Amazing Love This Christmas
Charity McColl
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
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Contents
Prologue
1. Flowers in Stony Places
2. On a Collision Course
3. Grab the Bull by its Horns
4. The Testing
5. A Touch of Honey
6. The Greater Happiness
7. Trust My Love
Epilogue
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Prologue
She was so beautiful that her features took his breath away. When she raised her gentle green eyes to him, Lord Allan Callahan, Duke of Cumberland thought an arrow had pierced his heart; an arrow of love.
In all his twenty three years of life, Allan had never felt what he did right at that moment when their eyes met and held. It wasn’t that he’d never seen beautiful women before. He was a duke and a very wealthy one at that. Without being vain, Allan knew that he was quite a catch to the females of England. The Dandy’s Delight, a fortnightly magazine featuring men’s fashions had ranked him among the top ten most handsome and well groomed men in England. At position number five he’d even beaten the Duke of Wellington by two places. Others said his style was quite remarkable, following after the stylish Beau Brummel.
But Allan liked to think that he had his own way of doing things and aimed to stand out from the crowd. Which was why women of all walks of life sighed whenever he passed by and wished he would cast an eye in their direction. It wasn’t that Allan didn’t appreciate the beautiful women who were either nobility or gentry, but he was careful never to get ensnared by desperate mothers and widows alike, seeking to get him shackled to them for life.
His personal valet who also liked to take on the role of his bodyguard as well was a native of West Africa, a large dark skinned man who legend had it was a descendant of a man who had once been the greatest wrestler of his village before he and many other of his tribesmen were carried away into slavery. Though he answered to the name of William, he preferred being called Ashanti after his great grandfather, the great wrestler’s village back in West Africa.
It was Ashanti who had one day jokingly remarked to Allan that when he finally met the woman who stole his heart, she would be a humble and simple servant.
“As if that would ever be possible,” Allan had responded haughtily. “Nobility marries and begets nobility. No nobleman can ever mix with a commoner, least of all a servant. What would our children look like?”
“Might I remind my master that the heart is a very strange organ,” Ashanti had said. “When it loves, it falls hard and you’ll forget your station in life when your eyes light upon the creature that will steal it away.”
Allan had laughed long and hard, thinking that his valet was a little weak in the head. But the moment that he set his eyes on Samantha, he forgot all about his noble station in his desire to make her his. She was stunning and stood a head shorter than him. Next to him she looked really petite even though she was of average height. And her thick dark hair seemed to be straining to spill out of the bonnet she wore.
He was on his way downstairs when he nearly stumbled upon her as she polished the wooden tiles in the corridor upstairs.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized for the near mishap. And that’s when he’d looked into the girl’s eyes and lost his heart forever. The heart truly was a strange organ!
“Your grace,” the young woman rose to her feet and curtsied, bowing her head, hastily averting her gaze. She’d been told that looking at a nobleman or woman was an offence that could incur the wrath of her masters.
“What’s your name?”
“Samantha, my lord.”
“Samantha,” he repeated softly, raising her chin and looking straight into her eyes. “I’m going to marry you and make you mine,” he said and dropped her chin then went on his merry way, chuckling softly at the way her soft lips had parted in shock.
He was in love and nothing was going to stop him from marrying the servant girl who he had left upstairs polishing the wooden floor. At the top of the stairs he stopped and placed a hand on the balustrade. “My dear charming girl, that is a promise,” he said and went down the stairs, whistling a happy tune. The moment he set foot on the last stair, Ashanti was there grinning at him. It was clear the man had been privy to Allan’s contact with the chambermaid. “Shut up, Ashanti.”
“Your grace,” the man bowed, “But I didn’t say a word.”
“You didn’t have to; your eyes say it all.”
1
Flowers in Stony Places
Lady Samantha Callahan, Duchess of Cumberland or Sammy as her husband so fondly called her, could never quite put it in words afterwards just how she had risen from being a chambermaid at the Callahan Manor, and the least of all servants to being mistress of it. She was a duchess and every day when she woke up, she had to pinch herself to make sure that it wasn’t all a dream.
Four years had gone by but with each passing day she still felt as if this was all just a long dream and she would one day wake up to find herself on her knees scrubbing or polishing floors in the manor. People curtsied when she went by, she attended fancy balls that she’d only ever heard about but most of all, England’s most handsome man was her husband. Hers and hers alone, and each time she thought about Allan, she felt butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.
And speaking of butterflies in her stomach, she placed a trembling hand over her stomach where she’d felt a different kind of flutter just minutes ago. The manner of women hadn’t come upon her for the past three months and she prayed that this time it would be the good news that her husband was longing to hear. The same thing had happened three other times when she hadn’t seen her usual monthly visitor for a month each time and she’d been so excited that she was with child. But her happiness had turned to despair when her body once again resumed its normal functions. But this time three months had gone by. Dare she hope?
