Snowy Christmas Read online

  Peggy ran at his side, barking.

  "It's all right, Pegs. I'm not going crazy. I'm happy." Scary to think this was the first time he'd felt really happy in the whole three years since he'd acquired Peggy.

  Out of breath, he slowed to a walk when he reached the fifty acres of short wet grass dotted with mature trees. This parkland landscape was part of the heritage of Rosemoor Hall, and he'd refused to allow it to be divided into fields and farmed. From the windows of his apartment in the east wing of the hall, he enjoyed watching the deer and rabbits that lived here, and the occasional fox.

  Grinning to himself, he had a spring in his step as he walked. He even hummed a song for a while. Then he noticed a figure with a white dog on a leash coming towards him. As the figure came closer, he could see it was Ned Tiptree's sister, Emily. Marcus wouldn't admit it, of course, but he hadn't remembered Ned even had a sister.

  Emily wore glasses today, and a white wool hat pulled down over her ears.

  "Good morning," he shouted as they got closer.

  She raised a hand in greeting. "I hope it's okay for me to walk here?"

  "Of course. Feel free to walk on the estate lands. All the tenants do."

  "Great. Thanks."

  Marcus halted ten feet from Emily because he didn't want to make the little dog nervous. It bothered him that she was scared of him. He would never hurt the cute little creature, and was determined to make friends with her.

  • • •

  There was something different about Marcus today. He was smiling a lot and had a lighter, more upbeat tone to his voice. He exuded a vibrant energy and enthusiasm she hadn't noticed yesterday. With his dark good looks, he would always be attractive, but this morning she could hardly tear her gaze from him.

  "How's Snow White?" he said.

  "Settling in. I brushed her and trimmed the hair around her eyes so she can see. She was such a good girl. She just sat still and let me do it." Emily bent and stroked Marcus's black Labrador when she came up, tail wagging eagerly, to sniff Snow White. The little Westie seemed unafraid, and wagged her tail as well.

  Emily noticed Marcus taking in the makeshift collar and leash she'd made from a piece of blue plastic rope. "I haven't had a chance to go shopping yet. Ned's taken the car today." A half truth. Ned had taken the car, but she couldn't afford to buy new things for Snow White until she earned some money.

  "I'll give you a ride into town. I need to go in today sometime, anyway."

  "Oh." Emily glanced down and petted the dogs some more. She didn't want Marcus to know how short of money she was. If not for Ned, she'd be homeless, thanks to Vicente. Argh, she still couldn't believe what a stupid idiot she'd been. How had she ever believed he loved her, when he'd been nothing but a con artist?

  "Actually, I'm…" What excuse could she give for not accepting his offer? She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She wanted to run away and not have to talk to anyone. Then she wouldn't have to tell the embarrassing story.

  "Are you all right, Emily? You look pale."

  The concern in Marcus's voice brought tears to her eyes. Her emotions were balanced on a knife edge. Trying to hide her predicament from Ned and pretend everything was fine was so stressful.

  "I can't really afford a collar and leash right now. I'm a bit short of money until I start work."

  He gave her a blank look of confusion. With all he owned, he probably couldn't comprehend what it was like to be completely broke.

  "I can give you an advance on your wages."

  She wanted to accept. But if she started spending her wages before she earned them, that was bound to cause more trouble eventually. "Thanks, but I'll manage with the rope for a few weeks."

  She stroked Snow White again, struggling to hang on to her composure. She desperately wanted to keep this little dog, but it seemed fate was against her. Ned hadn't been very sympathetic when she turned up last night with a stray dog but without his car, and things had quickly gone from bad to worse.

  "Emily, is something else wrong?"

  She sighed. "Ned's old collie doesn't get along with Snow White. We had to shut the dogs in separate rooms. I might have to ask Jennifer to take her after all." Why did everything have to be so difficult?

  "You don't have to do that." Marcus came a few strides closer and halted when Snow White huddled closer to Emily's legs. "I have living accommodation for the housekeeper at Rosemoor Hall. You're welcome to move in, if you like, and bring your dog. That way you'll have your own private space so she isn't stressed."

