The Captain's Christmas Family (10 page)

He changed into his warmest clothes and ventured outside to join Miss Murray and the girls in the snow-covered garden. Sensing his unexpected appearance flustered her, he refrained from asking any more questions about her experiences at the charity school. Instead, he put aside his accustomed reserve and larked about with the children until he glimpsed a tentative smile on her lips.

Later, as they headed back inside to dress for Christmas dinner, he made a point of saying, “I hope it is understood that you must accompany the girls whenever they dine with me. While I have come to enjoy their company more than I ever expected, I am all too aware of my lack of experience with children. I am certain we will all be more comfortable together if you are with us.”

“Thank you, Captain.” She acknowledged his invitation with a curtsy. “Of course I shall supervise the girls at all times if that is what you wish.”

“It is.” He did not care to be reminded that Miss Murray would only join in the festivities as part of her terms of employment.

Remembering the mission he had set himself, to give Miss Murray as happy a holiday as her pupils, Gideon went out of his way to include her in table conversation while they ate Christmas dinner. To begin with, he banished the tall centerpiece of fruit to the sideboard so it would not obstruct his view of her as it had the day before.

After their play outside in the fresh, cold air, all four of them had hearty appetites to do justice to the succulent stuffed turkey and all the other holiday delicacies.

As the mince tarts were being served, Gideon addressed Cissy. “I wonder if I might begin my dancing instruction after dinner? New Year’s Eve is less than a week away and there is the dinner for our tenants tomorrow. I believe I may be expected to perform a turn or two afterward. I would prefer to embarrass myself as little as possible.”

The child replied with a grave nod. “Of course. We can go into the music room. Miss Marian, will you play for us?”

“I shall be happy to do whatever I can to assist your efforts. I reckon the captain will be a very apt pupil in spite of his claims to the contrary.”

Her tone of friendly banter appealed to Gideon.

He could not resist replying in kind. “You think I exaggerate my ignorance, do you?”

“I believe you exaggerate all your shortcomings and minimize your accomplishments.” This time he could not tell whether the lady was teasing or perfectly sincere…or perhaps a little of both. “In any case, I shall be happy to play for your dancing lesson.”

Once they had eaten all they could hold, the four of them retired to the music room where Miss Murray seated herself at the pianoforte. Gideon would much rather have listened to her sing again than stumble his way through a dancing lesson, but he supposed it was necessary if he hoped to avoid humiliating himself too badly in the coming days.

Cissy took her role as instructress quite seriously.
“Come stand here, please. Dolly, you stand there. Now, Miss Marian, please play that same piece as the other day.”

As the music commenced at a steady, stately pace, Cissy began issuing directions. “First you must bow and curtsy to one another. Now turn to face me and join hands. Take two steps forward, then two steps back. Now face each other. Each take a step toward me, then close—that means bring your other foot over. Now bow and curtsy again…?.”

He and Dolly tried their best to do as they were bidden, but the dance quickly degenerated into a flat-footed muddle.

“It’s no use.” Cissy shook her head in disgust. “In the first place, Dolly is far too small…or you are far too tall to be proper dance partners. Besides that, the music room isn’t big enough for dancing, you know.”

Gideon shrugged. “Thank you for trying.”

“Don’t give up so soon.” Dolly pressed her forefinger to her temple in thought. “We could go into the great parlor. It has plenty of space. And Miss Marian could take my place as Cousin Gideon’s partner. She’s much taller than me.”

The child’s suggestion that he dance with her pretty governess tempted Gideon far too keenly for his peace of mind. However, he feared Miss Murray might shrink from the prospect of being so near him and often taking his hand as dancing might demand.

Her response confirmed that. “But who will provide the music? There is no instrument in the great parlor and even if there were…”

But Cissy seemed quite taken with her sister’s idea.
“We don’t really need music, just a rhythm for you to keep time. Dolly and I can clap our hands for that.”

“If Miss Murray would rather not…” Gideon tried to sound as reluctant as his proposed partner, but he could not manage it. Though he did not care for idea of dancing in general, he could not deny a wish to dance once with her.

Cissy frowned. “Do you want to learn or don’t you?”

