Chapter V
An impatient knock sounded at Noel's door. Curious, she went over and opened it.
Instantly, she wished she hadn't.
There in the doorway was a furious, icy-eyed Duchess Devin. Her cold blue eyes and fashionably pale skin and the overall collected air of her anger gave the impression of an ice queen.
As etiquette required, Noel curtsied to her hostess.
"Duchess Devin, what an honour. To what do I owe the pleasure?" She couldn't quite hold back all sarcasm.
"Is it an important business?" The Duchess asked.
"I'm sorry?"
"Your father's business, is it an important one?"
"Er...Well, truthfully, madam, my father is no more." Noel had never had a father; dying Stars were the mothers of Angels, no intercourse or males involved.
"Oh? Then who provides for your mother and yourself?" Noel felt herself floudering. Clarence was the Angel who had raised her...
"My stepftather."
"And the business, what is it?" Keeping the Earth in one piece, the occasional romantic interference...
"Insurance. Life insurance, mostly." Lawrence's mother appraised her a moment, disapproval written on her features. She made a noise of derision.
"Well, Miss Yulehearth, I want you only to know that no matter how pretty you are or how scandalously you flirt, you shall never marry my son." Duchess Devin leaned closer as she hissed, "Even he deserves better than you."
Then the Duchess paced proudly down the corridor like a righteous peacock.
Noel knew they weren't true but still she felt Duchess Devin's words like a sharp stick to the chest.
"Noel?" Noel looked up to see Lawrence hovering in the hallway.
"Oh, Mr Blackwood. I just had the most delightful encounter with your mother." She said. Lawrence scoffed.
"I'm sure." There was a while of ill-fitted silence that was filled with empty intakes of air and failed conversations and a yearning to say something.
"Goodnight, Mr Blackwood".
"Goodnight, Miss Yulehearth".
Noel closed the door, leaning against it. The oak-brown hair and grey eyes set deep into a roughly-hewn, rogue-ish face was imprinted into her mind's eye.
Shivering, Noel rubbed her arms through the cotton nightdress and went over to the fire to put another hunk of wood on the flames. She froze as a frantic two-part thumping jumped through her body. Slowly, Noel's hand touched the locket around her neck. It was beating feverishly. Almost as frantically, Noel dug through the basket of logs and kindling, unhindered by splinters and pulled out the Yule Log.
It seemed almost alive as it hummed with warmth.
She had not failed!
She had found it!
She could go home!
Noel faltered. She was required to go home. Noel thought about today, about the snow angels and the snowball fight, coming into the warmth and the dryness and having tea. She thought about Lawrence. Did she really want to go home?
YOU ARE READING
Just One Christmas Wish
Cerita PendekLawrence is the rogue-ish, charming, sarcastic son of a Duke and Duchess and heir to his father's estate. Despite his mother, Lawrence and his father have always rather enjoyed Christmas --or Yule, as Duke Fergusson always points out, forever proud...
