Christmas At Hollaway Castle (A Holiday Mix-Up) Read online

  “Yes?” he asked quietly. Politely. Too politely. His character seemed guarded, and suddenly she was sure he’d heard the same rumors as the rest of the party. Perhaps he was just being kind to keep the peace—just biding his time until she left. Tori hesitated, reminding herself what it would mean to be able to pay for her mother’s surgery. That was what she needed to remember.

  “I…” Tori had to look away from his eyes and the way they held hers. “I’d better be going,” she finished in a breath. “Goodbye, Mr. Kent.” She didn’t look back at him, and she was a few yards away before he responded.

  “Goodbye, Ms. Ava.”

  Chapter 4

  Tori had only just returned to her suite when there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find John, if only half of him. He was mostly hidden behind an enormous package wrapped in Christmas paper. She saw the top of his head as he tried to look around the box. “This arrived for you, ma’am,” he said soberly.

  Tori bit back a laugh and swung the door open. “Thank you, John.” The box tipped as he attempted to nod. Tori couldn’t imagine who would send something to Hollaway Castle. Only her parents and a few coworkers knew she was there, and they were waiting for her return to celebrate.

  She allowed John to set it down gingerly before glancing at the tag. The name Ava Randall gleamed back at her, and for a moment she forgot her ruse. She looked up, confused.

  “It’s for you, Ms. Ava,” he said again.

  “Oh, right.” Tori pulled at the wrapping and lifted the lid. She dug through the satiny fabrics to find three beautiful dresses.

  “She got word that the dinner tonight is formal, I believe,” John explained. “And she wanted to be sure you would represent her well.”

  Tori mumbled a thank you, although his words irritated her.

  “Also, ma’am…” John paused, waiting for her to look up, “I must ask you to allow me to escort you if you choose to go on walks alone. For your safety.”

  Tori didn’t see why that would be necessary—she’d been the only one out that morning… mostly. But she agreed, and waited until John left to lift out the gowns. In truth, she hadn’t thought to bring anything quite so formal, but it still irritated her that Ms. Ava had shopped for her—like she was a doll to dress up. She grumbled to herself on her way to the dressing room.

  But, it would have been easier to hold onto her anger if the dresses hadn’t been so beautiful. Tori spun in the third dress, the blue topaz skirt twirling up like a ballerina’s dance. The dress hugged her waist and wrapped across her torso gently. With a sigh, she smoothed her hands along the gown and decided it wouldn’t hurt to wear it a little longer. She kicked her legs out a bit with each step just to feel the skirt tousle around her. And settling on the couch, she lifted a worn paperback from the side table. It was a tale of knights and dragons, and she was quickly lost in its pages as the afternoon faded into evening.

  When there was another knock on the door, she expected to see John again, but it was Oliver staring back at her. “Oli—Mr. Kent,” she stuttered. It looked like he’d just gotten out of the shower, with his smooth face and damp hair. For a moment, she forgot what she was draped in and was confused at his stunned expression.

  “So,” he began, the corners of his lips lifting as he spoke, “you go out in flannel, but stay inside in that?”

  She glanced down and laughed, her cheeks warm. “I was just picking a look for tonight,” she explained, her voice trailing off when she looked back at him. His eyes had settled on her with such warmth it was hard to ignore.

  With a breath, he straightened. “I’m teasing you, of course—forgive me. You must know that you look incredible in anything.” he said with a stiff laugh. “I just wanted to be sure you received an official invite. I believe the one we delivered to your home was misplaced?” He held out an envelope, and she glanced down at it. Curled letters formed Ms. Ava’s name gracefully along the front.

  Tori felt her stomach tighten. “Thank you,” she managed, feeling sick at the lie between them. “I can’t wait to attend.” Oliver seemed to notice the sadness in her voice, and his smile faltered. She tried to form a more genuine smile, but it was only a small improvement. Oliver glanced down the hall and stepped in closer. It made Tori’s heart race, and she studied his face briefly, sure he could see through her.

