Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift

golden curls that tumbled over Gavina's cheek.

Cameron strode into the bedchamber with his usual energy, but he closed the door softly, not waking Gavina. Cameron's hair was damp, and he smelled of soap and also warmth under the dressing gown that covered him from neck to slippers.

'Ainsley.' The mattress sagged as Cameron leaned on it next to her, his arm stealing around her, smoothing her nightgown. 'Let Nanny Westlock take her. You need your sleep, little mouse.'

'I should have been watching her,' Ainsley said, the pain of that welling like a fresh cut. 'I shouldn't have taken my eyes off her for one moment.'

Cameron was silent. His large body gave her comfort even through her sickening fear. He was the man who'd gone into the night and brought Gavina home.

'I had my hands full with this stupid Christmas celebration,' Ainsley said. 'Not noticing that my own daughter had gone missing, until it was too late.'

'I was the one at the pub,' Cameron said, his words heavy. 'Throwing back a pint at the local was more important than looking after my family.'

Ainsley gave him a surprised look. 'This wasn't your fault.'

'Why? Because fathers are supposed to be downing ale while the womenfolk carry on at home? Balls to that. I raised Danny on my own--I should know better than anyone that babies need your eyes on them all the time.'

Ainsley heard the pain in his voice, the self-reproach. 'I was arguing with Mrs. Desmond about the color of the tablecloths, when Nanny Westlock sent down word she didn't have Gavina. The color of the tablecloths. When my daughter . . .' Ainsley broke off, pressing a trembling hand to her mouth.

'Come here.' Cameron pulled her against him, letting her head rest on his shoulder. His great strength came to her through his touch, and the heat beneath the dressing gown told her he was bare inside it. 'Ye can't castigate yourself, love. Hart has an entire household of servants and nannies who were supposed to be looking after the children, not to mention my three brothers, their wives, and their servants. Someone should have seen her go, but none did. Danny's the only one guiltless in this--he was on the train.'

'But I'm her mother, ' Ainsley said. 'A bad mother.'

'Stop.' Cameron rumpled her hair. 'You're hurting, love, I know, and not only about this.'

Cameron knew her so well. He always had, even when he'd played the rakehell trying lure her--one woman out of many--into his bed. Cameron had understood when she'd told him about losing her first daughter. He'd been the only person in the world with whom Ainsley had been able to talk about that Gavina, the only one who'd held her until the pain lessened enough for her to bear.

Her terrible dread tonight was that any child given to her would come to harm, that God's plan for Ainsley didn't include her being a mother. Ainsley wasn't a stoic enough Scots to accept such a thing. She burned with fear, knowing that losing this Gavina would open a wound from which she might never recover.

'I can't stop thinking about her . . . out there alone . . . cold.' Tears wet the soft velvet of Cameron's dressing gown.

'She wasn't cold, and she wasn't alone. She hadn't wandered aimlessly, she'd fixed on a purpose, a stubborn purpose, like the Mackenzie she is. Achilles went with her and protected her. He's going to be spoiled rotten after this . . .'

Ainsley had to smile as she looked across the carpet to the dog curled up by the fire. Everyone had certainly made a big fuss of Achilles when Daniel explained to all what had happened. Achilles was the hero of the hour, and Daniel suggested they fashion some kind of medal for him. The dog had been given a royal feast in the kitchen, but he'd followed Ainsley and Gavina back to Cameron's bedchamber, still guarding Gavina.

Cameron's arms came around Ainsley again, holding her close. 'Hush now,' he said, his voice gentle.

'Hush, little mouse.'

He'd called her that since the night he'd found her hiding in his bedchamber--this very one. Ainsley had been there for a perfectly good reason, in her opinion, nothing to do with Cameron. Cameron had caught her, growled at her, teased her, confused her, seduced her, then protected her and made her fall wildly in love with him.

Gavina was their love too, the little girl sweet and whole.

'As much as you're trying to make me feel better,' Ainsley said. 'I won't cease to blame myself.'

'We're both to blame.' Cameron's chest rumbled with his words. 'The poor lass is cursed with us as parents. But it turned out all right, and we'll all three go on. She's taught us how diligent we need to be.'

Ainsley raised her head. 'Meaning she'll try it again. And again.'

'Of course she will. She belongs to this family.' Cameron tugged a lock of hair at his forehead. 'Ye see these gray strands? That's all Daniel, that is. Had them before I was twenty-five.'

Ainsley had to smile. 'I imagine he was a handful.'

'A handful, a fistful, an armful, an earful. Thank God I had brothers to help me and that they started getting married. I've been a rotten father, but Danny's muddled through.'

'You're not a rotten father.' Ainsley slid her hands to his shoulders. 'Daniel has become a remarkable young man.'

'Good God, don't tell him that.'

'Don't tell me what?' Daniel swung the door open and walked inside, his wide smile broadcasting that he'd heard the last. 'Are you crying, dearest stepmama? No need. We're all here, and safe.'

'You walk into a bedchamber without knocking, Daniel Mackenzie?' Ainsley said, pretending indignation. 'One with your father in it?'

'I knew there was no danger of embarrassing you as long as Gavina was here, not to mention the snoring dog. I came to fetch my baby sister, by the way. Nanny Westlock is demanding her return to the nursery, where she belongs. Her words, not mine. I offered to come down for her, so you wouldn't have to face the wrath of a nanny whose schedule has been disregarded. You may thank me with an extra helping of pud at Christmas dinner.'

Daniel reached for the bassinet, which lifted from its stand by whicker handles.

'Perhaps she should stay here for the night,' Ainsley said.

Daniel raised his brows. 'Oh, so ye want to break that news to Miss Westlock, do you? She's in a rare temper as it is, blaming herself for losing track of Gavina. Every one of the maids and all the footmen are beating themselves blue for it too. The majordomo and Mrs. Desmond are each trying to outdo each other in self-blame, because they're responsible for all the rest of the servants. The only one sleeping well tonight is Gavina. And Achilles. And maybe Eleanor. She almost dropped in her tracks from exhaustion, and Hart carried her up to bed. Hart's very angry, you can be sure. Oh, he blames himself too.'

Cameron leaned to the bassinet to kiss his daughter's cheek. 'Ye've managed to have the house in uproar, haven't you, love?' he asked her softly. 'Just like your brother used to.' He tickled Gavina's cheek, and Gavina stirred but didn't wake.

Ainsley drew a breath. 'You're right, Daniel. Take her up to bed. I suppose she'll be safe enough in her cot. She won't get out of that.'

'Actually, I used to . . .' Daniel broke off. 'Ah. Never mind. Off to bed you go, my sweet little sister.

Good night, stepmama.' He leaned around Cameron and gave Ainsley a noisy kiss on her cheek.

'Do stop calling me that, Danny.'

'Right you are. Good night, Father.'

He went out with his usual energy. Achilles, awakened, trotted after them, tail moving. Daniel closed the door behind them, and quiet fell.

Cameron gathered Ainsley into his arms again. His heat came to her, and she heard the firm beating of his heart.

An ordinary man might say, Come to bed, love. Everything will be fine in the morning. But Cameron wasn't ordinary. She knew she wouldn't love him so much if he were.

Ainsley raised her head and kissed him.

His lips firmed against hers, the worry and fear in him changing to desperation. Ainsley tasted his hunger, the terror he'd shared with her.

Their child was safe, unharmed. This was a time to celebrate, not weep.

Ainsley wrapped her fingers around the lapels of his soft dressing gown and pulled it open. She found him