For some reason, the child’s response seemed to overcome Miss Murray’s reluctance. “Of course he does. And I am willing to try if he is.”

She cast Gideon a look of appeal that he could not resist. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt…except perhaps your toes.”

Her lips blossomed in a luminous smile that felt like a rich reward for his cooperation.

“Good.” Dolly took Gideon by the hand. “Let’s get started then.”

They moved to the larger room and pushed some pieces of furniture against the walls to create a spacious area for dancing. Then Gideon and Miss Murray took their places and Cissy resumed her instruction.

Gideon found it far easier to follow the steps and figures with a partner nearer his own height. Miss Murray claimed to have no prior experience dancing, yet she seemed to possess an instinct for graceful movement. Gideon had only to mirror her actions to feel a growing sense of confidence.

“Try that bit again,” Cissy ordered, “and pretend there are other couples on either side of you. One, two, three.”

As she clapped out the rhythm and Dolly joined in,
Gideon fancied he could hear the melody their governess had been playing earlier.

“Very good.” Cissy nodded approvingly when they had gone through the step without any mistakes. “Now one more time from the beginning. Then I think we had better stop for tonight.”

She glanced toward Dolly, who was endeavoring to stifle a yawn. “It is past our bedtime again.”

Miss Murray peered toward the mantel clock and gave a start. “So it is. I have been concentrating so hard I did not notice the time passing.”

Gideon had not realized how late it was getting either. Could that be because he’d been so occupied with the dancing lesson? Or might it have been his enjoyment of Miss Murray’s close company that made time fly? Recalling the swiftly passing evenings he’d spent with her in the library, he was inclined to credit the latter.

“Once more, then.” Cissy began to clap out the time again.

Off they went, performing the steps of the dance with greater ease than Gideon had believed possible. It occurred to him that they made excellent partners. Each seemed able to anticipate the other’s movements and adjust their own accordingly, with the happy result that he did not once tread on the lady’s toes.

“There,” he declared when they had exchanged their closing bows. “With a patient teacher and a naturally skilled partner, it appears I am capable of improvement after all.”

“Once again, you do not give yourself enough credit,
Captain.” Their mild exertions had brought a becoming flush of color to Miss Murray’s face.

Something made her dark eyes glow. Could it have been his praise?

Then Dolly broke out in an infectious chuckle. “Look, you’ve ended up right under the kissing bough!”

A quick glance aloft assured Gideon it was true. He’d been so agreeably occupied he had not given the kissing bough a single thought.

“Come now, you must kiss.” Cissy sounded impatient with their hesitation. “Or all our hard work making it will have been for nothing.”

Swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in his throat, Gideon gave an apologetic shrug. “We wouldn’t want that, would we, Miss Marian?”

For all his show of reluctance, he felt a great bubble of elation swell within his chest. With a sense of trepidation he had never felt in the heat of battle, he searched the lady’s eyes for any sign of aversion. To his vast relief, he found none.

“I suppose not.” She caught her full lower lip between her teeth but could not quite bite back a self-conscious grin. “It is a long-standing tradition, after all.”

Clearly she had received Christmas kisses under the mistletoe before this and knew they were simple holiday pleasantries of no particular significance. Gideon wished he could view it that way.

“Go on then,” Dolly urged.

The child’s prompting made him realize any longer postponement could prove more embarrassing than to simply go ahead.

Inhaling a deep breath, he bent toward Miss Murray and aimed his lips to meet hers. It was a more delicate procedure than he had reckoned and one with which he was not especially familiar. Yet, as with their dance, he seemed able to anticipate her, tilting his head slightly so their noses did not collide.

There! His lips pressed against hers with what he hoped was the proper amount of pressure. The smooth warmth of hers was the single most delightful sensation he had ever encountered. It brought him a feeling of connection…belonging…homecoming. The only thing he could imagine better would be if she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, as she’d tried to do that evening in the library.

Just as he had feared the first time his young cousins mentioned the kissing bough, Gideon discovered how difficult it was to take leave of Marian Murray’s soft, sweet lips.

S
he was actually receiving her first kiss from a man—and such a man!

