After handing off their outerwear to one of the castle’s many attendants, Angelica expected to have to introduce Jonathan to most of the villagers.
She should not have been surprised to discover he’d met all of them already. If the castle pond hadn’t frozen over, he probably would have introduced himself to every fish and swan.
The ballroom was stunning. During the renovation period after Mr. Marlowe purchased the castle, he had converted the austere bare-wood ceilings into lush, Elizabethan-style decorative white plaster. Instead of heraldic beasts or family crests, the frieze pattern incorporated Christmastide motifs like sprigs of holly.
The silk-covered walls were of rich emerald green, and decorated with countless bright sconces that complemented the dazzling crystal chandeliers overhead.
Angelica knew from experience that the wooden floor would have been freshly waxed and dusted, but with half of the village already in attendance, all she could see was a sea of sharp gentlemen in formal black suits and waves of beautiful ladies in their best Yuletide gowns.
By the time they made their way up to the ballroom dais where Noelle had stationed an enormous evergreen, it was time for the grand unveiling.
Not that the tree was hidden from view. The boughs were covered in flickering candles as well as tantalizing bags of sweetmeats and other little treats.
Noelle clapped her hands together. The roar of conversations lowered to a soft rumble.
“Thank you so much for coming to Cressmouth’s annual grand Yuletide ball. I also want to thank the Skeffington family for providing our beautiful tree, Mr. Bauer for providing countless packages of treats, and Miss Angelica Parker for graciously agreeing to personally design the crowning touches. Even though she had no time to do so, she managed the impossible.” Noelle grinned at Angelica.
Angelica grinned back. She’d been skeptical of an indoor tree, but it looked like Noelle was the one who had made a miracle. The festive display was gorgeous.
“Without further ado,” Noelle announced, “we present... holly that lasts forever!”
The sound of flutes and clarinets filled the ballroom as ten lads marched through the open doors in pairs, playing a rousing rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
On the dais, they exchanged their instruments for Angelica’s bejeweled gold creations. They displayed the glittering red-berried adornments to the crowd, to oohs and aahs. The lads took turns dragging a wooden stool about to find the perfect tall branch upon which to affix each adornment.
“The tree looks incredible,” she whispered to Jonathan.
“Thanks to you,” he whispered back. “I hope you’re as proud of you as I am.”
“Angelica!” called a voice.
It was Luther, her brother.
“I should go,” Jonathan said.
“Go? You don’t have to,” she said with surprise. “The Yuletide ball is for everyone. Don’t let my family frighten you away.”
“It’s not your family.” He shifted his weight. “I’m not a great lover of Christmastide. I came because of you, not Yuletide. Oh look, there are your nieces. I’ll just—”
“One dance,” she said. The orchestra was setting bows to their strings. “And then, if you want to run away, you can.”
“Scots don’t run away,” he muttered. “I could stay for two dances if I really wanted to.”
“Oh? Shall we join my brother and his wife for this country-dance?”
Jonathan’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “The question is, will your brother dance with me?”
“There, that’s the Christmas spirit,” Angelica said with a laugh. “Shall we find out?”
Luther did indeed cut a sharp figure through every pattern of the dance, as Angelica had known he would. Her brother would never allow anything to disrupt his elegant rhythm on the dance floor.
She was rusty, having not practiced since the previous Yuletide. With so many people making merry in front of a tree bearing adornments she’d created with her own hands, Angelica couldn’t help but feel joyful.
They danced in tandem with her brother and sister-in-law until the final figure came to a close. The orchestra barely paused between sets.
The next song was a waltz.
It was impossible to feel awkward as Jonathan led her about the floor in graceful, sweeping steps. Angelica forgot about the tree, forgot about her interminable list of things to do, and just gazed up at him gazing back down at her.
It was a good thing he intended to leave her side after this waltz. If they paid each other too much attention, people would start to talk.
And there was no sense letting them talk about something that was never going to happen.
Jonathan might be a brilliant business partner, traveling tirelessly to spread the word, but he was not someone she could rely on for anything more.
He was going to leave. That was how she had hurt her own family. Now she’d learn what it felt like to have it done to her.
She wouldn’t join him, even if it were a possibility. She had her own life, her own shop, and more importantly she was mere days away from completing her contract and being able to rejoin her family.
Jonathan’s brow creased. “You stopped smiling. You’re not thinking about work, are you?”
She shook her head.
He didn’t appear convinced.
“I hadn’t planned on staying for Nottingvale’s house party. Mostly because I don’t like Christmas,” he admitted. “But I do like you. And it will give you an extra week to design your lockets. You don’t need to work yourself to the bone. Enjoy your family while they’re here.”
Yes, she would.
Angelica’s mind turned calculating. Christmas was in four days, but one needn’t wait until Christmas morning to spread joy. She could share her Yuletide with the one man who needed it most.
“All right,” she said. “I’ll take tomorrow as a holiday... on one condition.”
He lowered his voice. “Very well, I’ll spend the whole day kissing you.”
She pretended not to hear him. “Part of Christmas is attending church, as you’ll see on Sunday when my uncle preaches.”
“I didn’t agree to go,” Jonathan said quickly.
“You also never said you wouldn’t go, and besides, aren’t you my footman?” She linked her arm with his. “The other part of Christmas is community and tradition. Let me