  "The job comes with an apartment in Rosemoor Hall?" Emily wondered if she was hearing things.

  Marcus nodded. "It's normal for the housekeeper to live in to manage the staff." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Of course, we don't have any domestic staff to manage these days. I've been using contract maids, and the admin staff in the estate office liaise with them."

  Emily simply stared at Marcus, that weird sense of unreality from last night back again. Maybe she was finally having some good luck.

  Chapter Three

  Marcus held Emily's elbow and helped her down from his vehicle outside Rosemoor Hall. She cuddled Snow White, aware the poor little creature was probably nervous. Although it wasn't ideal to keep moving her home, living in an apartment at Rosemoor Hall would be much better for the nervous little dog than having to cope with Ned's crotchety old collie.

  "Thank you for giving me a ride. You didn't have to. Ned could have brought me over when he finished work."

  "It was no trouble, honestly." Marcus grabbed two of her suitcases from the back of his car, and she followed him across the gravel parking area to a door in the side. He set down a suitcase to unlock the door and then headed along the shadowy corridor inside.

  "This is what used to be the servants' entrance," he said over his shoulder. "I use it more than the front door now. My mother would probably turn over in her grave. Things have changed so much since I was a boy."

  They certainly had. When Marcus was young, he wouldn't even have spoken to Emily. In fact, he probably hadn't even noticed her, even though she'd lived in the village.

  "The old kitchens are down here. This whole corridor was food storage and prep rooms. They had a room for everything back in the day. The housekeeper's rooms are at the end, in the bowels of the house."

  The long corridor had a tile floor and a few windows set in alcoves. It was lined with brown-painted wooden doors.

  Marcus stopped at the end of the corridor and unlocked a door with worn chipped paint. "When I was a little boy, Jon and I were terrified of the old dragon of a housekeeper. We used to dare each other to come down here and knock on the door." He chuckled. "Seems like a different lifetime."

  He pushed open the door and switched on a light. Emily followed him inside a small sitting room with twin stuffed chairs, an old-fashioned television on a stand, a coffee table, and a sideboard under the window. Faded watercolors hung from a picture rail.

  "This is our new home, Snowy." She tried out the shortened name. Snow White was starting to be too much of a mouthful.

  Emily set her dog on the floor, who touched noses with Peggy, her tail wagging. She sniffed one of the chairs and then wandered around with Peggy while Emily walked to the window. Outside was a strip of grass in front of some shrubs, and a lichen-encrusted stone wall at the back.

  "The dogs are getting along well together," Marcus said.

  "Yes, thank heavens. I felt so bad for Snowy when Ned's dog attacked her."

  "Peggy has a lovely nature. You wouldn't hurt a fly, would you, Pegs?" He stroked his dog's head and came to stand behind Emily. Even though Marcus didn't touch her, she felt him at her back, her skin tingling with awareness.

  She ignored the sensation. She was not going to be stupid enough to fall for her boss. Once, a long time ago, she'd had a little bit of a crush on him from afar, but he hadn't noticed her then, and was unlikely to be interested in her now. Anyway, she didn't want to jump from one relat
ionship straight into another.

  "It doesn't look like much now, but in the spring, that wall is covered in snowdrops and primroses," he said. "It's really pretty."

  Emily hoped she'd still be here to see those wildflowers bloom. First she had to impress him during her month's trial.

  "I've put your suitcases in the bedroom."

  Leaving her handbag on the wide windowsill, she followed Marcus to the open bedroom door. The room was rather dull, decorated in sepia colors, or maybe the paint was discolored with age. A single bed with a heavy dark-wood headboard stood against the far wall, and a matching wardrobe, chest of drawers, and dressing table were set against the other walls. Another window looked out on the same view as the sitting room. Her cases were on the floor.

  "The other two doors are the bathroom and kitchen. Take a look while I bring in your other bags."

  Emily poked her head inside the windowless bathroom and switched on the light. The room had a brown linoleum floor and held a tub, sink, and toilet, all huge old ceramic fixtures.

