Biltmore Christmas Read online

  Warm blood rushed to her cheeks, and she looked away. Seeing Robert’s knowing smirk, her cheeks then went from warm to blazing in an instant. With a hasty curtsy, she backed away from both of them and made her escape.

  The cool air felt good on her overheated skin as she made her way back to the main house. Perhaps things were not as bleak as she’d thought.

  Chapter 6

  The sky outside Melissa’s window blushed pink, reminding her of her reaction the evening before when Ned Robinson smiled at her. Melissa splashed cold water on her face and gasped, her thoughts of the man temporarily banished as she reached for a clean towel. She ought to be able to stop thinking about him, anyway. Stop thinking about the gentle way he had soothed her while she cried. No man as handsome and debonair as Ned would glance at her a second time. The only reason he’d paid any attention to her at all was because she had thrown herself at him.

  Her stomach grumbled as she dressed for the day, unhappy with her decision to avoid dinner the night before. But she had been unable to bear the thought of the accusing faces gathered around the servants’ table. She sighed as she made her way toward that same table. It was time to face the music. She couldn’t skip a second meal.

  As she entered the room, all conversation stopped. Melissa squared her shoulders and tilted her chin. She would not retreat now. She walked toward the sideboard and selected a piece of toast and a slice of ham. By the time she gathered the necessary utensils and some fresh butter, laughter and talking had resumed. She sat stiffly in a chairbetween two maids whose names escaped her and closed her eyes to bless the food on her plate. When she opened them, no one sat on either side of her. Did they think her contagious?

  A knot formed in her stomach, and her appetite disappeared. Melissa broke off a piece of the toast and put it in her mouth, nearly choking as she tried to force the dry morsel past her tight throat. After another equally difficult bite, she gave up. Picking up her plate, she set it on a tray and exited the dining room.

  Not sure what to do next, she returned to her room and sat on the bed she’d made up when she first arose. The Bible her sister Selma had given her last year rested on the small table beside her bed. Melissa picked it up, her fingers caressing the raised lettering on the stylish cover, and wished her sister still lived in the area. Or either of her other sisters, Charity and Peggy. But she was the last one here.

  A noise brought Melissa’s head up. A note appeared under her door. A notice of dismissal? Her heart throbbed slowly as she rose and walked toward it. She bent over and grabbed it between shaking fingers. What would she do?

  She perched once again on the edge of her bed and opened the heavy vellum sheet. Her eyes dropped down to the signature. Mrs. King. Her gaze flew to the top.

  Melissa,

  I regret your position in the kitchen did not work out well. Mr. Burdette and I have put our heads together and decided to give you duties more suited to your abilities. We are aware of your enjoyment of the out-of-doors, so we have settled on tasking you with gathering the greenery for decorating the hearths, tables, and doorways of Biltmore for the Christmas holiday season. You may acquire the necessary tools from the estate gardener, Mr. Arthur, who has been apprised of your new duties. After gathering the greenery, you will work in the stable to craft eye-pleasing decorations. You may look at the current arrangements before beginning as long as you do not disturb the family or any of the guests. Mr. Burdette and I trust you will excel with this assignment. If not, I fear we may have no further choice in the matter of continuing your employment at Biltmore.

  Clutching the note, Melissa flew downstairs and out to the stable. She could not believe this turn of events and wanted to share her excitement with Robert. The fact that she might see Mr. Robinson again had absolutely nothing to do with the way her heart pounded.

  “Robert!” She ran into the stable and took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of fresh hay. “Where are you? I have something to tell you!”

  “I’m in here.” His voice came from the tack room. Melissa hurried toward it and found him mending a harness. She thrust the note at him. “Look at this.”

  Robert’s lips moved as he read the words. When he finished, he smiled up at her. “This sounds perfect. Miss Elsie always says you’ve an eye for decorating.”

  “I know.” She twirled around in her excitement, her armsspread wide. “I can hardly believe it.”

