She could guess to a degree, but she needed precision for this endeavor. She needed averages, arithmetic, possibilities, andprobabilities or it would all be for nothing; the surprise ruined before it could have its full effect.
Kate chewed her lower lip in thought. “It’s usually easy to deduct based on his mood. Judging by the pace of his walk and the depth of his frown when he entered the castle, I’d say he’ll be in his study until at least sunset tomorrow.”
“To ensure it, we could ask Mr. Jarvis to provide distractions if His Grace tries to leave his study earlier,” Esther suggested.
“An excellent notion,” Valerie agreed. “We might get a few more rooms done if we begin early enough and we can finish late enough. Oh, but I would hate to put Mr. Jarvis in an awkward position.”
“Consider it done,” a new voice joined in.
The three women screamed.
Whirling around, lanterns up and hands shaking, the amber glow cast its muted shine upon the alarmed face of Mr. Jarvis himself. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if he, too, had very nearly unleashed a scream.
“Apologies, Ladies,” he croaked. “I didn’t mean to frighten anyone. I was so intent on finding my way in the dark that I forgot to announce myself.”
Harsh breaths hissed through the dead silence of the ballroom, the three women slowly regaining their composure. But Valerie could not stay mad at someone like Mr. Jarvis, who had been so lovely to her from the very beginning. She would never have told him, for obvious reasons, but there were things she might never have experienced if it were not for the butler’s kindness on the night of her arrival.
You were like my Christmas angel, Mr. Jarvis.
The butler seemed confused, making Valerie aware that she had been staring at him without saying anything.
“It is quite all right,” she said with a smile. “We were already spooked before you crept up on us, Mr. Jarvis. In the daylight, you would have been welcomed in a far friendlier fashion, I am sure.”
The butler expelled a sigh of relief. “I trulyamsorry for not announcing myself.”
“Nonsense,” Kate reassured with a grin. “You would have frightened us either way.”
A shy little laugh barked from the man’s throat, as he folded his arms behind his back and stood like a soldier at attention. “Instruct me, Ladies. I am at your disposal for any and all festive endeavors.”
“Are you certain?” Valerie asked, endeared by the man. “I would not want you to get into any bother because of my secret Christmas exploits.”
Excitement radiated from the butler, ingrained in the smile that he could not wipe from his face and the boyish shuffle of his feet. “I confess, I have redeveloped a taste for this merry season because of you, Miss Wightman. Now, I cannot help myself. I amquitein the mood for festivities. I have even taken the liberty of amending an old tailcoat of mine for the party.” He grinned. “So, please, instruct me. What do you need of me for your next endeavor?”
“Are we invited?” Esther chirped, her hands clasped. “We have all been talking about it, but none of us maids have been certain.”
Valerie rolled her eyes. “Ofcourseyou are all invited! Goodness, I hope you do not think I am the sort of person who would make you dig out every decoration in this entire castle andnotinvite you. That would be cruel indeed!”
“Heavens, no!” Esther urged. “I think you are… the loveliest lady who has ever visited this castle!”
“That is a rather short list,” Valerie teased. “Indeed, if my understanding is correct, I am the only one who has been permitted to stay so I am the winner of a race with no other participants.”
Kate chuckled, while Esther continued to look aghast. Either way, it had broken the tension of Mr. Jarvis appearing out of nowhere like the very ghosts that Valerie was certain were floating about the room.
“I am jesting with you, dear Esther,” she said, to put the poor girl out of her misery. “Indeed, it is an honor to hear such kind words.”
I am unaccustomed to receiving those…Whenever she was away from the town hall, no longer distracted by immediate tasks that needed to be done for the party or the proximity of Adrian, her mind wandered to her family in the south. She could not help it, for she wished with all her heart that her brother and sister could also attend the party.
Their father would not do anything to mark the passing of Christmas, beyond sullenly trudging to the church.
They were the ones who encouraged you to go. Remember that.Truthfully, she kept forgetting.
“Mr. Jarvis, may I give you the valuable task of rallying the staff to my cause?” Valerie said, if only to stop her mind from dwelling on those who would be having an altogether duller Christmas period. “I shall need to borrow everyone, just as soon as Adrian has retired to his study in the morning.”
The butler blinked and Kate’s eyebrow rose in a knowing fashion, the two of them exchanging a pointed look that did notgo unnoticed by Valerie. If shehadmissed the look, she might not have realized that she had just referred to the duke by name.
“Certainly, Miss Wightman,” Mr. Jarvis said, remembering himself. Although, a faint smile lingered, a subtle second look of the sneakiest kind passing between the two members of staff. “And what, pray tell, shall I have them do?”
Suddenly awkward, cursing herself for making such a mistake, Valerie turned her gaze toward the lumps and shapes that filled the dark ballroom. Indeed, she was grateful for the gloom now, for it hid the heat that had undoubtedly turned her bright red.
