The Christmas Bargain (7 page)

Carefully grasping her arms, Luke gently pulled her closer, memorizing his first real look at her loveliness. Lowering his head toward hers, Philamena heard Luke whisper, “my wife,” as his lips touched hers softly, tenderly, reverently.

When she didn’t pull back from him, his lips became more firm and demanding, sending all manner of strange new feelings skittering through Philamena. She wanted more than anything to know how to respond since she had never before been kissed. Driven by instinct, her hands clasped Luke’s muscular arms as she clung to him, dizzy with emotions and sensations.

 At Chauncy’s chuckle and a clearing of the pastor’s throat, Luke raised his head with a rakish grin. Philamena felt her lips curling into a smile of their own volition.

“You look lovely,” Luke whispered in her ear as they turned to face those gathered in the congregation. Although Abby had said just a few people would be there, the church was packed.

Philamena blushed and cast her eyes downward, completely unsettled from that wonderful kiss.

Luke took her elbow and escorted her down the aisle to the back of the room where they stood for the next half an hour greeting everyone while the church ladies set up a nice luncheon including a layered, frosted wedding cake.

Although the food was delicious and plentiful, Philamena picked at her meal, unable to eat more than a few bites. She could blame it on the corset, which she was unaccustomed to wearing, but in all honesty it was due to the fact that her husband made her so nervous. She knew from spending the last week with Chauncy and Abby that not all men were like her father, but just being around members of the male species made her feel skittish. Luke, in particular, caused her palms to grow damp and her heart to beat rapidly.

A few hours later, Philamena was exhausted. Sensing her need to get away from all the guests, Luke spoke a few words to Abby and Chauncy, placed Philamena’s wrap around her shoulders and escorted her outside to his waiting buggy. The guests still remaining followed them outside to laugh, wave, and wish them well.

Philamena worked up a smile and waved back, focusing on Abby’s face as they drove toward the edge of town and Granger House.

Walking past the house many times in her school days, Philamena hadn’t been near the home in a decade. The exterior was as every bit as magnificent as she remembered. Her curiosity was piqued to see what it looked like inside.

As Luke pulled in the circle drive and stopped at the end of the front walk, Philamena studied the house with interest. The three story home, complete with gables, turrets and a walk-around porch on the main floor, was painted a warm shade of yellow with white, dark green and pale green trim. The porch posts and balustrades were painted white and the front door boasted a rich shade of hunter green. Lights shone in many of the windows, creating a warm welcome in the afternoon’s waning light.

“Welcome to Granger House,” Luke said, offering his hand to Philamena. She had been so absorbed in looking at the house, she failed to notice Luke had walked around the buggy and was waiting for her. Although she was sorely tempted to duck her head and study her shoes, she forced herself to make eye contact.

“Thank you,” she said quietly as she placed her hand in his and stepped to the ground.

Luke led her down the sidewalk, up the porch steps and to the front door. Turning the knob, he pushed the door wide and stood looking at Philamena for just a moment before sweeping her into his arms.

She let out a startled gasp, slipping her arms around Luke’s neck as he carried her across the threshold.

Setting her down inside the foyer, he grinned at his bride, flashing white teeth and deepening the dimple in his chin. “I didn’t want to break with tradition. Aren’t brides supposed to be carried across the threshold?”

“Yes, I suppose they are,” Philamena said, attempting to regain her equilibrium. She’d never been carried in a man’s arms before and the experience left her more than a little rattled. The most intense longing to be in Luke’s arms once again swept over her, throwing her further off kilter.

Looking around the entry, Philamena’s eyes grew wide at the luxurious surroundings. Beautiful, flocked wallpaper lined the walls of the entry. Gas lamps on the walls dispelled the November gloom, creating circles of light on gleaming hardwood floors, while warmth enveloped her.

“I’ve rambled around in this house by myself for a while and keep most of the rooms shut up, but if there is a room you’d like to open for use, feel free,” Luke said, taking her wrap and hanging it on a hall tree near the door. “There are just bedrooms on the second floor, so I keep it closed unless I’ve got company. I moved your things to a room near the kitchen.”

Philamena breathed a sigh mixed with relief and disappointment. Luke expected her to be a wife in name only.

From the entry, Luke took her elbow and guided her on a tour of the house. A formal parlor with a fire blazing merrily in the fireplace was an inviting haven done in cream, dark green and pale green tones. Across the hall a massive table, that would easily seat a dozen people and still have room to squeeze in a few more, filled the formal dining room. Expensive china gleamed from a cabinet built along one wall.

To the right of the front entry, a beautiful mahogany staircase curved up to the second floor. Instead of going upstairs, Luke led Philamena down the hall and into a large and well equipped kitchen. In addition to a brand-new stove, there was a sink with actual running water, and plenty of storage space with long counters and sturdy oak cupboards. In one corner sat something Luke called an ice box, meant to keep food cold. Philamena had never seen anything quite like it.

A smaller table, surrounded by four chairs, looked homey and inviting in its place beneath a window covered in crisp white curtains. Philamena could picture sitting there with Luke eating breakfast or having a quiet dinner.

“What do you think?” Luke asked, a smile lighting his eyes at Philamena’s obvious pleasure over the kitchen. “Think you can manage in here?”

“Oh, yes,” Philamena said, her eyes bright with excitement. She had no idea so many wonderful inventions for a kitchen existed.

