guilt.
In order for that to happen, she had to take another risk. She was not truly the mistress of Midwick yet, but she had to make a lasting impression on Lucius in the next two days. She had to demonstrate her ability to lead the girls wisely. She would be such a proper mistress to his household and his people, and she would show him just how much she cared.
Empowered by her new commitment, Elizabeth made her way downstairs to find the girls had finished decorating the entire manor, inside and out. Greens hung over every doorway, graced the tops of the furnishings, and lined the tables in the great hall. They'd set a brace of candles on each table around the hall as well. When night fell, the room would look like an enchanted garden.
The hall was alive with conversation. Men in tartans of blue and green gathered at the far end of the room. When Elizabeth entered the chamber, Rose hurried to her side.
"Does it please you?" Rose asked, a bit breathless as her gaze shifted from Elizabeth to the men.
"It's magical," Elizabeth replied, her gaze following Rose's. "Are those MacKinley men?"
Rose's cheeks flushed pink as one of the young men at the edge of the group looked her way. "Aye. Our brother brought them here to Midwick to protect us. Isn't it grand?"
"Protect us from whom?" Elizabeth asked with a sudden frown.
"The English. He's worried," she replied with an air of distraction.
Elizabeth chuckled despite the seriousness of the subject Rose had just raised. "And who is the one who can't seem to keep his eyes off you, Rose?"
Another flush of color infused Rose's cheeks as she tore her gaze from the man in question. "Lachlan MacKinley," she whispered.
Elizabeth bit back a smile as she studied the young Scot. His lingering glances at Rose spoke volumes. "Where are the MacKinleys staying?"
"In the stables. Although the stables would be rather dismal in this snow."
Elizabeth's own gaze shifted to the chair she knew Lucius had spent the night in again. "Would they be more comfortable in the house?"
"Oh, aye!"
"Would you and your sisters help me with a task upstairs, then when that's done, help Marie prepare an evening meal for us all?"
"Aye. Lucius must have had a busy morning, because he also brought several of our servants back to us. They are helping Marie in the kitchen right now." The young woman waved for her sisters to join them. "It would be so exciting if we could do something truly special to celebrate our brother's return home."
Elizabeth's cheeks heated as she thought of an altogether different sort of celebration she'd like to have in private with Lucius upon his return. If and when he kissed her again, she would not pull away. "I have an idea," Elizabeth said as the other girls joined her and Rose. "Would you all help me prepare a wedding-Christmastide banquet tomorrow night?"
Five squeals of delight silenced the masculine voices.
Rose's gaze widened. "Did Lucius agree to the marriage?"
Elizabeth forced a stab of doubt away. She could not lose hope. That portrait had to mean something. "Not yet. But he will."
"That's the spirit," Rose said with a smile. "I'm happy to help."
Lily clapped her hands and danced about Elizabeth, her youthful curls bouncing around her shoulders as she did. "Please marry our brother and stay with us forever."
"Having a wedding here would be the very best way to celebrate Christmas Eve." Heather's usually quiet voice was filled with excitement.
"Will there be dancing?" Iris asked with an arched brow.
"I could wear my blue dress." Camellia's gaze shifted to the men. "What a wonderful idea."
"Then let us prepare the celebration." Elizabeth headed toward the stairs with the girls in tow. "Rose, will you see if Marie can spare anyone to help us clean the second-floor rooms? If we work hard, we'll finish just in time to dress for supper."
Rose's smile slipped. She stopped walking, forcing her sisters to do the same. "Lucius asked us never to go up to the second
In order for that to happen, she had to take another risk. She was not truly the mistress of Midwick yet, but she had to make a lasting impression on Lucius in the next two days. She had to demonstrate her ability to lead the girls wisely. She would be such a proper mistress to his household and his people, and she would show him just how much she cared.
Empowered by her new commitment, Elizabeth made her way downstairs to find the girls had finished decorating the entire manor, inside and out. Greens hung over every doorway, graced the tops of the furnishings, and lined the tables in the great hall. They'd set a brace of candles on each table around the hall as well. When night fell, the room would look like an enchanted garden.
The hall was alive with conversation. Men in tartans of blue and green gathered at the far end of the room. When Elizabeth entered the chamber, Rose hurried to her side.
"Does it please you?" Rose asked, a bit breathless as her gaze shifted from Elizabeth to the men.
"It's magical," Elizabeth replied, her gaze following Rose's. "Are those MacKinley men?"
Rose's cheeks flushed pink as one of the young men at the edge of the group looked her way. "Aye. Our brother brought them here to Midwick to protect us. Isn't it grand?"
"Protect us from whom?" Elizabeth asked with a sudden frown.
"The English. He's worried," she replied with an air of distraction.
Elizabeth chuckled despite the seriousness of the subject Rose had just raised. "And who is the one who can't seem to keep his eyes off you, Rose?"
Another flush of color infused Rose's cheeks as she tore her gaze from the man in question. "Lachlan MacKinley," she whispered.
Elizabeth bit back a smile as she studied the young Scot. His lingering glances at Rose spoke volumes. "Where are the MacKinleys staying?"
"In the stables. Although the stables would be rather dismal in this snow."
Elizabeth's own gaze shifted to the chair she knew Lucius had spent the night in again. "Would they be more comfortable in the house?"
"Oh, aye!"
"Would you and your sisters help me with a task upstairs, then when that's done, help Marie prepare an evening meal for us all?"
"Aye. Lucius must have had a busy morning, because he also brought several of our servants back to us. They are helping Marie in the kitchen right now." The young woman waved for her sisters to join them. "It would be so exciting if we could do something truly special to celebrate our brother's return home."
Elizabeth's cheeks heated as she thought of an altogether different sort of celebration she'd like to have in private with Lucius upon his return. If and when he kissed her again, she would not pull away. "I have an idea," Elizabeth said as the other girls joined her and Rose. "Would you all help me prepare a wedding-Christmastide banquet tomorrow night?"
Five squeals of delight silenced the masculine voices.
Rose's gaze widened. "Did Lucius agree to the marriage?"
Elizabeth forced a stab of doubt away. She could not lose hope. That portrait had to mean something. "Not yet. But he will."
"That's the spirit," Rose said with a smile. "I'm happy to help."
Lily clapped her hands and danced about Elizabeth, her youthful curls bouncing around her shoulders as she did. "Please marry our brother and stay with us forever."
"Having a wedding here would be the very best way to celebrate Christmas Eve." Heather's usually quiet voice was filled with excitement.
"Will there be dancing?" Iris asked with an arched brow.
"I could wear my blue dress." Camellia's gaze shifted to the men. "What a wonderful idea."
"Then let us prepare the celebration." Elizabeth headed toward the stairs with the girls in tow. "Rose, will you see if Marie can spare anyone to help us clean the second-floor rooms? If we work hard, we'll finish just in time to dress for supper."
Rose's smile slipped. She stopped walking, forcing her sisters to do the same. "Lucius asked us never to go up to the second
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