Before The Snow Falls | Holiday Novella

The Traveler

Boston, Massachusetts

1867

"Maybe I shouldn't have come," Felix groaned, speaking to no one but himself. His head dropped into his hands.

He was sitting in his guestroom at the Tremont Hotel, which was elegant in its designs and lavish in its costly fabrics and furnishings. There was an ornately carved desk in the corner of the room, and on the top of the oak desk sat Nora's letter. She had finally written him back. She now knew that Felix was in Boston.

She did not seem enthused.

It was hard for him to comprehend. If the situation were reversed...well, this would be happening quite differently. For example, if Felix were still in Hertford and had found out that Nora had traveled to any part of England, he would have been there in a flash. He would have mounted a goddamn horse and rode through the night to see her.

Felix jerked his head up with a gasp at his thoughts. Oh, dear God. What was happening to him? Was he becoming a... romantic?

But of course he was, he thought with a rue smile. He was here in Boston, wasn't he? And for only one reason.

Out of the corner of his eye, Felix caught a glimpse of his bewildered expression in a mirror. There were bags beneath his hazel eyes, and his dark blonde hair was sticking out disastrously. He tried to flatten it to no avail. The crossing to America had not been kind to him, and he was still feeling the effects even though they'd arrived days ago.

Sighing, he turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Felix had never felt this way about a woman before, and he'd certainly never had to work so hard to gain the attention of one. In his twenty-four years of existence, Felix had only ever been required to raise a brow in the direction of a lady to earn her regard.

But when Nora had arrived in England this summer, it was like he'd been an inexperienced boy of sixteen again. She'd completely disarmed him. See, Nora didn't care about his family ties or having an aristocratic alliance, which was the motive of about half of the women that Felix typically attracted. The other half were usually won over by his charm—or at least the reputation of it.

But he had displayed no amount of charm when Nora had arrived in England this past summer. Felix had traveled to gather her and her belongings from the docks, not knowing what would happen when he did so.

The first thing Felix noticed was how she just seemed...older. He hadn't been able to put his finger on what precisely it was. It might have been the air in which she carried herself, or perhaps it had been the new style of dress she had been wearing. More accurately, the way the new style had fit tightly over her bosom and emphasized the curves of her hips.

Felix threw his head back in frustration just thinking about it. He couldn't keep his mind from wandering to when they had climbed into the carriage together, the air stifling between them. There had been this undeniable but unfamiliar tension, and Felix hadn't even been able to choke out simple sentences.

Felix hadn't known what to do or say, even though he'd never felt awkward with women before. He had certainly never felt uncomfortable with Nora in the past.

And then there had been that night—the one just before she had fled from England.

A deep chuckle sounded from behind Felix, and he turned to see an amused-looking Leo leaning in the doorway.

"What are you laughing at?" Felix scowled.

Leo clapped his hands together like a young child on Christmas morning. Considering that Uncle Leo was a man of roughly five and fifty years, it was a comedic sight. Unfortunately, Felix didn't feel very humorous.

"Seeing you pining after a woman," Leo answered, as though it was apparent. "It's just too great."

"I'm glad you find pleasure in my misfortune," Felix grumbled.

"Oh, come off it." Leo approached the sideboard, surveying the collection of spirits there. Choosing one, he plucked the bottle up and poured an ample serving into a glass. Handing it to Felix, he said, "There's no such misfortune."

Felix gave him a deadpan expression. "I crossed the ocean, and she shows no interest in seeing me."

Leo gave a hearty clap on his shoulder. "For some women, you have to go all the way."

"I've already gone a really long way!" Felix pointed out defensively.

Leo smiled over the rim of his glass before taking a large swig. "You have," he acknowledged. "So you'll have to decide if she is worth it to go further." He took another drink from his glass, effectively downing the entire contents.

"I'm going to visit the new publishing house. I will be back in a few hours," Leo said, putting his glass back onto the sideboard. He began walking from the room again, but stopped just short of the door and spun to look at Felix. "I like this one, by the way."

"Nora?"

Leo nodded and turned to leave. But not before yelling behind him, "Never seen a girl make you work this hard. She's won my favor!"

Sighing, Felix thought about what Leo was saying. And he knew that he was willing to do anything for Nora. His resolve had hardened on the trip here, and he shouldn't let himself forget it now. Because deep down, Felix felt so bloody sure. Of her. Of them.

And if she did feel the same, Felix would marry her in an instant. He had already known her forever. For years, he had known everything there was to know about Nora Williams. He knew she loved animals, and that she was terrible at lawn bowling. He knew she sang like an angel and swore like a sailor. And of course, he knew she loved the flurries of the first snowfall.

But Felix just hadn't realized something about himself all these years. He hadn't realized the feelings that had always likely been lurking there. And he couldn't deny them now.

Felix read through the letter she sent him again, hoping to find something that he knew in his heart wasn't there.

Dear Felix,

I was indeed shocked to find that you have traveled across the ocean to my homeland. I do hope that your crossing was bearable. I know that you do not like sea travel and that you have not made such a long journey as this before. I have heard of the Tremont Hotel, but I've never been there before. I hope that you have found the accommodations acceptable thus far? The snow has not fallen yet in New York, either. I am praying that it comes soon for both of our sakes. Boston is not much better a sight than New York at this gray time of year.

Wishing you the best, always.

Nora

Felix knew that it wasn't as simple for her, being that she was of the fairer sex. She couldn't just jump on a horse and ride through Massachusetts. He was aware it wouldn't be easy for her to arrange travel to come to see him. What Felix had been expecting, however, was at least an invitation to call upon her in New York. Honestly, he would settle for dinner. He would settle for a ten-minute conversation in her goddamn sitting room.

Was it possible that he had done something wrong? In her previous letter, Nora had said that she had left her heart in Hertford. Felix had assumed that some of that had to do with him. But perhaps that was just wishful or even selfish thinking.

Perhaps it hadn't had anything to do with him.

Felix might have come to America only to make a fool out of himself, but there was only one way to find out.