When Gideon Radcliffe’s lips sought hers in a tender, restrained connection, Marian’s breath stuck in her throat and her knees threatened to give way.

The harsh, sensible voice of reason chided her not to be such a sentimental fool. This was not a proper kiss, bestowed out of affection for her. It was only a token gesture to satisfy Christmas tradition and two insistent little girls.

Yet it felt the way she’d imagined a proper kiss might, those few times she had permitted her thoughts to stray in that improbable direction. His lips pressed against hers, warm and gentle, kindling fancies of a chivalrous knight pledging his chosen lady his loyalty, his protection…and his heart.

But that was preposterous.

Captain Radcliffe had commanded great ships in defense of King and Country. Now he was also the master of a fine estate and a gentleman of fortune. What could
he want with a plain, orphaned governess of no particular distinction, who had scarcely a penny to her name? He had treated her with courtesy because of his kind nature…and perhaps out of loneliness. She must not mistake his feelings for anything more.

If she hung on to his kiss an instant longer, she risked humiliating herself with a yearning sigh or worse yet, swooning to the floor. Mustering every scrap of restraint she had cultivated during those miserable years at school, Marian pulled away from the captain.

“There, are you satisfied, girls?” She strove to curb her ragged breath, lest it betray feelings she had no business entertaining.

“Oh, yes.” Dolly sounded rather smug about something. “That was a fine, long kiss. Not the quick peck I saw Wilbert give Bessie in the dining room doorway. Of course that sprig of mistletoe is much smaller than the bough. Perhaps that’s why.”

Had she permitted their kiss to go on for too long? Marian fled from under the kissing bough, fussing around the girls like a ruffled mother hen with a pair of chicks. “I’m glad you approve. Now you must get to bed or you’ll be out of sorts tomorrow.”

She refused to let her gaze stray toward the captain for fear of detecting signs that her behavior had shocked him. “Say good-night, then we’ll be off.”

“Good night, Captain.” Cissy dropped him a curtsy. “Perhaps I can give you another dancing lesson before New Year’s Eve.”

Dolly followed her sister’s example. “Good night, Cousin Gideon.”

“Good night,” he replied in a subdued tone that made Marian certain he must be displeased with her.

She never should have agreed to take part in the dancing lesson, especially in the face of Captain Radcliffe’s obvious reluctance. But Cissy had been so set on it, and Marian was committed to encouraging any possible connection between the girls and their cousin. Their entire future might depend upon it. Bitter memories of school that the captain’s earlier questions had revived made her more determined than ever to spare her dear pupils a similar fate. A place even half as bad would crush Cissy’s sensitive nature, while Dolly’s high spirits and strong will would be harshly repressed at every turn.

And yet her concern for the girls did not account for how sincerely she had enjoyed the opportunity to be near Gideon Radcliffe, with his hand often holding hers. All the years she’d sat quietly in the corner at assemblies or glimpsed a ball from the top of the stairs had stood her in good stead as she’d executed the steps she had often seen performed by others. Just as she had suspected, the captain was far more agile than he claimed. Marian found a sweet sense of satisfaction working with him to accomplish something worthwhile, be it making Christmas plans or learning the steps of a dance.

Then that ridiculous kissing bough had spoiled everything.

Although she cherished the opportunity to receive a kiss from a man like Gideon Radcliffe, she wished it had not brought her so close to losing control of her secret feelings.

As she ushered the girls off to bed, a sweet sound drifted toward them from the entry hall.

“Carol singers!” Dolly dug in her heels and refused to budge another inch toward the staircase. “Can we go listen to them? Please, Miss Marian!”

“Please!” Cissy echoed. “Just for a little while. Then we’ll go straight to bed.”

“It is Christmas,” Dolly reminded her, as if she could forget after that tender, terrifying kiss under the bough.

Marian could only resist their combined coaxing for so long. “Oh, very well, but only for a little while. When I say you must come away, do you promise you will, without any arguing?”

The girls nodded vigorously. Then Dolly sped to the doorway of the great parlor and called in, “Carol singers, Cousin Gideon! Can you hear them? Miss Marian says we may go listen. Will you come, too?”

