Page 58 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Just because we were cast out long ago doesn’t mean people don’t remember our family. The moment Eloise took that chest, I was informed. I knew there was only one person who wouldget it to you, your grandmother, and I knew the plan was in motion the moment I saw Will at the gala.” He smiled. “Your boyfriend should’ve known better than to wear the Yule sigil on his cufflinks that night. The way he went after you that night when you said you were unwell – God, the man has it bad. I think our family has a talent for attracting tragic love stories.”
Juliet’s mouth felt like it was full of sand. Her limbs were heavy with anxiety. “You knew my desire for answers would lure me home, and you wanted me to bring you the chest.” If he was having this conversation with her, he hadn’t found her secret hiding place in the floorboards. “Why do you need it? You already have evidence of its existence in your safe.” She raised an eyebrow, and his stoicism wavered at the reminder that the safe’s code was related to her mother, a woman he claimed to no longer love.
“I don’t need evidence, I just want the Frost bell. We wouldn’t have to go through all this if you’d just come to me with the chest in the first place. I didn’t expect you to be clever enough not to bring it home – though it does hurt that you picked a stranger over your own father,” he sneered, oblivious to the fact that if he’d searched hard enough, he’d have discovered it was right beneath his feet. But how was he to know the secrets of her home?
“Is that why you’ve wanted to keep me in the fold for past few years? To keep an eye on me in case the chest turned up? In case Nana went through with her promise to my mom?” she demanded, getting up out of her chair. There was no way in hell he was getting his hands on the chest. She had to get it out of the cottage and back to Yule.
“Enough, Juliet!” His bark froze her. “Bring me the bell, and I won’t report Will and your mother to the council. I’m sure you don’t want to get him in trouble. Beth mentioned how closeyou’ve become, and how you both disappeared the past few days.”
“Leave Will out of this!” she shot back. “If you try to hurt him in any way, I’ll make sure you never get close to Yule, even if I have to turn myself and the chest in. Lying is pointless. I read your letter to Eloise after your relationship was reported. You begged for her to be with you, but you didn’t have the guts to stand up to your own father.”
They stood face to face, neither backing down.
“I’ll protect Will. Unlike you, who failed to protect Eloise.” Juliet took his letter out of her pocket and crushed it to his chest. Her father’s face fell as he read over the words he’d written twenty-seven years ago. “I wish I could’ve known the man who wrote this letter. He knew how threats can destroy love and families. He’s the father I’d be proud to have, but it’s clear he’s dead.”
His jaw clenched. Juliet turned to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist painfully.
“Get your hands off me!”
“Bring me the bell, Juliet!” he snarled, balling up the letter in his fist. “By Christmas Eve. I’m giving you plenty of time, so don’t fail me. Or you’ll know exactly how it feels to lose those you love.”
She ripped free of his grasp and headed for the stairs.
“Don’t be stubborn, because it’ll be Will and Eloise who pay,” he called after her.
She couldn’t climb the stairs fast enough. She had until Christmas Eve– that should be plenty of time to return the chest. There was no way she was letting her father get his hands on that bell.
“Beth!” Juliet called out over the Christmas music filling the Frost house. She had to talk to her sister before she left. “Beth!”
Footsteps bounded through the halls, but instead of Beth, Diana appeared in her apron. Juliet realised she must be disturbing her from preparing dinner, which meant her father wouldn’t be far behind her. They’d always eaten at seven pm sharp, no excuses or delays.
“Are you alright?” Diana demanded. “Where the hell have you been? I got a call from Will saying you’d gone away together for a few days, and Mr Frost said I shouldn’t worry, but I couldn’t reach you.”
“I’m fine – sorry I left without telling you, but I need to talk to Beth,” Juliet panted.
“I’m sorry, Juliet, but Beth has gone to stay with a friend. She was so excited, and I promised her that you’d be okay with it. She tried to call you, but she couldn’t reach you.”
“It’s only a week away from Christmas! What about the Christmas Eve party? We’re never allowed to miss it!” Julietdesperately needed to see her sister. She feared her father would try to keep them apart until he got what he wanted.
“Mr Frost agreed that she didn’t have to attend, since her friend’s family is staying in the city. With the snow it wouldn’t be all that safe to come back, so she’s going to return to school after the holidays with her friend,” Diana explained as Juliet followed her to the kitchen.
The lasagne smelt amazing, but she couldn’t even think of food right now. Christmas Eve? It couldn’t be a coincidence. Mr Frost must believe he wouldn’t be here then, because if he got his way, he’d have Juliet’s bell.
“So she’s not coming back at all?” Juliet asked, trying not to fidget. They’d only had a few hours together, and guilt washed over her as she regretted getting so caught up in Yule. She vowed to make it up to her sister.
Diana shook her head. “I’m sorry, but it’s been arranged that she’ll return to school after New Year’s Eve. You can give her a call; she was sad not to say goodbye, but given how busy you’ve been the last few days, I thought it was best for her not to be alone in this big house.”
Juliet ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath. She knew Diana had been right to let Beth go, but it didn’t stop the ache in her chest from missing out on spending more precious time with her. Still, she was leaving herself, and this way she wouldn’t have to bear her sister pleading for her to stay. Most importantly, Beth would get to enjoy Christmas with her friends.
“I shouldn’t say anything, but I suspect Mr Frost didn’t want Beth here when you returned, in case—” Diana couldn’t meet Juliet’s eye; she rubbed her hands on her snowman apron.
“In case what?” Juliet pressed.
Diana let out a long exhalation. “In case you told her about Yule.”
Juliet thought her heart would stop, but her desire to know how the hell Diana knew about Yule kept her blood pumping.
“Y-you know about Yule?” she stammered.
