“Before we arrive,” Alex pushed forward in his seat, reaching for both her hands. “I just want to tell you how thrilled I am to be spending our first Christmastide together. You, my love, have filled my life in so many wonderful ways.”
She squeezed his hands. “Alex. You don’t have to say it. I already know.” Then she leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his lips. “And besides, whatever I give to you, you give back in spades. I might be the luckiest woman in all of England.”
He grinned. “I love you, Abigail.”
“And I you,” she said as the carriage rolled to a stop. “We’ve so much to celebrate. Let’s begin, shall we?”
He gave her hands one more squeeze. “We shall. Merry Christmastide.”
“Merry Christmastide, my love.”
* * *
Get ready to read more about the Earl of Darling’s sisters as they make their way in society, starting with The Duke’s Darling Debutante. But first…
A new series is coming in May!
A Maypole in Mayfair: Meet the four wallflowers currently attending Madame Bellafonte’s school for unfortunate debutantes. When a maypole is erected in the park located in front of their Mayfair home, they can’t resist making a May Day wish…
A Wish Upon a Duke
A Wish Upon a Marquess
A Wish Upon an Earl
A Wish Upon a Viscount
Want a sneak peek of the first book, A Wish Upon a Duke? Turn the page to see how it all begins…
A Wish Upon a Duke
Prologue
Five days until May Day…
Miss Aubrey Featherly sat at the window overlooking the park in Mayfair where she lived. Her head was upon her fist, her mouth turned down in an uncharacteristically pouty frown. She wasn’t prone to fits of melancholy or even self-pity as a general rule, but today she was drowning in both the emotions.
First, because Lady Lily Chase was being escorted about the park in front of their Mayfair school by the handsome Mr. Wright. He had that sort of sweeping blond hair and flashing blue eyes that might steal a girl’s breath. At the dance they’d attended last evening, he’d asked Aubrey to dance first and she’d been tied into fits of blushing as he’d spun her about the room with sure, strong hands.
But in very typical fashion, at least for her, she’d barely spoken a word. Shyness had plagued her, her entire life. Which was how she’d ended up here. At the Dukesbury Finishing Seminary. Located in the very fashionable neighborhood of Mayfair, it was known for creating successful debutantes from dismal prospects such as herself.
Not that her year and a half had resulted in much success. Perhaps if she just needed more skill at the pianoforte, or her frocks were often wrinkled, or she lacked decorum in her presentation, she’d be able to overcome her obstacles on the path to matrimony.
But no matter how many times Madame Bellafonte thrust her in front of a perspective suitor, she could not untie her tongue.
And so, Mr. Wright had asked another lady to dance last night, Lady Lily, a fellow student, who he’d then called on this morning. And it was Lily who was now fawning on his arm as they circled the park.
Worse yet, the park was abuzz with activity today, the sort in which she’d very much like to participate. It was the beginning of May and the rain had given way to beautiful blue skies and flowers blooming everywhere. And Mayfair had decided to host a celebration in honor of its splendor. As a result, a Maypole was being hoisted into place by several of the men who lived around the park. In five days’ time, they’d have a May Day celebration with dancing, and music, and all sorts of merriment.
And she’d likely miss it.
Madame Bellafonte would never let them participate in the May Day dance, of course. It was too…improper.
But in order to participate in the rest of the festival they’d need a proper chaperone, a family member or friend who’d be considered appropriate.
Aubrey had written to her family, of course, but no one had replied. Not that that surprised her, but she’d hoped…
With a sigh, she watched Lily and Mr. Wright stop to observe the men give the final heave to log that would make up the Maypole. Ribbons danced in the air like a colorful flag as they swirled about the wreath attached to the top.
Lily pointed, laughing as her free hand looped into Mr. Wright’s arm. He bent low, his face close to Lily’s as he whispered something in her ear. In return, she gave him a large smile.
Aubrey’s arm folded onto the sill, her cheek resting on her arms as a heavy sigh slipped from her lips.
Madame Bellafonte had an excellent record with her students making matches after attending her school, but Aubrey was going to be a failure.
Her mother’s words echoed in her ears. “She’s pretty enough and reasonably accomplished,” she’d huffed to Aubrey’s older brother, the Baron of Tidewell. “But the girl gets so tongue-tied, it’s hopeless.”
Her brother had waved his arm. “I’ll make some match for her. There are men that will take even her. One of my friends will take pity on me and take her off my hands.”
Even her…
Unwittingly, she let out another sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Lady Camilla Fairbanks asked from behind Aubrey.
Aubrey lifted her head, turning to look at her friend. Camilla’s blonde ringlets bounced as she glided across the room. They shared the attic space with several other girls, all who began filing into the dormitory. Decorum class must have finished. “Nothing,” she replied as Camilla came to stand with her at the window.
“Are you lamenting the fact that you won’t be able to participate in the May Day fair?” Camilla asked, her voice low to keep from being overheard by the other girls.
“What makes you ask that?” Aubrey looked back at Mr. Wright, who’d begun walking with Lily once again. Her friend was very perceptive so it was a silly question, but Aubrey only wished to delay explaining. She didn’t relish saying them out loud.
“It’s the logical conclusion based on the view out the window.” Camilla touched her shoulder as she sat on the window seat next to Aubrey in their attic room.
“I suppose it is,” she answered. It was, at least partially true. Mostly she was lamenting the fact that she’d watch the rest of her friends make wonderful matches with men like Mr. Wright. Not that she wished them any ill. She’d rejoice in their happiness. It was just that she wanted a bit for herself.
