Love and Christmas Wishes: Three Regency Romance Novellas

by Rose Pearson

  Jane blinked slowly, her skin cold and clammy. “He is engaged to my sister and then, for whatever reason, is now attempting to compliment me?” she asked, half to herself. “What sort of gentleman is he? One ought not to be seeking out any other lady’s favors if one is engaged.”

  George nodded, now looking quite ferocious. “Indeed not,” he agreed, firmly. “I have a good mind to go out to him and demand that he leave you quite alone, Jane. He is entirely unaware of the effect he has on your heart and I cannot imagine what it is you are having to endure at this present time. I think you are wasting your affections on this man, my dear girl. He is not worthy of you.”

  Jane made to answer, only for the maids to bring in the tea trays, leaving her without the opportunity to respond. She watched as they laid out the tea things, her thoughts swirling all over the place as she tried to consider what Lord Halifax had meant by such gifts and such compliments, afraid that he was not the gentleman she had thought him to be. “Perhaps I do not know him as well as I thought,” she said to herself, as the maids quit the room. “We have talked very often since he came to Abbeford Hill, but that does not tell me his true character or the like.”

  Mary nodded slowly, her expression growing rather thoughtful. “You may have to speak to him, Jane, and find out his intentions. After all, we can sit here and surmise as much as we like but it will not give us the answers we seek.”

  Her stomach churned. “I do not think I can do such a thing,” she replied, weakly. “To even be in his company sends every coherent thought flying from my head, although I know it is quite ridiculous to be so befuddled.”

  A small, understanding smile crossed Mary’s face. “I quite understand, my dear. Lord Harrows had that very same effect on me when we were first courting. In time, things have greatly improved but I think that you yourself must attempt to find out the truth from him regardless of what you fear your behavior might be. After all, you will be protecting your sister if you discover Lord Halifax to be a cad, will you not?”

  “Yes,” Jane replied, slowly, her gaze drifting away from her friend’s face. “Yes, you are quite right.” She looked down at the gloves, her fingers brushing over the leather. No gentleman had ever purchased something for her in this manner, for this was a thoughtful gift that spoke of dedication and consideration. It would have been quite wonderful, was it not for the fact that she knew Lord Halifax to be engaged – or at least, very nearly engaged – to her sister.

  “I do beg your pardon, Miss Brookes!” A maid came hurrying back into the library, her face a little flushed. “I was meant to give you this letter that arrived just as I was carrying the tray up to the library, but it went clean out of my head. I’m sorry, miss.”

  Jane took the letter from the maid’s hand and dismissed her with a smile, telling her not to worry. Looking down at the letter in her hand, she recognized Katie’s writing, her smile slowly dropping from her face.

  “You do look quite in the doldrums today,” George Grainger commented, as Jane broke open the seal. “Do not tell me you are expecting bad news, Jane! Your face is quite miserable!”

  “It is from Katie,” Jane replied, feeling her spirits sinking to the floor. “No doubt she is to tell me that she is engaged. I may have to return to the vicarage sooner than I...” She trailed off, her eyes widening as she read the letter, her eyes scanning the page as she read it again, wanting to ensure that she had read everything correctly.

  “Jane.” Mary’s voice was filled with concern. “Jane, you have gone quite pale. Pray, is everything quite all right? Whatever is the matter?”

  “Tea, Mary,” Jane heard George Grainger say. “Maybe a sweet one. Add some sugar.”

  “Please.”

  She looked up, the letter burning like fire in her hands. “Please, George, don’t. I am quite all right. It is just that this is…this cannot be!” Her voice rose with her exclamation, hardly daring to let herself believe it. “My sister writes to tell me that she is engaged!”

  Mary frowned upon seeing the smile on Jane’s face and shared a concerned glance with her brother. “I see,” she murmured, finishing serving the tea. “My congratulations to them both, although I am a little surprised to see you so happy, Jane.”

  Jane could not help but laugh, happiness bubbling up inside her chest. She felt such freedom, such wonderful, overwhelming joy that it was proving rather difficult to keep her countenance.