  “I realize this must be a difficult time for you,” he said. “And I apologize if you felt obligated to attend this summit. Honestly, it didn’t cross my mind what you must be going through.” He looked into her eyes, and Tori’s gaze dropped to the carpet at her feet. He was too kind. “I feel absolutely terrible about it. If you ever feel the need to stay in, don’t hesitate to take some time for yourself. We can manage.” He stepped back and smiled. “Or you could send John in your place. He’s guaranteed to be the life of the party.” He squeezed her hand with a wink, and headed down the hall. Tori watched him leave, sure she’d never felt so low.

  * * *

  Tori’s cheeks were flushed from rushing—she was late. A combination of too much daydreaming and not enough reality. Reading books, she’d decided, was something she could only do on a day absolutely free of obligations. Like, perhaps, on a day when she wasn’t expected to give the opening statement to an evening ball.

  The paper she’d printed off moments before was crinkled in her grip, but the message was all wrong. There was no way she could follow Ava’s orders and read it aloud, not unless she wanted to alienate the entire party with its conceited tone. John was doing a good job keeping up with her as she rushed down the halls. She let go of his arm and ran the last few steps to the ballroom. She could hear him chuckle behind her, but he didn’t try to catch up. John was good at being there when he was needed, and fading away when he wasn’t. With a steadying breath, her eyes swept the room. She told herself she wasn’t looking for anyone in particular—just admiring the space. But when she saw Oliver her eyes refused to move on. They stayed locked in place until she’d admired everything from his coat to the way his lip tilted into a crooked smile when he laughed.

  “I believe you’re right on time,” John said behind her. “I wish you luck Tor—Ms. Ava,” he corrected. “You can find me at the east entrance when you’re finished.”

  Tori blew out a breath and smiled. “Thank you, John.” The music had softened, and the chatter died down as everyone headed to their seats. With a start, she wondered where she was supposed to go.

  “Ms. Ava.” A young woman in a black dress and apron stopped in front of her. “If I could lead you to your seat?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Tori appreciated the elegant decorations as she followed the caterer across the room. Lights and wreaths were everywhere, and pine trees lined the walls. Sparkling red and gold gifts crowded the foot of each tree, and the air carried the delicious scent of pine and cinnamon.

  Coming to her seat, Tori tried to keep her heart and her mind calm as she was seated next to Oliver. He smiled at her and looked out across the room again. She took a moment to greet the other members of her table, hoping to appear attentive as she heard and quickly forgot each name.

  Dinner began, and the entrées were delicious. Tori’s nerves were running away with her, and she hardly spoke a word as she nibbled distractedly at her Cornish hen. She was mentally reviewing lines from the statement Ms. Ava had sent. This year of progress and vision…as we move forward together…blending two ideals into one… It all sounded like some political speech—and it wasn’t her. Irritated, Tori stabbed a big piece of meat and shoved it into her mouth.

  “…and Ms. Ava, you’ve never been to the U.K. before. How are you finding it so far?” Oliver turned to her and seemed to realize his mistake as she tried to swallow the suddenly dry mouthful. She reached for the sparkling glass of water beside her plate and sipped, washing her food down.

  She laughed at Oliver’s worried face. “You caught me enjoying the country just now, Mr. Kent.” Laughter bubbled up from other guests at the table. “I
have to say, I’m a romantic when it comes to the wilderness. And from what I’ve seen so far, I will fall in love with this place. It’s breathtaking.” The faces around her nodded their agreement. When she turned to Oliver, he was smiling so that it reached his eyes, which were now a crystal blue. She let her gaze linger a moment.

  An announcer began introductions from a small podium, and Oliver turned to Tori as everyone else faced the front.

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked quietly.

  Tori had lost her nerves at some point and was feeling much more like herself. She nodded. “I’m ready,” she assured him. “I’ll do my best.”

  He nudged her playfully. “That’s more than enough.”

  A few jokes and one Christmas carol later, and she was walking to the front. She settled behind the microphone, and smiled out at a roomful of faces.

