Reunion (Hunter's Ridge Book 3) (13 page)

Her Papa had stood up, pulled her to her feet, and told her to apologize to Ettie. After doing so, she'd been marched upstairs and soundly spanked until she was wailing. Instead of being able to forget her misery as she was held in his arms and allowed to spend again and again, she'd performed her penance and been immediately tucked into bed.

Remembering that her Papa had made love to her that very morning until she was sated and had promised to stop pouting, she kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry, it's just so hard waiting."

"I know, little one. Instead of fretting, what do you think about going outside and gathering some spruce boughs? My mother always enjoyed making wreaths, and they smell quite lovely."

Lucy's face brightened. "Oh, that sounds like fun."

"Good. Go ask your sisters if they want to join us." Pausing to set her onto her feet, he changed his request. "No, go and
tell
your sisters to join us. It's time we all got some fresh air and exercise."

Nodding, Lucy skipped away to find her sisters. Ever since Lucinda, their old governess, had been sent away, the girls had a great deal more free time. Though they always gathered in the library after dinner, during the day the members of the household scattered. Running up the stairs to the east wing, she knocked on Franny's door. Once she was called to enter, she opened the door to find Franny curled up on the wide window seat, an open book on her lap.

"Papa—I mean, your brother, wants us to go gather some branches. He said your mother used to make wreaths."

Franny smiled and set her book aside. "You may call Lucas Papa, Lucy. We all know who you mean. Yes, Maman used to make wreaths and hang garlands on all the doors. It was like walking through the woods and smelled wonderful. If the snow hasn't covered them completely, we can gather holly branches as well. Hopefully the birds have not eaten all the red berries."

Lucy grew more excited as she listened to Franny.

The two stepped across the hall, knocking on Ettie's closed door. When Franny pressed it open, it was to hear Ettie scream for them to get out. Shocked, Lucy and Franny looked at each other.

"Wait, I'll be right out," Ettie said, and appeared a few minutes later. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scream."

"What are you doing in there?" Franny asked, craning her neck to see beyond her sister's small body.

"Nothing to concern you, Miss Nosy," Ettie said, stepping into the hall and pulling the door closed. "It's almost Christmas, you know."

"Okay, okay," Franny said with a laugh. "I don't need to know. Come on, Lucas is taking us outside to gather boughs."

"Oh, that will be fun!"

Lucy laughed as Franny grabbed her hand. "Well, I want to know. What are you doing?"

Ettie gave her a gentle push. "Not telling you. Louisa might be your twin, but for now, you are just like Miss Nosy there. I don't want to spoil my surprise. You will both just have to wait and see on Christmas morning."

Lucas was pleased to see the three girls coming into the library. He'd already gathered Frank and Bea.

It took a while for everyone to don boots, gloves, scarves and cloaks, but they were all laughing as they trooped outside. Frank and Lucas both carried baskets that contained large shears and small scissors.

Molly was in the kitchen with Edith, and shook her head when invited by Lucy to join them. "You go ahead, sweetie. I'm perfectly content to help in the kitchen."

The roly-poly cook laughed. "What she means is that she wants to be on hand when the gingerbread comes out of the oven."

Molly chuckled. "That's true, but only because I'll need to hide some before Joseph smells it."

Lucy smiled, happy that the budding relationship between her Nanny and her Papa's valet was continuing to grow.

After promising to save them some gingerbread, Molly gave them all a wave as they opened the door, shrieking for them to close it as the cold air rushed inside, threatening to steal the warmth from the room.

The group trooped through the snow. The men's boots broke through the crust, making a delightful crackling sound. The girls' laughter rang out as they attempted to step in the same spots where the men had stepped. Lucy squealed as she overbalanced and took a tumble. Lucas scooped her up and brushed her off. "Careful, little one. Some of these drifts are taller than you. Fall in one of those and we might not find you until spring."

Despite the spill, Lucy was having a great time. This was her first foray outside since her illicit visit to the barn, and she had no intention of cutting it short. She was determined to forget about punishment and focus on fun. Though it was cold, the sun shone, and it felt good when she raised her face toward the golden orb.