“Please Lord,” she begged silently, gently moving her hand all over her stomach. Unlike all the other times, this time she hadn’t told a soul about her suspicions, not even Allan. She loved her husband and adored him with all that was in her. It had nearly broken her heart to see the pain and disappointment in his eyes each time in the past that she told him that they weren’t having a baby after all. This time she wanted to be sure that it was really not her just being excited but that it was a baby before she shared the wonderful news with Allan.
“There you are,” the deep voice startled her and she looked up to see her mother-in-law, the Dowager Duchess, Lady Irene Callahan walking down the foyer toward her. “What are you doing just standing there at the bottom of the stairs? Make up your mind whether you want to go up the stairs or walk away. Standing there and looking lost and confused in your own home is quite unbecoming of a duchess.”
Sammy turned red at the rebuke. From the moment Allan had announced to his mother that he intended to marry Samantha, the dowager had done all she could to stop that from happening.
“Nobility never mixes with commoners,” she screamed at him, uncaring that Sammy was in the room with them. “You’re only asking for trouble by thinking that you can take someone from the gutters and raise them to sit
on a throne. It has never worked before and believe me, before long you’ll be wishing you hadn’t done something so foolish as this. If you really desire the girl then do what your peers all over England and beyond are doing.”
“And what’s that mother?”
“Take her as a mistress and keep her as far away from the duchy and your estate as you possibly can. Then find a gentlewoman who was born to this station and make her your duchess.”
“Mother, you amaze me. I know that I was just a little boy when my father died but never once have I heard it whispered that he had ever kept a mistress on the side. And my grandfather and great grandfather were noble men and gentlemen who similarly never took up that vice. I won’t be the first in this lineage to mar their good character and lose my dignity in the process.”
“You can’t marry a woman who has been cleaning your chamber pot and waiting on you.”
“Mother, by virtue of me being a nobleman, when I marry Sammy her position will be elevated and she will no longer be a commoner. I will share my dukedom with the woman I love and make her my duchess.”
“Society will never accept her and you’ll be shunned by many of your friends and peers for marrying a mere chambermaid.”
“So be it,” he shrugged. “And just so you know, I’ve never cared about what other people think or say about me. Mama, do you remember reading to me from the Bible once upon a time?”
“What has that got to do with what I’m telling you?”
“Fear of man bringeth a snare, or don’t you recall all that? I don’t depend on anyone for my needs, not even the Regent himself. If anything, those people you refer to as my friends and peers need me and none of them can afford to get on my bad side. And whether or not they accept Sammy, she is going to be my wife. They aren’t the ones who will live with her, it’s me and if it all turns out to be a mistake then,” he shrugged once again, his piercing blue eyes fixed on Sammy who blushed, “Then I believe I’m old enough to take full responsibility of my mistakes should it come to that.”
“Don’t be so hasty in your decision. Then wait for a few months and get to know this woman very well,” the dowager sneered at Sammy who couldn’t even look up. She was terrified of her mistress.
“I’ll do as I please and confound anyone who feels slighted. They need me, Mother, and not the other way round. Anyone who wants to remain in my good graces will either accept my marriage to Sammy or be silent forever.” Which was quite true and Lord Allan Callahan was one of the Regent’s closest friends. They had grown up together and sat under the same tutors, when Allan’s father had worked as King George III’s personal aide. But more than that, Callahan Duchy produced the choicest of apples, pears and peaches and a wide variety of vegetables that every noble house wanted served at its tables. And he had enough cows to supply his whole county and three more with milk, butter and meat products.
And even though only a few close friends had been invited to their wedding, Sammy had felt like she was making a huge mistake. Allan had swept her off her feet and even now four years later she felt as if she still hadn’t quite caught her breath. She realised that the Dowager was still speaking and forced herself to listen.
“The holiday season is upon us and in less than a fortnight we shall be celebrating Christmas Day and yet you still haven’t told me what you intend to do. You know that we host a large ball each year on Christmas Eve and invite all our friends who have retired to their country seats for the holidays. They depend on us to provide them with the entertainment they need to get through the holidays.” Sammy sighed inwardly but her face remained expressionless. If only her mother-in-law knew just how much she dreaded all those society gatherings! “People who haven’t seen Allan for months need to meet with him and what better time than during this season. Of course, we shall have two smaller balls just to test the waters and see what the ton of London want, but our main focus will be on the Christmas Eve Ball.”
