Mistletoe and Magic (Novella): A Loveswept Historical Romance (8 page)

She didn’t have long to wait. A few minutes later, just before the music started, Jared Marton entered the hall with an elderly gentleman.

Penelope gasped when she saw him take the aisle chair and indicated that his companion sit beside Eve. As the man made his way to the velvet-ribbed chair, Penelope saw his white whiskers, his worn coat that was obviously well made and cared for, and his ivory-topped walking cane. He sank down into the seat and a moment later, glanced up at Eve and started in surprise.

“Is that you? Eve Appleton?”

Penelope’s aunt turned toward him and she placed her hand on her heart. “Oh my word … it can’t be! Is it truly Mr. Rupert Darling?”

“I am surprised you recognized me,” the man said gruffly, emotion thick in his voice. “I know I have changed so much. War is never easy on a man. But I would know you anywhere. You are as lovely as the day we met. It was at the Asburys’ garden party, was it not?”

“The very same!” Eve, to Penelope’s astonishment, was blushing. The music began, but the two older people laughed together as if in their own little world. The years seemed to fall away as her aunt, tears sparkling in her blue eyes, whispered confidences to the man beside her. By the time intermission was announced, Rupert had his arm around Eve and it was clear that time had not changed the depth of feeling between them.

Penelope’s eyes met Jared’s and he shrugged, as if to say he had little to do with all this. And yet …

It suddenly all became clear. Jared had found a beau for Eve! Penelope had thought she’d given him an insurmountable reason he couldn’t court her, but it appeared she had once more underestimated him.

She should be furious, but somehow she couldn’t muster that emotion with her aunt giggling like she was sixteen all over again. For the first time, she realized that in spite of her company, Eve was lonely. And Jared, for his own reasons of course, had given her aunt a gift that might prove priceless.

When she glanced at Jared again, he was watching her with a warmth and sincerity that made her look quickly away. What in God’s name was she to do with him? How had he even managed to find this man, Mr. Darling, who’d obviously once been very important to Eve? And why … why would he go to such lengths?

She couldn’t think about the answer. Forcing her attention back to the music, she became aware that they were beginning to play “Silent Night.” When she peeked at Jared, he was shaking with laughter.

When the concert ended, Penelope and her aunt joined the company at the Billingses’ party. The house was gaily decorated for Christmas, and Jane and Elizabeth were both resplendent in their holiday velvets. Eve and Rupert were in the corner sipping mulled wine from crystal cups, enjoying the opportunity to rekindle a romance, while Jennifer and Winifred waltzed with their spouses.

“They make quite a nice couple, don’t you think?” Jared came up behind her as Penelope accepted a cup from one of the servants. He indicated her aunt and the elderly gent.

“How did you find him? I didn’t know that Eve was ever … involved with someone!”

Jared grinned, pouring the wine into her cup. “Mildred Adams was a close friend of Eve’s.” He indicated the matriarch seated across the room. “She remembered that your aunt had a beau who’d gone to war. By the time he returned, she had moved and they’d lost touch. I asked my office clerk to do some research, and he located Mr. Darling.”

“Amazing.” Penelope shook her head in wonder. “To see them reconnect now is so sweet.” She gave him a warm smile. “Thank you, Jared! Eve looks so happy. What a wonderful Christmas present!”

“I am very glad you think so.” He glanced once more in Eve’s direction. “So I don’t think you need to worry about her being lonely anymore.” He turned his gaze back to Penelope, his voice rich with meaning.

“Mr. Marton …” Penelope backed away from him and found herself in the doorway leading to the library. “This really doesn’t change anything! I hope you didn’t help my aunt simply as an excuse to pursue me!”

“That wasn’t entirely the reason,” Jared said. When she stepped backward into the room, he kicked the door closed behind them. “I was glad to do something that made your aunt happy. She is a wonderful woman. But it does take away your last defense.”

