"My Lord, it is such a pleasure to have you here again." Edmond's mother curtsied and blushed as she looked up at Samuel.

He hated this side of being a duke's son. Why couldn't people treat him as just another person? "Thank you so much for having me, Mrs. Witherspoon." Samuel took hold of her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Enough of that. You'll give her a heart seizure in a minute." Edmond laughed, lifted his mother in a bear hug, and then planted a kiss on her forehead. "This is how we commoners greet each other."

"Edmond." Alice Witherspoon laughed and slapped her son lightly on the shoulder. "Where are your manners? Lord Denyer will think we are heathens."

Laughing, Samuel said, "Lord Denyer is my brother Mrs. Witherspoon. Sam or Samuel will be fine, if you don't mind."

"Yeah." Edmond grinned and waved his hand. "He's just an earl, Mother. Don't rank him higher than he is."

"Edmond!" Alice slapped her son again. "You're lucky Sammy is still your friend after all the ribbing you give him." She beamed at Samuel. "If you're Sam, I'm Alice, not Mrs. Witherspoon." She took both boys by the hand. "Come on. Cousin Maree is here with the viscount." She rolled her eyes and whispered, "The poor man's asleep in his chair. Don't worry about making any noise. He's as deaf as the statue David."

Samuel chuckled again. He loved Edmond's mother. Every time he visited, they went through the same ritual, she, calling him lord and he, asking to be called Sam, and then her telling him she was Alice. He was sure it was a game she played because once it was over, she only ever called him Sam or Sammy.

His own mother had died giving birth to him. He had always sensed his father's disapproval of him was because of this. Samuel thought, over his seventeen years of life, he'd probably spent more time with his uncles and their sons than with his own father and brother. Not that he really cared. He wasn't going to be as rich or inherit any title or duties. On the up he didn't have to stick to all the hierarchy bullshit that came with being duke or your grace as his parent did or as Fredrick would have to down the track.

Maree stood and tilted her head gracefully as the boys entered the room. Edmond's father put down his glass of brandy and closed the gap between them in three giant steps. "Eddy my boy." He pulled Edmond into a gruff hug, thumped him on the back, and then set him aside to grip Samuel's hand. "Sam. Great to have you back." He chuckled. "Christmas is going to be wonderful this year with everyone here." He looked back at Edmond. "Though it's a shame your brother and sister couldn't make it." Charles Witherspoon didn't give either boy a chance to answer. He put a hand in the centre of each of their backs and pushed them forward. "Maree. Last time you saw Edmond was at your wedding. He's grown some." He laughed again, and then indicated Samuel with his hand. "This is Edmond's school friend. The Earl of Irvine. Samuel Denyer."

"Oh." Maree opened her eyes wide and curtsied. "I am honoured, My Lord."

"Please, call me Sam." He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

She nodded, turned to Charles and grinned. "Well Uncle Charlie, Eddy has grown and I'm glad to say he looks more like Aunt Alice than you." She winked, glanced at Edmond, and then back at his father. "I'd say you were very lucky, Eddy." They all roared with laughter at her joke.

Samuel stood awe struck. He watched as her red lips parted when she laughed exposing the small gap between her teeth. Her tongue quickly licked her bottom lip as she swept her long straight dark hair over her shoulder. The idea that he wouldn't care if she ate him, flashed through his mind. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

*

"We've been invited to Lytton House on Christmas Eve." Charles cut into his meat and lifted his fork to his lips as he looked around the table. Master Lytton and his lovely wife have invited us to join them for turkey and ham." He shoved food into his mouth, chewed, and then swallowed. "I've told them we had visitors. They don't mind and have invited all of us. If everyone is happy with this arrangement, I'll let them know the exact number of our party." He focused on his wife, and then glanced at Edmond and Samuel to then settle his eyes on Maree.

"That will be lovely." She smiled and touched her husband's arm. "Won't it, Otto?"

"Eh! What's that you say?" The old man looked up in a daze and stuck his hearing horn in his ear.

Maree patted his hand, put on a sweet face, sighed and shook her head. "Don't worry," she yelled. "I'll tell you later." She looked over at her uncle and in a lady like voice said, "We'd love to come." As she looked down at her plate, she caught Samuel staring at her. He blushed and quickly dropped his head. Maree cut her meat and smiled at her plate. The young earl was tall and gangly. A man not completely filled out. He had a stunning face with dark broody eyes and hair to match. It was thick, wavy and hung to his earlobes. Just long enough to shield his face when he needed to hide behind it. She had noticed him watching her multiple times and wondered if he'd ever been with a woman. Maree tittered at her thoughts. Perhaps she would be his first.

Oh, Maree.  What do you have planned for our young earl?

I guess I can't blame her, imagine being married to that old guy at her age.

Photo copyright. Ceenta