He would find a wife. A young, fertile wife who would provide him with plenty of sons. He just had to be sure of one thing — after the pain of losing his daughter’s affections, he would never fall in love again.
* * *
“I need my doll, Holly, Mrs. Nicholls,” Henrietta said in a quiet voice, her voluminous blue eyes pleading with Emily.
Emily sighed inwardly. She seemed to spend more time searching for Henrietta’s well-loved wooden doll than she did looking after the children.
“And where is it, darling?” Emily asked with as much patience as she could muster as she crouched down in front of the girl. Henrietta bit her lip and hung her head so that she didn’t have to meet Emily’s eyes.
“Henrietta?”
“Just tell her, Hen,” Michael offered from across the room, looking up from his book. They were sitting in the nursery, though the room was no longer fitting for young children. Emily had reformatted it into a library of sorts, and a secondary place where they could work on their lessons when the actual library was unavailable.
“I can only find it if you tell me where it is,” Emily said after taking a deep breath. “You know how important it is to be honest with one another.”
“The ballroom,” Henrietta whispered, looking up at Emily with regret in her eyes. “Behind the last row of chairs in the corner beside the angel with the long pink wings.”
“The ballroom? Good heavens, Henrietta, what is it doing in there?”
“I wanted to see the ballroom beautifully decorated before the party began, and I must have left my doll in the corner when the housekeeper caught me sneaking through.”
“Henrietta, we shall have to get it tomorrow. You know the ballroom is currently filled with all of your parents’ friends.”
“Oh, please, Mrs. Nicholls, we must find it tonight! I cannot sleep without Holly, you know I simply cannot! And what if someone takes her? She could be gone by morning!”
Emily pushed a few stray strands of hair back from her forehead. She certainly had no wish to enter the ballroom, full of the viscount and viscountess’ noble friends, but Henrietta had a point. If that doll was lost, there would be tears for many nights to come. Better to suffer through a moment of embarrassment to save both Henrietta and herself some pain later on.
“Very well,” she said with a sigh. “Sit down, now. I’ll be right back. Then it is straight to bed — no stalling, all right?”
“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Nicholls,” Henrietta said, all smiles now. “I do love you, you know.”
“And I, you. Now, I’ll be right back.”
Emily hurried down the long corridor, her hand on the balcony, before reaching the staircase to the ground floor. The symphony of music grew ever louder as she took one stair after another before she finally reached the landing. Here, maids and footmen scurried back and forth, refilling drinks, adding food to the sideboard, and fetching cloaks and hats.
Hopefully, she could find her way through the throng without being noticed. She supposed she looked enough like any other servant who was moving amongst the guests, though she was dressed slightly better than the maids who served food and drink.
She tiptoed to the door of the ballroom, although it was not as though she had to be quiet — somehow it made her feel less likely to be noticed. The pink angel was painted upon the wall in the farthest corner, of course. Emily decided she would keep to the outskirts of the ballroom so as not to be observed, particularly by Lord and Lady Coningsby.
Emily had to admit that she could see what had drawn Henrietta to the room. It was stunning as it was, but even more so with white lilies from the conservatory placed in lavish vases ornamenting the room, along with laurel, holly, ivy, and pine, already draped around the columns in preparation for the coming Christmas season.
If that wasn’t enough, the people who filled it nearly overwhelmed her senses. Her ears rang and she was nearly dizzy from the scents and sights. Women were draped in extravagant gowns of every color, jewels dripping from their ears and down their necks. Their hair was curled and twisted into knots more elaborate than anything Emily had ever seen. Her entire family could probably live off the cost of one of those dresses for an entire year, she thought ruefully, but then shook her head.
Enough of that. She was lucky to be here and to work for such people.
Emily pushed her spectacles back up her nose as she returned her focus to finding Emily’s doll instead of ogling the guests of her employer’s ball.
The wooden doll. She would find it quickly, and then back upstairs she would go — to her rightful place.
* * *
“Hello, Edward,” Charles greeted his cousin.
Unfortunately, Edward looked much like him, enough that the two of them had been mistaken for brothers many times before.
Fortunately, they were not.
“Charles,” Edward said with a wide grin. “I’m happy to see you. Our visits are much too seldom.”
Or too frequent.
“What keeps you busy these days, Edward?” Charles asked, bringing his drink to his lips.
“This and that. Keeping my wife happy. Raising my children. Doing what I can to prepare Thaddeus for his inheritance.”
“Oh? Did you come into money recently?” Charles asked dryly, to which Edward laughed.
“I mean the title, Charles! You’ve but a daughter, and it looks to me like there will not be another Lady Doverton judging from the interest — or lack of — you have shown any lady. Just as well. I will look after the title someday, Charles, as will Thaddeus. Ah, don’t look so glum about it. We’ll take good care of things for you. In fact, Leticia has already begun to plan her renovations to Ravenport — as countess or dowager.”
