Their Mistletoe Matchmakers. Keli Gwyn

He joined her under the oak a few feet away, far enough from the shed to give Alex a feeling of independence but close enough to rush to his nephew’s aid if need be. Not that the careful boy would get into any trouble.

      Unlike you, Hawthorn. He’d managed to insult Lavinia again. He’d had no intention of doing so, but he was a much better cook than he was a conversationalist. He could hold his own with the rugged miners who stayed in his hotel, but when it came to society ladies, he was out of his element. Unless the lady was talking about food. He’d gotten on fine with the woman who’d taught him everything she’d learned at Mrs. Goodfellow’s cooking school.

      “I didn’t mean anything by what I said.”

      She studied him with narrowed eyes. “Didn’t you? I know you don’t think well of Father, but he was only trying to ensure our safety. A person could get hurt falling from a tree.”

      “Not if that person knew what he—or she—was doing.”

      “Perhaps, but I trust you have no intention of encouraging the children to climb trees, especially the girls. I couldn’t bear it if anything were to happen to one of them.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “We’ve dealt with more than enough tragedy.”

      “I won’t encourage them, but Alex’s friend Frankie has been urging him to climb one, so I intend to show him how it’s done. That way he’ll know what to do should he give way to the pressure. I’ll point out how far I’m comfortable having him go. Not that I expect him to climb too high on his own. He’s a cautious one.”

      “I’m aware of that. I might not have spent as much time with the children as you have, but I’ve gotten to know them quite well.”

      He’d trod into dangerous territory again. Best to avoid tricky topics altogether. “You said you had a plan. Care to tell me about it?”

      Her wariness fell away, and the excitement he’d seen earlier returned. “Gladly.” She watched Alex pound a nail after checking the shingle’s position three times. “I want the children to see why Pauline loved Christmas as much as she did, so I’m going to throw a party like those we had growing up.”

      His sister-in-law had told him about the lavish affairs her father had hosted. “Wouldn’t a ball be a bit much? The children are too young to dance.”

      Lavinia laughed and swatted his arm. “I know that, Henry.”

      He’d enjoyed the contact more than he should have, innocent though it was. Lavinia was a lovely lady, but she was a lady who had definite ideas about how things should be done. She was also the lady determined to take Jack and Pauline’s children away from him. Not that he was concerned. She had no grounds for guardianship, whereas he had the law on his side. “What are you planning, then?”

      She glanced around the yard, as though assuring herself no one was around, and launched into a lively description. “For starters, I’m going to rent the meeting hall in that vacant building downtown, the one that used to be a hotel. It will make a wonderful venue for the party.”

      “Why can’t you just have it here?”

      Her musical laugh rang out once again. “Here?” She glanced at the house. “It’s much too small.”

      Warning bells rang. Loudly. “Just how many people do you plan on inviting? Alex’s only close friend is Frankie. Marcie pals around with Norma’s eldest daughter, Olivia, and two other schoolgirls, and little Dot plays with Norma’s younger daughter, Yvonne. Those children and their families could fit in the parlor.”

      Lavinia stared at him with the look of a schoolmarm attempting to explain something to an unperceptive pupil. “I thought Pauline told you about our parties.”

      “She did. They were some of her most treasured memories.”

      “I can understand that. They’re grand events. It would appear she didn’t make it clear how many people attend them, though. Our friends come, of course, but Father also invites everyone who works at the Crowne Jewel and their families, as well as our household servants. He hires staff to fill their positions for the evening.”

      The size of the guest list came as a surprise. That would be at least three-hundred people. And based on hearsay gathered from the employees Henry had met during the construction of Crowne’s Philadelphia hotel, the hotelier wasn’t known for his generosity. “That’s kind of him. You must have a large parlor.”

      She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Oh, we don’t use the parlor. Father had a ballroom added to the house, and we hold the party there. That’s why I needed to find a place big enough for the one I’m planning.”

      “Who all will be coming? You still haven’t said.”

      Lavinia fisted her right hand and extended a different finger for each group she named. “All the schoolchildren and their families, the members of the congregation, Norma and her family, Gladys and, of course—” she raised her thumb and sent him a winsome smile “—you.”

      “That’s quite a gathering. I can see why you’re planning to rent the hall, but Benedict can be a hard man to track down.” He’d tried to locate the owner himself after receiving word of Jack and Pauline’s tragic accident—to no avail. If he could buy the building, he could turn it into a hotel, hire a manager and earn the money needed to support the children. And still have plenty of time to spend with them.

      “It took some doing, but I found out who’s serving as his agent.”

      “How?”

      She patted her curls. “A lady can find out all manner of things if she sets her mind to it.”