  “Good evening,” she began, looking down at her paper and trying not to cringe—it was all wrong. She looked at Oliver and he nodded back. With a breath, she folded the paper and crossed her hands on top of it. “I’m honored to be here to represent Avalon, a company that has become a treasure to me,” She let her heart take over, speaking of how she’d grown with the company and the many projects she’d adored. “In looking forward to this new year, all I want to say is that we are excited and energized, and we hope to learn from you as much as we share with you. I wish you the merriest Christmas and a year of happiness to come. Thank you.” Applause followed her as she headed back to her seat. Oliver stood and made his way to the front.

  As they passed each other, he leaned toward Tori. “That was perfect—just what this party needed.” He set his hand on her arm briefly and then continued up to the mic. “Enjoy the party everyone. Happy Christmas!”

  The band knew their cue, and music rang out cheerfully. Tori was grateful when most of the table left to enjoy the dance floor in the center of the room. She hadn’t minded being in the spotlight, but it left her feeling exhausted. And there was something else—something she’d realized while speaking to an entire room of people who now believed she was Ms. Ava Randall-Cullens.

  This was going to be very hard to fix.

  She fidgeted in her seat and waited for Oliver to ask the lady he was chatting with to dance—the one with at least five jeweled necklaces crowding her bosom. But a young man tapped the woman’s shoulder, and she bounced up happily, causing her pile of necklaces to jingle like chimes. Tori glanced at Oliver—they were the only two left at their table. But he seemed content to watch the dancing, so she reached for a glass of water.

  “You really did a great job out there,” Oliver said.

  Tori choked on her first swallow, and her eyes teared-up as she tried to fill her lungs.

  “Oh—I’m sorry,” Oliver fumbled. “I keep doing that, don’t I?”

  She cleared her throat with a loud cough and finally pulled in a breath. “No, it’s fine. Really. I should know how to eat, right?”

  They laughed, and suddenly Tori realized what he was about to do. She was feeling more sick with every lie, especially to him. And dancing was bound to require speaking. But when he asked, instead of coming up with an excuse to say no, she found herself trying to pull her smile down a little just to keep her cheeks from bursting.

  “I’d love to,” she answered, setting her hand in his.

  Oliver led the way to a portion of the floor mostly concealed in lighted trees. The delicate glow they gave off was charming and left Tori feeling bathed in starlight. For a while they only danced, each of them paying attention to the way the other moved. Oliver led with slight cues as if he were asking a question—a tilt of his hand or a slight pressure on her back. He was easy to follow and made Tori feel like a much better dancer than she was.

  “You’re a great leader,” she said.

  He tilted his head as if he didn’t believe her. “Thank you, Ms. Ava, but leading doesn't require skill.” She was about to object when he continued. “However, what you’re doing is enchanting the entire room.”

  He tilted his head toward the rest of the party, and Tori saw more than a few couples watching them while they danced. She turned back quickly, and a strand of curls escaped from the network of bobby pins atop her head. Oliver reached a hand forward and then froze, looking into her eyes before returning his hand to hers.

  “I hope you can meet my father while you’re here,” he said. His voice had quieted with the new melody, and they swayed slowly, lost in the moment. “The Kent Company has been in our family for generations—my father spent his life on it.”

  Tori nodded appreciatively. “I would love that,” she answered, holding his gaze as he lifted his hand to lead her into a slow turn. When they stepped together again, he brought her in closer. It wasn’t much, just a slight adjustment of his hand on her back. But Tori noticed it immediately. Her eyes searched his face as he looked out across the room. She wanted to be closer still, to close her eyes and rest her head against him.

  “You know, you’re not anything like I’d expected,” he said softly. “I have to admit you amaze me.” He stopped swaying and gazed down at her.

  Her stomach twisted, and she felt like she would split in two. “I’m sorry, Oliver—” She looked at him, shocked with herself. “I mean, Mr. Kent,” she recovered. A smile settled on his face, serene and perfect. She nearly forgot what she’d meant to say. “I’m afraid there's something I need to tell you,” she hurried. “I have no idea what to do about it—I’m so embarrassed, but I can’t let you believe that I’m…” She fumbled on the words, trying to find enough courage to devastate those blue eyes.