  “She is not engaged to Lord Halifax!” she exclaimed, getting to her feet and thrusting the letter in Mary’s direction. “She is engaged to Samuel Putnam, my father’s steward.”

  Mary blinked rapidly, shock writing itself into her features, as George let out his breath in a rush, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

  “I confess that I told her to do quite the opposite,” Jane continued, walking around the room, a little unsure as to what she ought to do with herself. “Mr. Putnam appeared quite reluctant when it came to my sister and I told Katie that she ought to pursue Lord Halifax, just as she had been encouraged to do. I thought it best, given that Mr. Putnam did not seem eager to consider matrimony, even though I knew she cared for Mr. Putnam and not Lord Halifax.” She shook her head, her expression growing a little grave. “In hindsight, that may have been a little lacking in good advice.”

  “I do not understand,” Mary breathed, reading the letter again. “Your sister is engaged to Mr. Putnam and not Lord Halifax, as we thought. But you encouraged her towards Lord Halifax, even though you loved him as desperately as you do?”

  Flushing, Jane nodded. “My mother insisted upon it and my father did not seem to care all that much as to whom my sister married. You must understand, Mary, that to avoid my mother’s wrath, it is always best to do as she wishes. Besides, I am not the beauty Katie is. It seemed quite right to me that she ought to be the one blessed with the connection of gentry, of good fortune and the like. I am to be content with my lot as the less-admired sister.”

  George shook his head, his lips thinning. “You have been treated abominably by your mother if it is not too harsh to say,” he said, a little frustrated. “But it seems she is not to have her way after all if your sister has rejected Lord Halifax and gone to Mr. Putnam.”

  “Yes,” Jane breathed, her gaze finding the gloves and the muffler that Lord Halifax had sent. Her heart beat with a wild hope as she picked up his note again, her eyes filled with joy. “Do you think this could mean….?” She left the question unasked but looked towards her friends who were, at least, both smiling back at her.

  “I think you can allow yourself to hope,” George Grainger murmured, sitting back in his chair with a look of utter astonishment. “Although I do hope the man will be worthy of you, Jane.”

  “You must write to him at once and thank him for his gifts and state that he may call whenever he wishes,” Mary instructed, beaming at Jane. “I know the address of his townhouse here in London so can send the note almost as soon as you have written it.”

  A sudden trembling took a hold of Jane’s limbs, as though she were quite overcome with what appeared to be the fulfillment of her hopes and dreams in one short, heady moment. Sinking down into her chair, she reached for her cup of tea and took a long draught. Mary smiled at her in understanding, gesturing towards the plate of small cakes and urging her to eat something.

  “One thing I must wonder,” Mary commented, as Jane began to eat. “Is what Lord Halifax was referring to when he mentioned that he was in town to find ‘something of a precious nature.” Her eyes glowed as she looked at Jane, her thoughts obvious. “Mayhap that precious thing is you, Jane.”

  Jane’s breath caught, her hand pressed to her lips.

  “It would make sense, I think,” George commented, having been appraised of that particular situation already. “If he is making his consideration of you so overt, then it may be that he has an affection for you already, Jane. An affection that has brought him to London to pursue you.”

  It was all much too
wonderful to believe. “I cannot quite believe it,” Jane whispered, shaking her head. “It is all a little too much.”

  Mary smiled and reached across to pat Jane’s hand. “Now, none of that,” she said, firmly. “You must be practical. Take tea and then go to write your note to him. Nothing too flowery, nothing too hopeful. Thank him for his gifts and say that you would be glad of his company at any time. That is all. You have given him the opening he has been looking for and, therefore, the next step is entirely up to him.”

  “Yes,” Jane breathed, the memory of how she had danced in Lord Halifax’s arms suddenly taking on an entirely different note. She allowed herself to feel excited, to feel hopeful for the very first time. “I shall write to him this very moment.” Rising to her feet, she made to walk towards the writing table in the corner, only to feel herself sway just a little.

