Page 24 of Christmas Secrets

“This is the best Christmas ever,” shouted little Noel. “And now, I’ll have lots of toys to play with once I meet all the children at the castle.”

“What?” Holly spun around so fast that she almost dropped the wreath.

“Percival said we could go to his castle for fruit tarts on Christmastide and that means today. Yay!” shouted the little boy, running around the room with his new toys in his hands, holding them high in the air.

“Noel, we’re not going to—”

“Shhh,” said Percival, holding his finger to her lips. “You don’t want to spoil the boy’s good mood, do you?”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, you two better hurry and dress because those fruit tarts go fast and we don’t want to miss them.”

“Nay, Percival, we can’t go to the castle. I’m sorry but you’ll have to go without us.”

“Of course, you can go. You’ve been invited not only by me, but also by Lady Morag. How can you turn us both down?” asked Percival.

“But I—”

“No more excuses, my sweet Holly.” He must have been addled from his lack of sleep because he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately right there in front of her brother. Noel was playing with his new toys and thankfully didn’t seem to notice. “Now get dressed and be sure to douse the flames on the hearth. I’ll be out in the barn readying the horses for our trip.”

He didn’t give her time to object. He turned and opened the door while she stood there with her mouth wide open.

“Oh, and I already have a nail on the door to hang this on.” He plucked the wreath from her hands and slapped it atop the nail on the outside of the door, yawning once again, admiring his work. “Mayhap, if I feel up to it later, I might even try making one of those silly kissing balls that Morag likes so much. Then again, who needs one of them to kiss a pretty woman?”

Before she knew what was happening, she was pulled into his arms again, her lips locked with his. A warmth traveled through her body. Something inside her stirred to life being in Percival’s embrace. She wanted more than anything to spend Christmas with him at the castle with his family. Plus, it would be so nice to see Noel playing with other children. Not to mention, she was looking forward to a fruit tart as well. She hugged her arms around her and leaned her head against the door next to the wreath, watching Percival take the stairs two at a time, hurrying to the barn to get the horses.

Little snowflakes fell all around her, and she swore she could hear her grandmother’s voice telling her that she could do anything and not to be afraid.

“Mayhap we will go to the castle for Christmas,” she said aloud, feeling hope fill her. There would be a lot of people there, so mayhap no one would know who she and Noel were. They could just disappear into the crowd and no one would know better. Mayhap, just mayhap, this would be the best Christmas ever, just like Noel said.

* * *

Within the hour,Percival, Holly, and Noel arrived at Rothbury Castle. This time, Percival wasn’t regretting Christmas at all. Oddly enough, he was rather looking forward to the celebration. It was because he wanted to make sure Holly and Noel had a good time. Sure, he was so tired one could knock him over with a feather, but it was all worth it. Just seeing the pleased look on Holly’s face this morning and hearing the squeals of joy from Noel made giving up his sleep worth it.

Was this what Holly was talking about when she told him Christmas was important to her family? He’d lost sight of this over the years, but now he was remembering that it used to be important to him growing up as well. It was because he, his parents, and his siblings were all together. They were a family.

Percival felt good about the way he was changing. Holly and Noel seemed to fill an empty spot inside him. A spot that he’d guarded and not let anyone fill because of his anger toward the people who had killed his father on Christmas. Perhaps he had only been making himself miserable by holding on to these demons of the past. Bedivere was right. He needed to replace his bad memories with good ones, and he was starting that right now.

He never felt better. He’d managed to make a little boy happy and a beautiful woman trust him enough to let him take her into his world... even though she still hadn’t shared hers with him.

It didn’t matter, he decided. No matter what secrets Holly was keeping, right now he didn’t even care. All that mattered was that he was making them, as well as himself, happy. Mayhap this had something to do with the spirit of Christmas that Holly spoke of. Because of Holly, he realized he was wrong about hating Christmas. This year would be different. He would forget all the bad memories and make new, happy ones with Holly and Noel at his side. Yes, this Christmas was going to change everything for him.

“All right, we’re here,” he told Noel who was riding with him. “Now, hold on to your toys and don’t lose them. It took too damned long to make them and I don’t think I have it in me to try again.”

He dismounted and helped the little boy off the horse.

“This castle is bigger than Lord Neville’s,” said Noel, looking around with wide eyes.

“Lord Neville?” asked Percival, finally getting some information about where they came from. Still, he needed more.

“Noel, stop talking so much and stay close to me.” Unfortunately, Holly had already dismounted and was right behind them, silencing the boy when Percival was finally going to get some answers.

* * *

Holly grabbedher brother’s arm, not wanting him talking about Lord Neville, because some of the nobles, or mayhap all of them, were sure to know who he was. She didn’t need or want trouble today. She was hoping to get lost in the crowd and join in with the celebrations without anyone noticing them.

Taking a minute to look around, Holly felt in awe by all that she saw.