True, Liam was playing the gentleman, damn his hide. He’d paid her every attention but the one she most wanted in the days after the fundraising ball. His goodnight kisses just weren’t enough. But she’d take what she could get.
Yes, she’d told him she wouldn’t go back to bed with him again, but after being in his arms for hours while he caressed her skin, kissed her lips, her neck, her shoulders — well, a girl could change her mind.
But she wouldn’t beg him to take her, especially not after she’d so emphatically told him she didn’t want him. Oh, the tangled web she’d weaved. Or was it woven?
It didn’t help her nerves when the grandfather clock out in the hall started to chime midnight. Were these aristocrats insane? She was never going to get any rest. She decided to climb out from her bed and sneak into the kitchen for a cup of herbal tea. Chamomile sounded about right.
When she cracked her door open and started to tiptoe down the hall, she heard another sound, and then she saw Ally standing there.
“What are you still doing awake?” Whitney asked her niece.
“I can’t sleep, Auntie. I’m so afraid Santa won’t find us here.” The poor little girl seemed to be on the verge of tears.
“Oh, baby, of course he’ll find us. Why don’t you come to the kitchen with me? I’ll get us something to drink that will help us get back to sleep. And when we wake up … you’ll see the magic.”
They thought they were being so sneaky as they crept downstairs, but the rest of the household appeared to be awake too. Brayden looked up with a guilty grin, as did Liam, who with just one glance made Whitney’s toes curl. For a man who didn’t live in the house, he sure seemed to be there all the time. Was it to torture her?
“It seems that we’ve all had the same idea,” she said as she and Ally joined them at the large table in the corner. Even Darcy was there and bustling about.
“I haven’t been this excited about Christmas since I was a young boy,” Liam said with a laugh, a laugh that Whitney felt she’d be happy to hear every day for the rest of her life.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into me,” Mr. Smotter said. “I never stay up so late.”
When they were finishing their tea, Frederick entered the room. “I’ve been looking all over for you,” he said. “Come quickly!”
Whitney was concerned by the urgency in his voice. She hoped nothing was wrong, not on this day of days. They all followed Frederick down the hallway and piled in behind him when he disappeared inside a door.
Whitney gasped at the sight of Santa stacking presents beneath a massive tree. She couldn’t believe how real the fellow looked — this was no mall Santa. She turned to look at Ally, who was beaming.
“Oh, my goodness, it looks as if you’ve caught me,” Santa said with a loud chuckle.
Ally immediately ran across the room and flung herself into his arms.
“I knew you were real, Santa,” she said as two tears trickled down her cheeks.
He returned her hug. “Of course I’m real, my beautiful Ally,” he told her.
“You know my name,” she gasped in total awe.
“I’m sorry, Ally,” Brayden said to his sister. “I guess I was wrong.”
Whitney was so happy with the way her nephew had changed and grown during the time they’d spent at the Felton mansion. The boy was going to become a fine young man.
Ally threw her brother the most joyful of smiles, but she wouldn’t let Santa go.
“I have a special gift for you because you’ve been such a good girl,” Santa said to her. Whitney recognized the gift she’d snuck beneath the tree the night before — the one from the package she’d received a couple of weeks ago. How did Santa know what was in it? Did he know who’d sent it? She suspected that her questions weren’t going to be answered.
Ally gasped as Santa handed her the present wrapped in shiny paper, and she looked at it reverently before opening it without damaging the wrapping. Inside the box was a heart-shaped locket with a picture of her mom and dad inside. Santa placed it around her neck and said, “Your parents love you very much, little Ally, and they’re always watching out for you.”
Whitney was overcome with emotion, and she turned toward Frederick with gratitude shining in her eyes. It had to be from him, though he seemed to be as surprised as she was. But still, this was all because of him, and he’d truly given the best gift he could to her niece — the gift of love from her parents.
“Thank you so much,” Ally said as she threw her arms around Santa again.
Whitney wiped a tear from her own cheek, and after giving Frederick a big hug and an affectionate kiss, went to retrieve her niece from Santa’s embrace and sit down next to her. Santa passed out the rest of his gifts and then quietly slipped away.