Taking her through a door to the back hallway, he pointed to a bedroom close to the kitchen.  A large bed, comfy rocking chair, dresser and chest of drawers filled the space. Luke opened a door to a closet where Philamena’s recently purchased gowns hung.

Running her hand across the back of the rocker, Philamena smiled. “Thank you, this is lovely.”

“I hope you’ll be comfortable here. If not, let me know and we can move you upstairs to one of the bedrooms,” Luke said. He studied the rich, mahogany hair piled on top of his bride’s head with curls cascading around her face in a soft and utterly feminine style. Her bright green eyes shone like emeralds as she stared at him from behind thick lashes.

If Luke wasn’t careful, he could find himself getting lost in eyes like that. He had no idea such a beautiful woman was hidden beneath the ugly brown dress and head covering when he agreed to take Philamena in payment for her father’s debt.

 When he brought Philamena off the farm, she wouldn’t make eye contact or raise her face enough for him to fully see it. Now he admired her high cheekbones, strong chin and bright eyes. Being married to her might not be the hardship he had first envisioned if they could learn to be friends.

“I’ve never stayed anywhere so nice. I know it will be more than fine,” Philamena said, looking at the yellow cabbage roses on the wallpaper and soft cream coverlet on the bed. The room was welcoming and pretty.

“Let’s finish our tour then maybe you’d like to change,” Luke said, studying her dress and wondering how exactly she was going to get the buttons on the back undone. He wouldn’t mind volunteering to help.

Still reeling from the jolt that shot from his head to his toes when their lips touched  earlier, he hadn’t expected to feel anything. Having kissed any number of girls over the years, he had never felt the sensations created by one kiss with Philamena.

Surprised and intrigued, Luke hoped to have more opportunity to fully research his reaction to Philamena’s lips and nearness. From the moment Chauncy placed her arm on his, her soft rose scent had taken over his senses and had him thinking of things only a husband should.

The problem, though, was his plan to be her husband in name only.

Trying to get his thoughts back on track, he cleared his throat and escorted her across the hall to the library. The dark walls and furniture gave it a masculine feel.

“Please feel welcome to select any book you like for reading,” Luke said, pointing to shelves lining one wall from floor to ceiling, filled with books. “You’ll find everything from Dickens to Dumas, so if you enjoy reading, you’ll probably like the library.”

Philamena loved to read, but never had the time or the books. The three books she owned on the farm were nearly worn to pieces from being read so many times. Nodding her head at Luke, she looked forward to hours spent by a warm fire losing herself in interesting adventures or imaginary tales.

Following him out of the library he stopped at a room that was a wonder to Philamena. Granger House had a bathroom complete with flushing toilet and bathtub. It was the most fantastic thing Philamena had ever seen in her life.

Shiny white surfaces gleamed at her and she turned an amazed smile to Luke.

“There are two more upstairs, as well,” he said, watching the look of wonder that crossed her face. He had grown up in luxury and so often took these conveniences for granted. He could only imagine what Philamena was thinking and realized how grateful he was for the opportunity to see his home through her eyes.

Taking her to the end of the hall, he pointed out his bedroom.

“I sleep here,” Luke said, briefly showing her the room decorated in shades of burgundy and navy blue.

“All I ask of you is to make sure I have hot meals every day,” Luke said, trying to ignore an insane desire to run his hands up and own the sleek sides of Philamena’s satin gown. “I have a part-time housekeeper who comes in three times a week to dust and do laundry. Unless you disagree, I have asked her to keep her current schedule. This house is awfully big for one person to handle all the cleaning and cooking alone. So if you don’t mind doing the cooking and the bulk of the cleaning, Mrs. Kellogg will take care of the laundry and help dust.”

“That will be fine,” Philamena said, overwhelmed with all she had seen and experienced this day - her wedding day. Grabbing onto her courage before it fled entirely, she turned to Luke and took his big warm hand in her own thin one. The contact made tingles race to her toes, but she straightened her spine and pressed on. “I want to thank you, Mr. Granger, for not only rescuing me from my father, but for marrying me, for providing for me so graciously. I will do my very best to make you a good wife and fulfill the debt owed you.”

Feeling a jolt shoot up his arm at her touch on his hand, Luke realized being close to Philamena was causing him to think any number of completely inappropriate ideas. Instead of releasing her fingers, he rubbed his thumb across her palm in slow circles.

“No need to call me Mr. Granger, Philamena. If you do that, I’ll have to call you Mrs. Granger and being so formal doesn’t seem like fun at all. You call me Luke.”

“Okay,” Philamena said, whooshing out the breath she’d been holding.

“As to the other, Chauncy is convinced I was meant to go out to your farm that day and rescue you. I am more than happy to provide for you because I’m getting something out of this deal as well.”

Philamena, who had been studying the toes of Luke’s shiny boots, turned her gaze to his face. “You are?”

“I certainly am. I’ve heard from Chauncy you are a top-notch cook and I have to tell you, I’m looking forward to getting three hot meals a day. After begging meals from the Dodds or eating at the restaurant, it will be a pure pleasure to be able to eat meals in my own home.”

Philamena smiled. “I’ll make sure you’re well fed.”

Luke laughed and walked Philamena back to her room. “I have no doubt you will. Abby sent a basket of food home with us for dinner tonight, so maybe you can start with breakfast tomorrow.”