“My brother is coming,” their friend, Lady Sarah Appleton, piped in, her auburn hair and green eyes glinting in the sun as she joined them by the window. “I’m certain he could bring a gentleman to escort you. Even Madame Bellafonte would have to approve of that.”
Aubrey frowned. Madame Bellafonte prided herself on launching girls with spotless reputations. “I’m not certain she would.”
Rose walked over too, her hand patting Aubrey’s shoulder. “We’ll try and ask her. But in the meantime, we must find a way to help Aubrey participate in the May Day fun even if Madame doesn’t agree. It’s the most romantic time of the year, even Wordsworth knows it to be true.” Rose’s gaze grew far off and dreamy as she quoted her favorite poet.
She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam'd upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.
Aubrey was quite used to Rose spouting regular bouts of poetry and she gave her friend a small smile that quickly slipped from her face again. “I’m not hoping for romance this May Day, just a bit of fun.” She didn’t say this to her friends, but in her heart, she’d given up on May Day love or any love at all.
Madame Bellafonte would have to add Aubrey Featherly into her short
column of failures. She’d allow her brother to make some sort of match for her just so that she didn’t have to spend the rest of her life listening to him and her mother lament her spinsterhood.
Sarah clapped her hands, her eyes aglow. Sweet and kind, Sarah was prone to fits of fancy and she had that look about her now. “I’ve had the most splendid idea,” she said and then leaned in closer to whisper.
All the other girls leaned in too. Sarah angled her head down to keep her voice from carrying. “Tomorrow morning, let’s go out before the sun has even risen and do our own celebration. No one will be about to see us, and we might even be able to dance a bit.”
Aubrey cocked her head to the side. The idea had merit. She’d love to see the pole up close, touch the ribbons, and dance about if only for a minute or two. “What if we get caught?”
Camilla raised her finger. “In the most technical sense, we’re not breaking any rules. We’re together, we’re in sight of the school, and we’re exercising out of doors before the sun can freckle our skin.”
Aubrey blinked. How convenient. Out the window, the pole was securely in place, several of the men, who’d discarded their jackets, were wiping their brows.
Aubrey looked down at them, noting one, larger than the rest, scrubbed his neck with his pocket square. Not only was he large but there was a masculine roughness about his appearance that captured her attention, and she leaned a bit closer. His gaze lifted, his dark eyes penetrating hers with a piercing stare.
She gave a gasp and jerked back into the shadows. Her skin prickled as though he’d actually touched her. Who was he and why did he look at her so?
“Well, I’m for the idea,” Camilla said, oblivious to Aubrey’s discomfort.
“Me too,” Sarah clapped again. “Rose?”
Rose nodded. “Indeed, the pole is so romantic, surely we should get close enough to it to make a wish.”
“A wish?” Aubrey asked. “Do people make wishes on May Day poles?”
Rose shook her head back and forth. “I’m not certain, but I’m going to. Something about it is too fanciful to resist.”
Camilla wrinkled her nose. “Are you going to wish for a husband?”
“No,” Rose laughed as she answered. “Don’t be silly. Nothing so life-changing as that. I’m going to wish for a special edition of Wordsworth’s poetry.”
Aubrey reached back and squeezed Rose’s hand. Her family had sent her here so that she might marry well and save their financial futures. It meant Rose rarely had extra money for things other than school and her wardrobe for the season.
“I’d wish for a chemistry set of my very own,” Camilla sighed. “Though we all know that Madame Bellafonte would take the set away if she ever discovered it.”
“What would you wish for, Sarah?” Rose asked.
Sarah sighed. “A knight in shining armor.”
Aubrey managed not to laugh, just. It was so like Sarah to be so romantically fanciful. She glanced at her friends. “Do you know what I’d wish for?”
“What?” Camilla asked.
“A puppy,” she answered, looking back out onto the square.
“A puppy?” Sarah asked, wrinkling her nose. “Why?”
“I’ve always wanted one, but my family would never allow me to have any pets. They make my brother sneeze. But I don’t think a puppy would care that I get tongue-tied, or that my marriage prospects are dismal, or that I shall be one of Madame Bellafonte’s greatest failures.”
Camilla gave her arm a squeeze. “You’re not a failure. Don’t say that.”
Aubrey gave them a falsely bright smile. She didn’t want their pity. Fun, that’s what they needed. “Tomorrow morning we’ll make our wishes around the May Day pole for real.”
Want to read more? A Wish Upon a Duke will be arriving on May Day! What’s more, All the books will be released in May. It’s a delightful dose of springtime fun!
A Wish Upon a Duke
A Wish Upon a Marquess
A Wish Upon an Earl
A Wish Upon a Viscount
About the Author
Maggie Dallen writes adult and young adult romantic comedies in a range of genres. An unapologetic addict of all things romance, she loves to connect with fellow avid readers on Facebook, Instagram or at www.maggiedallen.com. For an exclusive free novella, sign up for her monthly newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/dgUNif
Katherine Ann Madison is the sweet side of USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen. Mother of three beautiful daughter’s, Katherine’s line of sweet romance strives to write romance for the reader of any age. Katherine’s stories infuse humor, romance, and wholesome love that are as joyful as they are uplifting. If you’d like to learn more about her books, new releases and sales alerts, you can subscribe to her newsletter at: http://www.tammyandresen.com/writing-as-katherine-ann-madison/
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