  “Sit down and finish your tea first,” George laughed, getting up to help her back into her seat. “think about what you will write first of all and then take yourself to the writing desk. Else this place will be strewn with paper that holds the beginning of a letter but nothing more.”

  “And then,” Mary added, with a rather put on sigh of frustration. “We shall play snapdragon. If not that, then ‘bob apples’, George, which I know you detest even more!”

  Jane laughed and allowed herself to be placed back into her seat. Smiling at her friends, she felt a deep, abiding happiness fill her heart, chasing away the dark memories and fears of the past. Finally, it looked as though she might have the chance to seek the fulfillment of her long-held dreams.

  Chapter Seven

  “Miss Brookes.”

  Lord Halifax bowed over Jane’s hand, sending flurries of butterflies straight down into her belly. “Thank you for coming, Lord Halifax,” she managed to say, relieved that her voice did not tremble. “I believe you are already acquainted with my friend, Lady Harrows.”

  “Yes, of course.” Lord Halifax bowed over Mary’s hand, although he did not linger as he had done with her. In fact, he finished his greeting with a good deal of swiftness and then returned to Jane’s side. She felt herself glow with a warm sense of contentment, smiling up into his handsome face without even the smallest worry niggling at her mind.

  “Jane thought to show you to the library, instead of the drawing room,” Mary said, as she walked towards the door. “It is one of her favorite places in this house and I am quite certain that you would be interested in seeing it.”

  Lord Halifax looked a little taken aback for a moment and then smiled. “But of course,” he replied, as Jane blushed furiously.

  “I will ring for tea,” Mary replied, with a quick smile in Jane’s direction. “I am also expecting a few more items for my staff’s Christmas boxes, which must be attended to at once. Do go on, Jane. I will follow you in a moment.”

  Knowing that her friend was doing this so that she might have some time alone with Lord Halifax, Jane felt her cheeks heat with a blush as she walked towards the drawing-room door, with Lord Halifax following closely behind. The library was indeed one of her favorite places in the house, but she did not think that Lord Halifax needed to see it. After all, she was quite certain that he had an even larger library of his own back in his estate.

  “Are you quite well, Lord Halifax?” she asked, her voice rebounding off the walls of the hallway as they walked together. “I know this cold and ice can be difficult.”

  “Indeed,” he muttered, a dark look crossing his face. “I had not expected so much snow.”

  Jane smiled up at him, seeing the strained look go from his features in a moment. “I confess I do quite like seeing the snow, Lord Halifax,” she murmured, quite glad that such a large amount had fallen in the last day or so. “Although it is not too much, I think.”

  “So long as the carriages and hackneys can go about their business, then London will do very well, even with the snow,” Lord Halifax replied, with a grin. “After all, ushering gentlemen and ladies to whichever occasion they wish to go is of the utmost importance, is it not?”

  She laughed, seeing the twinkle in his eye. “I suppose there are some that might say that, my lord.”

  “But not you?”

  She paused, looking up at him. “No, not I, my lord. I am not particularly inclined to dances and the like. I’m afraid I have always been rather quiet when it comes to such events. I do prefer an evening spent in here, lost in a story.”

  As they walked into the library, Jane felt herself sigh with contentment, knowing that this was one of her most dear places in all the world. It held more books that her father’s study ever could, whispering to her as she let her fingers run over the spines.

  “And yet,” Lord Halifax murmured, his voice gentle. “You are a very good dancer indeed, Miss Brookes. I had a most enjoyable evening dancing with you, I confess.”

  Looking up into his eyes, Jane saw the way they lingered on her, a flickering hope evident in the way he looked at her. Her heart lifted, her fingers clasping together as she struggled to know what to say.

  “You are unused to compliments, I think,” Lord Halifax continued, with another quick smile. “I do intend to change that, Miss Brookes – although I would like to know whether or not I am too late to make my intentions known.”

  Confused, she frowned. “Too late, my lord? “she asked, aware of just how quickly her heart was beating. “I do not understand.”

