Page 68 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

“Oh, no.” She clamped her hands over her mouth. “I’d forgotten I’d instructed Fuller to suspend a mistletoe ball in the entry hall. I had concentrated most of my decorating efforts in the upstairs drawing room. That is where most of the Christmas party has taken place these past few days.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ve wished so many times that you could be here.”

“I am sorry I wasn’t, my sweet. As I said earlier, I did not receive your invitation because Wetherby intercepted it.”

“You were saying you had someone retrieve your mail? But why?”

“Because I left Kersey Hall not long after you did. I received word that Kit had died, so I took Bella and went back home to The Grange. Just in case you tried to contact me, I arranged for Saunders to make sure any mail that arrived for me was actually delivered. When your letter went astray, Saunders made certain I knew it. But once everything with Kit’s death had been settled, I had planned to come here to London to find you.”

“Hugh.” She squeezed his arm and noticed for the first time the black armband he wore. “I am so sorry about Kit. Even though we knew it would happen, it seems such a shame.”

“I believe he is at peace now.” Hugh looked into the fireplace and sighed. “But of course his death brought troubles of its own.”

“The inquest.” What Hugh had feared so long.

“It truly looked hopeless at first. The physician’s report was conclusive that he had tried to take his own life.” Clenching his jaw, he continued to stare into the fire.

Hesitating, but needing to know, she steeled herself to ask, “Did they rule it suicide?”

She still would not care about any scandal attached to the forfeiture of Hugh’s family estate, but he would. It must have hurt abominably to witness his brother being put on trial.

Oddly enough, Hugh’s grim expression lightened. “By God’s grace, the magistrate ruled it an act of great melancholia, brought on by being thwarted in love. At least they got that right.” A small smile touched his lips. “The thing that actually swayed the magistrate most against a ruling of felo-de-se, was the fact that Kit lingered so long after the shooting.”

“Indeed, that is strange.” Providential, but a decidedly odd ruling. “What was his reasoning for that?”

“He said that Kit clinging to life for so many weeks proved that he wished to live, not die. Therefore, the gun must have fired accidentally while Kit was using it for some other purpose. So his death was officially ruled an accident.” Threading their fingers together, Hugh gave them a kiss. “Kit is now at peace, buried with the rest of our family in the Lavenham churchyard.”

“So there will be no scandal?” Could she finally breathe a sigh of relief?

“No scandal. Our family estates are intact and even now being transferred to my name.”

Thank God. Her prayers of the morning had literally just been answered. “So that objection to our marriage is forever gone?”

“Yes.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “In fact, I now have no objections whatsoever to our marriage.”

A rueful smile twisted her lips. “You do not still feel guilty for my husband’s death because you merely signed his will?”

Leaning back against the sofa, he pulled her head to lie on his chest where she nestled comfortably.

“I must admit I still think it peculiar that my signature helped give you the inheritance that I will now share in, but I have spoken of it to my solicitor in Lavenham, and he says while it may seem odd, it is perfectly legal.” He hugged her, then sat up, holding her hands tightly. “If people talk, I’ll just refuse to listen to what they say. If it means we can be together and happy, then I will not let it stand in our way.”

“Does this mean you are proposing to me, Mr. Granger?” What she had longed for so much was finally coming to pass. Her eyes teared up.

In answer he slid to the ground on one knee. “Lady Kersey, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes, oh, yes.” Flinging her arms around his neck, Maria burst into tears. Finally, she would have the chance for her happily-ever-after marriage, to the only man on earth she was sure could make her happy.

“My love, you really must carry your reticule if you are going to cry so often. I have quite run out of handkerchiefs.”

Laughter at this moment was very sweet.

He kissed her long and thoroughly. “Now this is how one should celebrate Christmas.”

She raised her eyebrows in what she hoped was a seductive way. “I think I have a better idea.”

His eyes darkened. “Do tell.”

She grabbed his hand and rose from the sofa, then led him to the door. Peeking her head out, she quickly concluded everyone must have gone to their rooms or the drawing room. Perfect. In moments she had them racing up the staircase, hand in hand. On the first landing she slipped down the corridor, still miraculously empty of both guests and servants, and into her suite of rooms.

She drew him to the bed, then said simply, “Love me, Hugh.”