
     left off. “But you should know, a compliment will not stand between a determined woman
     and what she desires. Now, what news of Jane?”
    Lucas escorted his mother out into the hall, where he found his sister-in-law, Matilda,
     and his two adorable nieces loitering.
    He wasn’t fooled by their innocent expressions.
    “Yes, Uncle Lucas, what news of Jane?” the seven-year-old twins parroted, mischief
     twinkling in their enormous green eyes.
    Lucas narrowed his gaze at the dowager duchess. “Is this what it’s come to, then?
     I’m being waylaid outside my bedchamber by curious females?”
    “Girls, do behave,” Matilda chided as she adjusted her deep aubergine sash. “If you
     seek news of Jane, perhaps you should ask Lord Needles.”
    “Are any of you on my side?” Lucas asked with mock irritation, though the mention
     of Lady Pearson’s nephew had pricked his ire ever so slightly.
    “Come now, son,” his mother said, gesturing for Matilda and the girls to lead the
     way down the marble stairs of Castle Bascomb. She held tight to Lucas’s arm as she
     took the first tread. “We are all on your side. But Lord Needles does present a threat,
     my dear. Juniper Hall is falling down about the Merriweathers’ ears and neither Alice
     nor her endearing, impractical husband can do a thing to stop it. A favorable marriage
     for Jane is all that stands between them and utter ruination.”
    Lucas’s chest tightened at the very idea, flames of anger licking at his heart. “Merriweather
     should have acted some time ago—”
    “The entire county would agree,” his mother interrupted, giving him a knowing look.
     “But there is no use laying blame now. Jane must marry. And if you do not swoop in
     and sweep her off her feet, it will be Lord Needles who does.”
    Lucas hardly needed his mother to remind him. Ever since Jane had told him of Lord
     Needles he’d been thinking of nothing else.
    “You needn’t remind me, Mother,” Lucas replied as the sound of merry voices in the
     salon reached his ears. “I’ve agreed to aid Jane in her pursuit of a husband. If Lord
     Needles does not sabotage himself with an ugly personality and face to match, then
     I will step in to ruin his chances.”
    The dowager duchess stepped onto the marble foyer floor and paused to kiss Lucas on
     the cheek. “Devious, to be sure. But I approve. I only hope you aren’t too late. You
     must be brave, my boy.”
    She released his arm and smoothed out her skirts once again. “Come along, there is
     no time to waste,” she commanded, then marched toward the salon as a colonel would
     approach an enemy lookout or mountain stronghold.
    Lucas envied his mother’s confidence as he moved after her and considered her order.
Be brave
. He’d never beforehad to think upon such a directive. Courage came naturally to him—or at least it had
     before Jane’s inebriated declaration of love.
    He reached the salon and paused to survey the room. The connecting doors between the
     formal drawing room, the blue salon, and the expansive music room had been pushed
     wide to create one long room. Beneath the glow from chandelier candles, the space
     gleamed with holiday decorations. His mother and sister-in-law had sent the servants
     out