When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain. --Mark Twain

"Oh my, oh my, these children are going to drown our name in scandals. Mr. Johnson, where is Mr. Johnson?," Lady Raymond said to the maids doing the final sweep of the decorated ballroom, "Someone, go fetch Mr. Johnson at once."

In a few moments, Mr. Johnson presented himself in front of the lady of the house.

"My ladies," He said bowing, "you asked for me."

"Mr. Johnson, look at all these toxic plants hanging at every door and every corner, please take these out wherever you see them. I do not want a single mistletoe in this house," Said Lady Raymond looking around to spot another of the poisonous plant that might have escaped her.

"Where did these dratted children got the mistletoe's anyway? Mr. Johnson, please keep an eye on our children that refuse to grow up with their age," Lady Kentshire said irritated.

"Where are our husbands anyway? Have they forgotten to keep an eye on their devilish children while we have the last look at the preparation?" Lady Raymond asked.

Two ladies went to and fro with each other cursing their fully grown children and husbands, while Mr. Johnson silently stayed at their side for the next order.

"Mr. Johnson, is everything ready?" Lady Raymond asked worriedly.

"My ladies, everything is ready, I am personally keeping track of everything, you need not fret," Mr. Johnson said confidently.

"Even with these dratted children increasing the work," Lady Kentshire said spotting another mistletoe.

"I am sure, the lordships will soon find other ways to entertain themselves, my ladies, rest assured," He said.

"Where is everyone?" Lady Kentshire asked.

"His lordships went for a gallop, my ladies, Lord William is in the study and Lord Oliver hasn't left his chamber," Mr. Johnson said.

"And Caro?" Lady Raymond asked.

"She is looking after the food preparations, my lady."

The Raymond estate home was buzzing with enthusiasm, everyone anticipating the night of Christmas eve. The Raymond manor was decorated most beautifully like a fairy tale castle while the people inside the manor awaiting to celebrate something more than a Christmas eve.

After many years these two families were celebrating Christmas together without the intrusion of other houses. Everyone was enjoying their time away from the scrutiny of the society, here they were ordinary people enjoying the holiday with their family rather than the nobility being watched by everyone.

Since arriving at Raymond's manor Oliver tried his best to enjoy it, when he couldn't do it he faked his enthusiasm but he was unable to do it anymore. He didn't want to dampen the mood of others because of the storm brewing in his soul. Everyone looked up at him with the expectation of getting engaged on Christmas eve and he was afraid someone will spot the reluctance in his eyes.

His mother's ring, the family heirloom that has always adorned the hand of Lady of Kentshire felt heavy in his pocket. This ring would be sealing his fate to Caroline forever and he felt his finger burning from the touch of the ring. The Duke and Duchess of Kentshire were to stay side by side serving the royal house as the most important noble house of England.

His heart protested at the idea of Caro having the ring, he can follow in the footsteps of Edward, the 4th Duke of Kentshire who never gave the ring to his wife since he was never in love with her but was he brave enough to do the same!

His heart and brain were at the war with each other. His brain was berating him to get over his infatuation of Hannah and propose Caro and be ready to take his duty as the heir of Kentshire, the destiny assigned to him. He has to fix his relationship with the prince and join the King's council as his confidants. While his heart begged him to be selfish for once and pursue the one person who made him buzzed with excitement and happiness.

The day rolled out slower than usual, every moment increasing the trepidation. His valet started on the preparation to get him ready for the night. He wanted to fake sick and stay closed inside his chamber maybe then Hannah will come to take care of him like she did last time and he will get to see her once more. It has been a week since they arrived at Raymond's and since then he never even had a glimpse of her, the longing driving him crazy.

He spent most of his time with his younger brothers instead of Caro as everyone expected of him. William noticed his withdrawal from Caro and when he confronted him he shrugged it as he will be spending all his life with her so he wanted to enjoy holidays with every member of the family. William was unconvinced but didn't bother him after that.

Even though no one was joining Raymond's and Kentshires for Christmas, the ballroom was decorated for the dancing, feast arranged at one end while orchestra filled the ballroom with their enchanting songs. Oliver was the last to arrive, he noticed his parents dancing at the center while everyone cheered them on. The service people were the welcome audience enjoying the celebration too.

Before he can look for Hannah he was pushed onto the dance floor by Seb and he found Caro in his arms, she looked utterly beautiful arresting the attention of everyone on the floor but he felt nothing. He missed those blue icy eyes of Hannah, wished she was the one he was holding in his arms. 

He thanked the idea of his parents celebrating Christmas without others because there were five lords while only one lady to dance with them and Caro was soon out of his arms into Lucas's. His mother was dancing with William. He situated himself at the edge away from the celebration but close enough that everyone will notice he was somewhere else.

His gloomy mood lifted up when Nick, Seb, and Lucas started singing Christmas carol's as the part of their surprise and they soon whisked some of the pretty maids onto the dance floor who couldn't help but blush from head to toe. But now he had to dance with Caro again and again, he danced with his mother and aunt Ida just to avoid being near Caro. He felt he was breaking her heart and his own every time she was in front of him the voices in his head fighting viciously now.

Everyone got tired after all the dances and caroling, they had a delicious dinner and were now sitting around the fire enjoying each other company. No one seemed to notice that the Kentshire ring was still not around Caro's finger. He intentionally left it in his chamber unable to bear the weight of it.

"Oliver," He looked up at William addressing him.

"Yes," He said coming out of the wonderland he lost himself in.

"What is wrong?" William asked.

"Nothing," He replied noticing the elder's absence in the room.

"They retired for the night," William answered his unasked question, "Do you have the ring with you?"

Oliver stiffened at his brother's question.

"I will make sure Luke, Seb, and Nick excused themselves till you come back with the ring," William said his eyes trained on him.

He sighed and walked up the stairs to retrieve the ring. The entire way he kept wishing for a miracle to happen so he doesn't have to slide the ring on Caro's finger. He stopped at the entrance listening to the voices inside the ballroom his finger teasing the edge of the ring in his pocket.

As promised, William made sure his brothers were gone since the only voice he heard was the rustling of a skirt from one end to another and nothing else. He silenced his brain and crushed his heart, chanting this was the right thing for him to do over and over again. It was his duty and duty comes before everything else.

With a steely resolved he entered the dimly lit ballroom and his resolved crumbled at the sight of his heart's desire standing in front of him.