Edith was already trying to extricate herself from Lady Hewlett when she heard her father call out to Anthony. Hurriedly making excuses, she left the poor lady standing alone and moved quickly to snatch a cup of eggnog from the drinks table. Quietly, she slipped across to the bar and poured a liberal measure of whiskey in the drink. Stirring it into the eggnog, she blended the two and once satisfied, headed for Anthony and her father.

She stood next to Anthony, gazing up at his face with a smile. Her father finished whatever he was saying and turned to walk away, leaving Edith alone with her objective. "Sir Anthony," she cooed in what she hoped was a somewhat seductive tone and was rewarded with his blue eyes on her, a smile breaking over his features. "Lady Edith," he replied, matching her formality with the use of titles.

"I thought you might enjoy some eggnog," she said as she offered the drink.

"Thank you," he answered, taking the cup from her. "Aren't you having any?"

"I've had some already. It really is delicious." Edith watched carefully as he took a sip. His eyes widened slightly and then his tongue licked over his lips as he stared down into the mixture. "This is, erm…. An unusual flavor," was his only comment as he looked at her, his eyes sparkling.

"Yes, old family recipe I believe. Mama insists on it every year."

"She does, does she? An American recipe then?"

"I, umm, believe so," Edith smiled. "I'm so glad you came tonight."

"I um, am happier with my decision to attend with each passing moment," he said as he took another sip. "That's a. erm…. Lovely gown," he commented, drinking in the sight of her so close, especially taking in the fall of her neckline down her chest. Oh god, she is so close I could just…. STOP that! Stop it, stop it, stop it! "New?"

"Yes, I bought it especially for this party" and for you….

"You look stunning, Edith. But I think you already knew that?" Mischief danced in his eyes as she soaked in his compliment. "Thank you. I realize it is a bit risqué and Granny does not approve at all, but I feel stunning in it."

"My dear, it is you who is stunning, not the gown. Although, it is certainly eye catching with that…. Neckline," he said softly as his eyes fixed once again on the skin that ran down the middle of her torso. I hope I am not salivating; I feel as if I must be salivating. Stop this! He took another sip of the eggnog. And then another.

"There's quite a spread at the buffet and dancing in the library," Edith offered.

Once again Anthony's eyes grazed over her, "buffet?" I want only to feast on those lovely breasts that are hiding just behind your gown…. "Dancing….?" Dancing… I could…. She'd be close enough to …. Stop that!

"Yes, Mary brought in a trio for the dancing. Usually we just have recorded music but she decided live music would be more festive. And I think it is." She paused a moment and he took another sip. "Will you dance with me tonight, Anthony?"

"It would be my pleasure," he said gallantly as he gulped down the rest of his drink. "Shall we give it a try now?"

"Oh yes, I'd like that very much," she said gleefully. Anthony set his cup on a table as they walked past it on their way to the library. "I hope they play something I can actually dance to," he confessed quietly to her as they crossed into the library.

The room had been converted to a small dance floor. Furniture had been pushed into vacant places along the walls and the rugs taken away, exposing highly polished wooded floors beneath. The trio was set at the head of the room in the space that was considered the small library, leaving a good-sized space for dancing. The usually hidden door through to the drawing room was open, giving party goers access from both the grand hall and the drawing room.

The two stood and watched as a few couples finished dancing to the song the trio was playing, All I want for Christmas Is You. Anthony hoped for a different tempo for the next song. He wanted to hold Edith and dance with her. Some of the dance tunes wouldn't suffice. But as the song ended, the trio started with The Christmas Song. Satisfied, Anthony led Edith into their dance.

The next song had a similar tempo and they danced that one too. Anthony struggled to keep his eyes on Edith's face; the knowledge of her bare skin so close and so inviting warring with his resolve to be a gentleman. Edith's expression as she gazed up at him wasn't helping him, however. She can't possibly be as interested as she appears to be, he thought. But as he led them through the steps, she managed to move closer to him until they were dancing quite close. The feel of her in his arms was intoxicating.

Edith was in heaven, she thought. Here she was dancing with this handsome gentleman and he seemed to enjoy it as much as she. And he was holding her close, like a lover instead of an acquaintance. Her heart began to pound as she realized that perhaps his feelings for her matched hers for him. When the dance ended, she stepped back and smiled at him. "Perhaps more eggnog?"

He nodded his acquiescence and they moved into the drawing room. Edith quickly took two classes from the tray that a passing footman held and then eased toward the side bar in the corner. Meanwhile, her mother unwittingly helped by addressing Anthony and diverting his attention momentarily. Pouring another shot of whisky into one of the glasses, Edith returned to his side, handing him the spiked glass of eggnog. Taking it in hand, Anthony smiled at her, took a sip, and turned his attention back to her mother. Cora invited Anthony to tea the following afternoon to "catch up" and then excused herself to move on to other guests.

"This eggnog is quite good," Anthony told Edith as he took another drink. Sipping her own, Edith agreed. Over the next hour, Edith managed to get Anthony to partake of the buffet, along with a glass of wine. And then of course, there was a drink at the bar.

As the evening wore on, Anthony felt more and more inebriated but credited his drunken feelings to Edith's presence and that dress. So far, he had managed to keep his hands in appropriate places but by the end of his whisky from the bar, his self-discipline was deteriorating. And heaven help him, he had no desire to reclaim it.

They returned to the library with the intention of dancing but Edith glanced outside the window and saw that it was snowing. Delighted, he grabbed Anthony's hand and led him past the trio and through the door into the entrance of the Abbey. "Come on, I want to see the snow," she giggled as she pulled him farther along.

"But we need coats," Anthony laughed, caught up in her enthusiasm.

"We won't be long. It will be alright," she insisted.

Rolling his eyes, his gaze fell on some mistletoe place strategically over the doorway between the small library and the entrance hall. Reaching up quickly, he snatched it with his right hand as Edith tugged at his left.

Once outside, Edith stopped and looked up. "Oh, it's lovely," she exclaimed.

"Yes, quite lovely, he replied, gazing only at her. "The loveliest thing I've ever set eyes on."

Edith quieted and turned her gaze toward him. "Anthony?"

"Yes, my sweet?"

"Do you…. I mean, is it possible to…that you could…"

Holding the mistletoe up and over her head, he grinned. "Oh look, mistletoe," he said with a chuckle.

"So it is," she agreed as she looked up at it. "We really shouldn't let it go to waste."

"Absolutely not," he agreed as his head dipped, his lips finding hers. The kiss was shy and tentative and he pulled away far too soon in Edith's estimation. Looking up again at the tiny plant in his hand, she reflected, "I think it is customary to pluck a berry from it when we kiss beneath it."

Anthony, his eyes not leaving her face, smiled. I believe that is true. Lowering it, he held it for her to take a berry. "There are still quite a few berries," he observed. "Hopefully others will find the mistletoe and take their own berries."

"Oh, I hope not," Edith said quickly. Anthony looked at her, bemused. "I 'd like to keep them all for myself," she added.

"Really?"

"Yes, really," she assured him.

A sly grin worked over his features. "I will endeavor to help you fulfill that wish, then." He said as he dipped in for another kiss. This one was surer and lasted a little longer than the first.

"It's getting cold out here," he commented as he straightened from kissing her. "Perhaps we should go inside."

"Yes, alright. But just so you know, kissing you under the mistletoe isn't my only Christmas wish."

"Oh?" Anthony asked as he held the door open for her and then followed her inside.