Holly and Mistletoe by Brenda Hiatt

Author:Brenda Hiatt [Hiatt, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940618708
Publisher: Dolphin Star Press

After the sixth stop in as many hours, Holly began to fully understand Hunt’s reluctance to travel with his stepmother. At the rate they were going, they would be fortunate to reach Wickburn in four days, she thought, rather than the two it would have taken her and Hunt alone. The Duchess was apparently incapable of passing an inn without ordering the carriages to a halt.

“Mama, I thought you wanted to reach Bedford by nightfall,” complained Reggie as they resumed their places in the luxurious travelling coach. “At this rate, we’ll be lucky to make Shefford.”

The Duke had elected to ride for the next stage of the journey, an option Holly envied, though it was rather a relief to be spared Wickburn’s attempts at wit for a while. Reggie was no horseman, which accounted for his presence in the coach, but he apparently relished his mother’s style of travelling no more than Hunt did.

“Nonsense, my love,” responded the Duchess placidly. “I have made this trip dozens of times and have always reached Bedford. The inn at Shefford rarely has clean sheets and the breakfasts are deplorable, so we will certainly not stay the night there.”

Reginald settled down for yet another nap, of which he seemed capable of an infinite number, and Holly turned her attention out the window, hoping to discourage more aimless chatter in Camilla’s execrable French or Italian. She seemed to regard Holly as her private language tutor, though she never showed the slightest inclination to improve her appalling accent, however good an example Holly set her.

When the carriage drove through the gates at Wickburn late on the afternoon of the fifth day, Holly was heartily sick of travel in general and of her mother-in-law in particular. Her head ached abominably, and every bone in her body felt stiff and sore from spending so many days cramped into one position. At the sight of the imposing mansion her spirits revived. She had been so happy here last winter. Surely, in this setting, she could restore a measure of intimacy to her marriage?

To her disappointment, Hunt was not on hand to greet them on their arrival, although Duchess Aileen was.

“Made a five-day trip of it again, did you?” she called from the top step as Reginald handed his mother and Holly from the coach. The Duke was already up the stairs, saluting his mother’s cheek with a kiss.

“You know how Camilla travels, Mother,” he said with a chuckle. “Nary an inn must go to waste; illness may result from haste.”

“Aye, I know,” replied the Dowager, but her smile was warm. “Hunt is hereabouts somewhere—down at the kennels, I believe.” Though she spoke to them all, her eye questioningly sought Holly’s. Had Hunt told her something?

“We’ll send one of the servants down to fetch him presently,” said the Duchess before Holly could suggest going to him at once. “First we must all go in and freshen up, and perhaps have a rest. Travelling is so exhausting. She assumed her die-away air and the Duke was instantly at her side.

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