A quiver went through Marian as she tried to decide whether she wanted the captain to join them. Her sense of duty urged her to seize every opportunity to bring the girls together with him. But could she bear to be near Gideon Radcliffe again until the memory of their kiss had dimmed a little? It might not take long for him to forget, but she doubted the same could be said for her.

Whether she wanted his company or not, it appeared they would have it. Just as she and Cissy caught up with Dolly, he emerged from the great parlor and took the child’s hand. “Carolers is it? Of course we must listen to them. I believe it is an offense against the spirit of Christmas to do otherwise.”

A soft sigh of relief escaped Marian’s lips as the four
of them headed to the entry hall. Whatever the captain’s reaction to their kiss, he sounded as if he had put it out of his mind already. She should have known better than to suppose it would matter to him one way or another.

When they reached the front door, Captain Radcliffe pulled it open, and they filed out under the portico. Marian wrapped her arms around the girls and pulled them close to keep them from getting too cold. The night was clear and crisp, the winter moon a slender sickle in the black, star strewn sky.

A little ways away, a group of men and boys clustered, well-muffled against the cold. In the flickering light cast by several lanterns they bore, their breaths frosted the air as they sang.
“Whilst shepherds watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down and Glory shone around.”

Marian could picture local shepherds guarding flocks in the surrounding fields of Knightley Park, when angels robed in glittering starlight appeared with glorious news.

When the final notes of the carol died away, Captain Radcliffe led Marian and the girls in a round of applause.

“Come sing some more for us inside.” He beckoned the group.

As Marian drew the girls back into the entry hall, the captain called to her over his shoulder, “Kindly summon any of the servants who might wish to hear, Miss Murray. And ask Mr. Culpepper to fetch mulled cider and pies for everyone.”

She acknowledged his order with a nod. “Right away, sir.”

Though he had phrased it as a request, she wondered if he meant to remind her, or himself, of her position in his household.

Kissing Miss Murray under the mistletoe had been a mistake. Gideon knew it the instant she’d pulled away from him so abruptly. Now, as she headed off to the servants’ hall, he sensed a chill in her manner as cool as the winter night outside.

Why had his self-control chosen the worst possible moment to desert him? He had faced many a moment of crisis in his career, including some in which life and death had hung in the balance. Yet he had always managed to keep a cool head and act as reason and honor demanded. Unfortunately, he had no experience in how to curtail a kiss with an attractive woman—one he liked too much for his own good…and hers.

The last thing he wanted was for her to think he would use his position to impose himself upon her. By the nature of their work, men of sea had a reputation for seeking female companionship where they could find it, without regard for morality. He could not bear to have Marian Murray think he would stoop to such behavior.

Until that moment, he’d been celebrating his best Christmas in years, and he congratulated himself that Cousin Daniel’s young daughters seemed to enjoy the day, too. Having threatened his very agreeable friendship with their governess, Gideon decided he must make an even greater effort to ensure the children a happy Christmas.

Once all the carol singers had filed in, he asked the
girls, “Is there a particular favorite you would like to hear?”

Dolly only shrugged, but Cissy answered readily. “Could they sing ‘The Holly and the Ivy’? Miss Marian has been teaching me to play it on the pianoforte.”

Gideon turned toward the leader of the group. “Do you know that one?”

“Indeed we do, sir. Come, lads. For the little lady.
The holly and the ivy when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the woods, the holly bears the crown.
”

The others joined in, singing lustily on the chorus.
“Oh the rising of the sun and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.”

By the time they had sung through all the verses, the servants had begun to slip into the entry hall to swell the audience. This continued while the carolers sang two more pieces. The group had just finished “The Boar’s Head Carol” when Miss Murray, the cook and the scullery maid appeared bearing trays of cups. Mr. Culpepper followed with a large crock borne upon a wheeled serving table. An enormous covered platter rested on its lower tier. The mellow, spicy aroma of mulled cider seeped into the room along with a hearty, savory smell. Several of the younger singers broke into broad grins at the prospect of refreshment.

“Singing is thirsty work,” said Gideon. “Since you have done such a fine job of entertaining us, I hope you will accept our hospitality.”

