The Unexpected Holiday Gift by Sophie Pembroke Page A

she had left him, after all. And if it hadn’t been so obvious before their elopement, it was probably only because they’d spent so much of their time together in bed.
    A hot flash ran through her body at the memories, making her too warm under her knitted dress and thick tights. Clara bit down on her lip. There was absolutely no time for thoughts like that. Not any more.
    She was spending Christmas with Ivy and Merry and that was all she wanted in the world. She followed Jacob up the stairs, ignoring the small part of her mind that pointed out that her Christmas with Ivy could be all the more perfect if Jacob was there too. She needed to time things right. There was too much at risk to just rush in and tell him.
    â€˜Now, this room I definitely approve of,’ Jacob called out, and Clara hurried towards his voice to find out where he’d got to.
    Predictably, he’d found the master bedroom—complete with its antique four-poster bed that looked as if it could sleep twelve and the heavy velvet hangings that gave the room a sumptuous, luxurious feel. This, she could tell from the moment she entered, was a room for seduction.
    But not this Christmas, thank you very much.
    â€˜This is the room I’d earmarked for your parents,’ she said, stopping him before he got too carried away with thoughts of sleeping there. ‘It’s the biggest, has the easiest access to the rest of the castle and has the largest en suite bathroom. It’s also the warmest, thanks to the fireplace.’
    Jacob looked longingly at the bed. ‘I suppose that makes sense,’ he said.
    â€˜Come on. I’ll show you the rest.’
    The other bedrooms were all impressive in their own way but, Clara had to admit, none had quite the charm of the four-poster in the master bedroom.
    By the time their tour was finished, Jacob looked much happier with the set-up at the castle.
    â€˜Okay,’ he said, rubbing his hands together. ‘This is going to work. So, what do we do next?’
    â€˜ I need to do some final checks before I have to head to the hotel for the night. I’ll do the decorating and so on tomorrow, before your family arrive. They get in at four, right?’
    Jacob nodded. ‘Yeah. But why don’t you just stay here tonight? It’s not like there aren’t enough bedrooms.’
    For one blinding flash of a moment Clara’s brain was filled with images of her and Jacob taking advantage of that four-poster bed.
    No. Bad brain.
    â€˜I need to check in to the hotel,’ she said, trying to banish the pictures from her mind. ‘Besides, Merry will be arriving this evening too.’
    â€˜Of course. Merry.’ What was that in his voice? Could it be...jealousy? No. She didn’t remember him ever being jealous about who she’d spent her time with when they were actually properly married. It was highly unlikely he was about to start now.
    â€˜Anyway. I need to get on, so you can...settle in, I guess. Work, if you want to.’ And didn’t he always? She was surprised he’d made it this long without setting up his laptop. ‘I can get you the Wi-Fi password if you want.’
    â€˜There’s nothing I can do to help?’ Again, Clara felt that strange tug on her heart as she realised how eager he was to be a real part of the planning.
    â€˜I’m mostly just checking that the local supplies I ordered have been delivered, and waiting for the courier company to arrive and unload the boxes. Then I’ll grab a taxi down to the hotel and make a few calls to confirm the bits being delivered tomorrow—fresh greenery, fresh food, those sort of things. After that, everything can wait until tomorrow. I’ve got it all in hand. You really don’t need to worry.’ It was all there on her time plan.
    She checked her watch. In fact...
    The knock on the door, precisely on time, made her smile.
    â€˜That will be Bruce,’ she