  “Careful.”

  Melissa’s whirl came to an abrupt halt at the unexpected voice. Her eyes flew open and met the ebony gaze of the newcomer. “What are you doing here?”

  Mr. Robinson chuckled at her blunt question, but Robert did not.

  “Melissa!” Her friend’s voice held censure. “Mind your manners. Ned’s staying here until he gets his horseless carriage running again.”

  Ned’s dimples appeared once more, as intriguing as they’d been the evening before. “And what, may I ask, are you doing here? Have you been banished to the stable for your misdemeanors?”

  Melissa shook her head. “I’m going to be in charge of the Christmas decorations inside the house.”

  He stroked his chin as he considered her words, his dark gaze focused on her face. “All by yourself? Isn’t that a rather large job for a single girl to accomplish?”

  Doubt flooded her at his words. Her elation faded a little as she considered the enormity of her task. She turned to Robert. “I’m sure you’ll be able to help some, won’t you?”

  A shout from the main entrance interrupted his answer.

  Robert shook his head. “I have to go.” He put down the harness and hurried out of the tack room, leaving Melissa with the tall stranger.

  “I don’t suppose you would consider letting me help you.”

  Melissa glanced at him, caught again by his intense gaze. Was there humor lurking in his dark eyes? “I—I don’t know.”

  His mouth turned up in a smile. “I have a proposal I think will benefit both of us.”

  “What is that?”

  “I noticed the work you did on my carriage—”

  Her jaw tightened and her chin went up. “I haven’t touched it since my trip to the hospital.”

  He nodded. “I know. And I truly regret my impulsive words that day. I realize how wrong I was. In fact, I need your help if I’m going to get my vehicle in good working order by the deadline Mr. Vanderbilt gave me. And you’ll need someone with a strong back to help you harvest and carry limbs from the woodland to the stable.”

  A shiver of anticipation raced through her. She would love to work on his horseless carriage, so she nodded without further consideration. “I accept your proposal.” As soon as the words were out, she began to wonder if she’d made a terrible mistake. But she couldn’t go back on her promise now.

  “Good.” He captured her hand in his. “Let’s get started then, shall we?”

  Chapter 7

  I think that’s got it.” Ned couldn’t keep the excitement from his voice as he tightened the final bolt. His motorcar would crank now. It had to. He and Melissa had spent a whole week taking the engine apart, cleaning each piece before carefully fitting it back into its proper seating. It looked better than when he’d first bought it.

  “Do you want me to crank it?” Melissa brushed her hair back with one arm.

  Ned’s heart thumped. She was so adorable, standing next to him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. He wanted to grab her in a hug and swing her around until she was breathless. No. He wanted to embrace her and tell her how much he owed her for her help. And then he wanted to kiss her until she was breathless.

  “Ned?” Her innocent gaze questioned his lack of response.

  He cleared his throat and shoved his rag into the back pocket of his trousers. “No, you get inside and push in the clutch while I turn the crank. The engine will likely need a flood of gasoline and oil as soon as it fires up, so be sure to use your right foot to keep the accelerator pressed down.”

  She rubbed her hands ag
ainst her apron, liberally streaking it with grease. “Are you sure? What if the vehicle starts moving?”

  “The gears are not engaged, so it can’t move much.” He motioned her toward the seat. “And I’ll be here to stop it if it starts rolling.”

  Ned waited a moment for her to get settled. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded, but he noticed how her fingers gripped the steering wheel. “Don’t worry, Melissa. You’ll do great.”

  He bent over and inserted the crank into its slot. As he began to turn it, he prayed for God’s help. So much depended on their ability to get the car going. On the first rotation, nothing happened, but Ned was not discouraged. It often took two or more rotations for the motor to fire up. He pushed against the crank again. Still nothing. Again. And again. He was about to give up, when he felt a vibration. It was working!