  Clearing his throat, Lord Halifax placed his hands behind his back and gave her a somewhat tight smile. “I understood that Mr. George Grainger had made you an offer.”

  Such was the surprise of his comment that Jane could not help but laugh aloud, her eyes sparkling with mirth as she shook her head. Lord Halifax’s eyes widened, his back stiffened – but then he too began to chuckle, evidently caught up with her laughter.

  “No, indeed,” she said when she was finally able to speak. “I mean, he has suggested that we wed if there is nothing else to be done, but I do not think that such a thing will ever happen. No doubt George will find himself a very pretty young lady to call his wife. I have been encouraging him to take matters of the heart seriously, else he shall never find the happiness he has long desired.”

  “Those are very wise words,” Lord Halifax murmured, the brightness in his eyes remaining. “Then you are quite free?”

  “I am,” she replied, feeling her heart quickening as her stomach began to flood with nerves. “I confess that I did not know of my sister’s engagement to Mr. Putnam until yesterday. I thought you were still courting her.”

  Lord Halifax’s expression registered surprise. “No, indeed,” he exclaimed, earnestly. “The truth is, Miss Brookes, I proposed to your sister, only to immediately take it back without giving her the time to answer.” Seeing her startled expression, he held up his hands as though to defend himself. “I had thought, Miss Brookes, that there was very little hope for me. I had seen you talking with George Grainger and had, naturally, presumed that there was some connection between you both, one that I would never be able to replicate. Therefore, believing this, I set my sights on your sister, thinking that I would be able to forget all that I felt.” His lips pulled into a wry grin. “unfortunately, it was not so. Thankfully for us both, your sister declared that she too was quite in love with another, although I did not understand the reasons for her being quite unable to pursue a future with him in the first place.” His gaze drifted away as he frowns, before shrugging and returning his attention back to her. “It seems that neither myself nor your sister thought we would be happy as husband and wife. I came to London to see you, Miss Brookes. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you are willing to even talk with me after how foolish I have been.”

  Jane was tingling all over, her breath so quick and uneven that she struggled to take in everything that he had said to her. She had gone from believing Lord Halifax to be entirely out of her reach and attempting to force herself to forget him in light of her sister’s inevitable engagement, to hearing
that Lord Halifax had been so caught up with thoughts of her that he had been unable to propose to Katie.

  “I – I do not know what to say, Lord Halifax,” she replied, her voice hoarse and threatening to break with all that she felt. “You have quite overwhelmed me.”

  “I am only sorry I did not pursue you sooner,” he confessed, evidently making the most of the opportunity to be alone with her by being as honest as he could. “When we were first introduced back in Abbeford Hall, I knew that I had met you before. In fact, I remember being quite taken with you, Miss Brookes. It was my own foolish memory that could not recall your name.”

  She frowned, tipping her head to regard him closely.

  “It is quite true, I assure you,” he promised, seeing her questioning look. “I remember being introduced to you at the Carmody’s house party the previous year. I remember dancing with you and talking to you last year, although I cannot state for certain that I had any decent conversation.”

  Surprised, she raised her brows, trying to work out whether Lord Halifax was truly being honest with her. Part of her did not believe that he had truly remembered being introduced to her before, not when she knew herself to be so plain and dowdy. They had danced and conversed, yes, but had he really remembered her from that brief acquaintance?

  “Miss Brookes,” Lord Halifax continued, his tone a good deal more gentle. “I have given you no reason to believe me, I know, given that I have been utterly ridiculous in my actions, but the truth is, I have never once forgotten you since last year’s meeting. At the time, I had told myself that I did not want a wife, that I did not need to take things with any sort of seriousness. In addition, I was growing less than fond of the beau monde, finding most to be people of little substance, who did nothing but gossip and chase after rumor, when they were not batting their eyes at any gentleman that so much as glanced at them.” His tone had become hard and, evidently realizing this, Lord Halifax shook his head, letting out a somewhat pained sigh. “And yet, as the months passed, I could not forget your face, Miss Brookes. It was only when we were introduced again, that I could not recall your name, such was my astonishment at seeing you again.”