“Jared …” Penelope swallowed hard when he placed his hands on the wall on
either side of her, effectively holding her captive. “How can I convince you? I just don’t … feel that way about you.”

“What way?”

She saw laughter in his eyes as he dared her to say it. Penelope shrugged, falling back on her years of gently discouraging suitors whose advances were not wanted.

“I am sorry, but I’m just not … attracted to you in a romantic fashion.”

“Really?” Jared asked. He didn’t seem at all disturbed, and Penelope grew even more nervous when he tipped her chin up to him. “I can see I have to convince you. Do you know where we are standing?” When she shook her head, he smiled. “We are beneath the mistletoe. I think it’s time I put that tradition to good use …”

Penelope gasped and his mouth covered hers in a heated kiss. She tried to resist, but when he put his arms around her, gathering her into his embrace, she melted like the wax of a Christmas candle. As if of their own accord, her arms rose to enfold him and her fingers sank into his thick, dark hair.

Penelope had been kissed before, polite gentlemanly pecks on the cheek, but they were nothing like this! Expertly he parted her lips with his own and groaned, holding her tightly against him as his tongue teased hers. Desire shot through her, hot and vibrant, and her heart pounded as every cell in her body seemed to come alive.

“My God, you are sweet …” he whispered as his lips moved from her mouth to her ear.

Penelope surrendered completely to the intoxicating heat and excitement he generated within her. His hand stroked her back, making her long for more of his touch, while he placed hot kisses along her neck and throat. The intensity increased when he pressed up against her, and she gasped, her own body responding to the pressure of his closeness.

When his mouth finally eased from hers following a final kiss, Penelope stared at him in naked wonder. He would never forget the look on her face as she pressed the back of her hand to her lips. Her eyes grew wide and shining as she gazed at him, struggling to regain whatever sanity she’d once possessed. He gave a satisfied smile as he slowly eased her out of his arms, although he couldn’t resist caressing a curl that had fallen loose in their passion and now fell upon her shoulder.

“I think I proved my point.” When she continued to stare at him in bewilderment, he smoothed the curl and slid his hand down her arm. “No woman kisses a man like that if she’s indifferent to him.”

She could say nothing, could offer no retort. She couldn’t make sense of what had just transpired, especially her own acquiescence.

“Miss Appleton, I leave you the library.” He bowed and quit the room, giving her time to gather herself.

Penelope sank into a chair by the fire, her thoughts swirling. He was right—she cared for him, deeply it appeared! She had fought it with every fiber of her being, but it couldn’t be helped.

And it wasn’t just his kiss, although that promised an excitement she’d only dreamed about. It was everything. He was handsome, funny, and kind. He’d bought her wonderful gifts, and even when she gave them away, he persisted. When she thought of him playing with the children at the orphanage, a warmth blossomed in her heart that she couldn’t contain. And he’d made her aunt the happiest she’d seen the elderly woman in years.

He loved her. He had shown it to her in every way possible, though she hadn’t wanted to see. But when he kissed her, she could no longer hide from the truth. She felt gloriously happy and scared to death at the same time.

Tears stung her eyes as she thought of her vision and the newspaper headline. She felt as if she were tumbling headfirst down a cliff and there was nothing she could do to stop the fall. Glancing upward, she shook her fist at the beautiful sprig of mistletoe dangling from a bough.

Mistletoe kisses indeed!

The next afternoon, Penelope arrived at Jennifer’s house in order to care for the couple’s child while they went Christmas shopping. When she entered the dwelling, she removed her cloak and was nearly bowled over by her adorable nephew.

“Michael!” she laughed as the toddler clung to her leg. He looked up and gave her
a big smile.

“Pretty, Mama! She’s pretty!”

“She certainly is,” Jennifer agreed, coming to put a fond hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t mind taking care of him? We shouldn’t be long—just a couple of hours, I think.”

“Not at all.” Penelope looked at her nephew with affection as he proceeded to show off for her, tumbling across the floor, and then raced to present her with a toy.

