by Rose Pearson
Mistletoe Magic
A Regency Romance
Rose Pearson
Contents
Mistletoe Magic: A Regency Romance
Home for Christmas
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
My Dear Reader
A Sneak Peek of A New Beginning
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
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© Copyright 2019 by Rose Pearson - All rights reserved.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.
Respective author owns all copyrights not held by the publisher.
Mistletoe Magic: A Regency Romance
Home For Christmas
By
Rose Pearson
Home for Christmas
...a sweet, romantic journey spanning decades - even centuries - of holiday cheer.
There’s no better season than Christmas to look back with gratitude for all the family blessings and forward with anticipation to all the joy to come. A holiday romance or a surprise Christmas wedding that leads to a lifetime of happiness is an irresistible story for a true romantic. Add some snow, hot chocolate, and carols at the piano and you’ll fall in love again and again.
Second chances, mail order brides, marriages of convenience – this clean and wholesome series brings all this and so much more. Join our heroes and heroines from proper Regency England to the majestic Rocky Mountains as they find peace, true love, and inspiring Christmas spirit.
This multi-author Christmas series is brought to you by these best-selling authors:
Joyce Alec
Rose Pearson
Natalie Dean
Bethany Rose
Annie Boone
Hanna Hart
Sophie Mays
Prologue
“Georgiana?”
Georgiana, who had been busying herself with her needlework on what was otherwise a very damp and cold winter’s day, lifted her head as her brother walked into the drawing-room.
“Ah, Georgiana, there you are,” he said, a kind smile on his face and a sharp look in his eyes that sent a twinge of concern into Georgiana’s heart. “Might I pry you away from your needlework for a moment?”
Georgiana looked at her brother steadily, taking him in. The Earl had become much more amenable of late, given he had married a little less than a year ago, but with the look in his eye at present, Georgiana felt herself become somewhat unsettled. Something was afoot, and she was not sure she would like whatever it was.
“Georgiana?”
She blinked. “Oh, yes,” she said, realizing she had not yet answered the question. “Yes, of course, Allerton.” Setting her needlework on the arm of the chair, she looked up at him expectantly.
“Good.” He beamed at her as though he were certain she would be pleased with whatever it was he had to offer her. “You are aware, I hope, of the little Season that is due to start very soon?”
Georgiana frowned. The summer Season had been her third foray into society, for she had made her come out some two years ago but had then been invited to Bath for her second Season by a very close friend of her late mother, Lady Clarence. Her brother had been more than pleased for her to go; it had meant he would have less responsibility and, therefore, more freedom to do as he wished. She had spent the winter with Lord and Lady Clarence, enjoying the little Season, only to hear a very strange rumor being thrown around Bath that the Earl of Allerton was to marry—and to marry soon. What a shock it had been to hear that this rumor was, in fact, nothing short of the truth! At first, she had thought him to be making a mockery of her and thus had not wanted to believe it, but by the time the wedding came around, Georgiana had very little idea but to accept that her brother was to marry! Thankfully, his choice of bride had been most excellent indeed, and since that time, Georgiana had found Lady Alice Allerton to be kindness itself. This home had been happier than ever before, and their lives on the estate brought them all some quiet contentment.
It now seemed that this contentedness was to be shattered.
“I have it in my mind to take us all to London!” her brother exclaimed, throwing up his hands as if excited himself at the prospect. “I know that your summer Season went very well indeed, but since no offers of marriage came to you, I think it best that we return to London for the winter Season also.”
Georgiana looked up into her brother’s face and felt her stomach tighten. Yes, the summer Season had gone well, but her brother was correct to say she had received no proposals. The gentlemen had been charming enough, and one or two had called on her a good many times, but none had sought to take matters any further. Georgiana had not known why. Was it because she was on her third Season and therefore considered to be almost on the shelf? Or was it because they believed her brother would give her no great dowry, given he had married Alice for her wealth?
“What say you, Georgiana?” her brother asked, beaming at her as though she ought to be practically dancing around the room in joy. “We shall once again go to London, and you shall have another opportunity to find a suitable match.”
Georgiana bit her lip. “Brother, whilst I am truly grateful to you for your willingness to aid me in this matter, I fear it will be of no use.”
Lord Allerton’s face darkened, the smile fading away and his eyes losing some of their brightness. “What can you mean?”