  The kitchen didn't have a window either, but the top half of the door was made of glass to borrow light from the sitting room. It was very basic with a yellow Formica counter, a stove, sink, and fridge.

  "Sorry it's so old-fashioned," Marcus said, returning with her last two bags. "I don't think it's been updated since before I was born."

  "It's great. Really." The place looked like something out of the 1950s, but Emily didn't mind. This was her private space—at least for the next month. Instead of having to find a place to live and pay rent, she could use all the money she earned to pay off her credit card debt.

  "I'll buy you a microwave oven and a new TV, and anything else you need."

  "You don't have to."

  "I want to."

  Emily bit her lip and gave Marcus a sideways glance, trying to assess his attitude. She didn't trust men who were too nice to her, although he was hardly likely to be after her money, seeing he had tons of it and she had none. And he was unlikely to be after anything else from her. Marcus was so far out of her league, he was in another universe.

  "You'll need to make your bed," he said, and her cheeks warmed, wondering if he'd guessed her thoughts. "I'll show you where the linen closet is."

  He led her back along the shadowy corridor, Snow White and Peggy trotting with them. Behind one of the brown doors, he revealed a room of slatted wooden shelves stacked with towels and linen.

  "Wow. This is amazing." The room was warm and smelled of clean laundry with a slight hint of mustiness. Emily wandered between the shelves, examining the fine lace-trimmed tablecloths and napkins embroidered with the Bramwell motif of an angel inside a Tudor rose.

  "Most of this is out of the ark. I haven't been in here for ages, probably years. My ex-wife wanted all new everything. I don't have any new single sheets, though."

  The dogs both started scratching under the shelves. Whining, Snow White pushed her nose beneath a shelf and dragged out some dust bunnies with her claws.

  "Snowy, stop it."

  Marcus laughed. "Don't worry. She's enjoying herself. She can probably smell mice." He shoved the dust back under the shelf with the toe of his shoe. "I guess the maids aren't very thorough. Not that I'm surprised. We've been through endless maids. Gabriella, my ex, wanted the place spotless, but had an aversion to maids being in the house. Obviously the first requires the second."

  He grinned. "It's such a relief she's out of my life for good. You're the first person to know. I am officially divorced. I got the letter from my lawyer this morning."

  Emily wasn't sure if she should offer congratulations. "I'm pleased for you, but it must be horrible to go through that." It had been bad splitting up without all the legal hassle of a marriage. Although, if she had been married to Vicente, maybe she'd have received a financial settlement, and recovered some of the money she'd spent on renovating his restaurant.

  The dark cloud of self-loathing settled over her at the thought, as always. Snow White seemed to sense Emily's mood change, and pressed against her legs.

  "Oh, baby." Emily picked her up. "Sorry. Am I upsetting you?"

  "What happened?" Marcus asked.

  "Nothing." Even as the words left her lips, part of her wished she could tell him about her past. Confiding in someone might help, but not in her boss. A wealthy, successful man like Marcus couldn't begin to understand what it was like to be taken advantage of and make such a mess of one's life.

  Chapter Four

  Emily stood on the third step of the grand staircase at Rosemoor Hall and ran her hand down the beautifully patterned, silky wood of one of the Rosemoor angels that topped the bottom newel posts.

  Years ago, she'd come to the hall on a school visit, and been fascinated by the carved angels. Footsteps on the stairs attracted her attention, and Marcus's shiny black shoes came into view. Her gaze traveled up his legs, taking in his beautifully tailored dark suit, white shirt, and gold tie. Her heart leaped and skittered, and she clutched the stair handrail for support. Gosh, he looked good in a suit.

  "Good morning," he said, his smile warm.

  Emily's heel caught as she stepped back out of his way, and she stumbled down a step.

  He grasped hold of her arm. "Careful."

  "I'm okay." She drew in a calming breath and sighed it out in appreciation. The man didn't just look amazing, he smelled good too. It was the same spicy fragrance she'd noticed in his car, yet freshly applied, giving it a tang that nipped at her senses.

