He stood, tossed his napkin to his chair, and bade everyone farewell. Then he slipped out the doors of the dining room.

That’s right. He’d just have to pretend everything was normal again until it was.

* * *

As soon as Medford left the room, Lily folded her hands in front of her and leaned forward. “Poor man. But I’m a bit glad he’s gone, to be honest, because there’s something I wanted to speak to all of you about,” she said in a loud whisper.

Devon, Annie, and Jordan all gave her their full attention.

“Lily, what are you up to?” her husband asked in a warning tone.

“Nothing,” Lily replied innocently, batting her eyelashes.

“Now even I don’t believe that,” Annie said on a giggle.

“Neither do I,” Jordan replied with a grin.

Lily winked at her sister and brother-in-law. “It’s just that … I’m planning to invite Kate to Colton House for Christmas too.”

Jordan whistled. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

Lily pushed up her chin. “Why, the poor woman has nowhere else to go. She’s still an outcast to the ton, and she has no family. She may be free now, but she’s got no one. We cannot leave her alone on Christmas.”

Devon lifted his glass. “I, for one, applaud the idea, Lily.”

Lily widened her eyes. “You do?”

“Yes. You’re right. Kate’s got nowhere else to go. But I do think you should tell Medford.”

Lily fluttered her hand in the air. “I disagree. I think it may be best for both of them if they don’t know ahead of time.”

“I have to agree with Lily,” Annie said, reaching across the table to nab another plum tart. “Both might decline the invitation if they know the other is likely to arrive.”

“And shouldn’t that be their choice?” Jordan asked his wife.

“Ordinarily, yes,” Annie agreed with a resolute nod. “But this is a special situation.” She turned her attention back to her sister. “Oh, Lily, do you truly think Kate will come?”

Lily shrugged one shoulder. “I hope so. And I don’t see why not. Where else will she go?”

Devon crossed his arms over his chest and regarded his wife down the length of his nose. “Why exactly do you think Medford wouldn’t want to see Kate?”

Lily gave her husband a sly smile. “Oh, I’ve every reason to believe Medford wants to see Kate. I just wonder if Kate wants to see Medford. And Medford’s too blasted stubborn to admit he wants to see her. You heard what he said tonight.”

“So you intend to trick Kate into it? Besides, how do you know she doesn’t want to see him?” Devon continued.

Lily plucked a plum off the top of the tart she’d been eating and popped it into her mouth. “You heard James. She left his house voluntarily and returned to the prison without saying good-bye. She refused the money he sent her. There is obviously something amiss between the two of them.”

Jordan grinned and arched a brow. “And you two intend to get to the bottom of it, don’t you?” He looked back and forth between his sister-in-law and his wife.

“Precisely,” Lily replied with a smile.

Annie poked at her tart with her fork. “I think it’s an excellent idea. Obviously, what this delicate situation calls for is a Christmastide house party.”

Jordan winked at her. “Remember, darling. House parties can get people into a great deal of trouble. We ended up married after one.”

Annie gave her husband a knowing smile. “Exactly why one is necessary, my dear.”

Devon leaned back in his chair. “Far be it from me to argue with the two most determined matchmakers in the country. But I would just caution you both. Be careful, ladies. Medford hasn’t been in a mood lately to be trifled with.”

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “Who’s trifling? We’re attempting to help him.”

“Help him how?” Devon arched a brow.

“Why, by placing him and Kate back together in the same house, of course. It’s obvious to anyone they have feelings for each other.”

Devon gave her a skeptical look. “Be careful, my love. There’s more than just the murder trial separating those two.”

CHAPTER 31

Kate arrived in the country at Colton House bright and early on Christmas Eve. She’d been staying at a hotel in London for the past two nights after her release from prison. The lord chancellor had seen to it that she received her dower money post haste.

Thankfully, there had been no angry mobs waiting for her when she’d left the Tower. Only Mr. Abernathy and a hired coach, waiting to take her wherever she wished to go. The city may have accepted the fact that she wasn’t guilty, but she still couldn’t return to her husband’s property, for more reasons than one. Even given her acquittal, she wouldn’t be welcomed by her mother-in-law. And Oliver, George’s cousin, would have taken over the properties by now or at least would do so soon. She wasn’t about to go live in the dower house with her hateful mother-in-law. And most importantly, she was free. Free not only from the Tower, but from her old life. And she refused to go back to Markingham Abbey and become a prisoner of another sort again. No, she would make her own way in the world now, somehow.