The carolers did not hesitate to accept. Soon the maids, assisted by Miss Murray, set about serving hot
cider and small pork pies. As they all ate and drank together, the servants from Knightley Park mingled with the carol singers, some of whom appeared to be friends or relations. A satisfying sense of community stirred in Gideon, which he had never expected to feel for any folk other than the crew of his ship.

After they had partaken of refreshment, the carolers sang a few more pieces. The whole company joined in on a spirited rendition of “Joy to the World.” Finally, the performers wished them all a Merry Christmas in song before going on their way. Gideon thanked them and made certain they were well-rewarded for their efforts.

He turned back into the entry hall to find Miss Murray trying to coax Dolly up from a low stool where she had fallen asleep, resting against Cissy’s shoulder. “I should have known this would happen. Come now, Dolly, you can’t spend the whole night here.”

Gideon approached them, still rather uneasy in Miss Murray’s presence. “May I be of assistance?”

She started at the sound of his voice but quickly regained her composure. “Perhaps you might have more success trying to wake her than I’ve had, sir. Imagine falling sound asleep in the midst of all that hubbub. It’s my fault, of course. I should never have let the girls stay up for the whole thing.”

Perhaps if he hadn’t sent her away to fetch the servants, she might have been able to keep her mind on her duties.

“I have a better idea.” He bent down and hoisted Dolly up until her small golden head lolled against his shoulder and her body hung limp in his arms.

He had never thought it could feel so natural and pleasant to clasp a sleeping child to his chest. Yet, at the same time, it provoked a mild ache in his heart, rather like hunger pangs in his stomach.

Forcing himself to ignore it, Gideon strode off toward the staircase with Cissy and her governess trailing behind him. When they reached the nursery, Miss Murray scurried ahead to open the door for him.

“Thank you for your help, Captain. Dolly’s bed is this way.” She led him through the dimly lit nursery, then turned down the child’s bedcovers.

With a gentleness of which he’d never suspected himself capable, Gideon eased his small burden down. In spite of his best effort not to wake her, Dolly stirred and blinked her eyes.

“Where are the carol singers?” she asked in a drowsy, puzzled voice. “Please let us listen to one more, Miss Marian.”

Her governess perched on the edge of the bed, removing Dolly’s slippers and stockings. “The carol singers have gone. You fell asleep listening to them. If the Captain hadn’t carried you up to bed, you might have had to sleep in that drafty entrance hall. Now what do you say to him?”

Dolly yawned. “Thank you, Cousin Gideon.”

He was certain she’d be back to sleep in no time. She might not even recall this brief half-waking. “You’re quite welcome, my dear. Good night and Merry Christmas.”

He turned to leave when the child’s reply stopped him in his tracks. “When Papa came to the nursery
he would always kiss us good-night. Will you, Cousin Gideon?”

The request rather unnerved him. One kiss this evening had already gone badly. Still, that empty ache in his heart urged him to reply. “I…suppose I could, if you wish?”

He looked from Dolly to Cissy. The older girl shook her head. “Not tonight, thank you.”

“Well, I do!” Dolly sounded wider awake than she had a moment before.

Approaching gingerly, as if putting his head in a lion’s mouth, Gideon brushed a feather light kiss on her plump cheek. But when he tried to draw back, the child threw her sturdy arms around his neck and planted a hearty smack on his cheek, much to his disquiet and secret pleasure.

At least he could offer Dolly some of the affection he dared not show her pretty governess.

On New Year’s Eve, in her small, spartan chamber adjoining the nursery, Marian rolled over in her bed and sought to find her way into the elusive state of sleep. But all the paths she tried only circled back on themselves. The Land of Dreams seemed to have closed its borders to her.

She must get some rest soon or she would be perfectly useless tomorrow. Keeping up with two young girls, one a high-spirited bundle of energy, could present a challenge under the best of conditions. Besides, she was not certain what sort of festivities Captain Radcliffe had planned for tomorrow. Since Christmas Day, there had been all manner of special activities and out
ings, beginning with a feast for Knightley Park’s tenants on Boxing Day. Dolly had enjoyed mixing with the tenants’ children while Cissy had been pleased to help dispense the hampers, in keeping with family tradition.