Chapter 16

"It doesn't have to be the end, you know." He leaned down until they were nose to nose. "I don't want it to be the end."

"I don't either, Noel. But it has to be, don't you see? This has been - well - magic. But it's not reality. In the real world, you're the boss's son and I'm an employee. You're the rich, good-looking artist and I'm the boring number cruncher with no social life. It would never work, Noel. In your heart, you know that. But thank you. It means the world to me that you even thought about it."

"But, Shelby..."

She laid her mitten-covered hand over his lips. "Stop. Let's just enjoy what little time we have left. Please?"

She felt him sigh before he nodded. When she moved her hand, he kissed the tip of her mitten before he spoke. "I'll stop talking now, sweetheart. But as soon as we're back in Charleston, you're fair game. I'm not giving you up. Eventually you'll figure that out."

Shelby shook her head. "As soon as you're back in your glitzy world with your models and debutantes, you'll forget all about me. But I'll never forget this weekend. So don't do anything now to spoil my memories."

"I promise." He kissed her lightly on the nose. "Although you're wrong. I'll never forget this either, as long as I live. Now, what do you want to bet there's hot chocolate waiting inside?"

"That's a bet I wouldn't take. The house always seems to know the perfect thing and hot chocolate would be wonderful right about now."

They sat on the bench to remove their skates and hurried inside. Sure enough, there was hot chocolate waiting in the parlor.

"The sampler's different," Noel said, pacing the room with his mug. "Come look at this."

Shelby stood and crossed to the sampler on the wall. She cleaned off her glasses and put them back on, staring at the small panel of cross-stitch as she read it out loud. "The sweetest gift of all is when two hearts are given and accepted in return."

"Sounds appropriately Victorian," Noel commented. "And quite probably very true."

Shelby shrugged. "Maybe that's what it really said all along," she suggested. "And it only changed to inform us about what we needed to know."

"Maybe."

He moved away and stared into the fire, and all Shelby wanted to do in the world was cross to him and tell him she loved him. She did, of course. She strongly suspected she always would. Too bad the magic would be over tomorrow.

There was clothing laid out on the bed when they'd gone back upstairs. A note alongside them read, Dinner will be served at nine.

That gave them more than enough time for another frantic bout of sex, followed by a quick bath before they helped each other dress, this time in their full Victorian finery. Shelby piled her hair up on her head. She even let Noel lace her into the full-blown corset and tie on a hoopskirt. She buttoned on his starched collar and helped him tie his cravat. It wasn't perfectly comfortable, but when he looked at her, shining in a gown of gold tissue with a string of jade and gold beads, he didn't mind the collar a bit. It was worth it to be the only man who'd ever seen her like this. The gold made her strawberry blonde hair shine and the jade was exactly the color of her eyes. She quite literally took his breath away.

Dinner was an elegant repast. Appetizers and champagne were waiting for them in the parlor, and Noel could swear there were Christmas carols playing somewhere in the background. He'd taken so much teasing about his name as a child, he'd always hated holiday songs, but tonight the soft, barely audible music seemed to create the perfect backdrop. When they adjourned to the dining room, a hot soup was already plated and waiting. A note suggested they return to the parlor between courses and there was a lemon ice waiting there. So on, back and forth, until they'd consumed more than Noel thought either of them could possibly hold.

At the end of the meal they went back into the parlor, the music was fully audible and the rug had been rolled back, exposing the polished mahogany floor.

Noel took the hint. He held out his hand to Shelby. "Shall we dance?"

"Of course." Her smile was dazzling as she looked up into his face. "I'm not very good."

"Oh baby, you're the best I've ever seen. Just relax and let the music do the rest." He pulled her into the hold for a waltz, grateful to his grandmother for insisting on ballroom dance lessons. Who'd have thought he'd have ever enjoyed a waltz this much?

Despite her worries, Shelby proved to be an ideal partner. She clearly didn't know the steps, but she followed his lead as if she were inside his head, anticipating his every move. Why couldn't she see how perfect they were together? He held her close to his heart and moved with her to the music, willing her to feel the love he didn't want to hide.

The next song was faster and he swung her into a lively polka. After that a smooth foxtrot. By the time the music ended, maybe half an hour later, they were both breathless and smiling.

"Are we ready to go upstairs?" He bowed low over her hand.

Shelby executed a curtsey, imperfect but adorable. "I am. You think we'll still be here in the morning?"

He shook his head. "I don't think so. Look at the sampler."

Shelby stepped closer and read, "May you have the merriest of Christmases, now and always." She choked back a sniffle. "No, you're right. We'll be home in the morning."

"Then let's go make this a night to remember." His own voice shook more than he wanted to admit.

Shelby nodded up at him. "It will be."

Hand in hand, they climbed the grand staircase one last time.