  He stepped back, looking alarmed. “Ms. Ava, forgive me. You clearly wish to be back in your room, and here I am, blubbering all night like a fool.”

  “No,” she objected, holding onto his arm as she spoke. “You’ve done nothing wrong. I just… I enjoy being with you, and…” She quieted again, trying to force the words out.

  But the way he looked at her spoke volumes—what if not being Ava meant losing that? Telling him the truth suddenly seemed impossible. He looked at her calmly, his hand having settled over hers at some point. She steadied her eyes, hoping that someday he could forgive her. “Could I just ask you to forget about my name, and all that it represents? When we’re together, is there any way you could simply see me?”

  His shoulders relaxed, and he lifted her hand in his. “I will if you will,” he answered. He looped her hand around his arm and they headed back to their table. “But I have to confess,” Oliver continued, “it will be easier for me. I sometimes forget my own name when I’m around you. Especially tonight. You look incredible.”

  Tori loved the way he watched her, and the curve of his mouth that always seemed to tilt upward when they were together.

  She couldn’t get his face out of her head, and it made for a few awkward moments during the night. While dancing with the VP of Communications, she’d asked him if he drank often. She’d tried to laugh it off, saying “I mean dance,” but he wasn’t amused.

  After that, she danced with a colleague of Oliver’s. She hadn’t meant to ignore him, but he’d made the mistake of saying Oliver’s name… and then she’d daydreamed about him the rest of the dance. She had no idea what the man had tried to talk about. But she had a feeling he’d noticed her distraction as he chose to end their dance together early due to a headache.

  Just when she felt like she would be better off leaving the party, Oliver asked her to dance a second time.

  “May I?” Was all he said. They were surrounded by other dancers, and as much as she tried not to fall deeper, she ended up trapped in his gaze. The moment her hand held his, warmth tingled against her skin. The couples around them chatted and laughed, but Oliver didn’t say a word. And Tori was too busy trying to quiet her pounding heart to think of anything to say.

  The way he looked at her was mesmerizing. Her lips lifted in a fleeting smile, and as the music faded they stood facing each other silently. Another s
ong began and it felt like a thousand unspoken words passed between them before Tori stepped back, out of the trance that had fallen over her.

  “I’m sorry. It’s late—I should be going,” she rushed, breathless. She hurried outside, nearly running, sure the entire evening had been a mistake. What was she doing? She couldn’t keep falling for him. What would Oliver think when he found out the truth?

  John was jogging to catch up to her as she crossed behind the castle. “Miss, please,” he called.

  She turned and waited reluctantly, sure her safety was far from threatened. But when John linked his arm with hers, he scanned their surroundings endlessly. As they walked his focus was locked on the deep shadows of the forest. It made Tori nervous, sending her stomach twisting even though she saw nothing but tree trunks and night sky.

  When his hold on her arm tightened unexpectedly, she followed his gaze to see there was something. A man stood leaning against a far tree just bordering the grassy courtyard. Snow had settled along his hat, making it clear he’d stood there for some time. He didn’t acknowledge them as they passed, but when he pushed off the tree Tori nearly jumped. She eyed him suspiciously as he walked across the snow-covered courtyard. John stayed silent and had no reaction to the man, not even turning his head as he passed. And there seemed to be nothing else to it. Regardless, Tori couldn’t manage to let her breath out until they were safe inside, and soon enough she found herself back in her room.

  After saying goodnight to John, and assuring him she had no intention of going walking in the early morning, the fear she’d recently felt was quickly brushed aside and quickly turned into a buzzing energy. She couldn’t help but replay every look in Oliver’s eyes, and the way he’d held her hand as he’d led her onto the dance floor. He was so kind—so sure. Somehow she knew that she could depend on him. And now, the trip that she’d dreaded had suddenly turned into something else. Because while Tori hadn’t planned to fall in love, she was dangerously close.