Sammy bowed her head and felt deep despair washing over her. She was a simple woman and hated the upheaval that was the holidays. Though she got on with a number of the other noblewoman in Cumberland County, she also found many of them to be quite pretentious and irritating. Also, a number of them blatantly propositioned her husband, uncaring whether she was present or not. They were beautiful women who had been born into nobility and each time they cast their capes at her husband, she felt very insecure. She was just a chambermaid whose station in life had been elevated. What if one day Allan woke up to realise that he’d made a terrible mistake in marrying her and asked for a divorce? Could she bear to go away and hear that he had married someone else? It would just about kill her.
“People are calling this the grandest ball of the year and everything must just be perfect. Napoleon is no more and finally there’s real peace in Europe. England is prospering and we want to celebrate all this.”
“Yes my lady,” Sammy said while thinking that everyone was doing it all wrong. Christmas time was supposed to be all about the Saviour of the world who was born in a lowly stable, and laid in a manger, being born to humble parents and yet He changed the destiny of mankind forever. It shouldn’t be about celebrating other victories or buying and exchanging expensive presents. It wasn’t about heavily laden tables and gorging oneself until they were sick while others could barely afford a single meal. She had grown up knowing that Christmas was a time to share with those who didn’t have and goodness knows she’d been a recipient of other people’s charity. But all that was buried in her heart. Sammy had found out early in her marriage that it was always easier to acquiesce to the Dowager’s suggestions rather than argue with her. No one that she knew of had ever won a battle of wits against the Dowager, not even her son who was the Duke.
“I’ll need you to work extra hard this year, Samantha. You have to prove yourself so that no one will be disappointed. After all, you’re the duchess now and I need to start taking a back seat. In any case, it isn’t as if you have a child to keep you busy,” the snide remark hit its mark and Sammy paled.
“Mother, leave my wife alone,” Allan strode into the hallway and immediately took his wife in his arms. As always, Sammy felt her breath catching in her throat as she rested her head on her husband’s wide chest. Allan always made her feel safe and now that he was here, she knew that his mother would ease up a little bit.
“We’re only discussing the plans for the grand Christmas Eve Ball. I was letting Samantha know that she has to play a more active role this year since she is now the duchess. I’ve been doing this for so many years after your grandmother passed on the mantle to me and now my son’s wife needs to take over so I can rest.”
Once again Sammy felt dread welling up within but she struggled not to reveal anything of what she was feeling. Allan was overly protective of her and if he caught a whiff of any discomfort, he would browbeat and ramrod everyone into doing what he wanted, including his own mother. And that would mean creating bad blood between her and the Dowager.
But Sammy was tired of all the balls, parties and soirees that the Dowager insisted on throwing every two months, or even attending in her capacity as the Duchess of Cumberland. And now her mother-in-law expected her to take an even more active role in this year’s preparations. The woman had mentioned two smaller balls and then the grand one, all this happening in the short span of two weeks. The thought made her feel quite ill and she turned pale.
“Mother, Sammy will eventually learn what needs to be done and she knows that she is the Duchess of Cumberland, no need to keep reminding her of the fact. Don’t keep pushing her when she’s not ready.”
“Four years Allan, four years!” The Dowager held up four fingers. “You’ve been married for four years which means that your wife has had enough time to learn all the etiquette required of her. I expect this year’s ball to be perfect and will not accept anything less,” were the Dowager’s parting words as she walked away, her back rod straight to signify her displeasure at being challenged.
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Once the Dowager was out of sight, Sammy moved out of her husband’s arms and immediately felt bereft of the safety they provided. “The Dowager is right,” she twisted her hands nervously. “It’s time the duchess took on a more active role in planning all the balls and other functions at this manor.”
“You don’t have to do it, Sammy, not unless that’s what you really want.”
Sammy nodded, “No, I don’t have to do it,” she took a deep breath knowing that her next words might not be received well. “That’s the duty of the next duchess,” she said, afraid to raise her eyes to his.
Allan didn’t immediately grasp what his wife was saying and laughed. “Well, the next duchess will be our son’s wife and that’s not going to be for another twenty or so years. But who knows with the coming generation, they might choose to marry even later than I did.”
Sammy shook her head, “You’re not listening to me, Allan,” she said, sounding frustrated.
Allan had never heard his wife using that tone of voice and his smile faded. “Sammy, I promise you that I’m listening. Maybe I didn’t understand what you were trying to say but I’m listening to you.”
“I said the next duchess will take up the Dowager’s role as she is expected to but that won’t be me because I’m leaving.”
Allan’s mouth fell open for a brief moment. He was in shock. No, he couldn’t have heard his wife right. “I don’t understand what you mean by saying that you’re leaving. Where are you going and when will you be back? Why didn’t you tell me that you had a journey you intended to undertake?’
“Allan, I told you from the beginning that our lives are worlds apart but you wouldn’t listen. I begged you to let me be and not pursue me but you made me fall in love with you. And then we got married and my whole world changed.”
Amazing Love This Christmas: Historical Holiday Romance Page 1