Miss Mistletoe by Erin Knightley Page B

As they walked, she tried not to think of the last time she had been among Hertford’s tropical plants, when she and Finn had rediscovered each other, so to speak. She stifled a sigh, thinking of how much things had changed since then. Why did he have to go and propose to her? To tell her of how well suited they were and how logical their match would be? She could have lived happily for a lifetime on the perfection of their kiss; instead, she was stuck with the pain of having to turn him away.
    She was well and truly lost in thought when they reached the door, and she carelessly pushed through, her head down to make sure there were no obstacles for Papa to trip over. But something about the smell of the air and the odd glow around them made her look up. She stopped dead in her tracks, gasping at the scene in front of her.
    The conservatory was alight with hundreds of candles, scattered among the dark leafy foliage like fallen stars. The frosted windows, stretching from the floor to the domed ceiling like a glass cocoon, reflected the flickering light, adding intimacy to the huge space. Despite the snow floating gently to earth just outside, the space was warm, heated by the crackling logs burning in the two massive fireplaces.
    A figure stepped out from a cluster of
Dracena Massageana
, and Cece’s breath caught in her throat.
Finn!
    Like a knight surveying his kingdom, he stood tall and straight, both hands clasped behind his back. Cece’s heart fluttered wildly within her chest. He was so handsome, so
perfect
, the very air around her suddenly seemed lighter at the sight of him.
    Cece turned wide eyes on her father, unable to believe the fairyland he had brought her to. Did he know what awaited them? Though he couldn’t see it, the unmistakable scent of beeswax candles infused the floral air. “Papa,” she started, but faltered, not even sure what to say.
    “My sweet tiger lily,” he said, using the endearment from her childhood that made her throat tighten. “You’ve been absolutely invaluable to me these last few years. Truly, I don’t know what I would have done without you. But I realized recently that I am the parent, and you are the child. It is time for you to stop living for me, and to start living for yourself.”
    “Did Finn—” She broke off as her father gently disengaged her fingers from his arm, and brought her hands to his mouth. Pressing a kiss to the back of each one, he said, “This is my gift to you, my daughter. Nothing would please me more than to know that you are loved, happy, and well taken care of. Just as I will be.”
    He smiled and released her hands. She stood there, staring at him in shock, as Mrs. Kelly padded up from behind them, smiled at her with tears in her eyes, and linked arms with Papa. He reached out to find her face, then placed a soft kiss on the housekeeper’s cheek. Cece’s eyes widened as delight bubbled through her veins like champagne. Well, of course! How had she not realized it earlier?
    They turned and started for the door before Papa paused and tilted his head in Finn’s direction. “Take care of her, Edgerton. Otherwise, you’ll have to answer to me.” With a wink to Mrs. Kelly, they walked back toward the hallway, shutting the door behind them.
    Cece swallowed and slowly turned to face the man she had been trying to forget for months—years really. Soft strains of Christmas carols filtered down from the party, reminding her of the last Christmas they had been together. She knew now that, though he appeared unchanged on the outside, he was so different than the man she thought she knew. He was so much better, in so many ways.
    Finn walked toward her, never taking his eyes from hers. She, in turn, could not have looked away for anything in the world.
    “My dear Cecelia. These past few months, I have cursed myself a thousand times over for letting you slip away. I told myself that it was for the best, that I must set aside my feelings for you in favor