“Well,” Georgiana said, speaking in very practical terms. “I have been in London for two summer Seasons and in Bath for one, but as yet, I have not found a single gentleman to seek my hand in marriage. I fear,” she continued, forcing her own emotions down so she could speak without her voice shaking or her eyes filling with tears. “I fear it might be quite impossible for me to do so even during the little Season, Allerton. I am perhaps now considered to be ‘on the shelf,’ or mayhap there is a worry that my dowry might be a good deal smaller than what a gentleman would expect.” She dropped her eyes from her brother’s face, seeing his sharp look and not wanting him to feel any guilt over what she was saying. “I fear that another Season will not bring about what you expect.”
There was silence for some time. Georgiana did not know where to look, her heart aching as she let her gaze drift around the room. When she finally dared a glance at her brother, she saw that his brows were low over his eyes and that his expression was shuttered. She could not tell what he was feeling, praying he did not think she was attempting to blame him in any way for her present unmarried state. Dropping her head, Georgiana pressed her lips together tightly, wondering if she should say anything more.
“I have it!”
Her breath caught as she shot a look up to her brother who was, much to her astonishment, now grinning from ear to ear.
“Allerton?” she queried slowly, butterflies beginning to beat their wings furiously in the pit of her stomach. “What is it?”
“I have it,” he said again, coming towards her and crouching down so he might look up into her face. His hand found hers, and he squeezed her fingers tightly. “You have every right
to worry,” he continued as she swallowed hard. “It is not because you are not lovely in every way that the gentlemen do not wish to draw near to you, but rather because your foolish brother has yet to prove himself.”
Georgiana’s mouth hung open for a moment, astonished that her brother had accepted such a responsibility so quickly. That was most unlike him—but, then again, he had changed significantly in almost every way since he had married Alice Jones.
“Therefore,” her brother continued, his smile gentle, “therefore, you need not worry you will find no one to court you. I will do so on your behalf.”
Something kicked hard at Georgiana’s stomach. “What do you mean?” she asked quickly as her brother rose to his feet, smiling at her fondly. “What are your intentions, Allerton?”
He shrugged. “I will find you a suitable match, Georgiana, just as I arranged my match with Alice. That has turned out wonderfully well, you must admit, and I can only hope you will find a similar happiness with whomever it is that I choose for you.”
Georgiana tried to say something in response, tried to open her mouth to protest that her brother did not need to go to such lengths, only to find that her lips were refusing to do as she intended. Allerton’s smile remained on his face, his expression warm as he gave a contented sigh.
“I will ensure to consider at length the many gentlemen that might suit you,” he said in a clear attempt to reassure her. “I will not be hasty nor will I simply make a match in order to suit myself. You need have no fear of that, my dear sister. I am not that sort of gentleman any longer, thanks to Alice.”
“I know that to be true,” Georgiana answered, surprised at just how thin her voice was, how tight her throat felt. “I will make sure to thank her also.” She did not know what else to say, feeling as though she were being swept along in a fast-flowing river without any means of escape. Her brother was trying to do his best for her, she knew, but she had never wanted him to find her a match! She had enjoyed being able to meet and converse with the various gentlemen of the ton, although it had been a great disappointment when none of them had sought to take matters any further with her.
She smiled at her brother as he took his leave, giving her the day of their departure for London, but the smile did not speak of any true joy or happiness in her heart. Instead, she felt nothing more than fear and worry.
“I will let you return to your needlework,” Lord Allerton said, reaching down to pat Georgiana’s hand. “You need not look so fearful, my dear sister. It will all turn out very well indeed. I am sure of it.”
“I thank you,” Georgiana murmured as her brother walked from the room, feeling a sense of relief cloak her as the door closed. In the silence that followed, Georgiana was left with a myriad of thoughts and emotions, leaving her feeling quite overwhelmed.
“It may not be as bad as you fear,” she told herself aloud, forcibly stemming the flood of tears that poured into her eyes. “You need not be afraid.”
Georgiana swallowed hard, forcing her tears back and looking up the ceiling in an attempt to keep them at bay. Her brother had changed over this last year, and she was sure he would not make a match for her without asking for Alice’s opinion—and Lady Allerton was both wise and considerate. And did she herself not want to marry? She had always longed for a husband and a home of her own, for that was every young lady’s dream. That dream had felt very far away of late, but now, mayhap, it would be fulfilled, even if she herself had not made the choice of who to marry. She had seen plenty of marriages of convenience, plenty young ladies thrown into their future without any consideration for their feelings on the matter, and she ought to be grateful that her brother would not be that way inclined. He would be careful, considerate, and, hopefully, wise in his choice.
All she had to do was prepare herself to meet her future husband, no matter who he might be.
Chapter One
“And here we are.”
Georgiana pressed her hands together as she held them in her lap, looking out of the window as though seeing the townhouse would help her calm her nerves. She threw a quick glance towards her sister-in-law, seeing how Lady Allerton smiled back at her without any worry in her eyes. That was how Georgiana wished to be: free of all anxiety and, therefore, happy, contented and settled.