  With renewed vigor he turned the crank, hoping God could hear his prayer. The next sound he heard was a cough. And then all at once, the engine roared to life. He straightened and looked toward Melissa. She was beaming her excitement. Ned grinned. Success was a heady feeling.

  As he had suspected, the hay in the barn kept the wheels from moving at all. Melissa was in no danger, as long as she did not engage the gears.

  Ned strode toward where she was sitting and pulled open the door. “We did it!”

  “I know.” Melissa nodded. “What do I do now?”

  Before he could give her any instructions, the engine began to cough. It stuttered and shook before stopping with a choked sound.

  Ned watched as black smoke billowed upward from the engine. His shoulders drooped. All that work and nothing to show for it. “What am I going to do?”

  Her hand took his limp one and squeezed it. “We are going to find out what is causing all that smoke. And then we are going to fix it. It shouldn’t take us long. After all, the engine cranked and ran smoothly for a few moments.” Her voice was filled with optimism.

  Ned glanced down at her upturned face. How could he resist such fervor? Such faith? The expression on her face filled him with hope. He felt ten feet tall. As long as Melissa was at his side, he could do anything. “That’s true.”

  “Come on. Let’s find out what went wrong.” She tugged him forward.

  “Wait a minute.” He planted his feet in the hay and pulled her back toward him.

  Melissa had started the morning with a scarf tied around her auburn hair to protect it from grease and grime, but she must have pulled it off while she was sitting inside his vehicle. A shaft of winter sunlight shone through the stable window and landed on the thick tresses. Caught in the golden light, her hair almost seemed to catch fire. His fingers twitched as he imagined combing through the glorious mane. Standing there looking at him, she was the most beautiful, beguiling woman he had ever met. From what well did her fountain of optimism flow?

  Melissa had grown up without the love or memory of her parents. Yet she never seemed to let circumstances keep her down. Her joy and pleasure for every task had infectedhim. She had infected him. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to be cured.

  Her brows drew together over her beautiful green eyes. “Is something wrong?”

  Ned cleared his throat. How could he confess the tenderness flooding him when he didn’t understand it himself? He reached for his handkerchief with his free hand. “Nothing that cannot be remedied.” He gently rubbed at a streak of oil on her cheek. “You’re not like any other woman I’ve ever met.”

  Her mouth formed an O of surprise or shock, and he could see her cheek reddening where he had wiped it clean. To be such an optimist, Melissa had very little confidence in herself.

  Ned had no idea why this should be so. He wished he could do more to help her understand how special she was. Perhaps in time he could convince her of the truth.

  He stepped back and returned his handkerchief to his pocket. “That’s better. Now let’s see what we can do about my horseless carriage.”

  “I’ve brought dinner.” Robert’s voice brought Melissa’s head out from the hood of Ned’s vehicle.

  Only Ned’s legs were visible as he worked underneath the engine mount. They had not yet discovered what had caused the motor to stall earlier.

  “Is it already dinnertime?” Melissa had become so engrossed in finding the problem, she lost track of the time. She glanced at the line of windows above the stall, surprised to see how dark the sky had become.

  With a series of grunts, Ned dragged himself out from under the engine mount. “If the rumbling in my stomach is any indication, it certainly is.”

  “I need to wash up.” Melissa held up her grimy hands. “I’ll be right back.” She hurried to the lavatory, still amazed Mr. Vanderbilt had installed running water even out here in the stables. The small room looked much like the washrooms in the main house, with its white-tiled floor and walls. It even had a wooden washtub for bathing. Biltmore was certainly a modern house, outfitted with every convenience anyone could dream up.

  Ned was awaiting his turn as she emerged. “Don’t start until I get back.” He winked at her.

  Why did her cheeks have to get so warm when he teased her? If Robert had said the same thing, she was sure it wouldn’t have caused her to blush. What was the matter with her? She had spent nearly every waking hour with Ned Robinson the past week. She ought to be over her shyness around the man. She shook her head and went back to help Robert set out the food.