  "All dressed up?" she said.

  "It's Sunday. I'm off to church."

  "Ah." Church wasn't even on her radar. She hadn't been for years.

  Marcus didn't release her arm until she was safely at the bottom of the stairs on solid ground. Even after he let go, the imprint of his strong fingers still tingled.

  "Were you admiring the angels?"

  Emily cleared her throat and tried to sound professional. "Yes. Snowy and I have been familiarizing ourselves with the rooms you use for public events. I remember the angels from a school trip years ago. The wood is so beautiful."

  "The newel posts and the angels on top are made from the trunk of a cherry tree. In 1602, the youngest son of the family, Edward Bramwell, fell in love with a milkmaid, and legend has it they used to meet beneath the tree."

  Marcus stared up at the angels, giving Emily a chance to admire him some more. He looked good in jeans and a sweater, but in a suit he was breathtaking.

  "Of course, he wasn't allowed to marry her, and years later when he outlived his older brother and inherited Rosemoor Hall, he had the tree made into the two newel posts. The angels on top were destined to stare at each other in unrequited love for all eternity."

  Emily was a little taken aback by the story's conclusion, and returned her attention to the carved angelic forms. "I expected the romance to have a happy ending. Aren't the angels supposed to be lucky?"

  Marcus laughed, a rich rolling tenor that filled the grand hall. "They are. There's no logic to these old tales."

  Peggy and Snow White had been chasing around the rows of conference chairs set out in the great hall. Now Peggy carried a dirty yellow tennis ball to Marcus and dropped it at his feet.

  "Duty calls," he said. "I'm going to take Peggy for a quick run before I leave." He strode away then slowed to glance back. "Would you like to come to church with me?"

  The invitation took her by surprise. Suitable items from her wardrobe flashed through her mind. She had a long-sleeved dress that might work with her black leather boots.

  "What will you do with Peggy during the service?"

  "She stays in the car when the weather's not hot. She's happier there than at home on her own. Snowy can keep her company."

  The prospect of going anywhere with Marcus was tantalizing, spending hours breathing in his delicious fragrance, listening to his smooth tenor voice, and seeing him in that wonderful suit. It should be illegal for a man to look that good.

  Peggy ci
rcled Marcus, her ball in her mouth, whining.

  "If you decide to come, I'll see you outside in ten minutes." He strode off, and Emily stared after him.

  She crouched and stroked Snow White's ears. "You want to go with Peggy, don't you?" Her little dog's tail wagged harder.

  If Emily were sensible, she'd get back to her self-guided tour and let Marcus go, but she could do with an outing. At least attending church was free.

  Emily hurried back to her apartment. She shed her jeans and glasses, then dragged her blue winter dress over her head. She pulled the elastic tie off her ponytail and brushed her hair out. In front of the spotted mirror in the bathroom, she put in her contact lenses, and added mascara, lipstick, and a stroke of blush. Then she yanked on her boots, grabbed her coat, and dashed for the back door with Snow White's blue leash in her hand.

  As she stepped outside, Marcus rounded the corner of the building, head held high, his breath steaming in the cold air, the gravel crunching beneath his shoes. He wore the lord-of-the-manor look very well.

  Attraction pinged her nerves, and she told herself she didn't have a crush on him.

  • • •

  Emily climbed out of Marcus's car by the Rosemoor Village church and deposited Snow White on the backseat with Peggy. The two dogs curled up beside each other, looking adorable together.

  "Oh, look at them."

  Marcus chuckled as he closed the door and locked the car. "They've certainly taken to each other."

  More cars were parking nearby, and many people walked towards the church. Marcus greeted people by name, frequently stopping to shake hands. Many of these villagers had known Emily since she was a child, but they obviously didn't recognize her, probably because she'd lost so much weight since she left.

  The one person who did recognize her was her grandmother. The old woman raised a hand in greeting as she approached, and Emily hurried towards her.

  Emily hugged the short, plump woman, smiling at the memories that gesture evoked.

  "Ned told me you were back, dear. Why didn't you come by to see me?"