This Wicked Gift (Carhart 0.5)

“Ah,” James said with a smile. “Lavinia. I’m mulling wine.”


“Wine? Where did you get wine? How did you purchase the spices?” And then, seeing what sat on the table, Lavinia gave a little shriek. “A goose? However did you obtain a goose?”

James shrugged. “I sold mother’s pearl pendant. She gave it to me, and I thought…well, I thought she would want us to have this.” He shrugged, and then continued brightly. “Besides, what with my making mistakes in the shop, and your getting married, we could use a little extra money now.”

Behind her, Lavinia could her William’s footsteps as he ascended the stairs.

“How did you know I was getting married? I just found out.”

James fixed Lavinia with his most serious look. “Next time,” he said, “if you are trying to keep secrets, you might consider writing something other than ‘Mrs. William Q. White’ in the margin of the account books when you test your pen.”

She stared at her brother, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. “James—please—he’s coming up the stairs now. I haven’t done that in almost a year. Don’t tell him.”

Her brother shook his head in gleeful amusement. William reached the upstairs landing and hesitated, as if not quite sure whether he would be welcomed into the family.

James cast one pointed glance over his shoulder to the desk where the books lay, pages spread open, telltale margin scribbles and all. But instead of teasing Lavinia further, he gestured with the pot he held in his hands. “Did you know,” he asked William conversationally, “that wine can burn? I hadn’t thought it possible, as it’s a liquid—but look at this. The pot is completely scorched.”

EPILOGUE

London, precisely thirteen years later.

“MR. WHITE.”

William looked up from his desk. He had served Gareth Carhart for many years now. First he’d served the Viscount Wyndleton. But in the past year the man had taken on the mantle of Lord Blakely. And William’s duties had been correspondingly increased.

“A year ago,” the new marquess said, “you told me you could assist with the management of the marquessate. I allowed you the chance to temporarily prove yourself.”

William knew better than to interject his own commentary into the brief pause that followed. Lord Blakely disliked being interrupted, and the thread of the conversation would resume at his leisure.

“You have. Congratulations. You may consider the position, and the salary, permanent.”

“Thank you, my lord.” It was hardly a surprise. He’d served Lord Blakely well, and curt as the man was, he was always fair.

Another awkward pause ensued. Finally his lordship glanced at a clock. “Well?” The time showed seven past three. “Isn’t it past time for you to be on your way tonight?”

In the thirteen years that William had worked for the man, he’d learned to interpret these curious pronouncements. Bad news Lord Blakely announced directly. Good news he cloaked in disdain. Outright gifts—like dismissing his man of business a full three hours early on Christmas Eve—he hid in…roundaboutation.

White stood and reached for his things. “My lord.” He walked to the door. On the threshold, he paused. “My lord, if I may—”

“No,” interrupted Lord Blakely. “You may not. I’ve no desire to hear your insincere wishes for the happiness of my Christmas.”

White inclined his head. “As you wish. My lord.”

Unlike his predecessor, who had descended on the hapless clerks in the Chancery Lane office like a one-man plague of locusts, the current Lord Blakely preferred that William White—his manager, man of business and otherwise facilitator of marquesslike behavior—present his reports in his Mayfair town home. He was harsh, demanding—and eminently fair. It also meant that at the end of the day, William’s walk back home—now a tall town house in a respectable part of town—was substantially shortened.

As soon as he opened the door, he smelled cinnamon and citrus wafting in the air, tangled with a hint of bitter wine. But something was missing. It took him a moment to ascertain what was wrong. The house was quiet. It was astonishingly quiet.

He found Lavinia, sitting in a chair, twisting a lock of her hair around one finger as she read. Not a novel—a finance circular. A shawl, woven through with gold thread, covered her shoulders. For a long minute he watched her read. Her eyes darted intelligently across the page. Her tongue darted out to touch her finger, and she turned a page. She was, he thought, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

She looked up. She did not jump or evince the least surprise that he’d arrived hours before he was expected.