Either way, he’d never imagined that a simple sign advertising for an apprentice would have led to this. From the moment Pleasant entered his shop, she’d changed his entire mindset. If it hadn’t been for her gentle nudging, he might have never attempted to have a relationship with Xavier, or to get to know his brother’s wonderful family.

Holding Pleasant in his arms, he wanted nothing more than to confess his heart, but when it came to a proposal, she deserved a romantic gesture, not an abrupt confession when they were half-dressed.

She looked absolutely breathtaking, her face flushed with her long red hair falling down her back. For so long he’d imagined just this moment, and he couldn’t wait until the day he could finally call her his wife. He gently kissed her lips and lifted her so that she was sitting beside him.

He stood and fastened his trousers, and then grabbed his shirt and drew it over his head. While he was donning the rest of his clothes, Pleasant said, “You’re not staying?”

He paused and bent down to her level, where she was still sitting on the floor. He touched a finger to her full lips. “Sunday is Christmas Eve. I still have a few orders to fulfill before then. If I stay, I fear you’d be too much of a distraction.”

That earned him a small smile. “I suppose you’re right. I have the rest of the dress orders to complete.” But then she sighed. “I have no idea what might happen to us after the holidays.”

He kissed her forehead and stood. “Don’t you know that sometimes…Christmas miracles can occur?”

“In my experience,” she returned sadly. “Those only exist in fairy tales or novels.”

He lifted a brow as he shrugged on his greatcoat. “Then perhaps it’s time you start believing in them.”

With one last wink, he left.

For the next two days, Pleasant sewed until her fingers ached, but at least all of the orders that her mother had commissioned for Madame Caron were finished. She might not be as talented a seamstress as Aine had been, but as she held up an elegant, red satin gown, she was proud of her handiwork. Surely the modiste could find no fault in them.

Honestly, she was surprised she could concentrate on anything, for her mind kept drifting to Cornell and the blissful night they had shared together. She would find that her needle would be in the middle of making a stitch, while her focus was staring off at some point in space. It was almost strange to think of “Mr. Reed” as her lover, the transition from her employer to something much more taking her quite unaware. She still wasn’t sure how to process it all. It was almost as if she’d dreamt that night, if it hadn’t been for the slight soreness between her legs the next morning.

But then, Niall had suffered far worse the following day, unable to even keep water down. Pleasant had sat beside him and comforted him through the worst, until he had finally turned to her with a miserable expression. “I’m sorry, Pea.”

Since then, his attitude had become much more contrite, and he’d finally gone back to sweeping chimneys with Connor.

Without anyone to watch Fiona, Pleasant took her to the dressmaker’s shop. As they walked inside, Madame Caron offered them both a sincere smile. “I was terribly sorry to hear of your mother’s passing.”

“Thank you,” Pleasant returned as she handed over the gowns. “I finished the dresses. I hope these are acceptable.”

The Madame held up the four gowns with a critical eye, inspecting each one carefully. Finally, she nodded. “Very good work, Miss Hill.” She reached into her reticule and handed Pleasant a few coins. “This was the price Mrs. Hill and I had agreed upon.”

Pleasant glanced at the handful of coins, and then shoved them into her pocket. She knew it would last only a short time before they were in dire straits once more. And now, without the income of the apprenticeship, and having dismissed all of her laundry clients, she wasn’t certain how she might make ends meet. Swallowing her pride, she asked, “Do you have any more work that I could do?”

Madame’s mouth turned down at the corners. “I’m afraid after the holidays, the demand for dresses is rather slim. Of course, once the Season begins, the shop will be flooded with new orders. I’m sure I could use your help then.”

Pleasant’s spirits sank. The London Season wouldn’t begin until the spring, several months away. She couldn’t wait that long to try to find some steady income.

She murmured her thanks and took Fiona’s hand, turning to go, but then Madame brightened and said, “If you see Mr. Reed, let him know that his order will be complete this evening.”

Pleasant glanced back with a frown. “I’m afraid that I had to quit my position at the shop.”

The lady waved a hand, suddenly distressed. “Oh, of course! Then don’t concern yourself. I shall send a messenger over shortly.”

