CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
MARCUS
Marcus adjusted his tux collar and studied his reflection in the full-size mirror in his guest suite. His eyes looked unusually bright, mirroring the happy feeling he felt inside. His movements were sure and full of pleasure. He felt like a kid getting ready for Christmas.
Marcus and Katy were the only guests staying at the castle so far, but soon that would change. Jay mentioned something about his brothers coming home for Christmas. Then there would also be the requisite celebrity guest list from all over Europe.
Marcus descended two sets of stairs until he reached the first level. He only needed to follow the din of music and conversation to know where the party was. The ballroom was packed, with an orchestra playing instrumental Christmas music on the stage. Guests milled around a gigantic trimmed tree.
Jay caught sight of him and motioned him over. Marcus weaved his way through the crowd and joined his host by the stage.
“My brothers,” Jay said with a general sweep of his hand. “Armando, who is currently living in Mongolia. Diego plays professional soccer. Felipe studies art in Italy. Alvaro is our resident rock star.” Jay’s eyes clouded over for a moment. “We have another brother, but he couldn’t come.”
“Couldn’t come or didn’t want to come?” an older lady said. She looked like a blonde version of Jay, so it wasn’t a surprise that it turned out she was his mother.
“And you are the famed Marcus James,” Jay’s mother said.
“Famed?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Everyone knows about your Christmas contest. How very generous.”
Marcus’s smile waned. “Unfortunately, some people deride it as a stunt.”
“Well, I agree. It’s a brilliant stunt.”
Marcus bit his tongue and stayed silent. He glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Katy.
Jay’s cell phone beeped. He glanced at the screen. “If you will excuse me, it’s Talia.” He listened intently for one moment and then turned to Marcus.
“She needs your help with something,” Jay said. “Can you meet her by the castle’s main door?”
“Of course,” Marcus said, though the request baffled him.
Easier said than done. The crush was hard to penetrate. Marcus tried hard to make progress, and when he finally did so, he had to adjust his tuxedo, having had to squeeze between people.
A guard opened the door and announced, “Miss Katy Stevens.”
Marcus chuckled to himself. Leave it to Talia to play matchmaker.
The thought blew through his mind like a leaf in the wind as his mind went blank. For Katy was a vision in her red cloak, the white fur surrounding her head like a halo, sitting in a horse-drawn carriage, yards of a dreamy red material billowing under her.
With a quick return of sense, Marcus took the steps and opened the carriage door to help her out. Her perfume reached his nostrils, making him ache to take her in his arms.
As it was, he contented himself to holding her hand as she flicked her red skirt and stepped out. Arm in arm, they climbed the stairs.
“Where did you come from?” he whispered, noting the swirls of snowflakes dusting her cheeks and ruby-red lips.
“From the back of the palace,” Katy said.
“A more dramatic entrance?”
Katy grinned. “Talia’s idea.”
“I have Talia to thank for a lot of things, I suppose.” He grinned back.
Once inside, Katy shrugged off her cloak. Marcus, who was standing behind her, swallowed with difficulty. Her dress, with its wide straps, showed an expanse of creamy skin.
Talia approached them, looking straight at Marcus. “You are such a dear. Would you mind keeping Katy company tonight? She’ll need a dance partner, of course.”
With a smug expression, Talia floated off to mingle with other guests.
Katy stifled a smile. “You are under no obligation to keep me company.”
“I could say the same for you,” he retorted.
“It’s the Christian thing to do,” she said solemnly.
He shook his head and smiled. “Katy, you are something else.”
She smiled back. “I’m teasing.”
“I can’t tell. You’ve always been a step away from sainthood.”
She chortled, sounding less than ladylike. “I can pull a prank, I’ll have you know.”
“Oh?” As a waltz came on, he offered his hand and took her in his arms. “Tell me your dark secrets, Katy Stevens.”
She bit her lip. “You promise not to think horribly of me?”
“I promise.”
Her eyes glowed. “In sixth grade, I let all the frogs out in science class.”
“I am not surprised.”
“In seventh grade, I poured honey in the shoe of a bully who was tormenting another girl in our class.”
“I am absolutely scandalized.”
“And you?” she said, sliding her glance over him. “What sorts of pranks did you do when you were younger?”
“Oh dear, I need to keep count of this waltz, or it will be the death of me. I’m sorry. I didn’t hear your question.”
She smiled a secret smile.
He leaned close to her ear. As he spoke, his lips brushed against her skin. “You don’t want to know about my boyhood pranks.”
“I don’t?”
He shook his head. More brushes with his lips against her exquisite skin.
“No, maybe I don’t,” she said, her color heightened.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t get jailed. Even though I might have deserved it a time or two.”
He twirled her around until they were both breathless, before coming together even closer than when they started the waltz.
“I have been remiss,” he said. “I failed to tell you how beautiful you are. Stunning in that red dress.”
“Thank you.” Katy blushed. “I will have you know it was Talia’s idea.”
Quietly, he thanked Talia.
“I don’t like drawing attention to myself,” she said.
“I know. I’m glad you did tonight.”
“And you look handsome,” she said.
“Am I forgiven, then?” he murmured.
Was he forgiven? What was there to hold on to? Bitterness and sorrow for his harsh words? Jealousy over the reporter? Loneliness and despair in generous spades?
“Yes,” she said, “you are.”
He had been holding her rigidly in his arms, bracing himself for her chilly response. Now he relaxed. Tears glistened in his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Katy,” he breathed. “My sweet Katy. I deserved your anger. I hurt you terribly. My words. Throwing a fit. That stupid Jacuzzi party.”
“Yes,” she said. “It was stupid.”
He winced. “After what you told me about your father, I’m surprised you’re still talking to me.”
She smiled wistfully. “I wish things could be different with my father, but they are as they are. I decided a while back that until I forgive him, I was only hurting myself. Still,” she gave him a sidelong glance. “Unfaithfulness is my biggest fear.”
“Katy, it may not be much, but when I make promises, I keep them.”
He kissed her palm, her thumb, her finger, until she trembled. She took her hand from his grasp and touched his face.
Talia happened to come by, beaming from ear to ear.
“All is well?” Talia whispered.
Marcus studied Katy’s shining face. “I think it’s on the way there.”
Talia hugged both of them and left them to continue dancing in the crowded ballroom.
“There is one thing that still needs resolving,” he said. “I won’t make any bones about it. Christmas still represents something tragic and sad. I think it might for a long, long time.”
“I understand.” Katy nodded.
“Do you, Katy Stevens?” He gazed into her eyes. “Life isn’t all bright colors, happy bows, and puppy breaths.”
She touched his cheek. “It can be, though. I hope that, someday, Christmas can be a time of joy.”
“It should, shouldn’t it?” His eyes took in the glitzy ballroom, the blatant show of wealth and privilege. Then he turned back to her dear face.
She was opening up to him again, and they were about to move forward in their relationship. Now that it was happening, was he ready for it? Fear returned like the drumbeat of war.
“I know what you’re feeling,” she said. “I’’ve felt it too.”
His throat tightened. “You have?”
“You’re scared of loving someone and losing them.”
He took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. But you know what? This time, I’m not running away. I’m going to give us a chance.”
Her eyes glimmered as she smiled.
“My sweet Katy.” He held her close and kissed her temple. “I’ll do my best tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” she said.