Jennifer donned her cloak and tied the ribbon on her bonnet. “The stores will be so crowded with only a few days left to the holiday. We plan to go to Macy’s Dry Goods Store and then …” her voice trailed off as she saw her sister staring wistfully at her son. “Penny? What’s wrong?”

When Penelope looked up, Jennifer felt her breath catch. Her sister looked utterly miserable and her eyes were wet with tears. “Tell me.” Jennifer put her arm around Penelope and waited.

“I … don’t know how to say this.” Reluctantly, Penelope spilled forth her story, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. “I’ve had visions since I was little. I was scared at first so I didn’t tell anyone. But later I realized I could see the future.”

Jennifer gasped. “You poor dear! And you kept this secret all this time …”

Penelope nodded. “When I met Gabriel, for instance, I saw you walking down the aisle with him. So even though things were a little rocky for a while, I just knew it would turn out all right.”

“I see.” Jennifer, no stranger to mysticism, remembered the time her sister referenced. Indeed, she’d always thought Penelope the hopeless romantic, for she always believed true love would win in the end. Now she understood why.

“Same thing with Winnie.” Penelope got up and paced the floor. “I shook Charles’s hand and knew he was the one. It was so great, wasn’t it? They were so perfect for each other!”

“Yes, they are.” Jennifer rose and stopped her sister. “So why are you so desolate now? It all did work out as you envisioned.”

“I saw my own future,” Penelope answered quietly.

Jennifer suppressed a shiver. “Go on.”

“I saw Jared Marton as my one true love. I saw myself happy, being courted by him. And then I saw the newspaper headline, that he had been shot dead at age four-and-thirty.”

“What?”
It was Jennifer’s turn to look astonished, and her sister nodded.

“I swear, Jenny, I saw the headline. It was Jared. He is that age now, and if that is his destiny, he won’t live to thirty-five.”

Gabriel came into the room and glanced at his wife questioningly. “Are you ready? I have the carriage outside …”

Jennifer shook her head, and Gabriel, seeing the expression on Penelope’s face, indicated the carriage house. “I’ll fetch some lap robes for the trip.” Discreetly, he disappeared outside.

“Penelope,” Jennifer said thoughtfully, sidestepping little Michael as he plowed into the room with his train to show his aunt how it worked. “You don’t know for sure that the vision is entirely accurate! Even the best-known psychics are often wrong. Why, Daniel Dunglas Home, who is world famous, has been known to make a mistake on occasion.”

“But he is more of a medium,” Penelope protested. “I can understand that with the spirit world. This is different. I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s as if I’m seeing images. Almost like when Jared brought a thaumatrope to the orphanage for the children. It showed one picture at a time until you pulled a string. Then they blended together as if they were moving. That’s what it’s like.” She turned a stricken face to her sister. “So I will never have a child, marry for love like you and Winnie. I will be left heartbroken.”

Jennifer hugged her as Penelope fought tears. “Don’t think that way, dear. I’m sure something was wrong with the vision. Maybe you didn’t see it accurately, or maybe it is something that can be prevented. I can’t imagine you having such a gift, only to experience misery as a result.”

Penelope brightened a bit. “Do you really think that is the case?”

“I truly do,” Jennifer said honestly, crossing her heart with a mittened hand. “Besides, I can tell you care for the man in a way I’ve never seen you care before. You don’t have any choice in the matter, now do you?”

When Penelope sighed, Jennifer took up her hands. “I am certain it will all turn
out well.”

“I tried to warn him,” Penelope said quietly. “I sent him a note, but I don’t think he took me seriously. The problem is, I couldn’t see the specifics. I was so shocked, I couldn’t focus …”

“If it will make you feel any better, I will ask Charles to talk to him. They are very good friends. Maybe he can warn him to stay out of the rougher sections of town. You did say it was a shooting?”

“Yes.” Penelope nodded. “Oh, would you? I didn’t think of that! Maybe he would listen to Charles!”