  By the time Ned returned, everything was ready. They sat around the small table. Melissa folded her hands and bowed her head, and then Robert and Ned did the same. Silence fell in the room, broken only by the snorting of one of the horses.

  She opened one eye. “Isn’t someone going to bless the meal?”

  Robert looked up. “I thought you were going to.”

  “I’ll do it.” Ned cocked an eyebrow in Robert’s direction before smiling at her and bowing his head once more. “Lord, thank You for the many blessings You shower on us daily. Help us to be ever mindful of Your Word and to follow Your lead in every decision. Bless this food and the hands that prepared it. Bless the three of us as we enjoy Your bounty and each other’s company. Amen.”

  All three of them fell on the food as if they had not eaten for days. Melissa had not realized how hungry she was. Thick slices of roast beef quickly disappeared, as did the stewed carrots and potatoes Robert had brought. When he uncovered half of a pecan pie, she eagerly held out her plate for a slice, not slowing down until the last morsel of golden crust vanished.

  “That was outstanding.” She sat back with a contented sigh.

  Robert nodded his agreement. “Are you sure you don’t want another piece of pie?”

  “No, I’m full.” Melissa smiled at Ned. “Why don’t you take it?”

  “I don’t want to be a glutton, but I must admit I’ve never tasted anything half so delicious.”

  “Do you mean to say you’ve never had pecan pie before?” Melissa could not keep the surprise from her voice.

  Ned shook his head. “But I plan on taking the recipe back to my mother and sisters when I return.”

  “Return?” Melissa put a hand on her stomach to quell the sudden queasiness there. Had she eaten too much? Or was it the thought of Ned going back to New York? “I thought you wanted to set up a business here in Biltmore Village.”

  Pushing his chair back from the little table, Ned stretched. “I do. I’d love to live here. It’s a beautiful part of the country.” He glanced at her, and his dimples made an appearance. “And the people here are special.”

  She blushed again. Ned was going to think something was wrong with her if she didn’t quit acting so silly.

  Robert tossed his napkin over his empty plate. “What’s it like where you’re from, Ned?”

  His rough voice caused Melissa to look at her friend more closely. Why was he acting so strange? She thought Robert and Ned got along well. As Ned answered the question, she pondered the sudden tension in the room. Was Robert feeling peevish beca
use she had spent so much time working on Ned’s motorcar? She needed to do something special for him right away. She couldn’t afford to lose her one true friend.

  “My papa is a boot maker. I can remember people coming from miles around to get their feet measured. Everyone says walking in his boots is like walking on a cloud. Mama is a wonderful woman. She is a great cook, and she’s going to love that recipe when I go home to visit.”

  His emphasis on the last two words made Melissa’s heart flutter a tiny bit. So he was planning to stay in North Carolina. She stacked the empty plates into the basket Robert had used to bring the food to the stable. “I’d better get these back inside. I’ll see you two in the morning.”

  “Let me carry that for you.” Robert took the basket. “No reason for you to overtire yourself. I know how hard you’ve been working.”

  Melissa smiled at him. Robert was always thinking of others. She wondered why he had not been caught by some young lady. He was handsome, kind, and he made a good living. She shook her head at the way Nora ignored him. That young lady had better be careful, or she might wake up and find he had transferred his affection to some other girl.

  “Good night, Melissa.”

  She looked over her shoulder at Ned and nearly stumbled. Was that loneliness she saw in his eyes? Or was he simply tired?

  “Good night, Ned.” She let Robert take her arm. “Don’t forget to meet me at the toolshed next to the Italian garden in the morning. We have a lot of Christmas greenery to gather.”

  Ned bowed as she turned away. She felt his gaze boring into her back as Robert led her to the main house. A part of her wanted to turn back, but what could she say to erase the pain she’d seen in his eyes? If only she had the same intuition her sisters had always demonstrated, she would know the right words. But she wasn’t them. She had no feminine traits at all.