She’d readily accepted Lily’s invitation to spend Christmas at Colton House, however. She needed a bit more time. Time and space to decide what she would do next, where she would go. Lily had sent Lord Colton’s coach to gather her and the horses made it back to the country estate just before a light snow began to fall.

“Merry Christmas, Kate! Oh, we’re so happy you’ve come,” Lily said, hugging Kate as soon as she walked through the front doors.

Kate pulled off her bonnet and allowed the butler to take her cloak before greeting her hostess with a wide smile. “Merry Christmas to you! And thank you so much for your kind invitation, Lily.”

“Come with me,” Lily said, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her along. “Annie and Devon’s son, Justin, and I were in the salon singing Christmas carols. Devon and Jordan are off doing something. They wouldn’t tell us what. I suspect it has to do with Christmas presents.”

Kate happily followed her friend, and just as they were moving through the foyer, a fox and a funny little striped gray and white animal ran past. Kate stopped and rubbed her eyes.

“Oh that.” Lily fluttered a hand in the air. “That’s just Dash and Bandit. Don’t mind them.”

Kate couldn’t suppress her laugh. “James said you were a bit … unconventional … but until this moment, I wasn’t entirely sure if he was jesting.”

“I’m afraid he wasn’t,” Lily replied, shaking her head.

Another laugh from Kate. “And here I was worried I wouldn’t be allowed to be a duchess with a pig.”

“Nonsense,” Lily replied with a laugh. “I think a duchess with a pig sounds absolutely divine.”

Lily took her by the arm again and they made their way down the corridor. “In addition to a fox and a raccoon-like dog, we also have a little boy and a variety of other dogs here at Colton House. I’m sure you’ll meet them all before long.”

Kate squeezed her arm and Lily stopped. “Thank you again for your invitation, Lily. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You and Annie are my only friends.” She glanced away.

“A temporary state, I’m sure,” Lily reassured her, with an encouraging smile. “I only hope you enjoy your Christmas with us.”

Kate nodded. “Considering I’ve been convinced this would be my last Christmas and now it’s not, I’m sure to enjoy it immensely,” she replied with a shaky laugh.

Annie came bounding out of the door to their left. “Ah, Justin said you’d come. He was watching from the landing.”

Kate glanced up to see a handsome little boy of no more than five or six with dark curly hair and equally dark watchful eyes looking at her. “Is that Justin? He looks so much like his father.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Lily gestured for the boy to come downstairs. Justin made his way down the steps and bowed an adorable little bow to Kate. Kate’s heart melted. Oh how she wished she had a little boy of her own. The thought hit her out of nowhere, stealing her breath.

“Justin, say ‘Merry Christmas’ to her grace, Duchess Kate,” Lily said.

Kate shook her head frantically. “Oh no, no, no. Not Duchess Kate, just Kate.” She smiled at the boy.

“Well, Kate then,” Lily amended, nodding to Justin to let him know it was all right.

“Merry Christmas, Lady Kate,” Justin said, with another little formal bow.

“A pleasure to meet you, Master Justin,” Kate replied, laughing. She swept a grand curtsy in front of him.

The boy blushed beautifully, before turning to his stepmother. “Lily, may I have a sweet?”

Lily gave him a conspiratorial grin. “It depends. Have you been good?” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down her nose at the boy, but the smile that lurked at the corners of her mouth belied the teasing nature of her remarks.

Justin nodded earnestly. “Quite, quite good.”

This time Lily nodded. “Then yes, you may have a sweet. Tell Cook I said so.”

The boy scampered off and Lily watched him go with a bright, adoring look on her face. “Ah, he’s such a good boy. Such a dear. Far too intelligent for his years though, I’m afraid. Not much gets by him. The tutors tell Devon he’s a genius.”

“Not to mention he’s adorable and extremely well behaved,” Kate said with a smile, a twinge of regret in her heart for the child she would never have.

Lily and Annie each took one of Kate’s arms and led her into the salon on the left. They ushered her in, and Lily gestured to a seat on the sofa. “Tea will be served momentarily.”