They left the path to enter the woods that spread out from the end of the formal gardens all the way to the rear of the property. Frank and Lucas cut some boughs as the girls gathered pinecones that had fallen to the ground, dusting the snow away before placing them in the baskets. The baskets quickly began to fill and the sharp, distinct aroma of pine sap filled the air. It took a while to find the row of holly bushes, but soon several branches with their green, waxy leaves and bright red berries joined the pine boughs.

As they turned to return to the house, Lucy giggled and, scooping snow into her hands, quickly formed a snowball. While Lucas's mother had taught him how to make their home smell like the woods, her father had taught her how to make a mean snowball.

Splat!
Lucas stiffened as the ball hit the back of his neck and broke apart, snow sliding down the inside of his coat to chill his skin. Turning, he barely managed to dodge another as it sailed past his ear. Smiling, he set his basket down. "Oh, Kitten, remember: you lobbed the first one." He bent to scoop up a large handful of snow and began to form his own missile.

Frank laughed and the girls shrieked as snowballs began to fly through the air, some finding their targets, most sailing past to drop onto the ground. Lucy squealed as her Papa strode towards her, a huge snowball in his hands.

"You can run, little one, but you can't hide," he teased, when she turned to streak away. Her laughter floated behind her as she lifted her knees high, stepping as best she could through the snow. "Gotcha," Lucas said, snagging her cape and pulling her towards him.

"No!" she shrieked as he pressed the snowball against her face, the cold causing her to gasp even as she laughed. "Papa!"

"Don't 'Papa' me, you started this war and, as the victor, I demand my prize."

Lucy spluttered, spitting snow from her mouth, and then gasped as his lips found hers. Her sputters became a moan, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth, warming every inch. Throwing her arms around his neck, she pressed her body against his, the cold forgotten as her Papa's heat warmed her.

When a barrage of snowballs pelted them, they broke away, turning to protest the sneak attack.

Instead, Lucy screamed, running towards her mirror image. Unware that tears were running down her face, she threw her arms around her twin, both girls dancing around in a circle until they toppled over in the snow.

"Think they're glad to see each other?" Edward asked as he slapped Lucas on the back.

"No question," Lucas said. "It's great to see you. Your niece was becoming quite fretful."

Edward chuckled, his eyes going to the twins, who were both babbling, but both appearing to understand everything the other said. With a rueful smile, he nodded. "Tell me about it. Next time we're taking the train."

"You aren't telling me that being all alone in your huge carriage didn't offer many possibilities, are you? What's the matter? Is your little one being too demanding on her poor
old
Papa?" Lucas asked, shaking his head.

"No need to concern yourself with my prowess or my age," Edward said. "The carriage provided a great deal of pleasure. However, the last few days weren't as nice as I'd hoped. Louisa grew quite crabby when we stopped at the last client's and were then delayed for an entire day due to the weather. Let's just say, she spent the better part of yesterday on her knees instead of her little rear."

Lucas grinned. "Well then, that just proves once again that our little ladies are definitely twins. Lucy's rear was reddened a few days ago and she earned another spanking yesterday. She came awfully close to another a few hours ago. Good thing you finally arrived, or she might not be able to sit tonight. Come, let's get them inside before they catch pneumonia."

The girls laughed as they were pulled apart, with Edward hugging his niece, and Lucas his.

"Welcome to Hunter's Ridge, Uncle Edward. Oh, I'm so glad you are here!" Lucy cried.

"It's good to be here," Edward assured her, giving her a hug and a kiss. "I've missed you, little Lucy."

"I missed you, too. I can't wait to show you everything. We have horses and chickens and a lot of cats. Oh, and there is a beautiful pond, and the cliffs. There's so much to see!"

Edward laughed and pulled her close. "I'd love to see everything, but would certainly appreciate a mug of hot chocolate first. Know where I might find some?"

"Oh yes, Miss Grover makes the very best!"

After Lucy had introduced Louisa to her sisters, with all three girls stating how amazing it was to see a duplicate of their new sister, the twins linked hands as the men gathered the baskets, and the larger group headed for the house.