It was not how she felt at present.
“Your brother will do all he can to help find you a suitable match, Georgiana.” Alice’s voice, lilting with the American accent that had taken Georgiana some time to become used to. “But I will be here too. You know that, I hope.”
“I do, of course,” Georgiana answered, seeing the kindness in Lady Allerton’s smile and feeling it soothe her fractious thoughts. “I would be glad for your input when it comes to my brother’s decisions, Alice. He may well choose someone he believes will be entirely suitable and, whilst they will appear to be so with their good title, excellent fortune, and perfect family line, they might fall short in their character.”
“Which I quite understand,” Lady Allerton said with a small sigh and a slight shake of her head that betrayed just how well she understood Georgiana’s dilemma. “Your brother has a good heart, Georgiana. He means well, but his considerations do not always have much of an...emotive nature. As you have just said, he thinks mostly of family lines, of titles and wealth.”
“Which mean very little,” Georgiana muttered, sitting back in her carriage seat and sighing heavily. “Although I should not wish to marry a pauper.”
“No, indeed not,” Lady Allerton chuckled as the carriage came to a stop. “That would cause a good many difficulties indeed!”
Georgiana sighed again, shivering just a little as the carriage door was opened. The drive to London had taken some time, and even with the hot bricks, their multiple blankets, and their many stops, it was still cold in the carriage. She would be glad to get inside and to sit in front of a roaring fire for a time.
Once inside, Georgiana threw aside any suggestion of resting in her bedchamber and made her way directly to the drawing-room. Her brother had ridden to London a day earlier than they and had ensured the house was prepared for their arrival. There was a warm fire waiting for her in the drawing-room and Georgiana hurried towards it, her hands outstretched and desperate for the warmth.
“Ah, Georgiana, there you are!”
She let out a small shriek, spinning around to see her brother sitting in an armchair close to the fire. He chuckled good-naturedly, getting up out of his chair and making for the door, ready to greet his wife.
“I did not see you there,” she stammered as he grinned. “You arrived safely, then?”
“I did,” he said just as Lady Allerton came into the room. “And here is my dear wife.” Embracing her warmly, Georgiana looked away, a little embarrassed to be watching such a display of affection, and yet, at the same time, there came a pang of longing. A longing she too might find such happiness and love for herself. Her brother and Alice’s marriage had been one of arrangement, not one that had come from any sort of emotion yet, a love had been borne from it. A love that was evident every day. That was the sort of love Georgiana wanted for herself—and just because her marriage would be one of arrangement did not mean there was no chance for such a thing to occur.
“You will be glad to know, Georgiana, that I have already found two suitable gentlemen for you to meet,” her brother said, drawing Lady Allerton along with him as he walked back towards the center of the room. “I am sure you will think very highly of them both.”
Georgiana exchanged a quick glance with Lady Allerton before smiling at her brother. “I thank you,” she told him with as much fervor as she could manage. “You have been working hard on my behalf, and I am truly grateful.” Seeing how her brother smiled, she spread out her hands in a questioning gesture. “Might I inquire as to their names?”
“But of course!” Lord Allerton exclaimed as the door opened to allow in two maids who set down trays of refreshments and a slightly steaming pot of tea tha
t caught both Georgiana and Lady Allerton’s eye almost at once. “One is Lord Tolliver, who is a Viscount with excellent holdings, whilst the other is the Earl of Pembrokeshire.”
Lady Allerton frowned. “The Earl of Pembrokeshire?” she repeated as her husband nodded fervently. “Is he not the very same gentleman who had to deal with the consequences of what was a terrible scandal in the summer?”
Georgiana’s stomach dropped to the floor as she looked at her brother, seeing how he winced.
“He is the very same,” he admitted to his wife. “I have to speak to him about that particular matter and, of course, if I find such a thing to be true, then there will be no—”
“Allerton!” Lady Allerton was staring at her husband, her eyes flashing and one hand curled into a fist. “You cannot push your poor sister towards a gentleman who has been accused of attempting to elope with the daughter of a Duke simply so he might find a little more financial stability in the long term.”
Georgiana’s eyes flared wide as she looked from her brother to Lady Allerton and back again. Had her brother honestly thought that such a gentleman would be suitable for her?
“There may be no truth to it,” Lord Allerton said hastily, holding up his hands defensively. “I will speak to Lord Pembrokeshire and discover whether or not it has even a small hint of truth about it.”
“And if it does?” Lady Allerton demanded, sounding quite upset with her husband. “What then?”