Page 143 of The Bachelor Spy
She’d gotten the patients involved in foraging for mistletoe, holly, fresh pine, and pine cones in order to cover the windowsills, mantels, and doorframes with some natural wintry ornament or other.
She’d even taught a class on how to make mistletoe balls, which very few of them seemed as excited to create as she was. One patient, dear Lieutenant Ashford, gave a class in small wood carving, so miniature hand-carved woodland creatures were now scattered within the greenery throughout the house—tiny foxes peeking from pine boughs, rabbits nestled among holly berries.
The activities had seemed to cheer the men’s hearts, especially the hearts of those who couldn’t travel home for Christmas. Frederick had even orchestrated hunting excursions for some of the recovering soldiers and included others in renovations to the outbuildings across the estate.
Everyone needed purpose. Ways to use their God-given creativity and see something broken find restoration.
“I suspect you may be with us for a few days at least.” Frederick took his seat at the head of the table and gestured toward the window. “The snow still hasn’t stopped. And it’s likely worse in Scotland, especially where you’re traveling.”
“Whereareyou traveling?” Grace asked, adjusting her body in the chair as she attempted to find a comfortable position. All day long, she’d had the most difficult time feeling comfortable at all.
“My mother left me a small estate near Inverness. Kilmory House,” Blake answered. “Not too far from where your family’s estate is at Mosslea, my lady.”
Blake had more secrets than anyone she’d ever met, and that was a significant statement.
“So that’s how you knew so much about getting around Scotland, then?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “That and … my occupation.” He grinned. “I told my lovely Mrs. Blake that we would go somewhere peaceful and quiet, and you’d be hard pressed to find many other places in all the world as remote and quiet as Kilmory House.”
“I’m rather looking forward to it.” The edge in Evie’s personality, the hurt and mistrust, had slowly been softening over the past few months of being loved and adored by Blake.
Love was such a powerful force. Tempering and molding and strengthening in all the best ways.
And wonderfully surprising. Like the unexpected romance of two spies.
Or at least one spy and one former spy.
“You may be in luck with your visit, Blake,” Frederick said. “Tomorrow we’re expecting Elliott and Amelia to join us for an early Christmas dinner before they travel to the home of Elliott’s mother in Yorkshire.”
Grace grinned as she rubbed at a sudden twinge in her back. The idea of Lady Amelia and her footman-turned-husband, Elliott, losing their titles and status for a few weeks each year to spend the holidays with Elliott’s mother and his sister’s family warmed Grace’s heart. But it fit the couple perfectly. He from simple beginnings, she a lost duchess finding herself. It was rather magical.
Rather like a novel, actually.
So even more magical. Christmas probably helped.
“How is Elliott adjusting to the life of the gentry?” Blake took his seat near Frederick, sending a wink to Zahra, who had joined them along with Lily, Frederick’s sweet seven-year-old daughter from a previous scandal.
Frederick and Grace had moved Lily into the newly renovated nursery three weeks before, encouraging her to join them for dinner a few times a week as she adjusted to becoming a more regular fixture in their family. She had Frederick’s dark hair, and her large blue eyes took in everything with quiet observation. Gentle. Thoughtful. And she followed Zahra around as if the girl hung all the stars.
“He’ll adjust well to anything as long as he can be beside Lady Amelia, I do believe,” Grace said, catching Frederick’s eye from across the table. He’d forgotten to take off his spectacles after spending time wrapping Christmas gifts, but Grace didn’t mind.
Especially when a dark lock of his hair fell over his brow. The spectacles only made him look more dashing in a bookish sort of way. A lovely swell of heat rushed up through her in appreciation. And of course, everything was better with bookishness.
“Though she’s rather an unconventional duchess,” Grace continued, sending a smile to Lily as the little girl stared over at Blake and Evie with shy curiosity. “But that seems to suit the two of them well. Unconventional.”
“I believe that may be the theme of all of the couples in our party tomorrow, darling,” Frederick teased. “We none of us expected the romances we found.”
“There are no complaints from me.” Blake sat back, his grin only broadening. “I feel as if I got much better than I deserve and will probably prove much more troublesome than she can handle, but I find a man will do about anything for the love of a fantastic woman.” Blake sent a look to Evie that made her lips curve despite her attempt at restraint.
From the looks of them, they were rather enamored with each other. Which was exactly as a married couple ought to be to Grace’s mind, even if it wasn’t frequently portrayed in novels.
Grace sighed. Besides, romance seemed even more magical at Christmas.
Her gaze moved to each entrance into the room, where a mistletoe sprig hung … just in case, of course.
“With my … occupational history, Stephen,” Evie said, her gaze daring him to test her, “I feel I can manage whatever trouble you’d like to inspire.”
Blake’s grin only grew. “You’re absolutely perfect, light of my life.”