Pleasant’s mind was whirling as she exited the shop. What could Cornell be ordering from the modiste? She instantly had an image of another woman on his arm; perhaps even one of Madame LeFleur’s girls, but then dismissed it just as quickly.

Cornell cared for her, didn’t he? She surely hadn’t imagined it when he’d called her “my love” and caressed her so tenderly?

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk while pedestrians jostled her and grumbled as they passed. It was almost like the day she had seen the sign in the cordwainer’s window and thought it was the answer to her prayers. Now, she couldn’t help but wonder if she hadn’t just made a terrible error in judgment.

Cornell might be illegitimate, but he was still the son of an earl. The same, blue blood that ran through Lord Haverton’s veins was in his. He might not be able to marry a viscount’s sister someday, but surely he could court someone who was more worthy than a cobbler’s daughter, a woman who had already given him her virtue with no thought to the future.

She inhaled sharply as she pressed a hand to her stomach. What if she was already carrying his child?

There was a gentle tug on her hand. “Pea? Are you sick?”

Pleasant glanced down at her little sister’s concerned face and summoned a smile. “Let’s make a stop at the butcher’s before we go home, shall we?”

Fiona’s eyes instantly widened. “I thought Mama always said meat was too expensive?”

Pleasant lifted her chin. “Well, I promised you that we would have a Christmas to remember, and I intend to keep my word.”

The price might be too high to pay, but even if she had to cover the cost by selling her body at Madame LeFleur’s establishment, she intended to honor that vow she’d made.

Her siblings deserved that much from her.

Pleasant inhaled the scents of cinnamon, apple cider, and baked ham as she laid the main course on the table for supper that Christmas Eve. For the first time in years, their modest lodgings smelled festive and the eager faces of her siblings made it all worthwhile.

She’d even dressed for the occasion like a true hostess, donning her green, satin dress and her fine underclothes. For this one, brief moment in time, they would enjoy a holiday without the burden of toil, and the worry about what lay around the corner.

That afternoon, after they’d left the butcher’s shop, Pleasant had purchased more greenery to drape about the fireplace. Although she couldn’t fit a Yule log in the small grate, she’d added more coal, and there was a larger fire burning than usual. She had even managed to fashion an actual kissing bough with the sprig of mistletoe, which had been above the front door, along with some of the leftover evergreen, a few apples, and several candles in the middle, which were lit. The ball hung from a string over the mantel where three, brown paper-wrapped packages sat on the floor, waiting to be opened the next morning.

And although Cornell had promised to come by that day, he still hadn’t made an appearance. While his absence broke her heart, Pleasant did her best to hide her true feelings from her siblings. She would not take that joy away from them when that was all that mattered to her.

Just as they were about to sit down for dinner, there was a knock at the door. Pleasant’s heart instantly leapt, expecting to see Cornell, but when she opened the door, she was surprised to see Lord Haverton and his family on the other side. “Miss Hill,” he bowed in his true, lordly fashion. “May we come in?”

“Of course, my lord.” She moved aside so that they could enter. Louisa and Frederick instantly went to join her siblings. “We were just getting ready to eat. Won’t you join us?”

“Only if we might contribute,” Lady Haverton commented as she gestured to the coachman, who stepped down and brought in several packages. The last of which was something that smelled entirely delightful. “Yorkshire pudding,” she announced with a conspiratorial smile.

As they were removing their outerwear, the earl glanced around. “Has my brother not yet arrived?”

Some of Pleasant’s merriment dimmed. “No. He’s not here.”

“Hmm. That’s rather odd,” he muttered. “I thought he said—” He was interrupted by another knock at the door. “Ah. That must be him now.”

Without giving Pleasant a chance to move, he crossed the room and opened the door. Pleasant’s heart thudded against her chest when she saw Cornell’s familiar face. And after a brief greeting for the earl, his green gaze shifted and caught hers. As he took in her attire, they visibly twinkled, and her body heated in response.

He removed his outerwear and she saw that he was wearing the same finery as well. He glanced around the room as he walked toward her, completely handsome and devilishly charming. He stopped and offered her an apologetic grin. “Sorry I’m late. I had a few things to take care of.”

“You’re here now,” she returned. “That’s all that matters.”

He offered his arm to her. “Shall we eat?” he asked.