Lunch was on the table a few minutes after they returned. Lively chatter filled the air. Molly had a smile on her face after explaining that she'd been the one to send Edward and Louisa to find them. Lucy said she couldn't believe they'd arrived at the very time the family was not in the house.

"It's like waiting for the kettle to boil," Molly said, "it never does until you look away."

"I'm just so glad you're finally here." Lucy hugged her twin for the hundredth time, both girls giggling.

The men barely managed to get a word in edge-wise as five young women kept the conversation going.

Hot chocolate was served with warm, fresh gingerbread. It was delicious, and seemed the perfect treat for a cold winter's afternoon. After the meal was over, Molly pushed back her chair. "Girls, you'll have plenty of time to visit. It's time for naps."

"But I thought we were going to make wreaths," Ettie said.

"The baskets will still be here when you wake up, Ettie. You may work on them this afternoon."

Lucy also wanted to protest, but instead turned to her twin. "Papa has moved another cr—um, bed into my nursery. He said we could nap together."

"What I said was that you could share the nursery, as long as you both remember that you are to nap and not spend the time talking," Lucas clarified, and then added, "and only if Louisa's Papa agrees. If not, Louisa can either nap in her Papa's room or in Miss Molly's."

"Oh, please, Uncle Edward, might she stay with me?" Lucy asked, her eyes wide as she asked the question.

Edward looked between the girls. "All right, you may try. However, I will not hesitate to change my mind if you aren't good. I seem to remember how often you two found trouble at Wintercrest."

"We'll be good," the girls chorused and then broke into giggles, remembering the countless times they'd said the same thing at the exact same time.

Molly shook her head and pushed back her chair. "Give your Papas a kiss," she instructed, as she removed the bibs she'd placed around both their necks.

The girls obeyed, then Lucy turned to wish her sisters a good sleep.

"Why can't I ever see your nursery?" Ettie asked. "When Emmie came, you let her stay with you, and now Louisa. Did I do something wrong?"

Lucy shook her head. "No, of course not. We can play this afternoon. Louisa brought her doll."

Instead of seeming appeased, Ettie simply shrugged and turned away. She and Franny went towards the east wing as Molly took the twins' hands. The three moved upstairs together and, as the girls chatted, Lucy forgot all about Ettie.

"I've not yet had time to unpack all your bags," Molly said once they were in the nursery. "Your Papa told me I'd find all I need to put you to bed in your carpet bag."

"Yes, Ma'am," Louisa said. "Papa used it every day when he put me to sleep in the carriage."

Her statement caught Lucy's attention, and she listened as Louisa explained how the carriage had been modified, both chatting as they were swiftly undressed down to their chemises and drawers.

"Louisa, let's get you changed first," Molly suggested, as she patted the top of the changing table and then pushed the girl's drawers down and removed them.

As Louisa climbed onto the table, Lucy watched as she rolled to her tummy. Her sister didn't make a fuss as a thermometer was slid into her bottom. It was clear that her twin underwent the same sort of regimen she did on a daily basis. It was also quite evident that her sister had had her backside punished recently; small bruises dotted across her rear. After the thermometer had been removed and read, Molly patted her bottom and instructed her to roll over to her back.

"It must have been a while since you've been shorn," Molly noted, patting the stubble on Louisa's mound.

"Yes, Ma'am," Louisa confessed, her face flushing.

Molly lifted Louisa's legs and slipped a nappy beneath her tender bottom. "Tonight we'll have a nice bath and I'll take care of this stubble."

Lucy saw her sister nod and remain still as she was creamed and powdered, a nappy pinned around her, a diaper cover completing her diapering. Once Louisa's chemise had been removed and replaced by a nightgown from her bag, Lucy took her turn on the table, well aware that her twin could see that she'd also been naughty, her bottom still tender as well.

Molly tucked them both into their cribs, both girls choosing a stuffie to cuddle. Standing over Lucy's crib, Molly handed her a dummy before moving to give Louisa the one from her bag. "I understand it will be very hard to remain quiet," she said. "I will allow you a few minutes to talk quietly. However, I expect you both to put your dummies into your mouths within ten minutes' time. You have weeks to visit, don't abuse my generosity on your first day."