The Tannenbaum is lit, and our tiny ornament is the highlight of it all. I still can’t help but smile at the thought.

The Grand Ballroom is full of the festive sounds of the holidays. All around us, people are laughing and singing along to the music. They’re clinking their glasses of mulled wine or trying one of the many Christmas treats or simply just staring up at the giant tree with awe in their eyes.

This is always one of my favorite days of the year, but things are different this time. I feel like I’m holding my breath, waiting for so many huge things to happen. I pull Victoria closer to my side.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’m fine,” she says, smiling. I can tell she isn’t, though. She’s just as anxious as I am.

“Let’s at least get you a seat,” I say. “You’ve been on your feet long enough.” I lead her over to a chair, helping her into the seat. When she’s comfortable, I ask her again, “Can I get you anything? Water? A plate full of chocolate pastries?”

“No, no, I’m fine,” she says with a wave of her hand. “Really.”

She doesn’t seem fine. She’s been fidgeting all night, and even now, she can’t seem to sit still. She begins straightening the things on the table in front of her. I feel antsy, too, and I don’t know what do to with myself.

“Are you sure I can’t bring you—”

“You know?” she cuts in. “Maybe a plate of pastries would be nice.”

“Perfect. I’ll be right back.” Part of me hates to leave her side, even for a moment, but I need something to do or I’ll go mad.

I stride quickly across the ballroom toward the long table of sweets and pastries. There’s a crowd of people around the table, but they let me through when they see who I am. Normally, I’d insist they go first, but tonight Victoria is my priority, so I take advantage of their kindness. I grab a plate and pile it high with desserts—tartlets and candies and other little finger-sized pastries. I choose quite the assortment, wanting to make sure Victoria has plenty of options to choose from.

When I’m done, I turn away from the table. I begin to head back toward Victoria, but then I spot Leopold nearby, leaning against the wall and watching the festivities.

I’m surprised—normally Leopold is at the heart of the party. He’s calmed down somewhat since Matthew was born, but he still enjoys a good celebration. Tonight, though, since the moment the festival began, he’s been quiet and standoffish. And there can only be one reason why.

He glances my direction, and when his eyes briefly meet mine, he gives an obligatory nod then turns away again. That’s what our relationship has turned into—nods and silence. I’m as much at fault as he is, I fully admit, but I’m not pleased about it in the least.

This ends tonight.

Pastries still in hand, I stride over to him. I’m tired of staying silent, of trying to sweep this issue under the rug. Leopold has had eight months to adjust to the idea of my child, and at some point, we have to clear the air.

I stop in front of him.

“Good evening, Leopold,” I say. “Can we talk?”

He looks almost shocked by my forwardness. Then his eyes dart over the room full of people beyond me.

“Do you really want to do this here?” he asks.

“I’ll do it wherever you like. But this ends tonight. We’re adults, and I refuse to keep ignoring our problems.”

“Surely there might be a better time. It’s Christmas Eve, and we’re in the middle of a party. And your wife—”

“Could give birth at any time, which is why I’d like to settle this now.”

Leopold shakes his head, a wry smile on his lips. “After you’ve ignored me for the past month? You sure know how to handle conflict, Brother.”

“I ignored you? You’re the one who’s been ignoring me.”

Leopold straightens, frowning. “I’ve done no such thing. But don’t worry—you’ve made yourself perfectly clear on how things stand. Don’t worry, Andrew, I completely understand—the law is the law, and that’s far more important than family. Let’s not confuse the two lest things get messy.”

My temper is rising, but I try to keep my voice steady. “I don’t need lecture from you. I’ve tried to do the right thing, every step of the way. I’m sorry things turned out this way, but at some point we all must accept that things are how they are.”

“I’ve accepted them. You’re the one who won’t bloody drop it.”

“Clearly you haven’t accepted them if you had to send your wife to visit my wife to tell me to back off.”

“I did no such thing.”

“Well, she certainly felt the need to come speak to Victoria on your behalf. Perhaps you should inform your wife that—”

I’m cut off by the sudden grip of Leopold’s fist on my collar. He yanks my face closer to his.

“Don’t you dare say a thing about Elle,” he growls at me. “Your problem is with me.”

“Yes, it is.”

Leopold releases me. “Well, then what do you want? Your child will have the title. The matter is already settled. I’m allowed to have own feelings about the matter. You can’t control everything, Andrew. And you definitely can’t control me.”

“I’m not trying to control you.”

“Oh, really? What do you call this, then?”

“I want this settled before my child is born.”

“It’s settled!”

Our agitated conversation has started to draw the attention of those around us, but neither of us seems to care.

“It’s obviously not settled,” I say. “Or we wouldn’t be having this argument.”

“What do you want?” he asks. “Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you’re just trying to pick a fight.”

“I’m doing no such thing.”

“Do you want to hit me?” he asks, spreading his arms. “Go ahead. Hit me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Hit me,” he says again. “You obviously want to. So let’s just get this over with.”

“I will not dignify that with—”

“Hit me!”

Something inside me snaps. I feel it happen, but I’m powerless to stop it. Madness has taken me over, and there’s no denying it. He’s right. I want to hit him.

And then there’s no stopping my body. It seems to move on its own. And my plate of carefully selected pastries goes flying right at his face, with my fist behind it.