Part 33 (1/2)

She gave a Gallic shrug, a half smile on her pretty face. ”This is not my first card game. And it doesn't hurt to have a brilliant mathematician for a husband, one who has taught me how to keep track of what's been played. Rather like his brother Jack, I imagine.”

Jack's grin widened.

”Is that not right, mon amour?” Sebastianne said, looking toward the sofa. ”Drake?”

Drake didn't look up, a faraway look in his eyes.

”Drake?” Sebastianne said again, pitching her voice so that it was low and soft, yet astonis.h.i.+ngly clear.

Suddenly, Drake turned his head and blinked, looking right at her. ”Yes? Did you win, sweetheart?”

”No, I did not,” Sebastianne said.

”That's good. Let me know if you need more money.” Drake frowned, the distant look coming back into his eyes. Suddenly he used the pencil in his hand to scratch something down on the small pad of paper balanced on his knee.

Rather than feel slighted, Sebastianne laughed along with the rest of them.

”What's our favorite mad genius working on this time?” Meg said in a low voice.

”A new theorem of some sort. And an invention that deals with steam-driven engines.” Sebastianne smiled. ”If it weren't Christmas, I would never have gotten him out of his laboratory. You know how he is when he's creating.”

Everyone nodded; they all knew Drake.

”So, no one else wants to play?” Jack asked, rubbing his palms together.

”No!” they all said in unison.

Jack just laughed.

”Pardon me, my loves, but I am afraid I must interrupt your game playing,” said Ava as she strolled serenely into their midst. ”It is well past time we opened our presents, then went in for our dinner.”

Leo smiled at his mother, her gentle voice and kind remonstrations reminding him of other occasions, other Christmases. She was just as beautiful as she'd been when he was a boy, her green eyes just as clear, her hair the same soft brown with only a few more threads of silver.

”Your timing is impeccable, as always, Mama,” he told her. ”We were just finished.”

He and the others stood-everyone except Drake and Mallory. They both stayed on the sofa, Mallory because she didn't feel like getting up yet and Drake because he hadn't heard a word anyone-not even his mother- had said.

Smiling with patience and love, Sebastianne went to shake him out of his reverie.

Leo saved Thalia's gift to him for last, tucking it next to his hip while he opened the stack of other presents he'd received.

The room was an explosion of paper and boxes and ribbon-and noise. It seemed like everyone in the family was talking at once, exclaiming over their presents, showing them off and calling out their thanks.

He'd retreated again to the quiet corner he'd been in earlier, enjoying the small bubble of solitude. Odd really, since he was usually in the center of any action. But today he needed a little s.p.a.ce.

Silently, he opened each present until Thalia's small gift was all that remained. He ran his fingers over the paper, taking his time as he pulled the ribbon free.

It was a book.

A copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to be exact.

He opened the cover and read what Thalia had written in her elegant, flowing hand.

For Leo, Because I know you enjoy using your brain a great deal more than you care to let on.

Merry Christmas 1817 He laughed.

She had him dead to rights. He did act the careless Corinthian, in ways that often disguised his true self. But when a man had so many brilliant siblings, he needed some other means than being smart to set himself apart. Humor and sports had always served their purposes. And he'd always enjoyed himself in the process.

But Thalia saw through his facade.

Thalia saw him.

He ran his hand over the binding again and thought of her back in London, wondering what she was doing now and if she'd had a happy day.

He frowned, realizing that for all his pleasure in being among his family, there was an emptiness he'd never felt before now. Something was missing-or rather someone.

So what are you going to do about it? whispered a little voice in his head.

His hand tightened on the book.

Yes. What?

”Will there be anything else this evening, milady?”

Thalia looked over at her lady's maid. ”No, that will be all. Thank you for the bedtime cocoa, Parker. And Merry Christmas.”

The other woman smiled. ”Merry Christmas, milady.”

”Remember that tomorrow is Boxing Day. You and the rest of the staff are to have the entire day off, so no getting up early or bringing me breakfast. Mrs. Grove has set out a lovely cold repast for me in the dining room and I can brew my own pot of tea on the fireplace hearth. You've left plenty of water for me in the pitcher, so I can bathe and dress myself as well.”

”I don't mind seeing to you, milady. I won't be leaving for my sister's until late morning, so it's no trouble.”

”You're always so good to me, Parker. But no, you sleep in and have the whole day to yourself.”

”If that is what you prefer, milady. Have you any special plans for tomorrow?”

Thalia's throat tightened. Resolutely, she pushed away the wave of melancholia that rushed over her at the thought of being alone in the house. Even Fletcher had let her know he would be away visiting an old friend. At least Hera would be around for company-unless she deserted her to go hunting for moles in the garden.

”Do not worry about me.” Thalia forced a smile. ”I shall find plenty to keep me busy, just as I do every year.”

And she always had, since the very first Christmas she'd spent on her own after the divorce. Yet this year felt different. This year she felt her solitude more keenly than ever before.

Because of Leo.