There had already been more than enough renovations to Ravenport for his liking thanks to his wife. He wasn’t going to settle for any more — particularly from Leticia. He had seen Edward’s home, and he had no desire for his manor to follow suit.
“I did not realize my demise was imminent.”
“No, no, Charles, of course not,” chuckled Edward. “However, Thaddeus and I have had many discussions about the manor. While you do your best, I’m sure, you are slightly too… generous. Your servants seem as well off as you, and sometimes I question whether your tenants are working for you, or if you are working for your tenants!”
Charles’ teeth ground together of their own accord at the thought of his lands and his people in the hands of Edward or Thaddeus. Edward’s son was a rake of the worst sort — Charles had heard rumors that the man not only found himself in the beds of quite a number of women, but some were less willing than others. Good Lord, what would happen to his lands in the hands of either of the two of these men? It had taken long enough for Charles to correct many of his own father’s mistakes. It pained him to think of all he had done erased once more.
“Thinking of the good times to come, Charles?” Edward drawled out, a gleam in his eye.
Charles straightened and looked Edward right in the eye.
“Actually, as it happens, I am to be married very soon.”
He wasn’t sure where those words had come from. He most definitely was not planning on marrying soon. Or at all. But he had no desire to allow Edward to continue to believe he would be taking his place. It was time to put to an end any mention of these plans.
“You are not getting married,” Edward said with a smirk. “I am sure it would be on the tongues of all the London gossips.”
“We have kept things rather quiet,” Charles said as confidently as he could, creating his story as he spoke. “It is a second marriage for both of us, you see.”
“Ah,” Edward said with a gleam in his eye, clearly still not believing Charles. “And just who is the lucky lady? I am surprised that she is not here with you.”
“But of course she is,” Charles said smoothly. “She will return soon, I am sure.”
“Oh, come, Charles, you are making this all up,” Edward said with a l
augh. “You have never been much of a liar. Just tell the truth of it, man, and be done with it. Is it really such a horrible thought that I might inherit your land?”
It really was.
“My soon-to-be-bride is here. Of course she is,” Charles said, turning his neck, catching sight of a blond head coming straight toward him. A quick glance told him she didn’t seem to be anyone he knew. “Here she is now.”
He reached out and took the lady’s hand just as she was about to pass by him, hoping that whoever she was, she would go along with his ploy for just a few minutes. Then he would figure something else out later on, but for now, he had to preserve his honor in front of his cousin.
The cousin whose face was currently frozen in shock.
Charles hastily turned around. Once he caught sight of the woman, he couldn’t turn away.
The first thing to capture Charles’ attention was her dress. It was... serviceable, if he was being generous with his description. A navy, boxy creation, it was difficult to determine her shape beneath it. Next came her hair. A sandy blond, it was pulled tightly back away from her head, and on her nose perched a pair of spectacles. Through them, her wide brown eyes stared at him incredulously, her fingers nervously touching her throat.
Well, like it or not, this was the woman he had chosen to be his wife.
For the next few minutes, at least.
Her Christmas Wish is available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.
Also by Ellie St. Clair
The Bluestocking Scandals
Designs on a Duke
Inventing the Viscount
Discovering the Baron
The Valet Experiment
Writing the Rake
Risking the Detective
The Victorian Highlanders
Callum’s Vow
Finlay’s Duty
Adam’s Call
Roderick’s Purpose
Peggy’s Love
Blooming Brides
A Duke for Daisy
A Marquess for Marigold
An Earl for Iris
A Viscount for Violet
The Blooming Brides Box Set: Books 1-4
The Unconventional Ladies
Lady of Mystery
Lady of Fortune
Lady of Providence
Lady of Charade
Happily Ever After
The Duke She Wished For
Someday Her Duke Will Come
Once Upon a Duke’s Dream
He’s a Duke, But I Love Him
Loved by the Viscount
Because the Earl Loved Me
Happily Ever After Box Set Books 1-3
Happily Ever After Box Set Books 4-6
Searching Hearts
Duke of Christmas (prequel)
Quest of Honor
Clue of Affection
Hearts of Trust
Hope of Romance
Promise of Redemption
Searching Hearts Box Set (Books 1-5)
Standalone
Unmasking a Duke
The Stormswept Stowaway
Christmastide with His Countess
Her Christmas Wish
Merry Misrule
House of Devon
A Touch of Temptation
About the Author
Ellie has always loved reading, writing, and history. For many years she has written short stories, non-fiction, and has worked on her true love and passion -- romance novels.
In every era there is the chance for romance, and Ellie enjoys exploring many different time periods, cultures, and geographic locations. No matter when or where, love can always prevail. She has a particular soft spot for the bad boys of history, and loves a strong heroine in her stories.
Ellie and her husband love nothing more than spending time at home with their two sons and Husky cross. Ellie can typically be found at the lake in the summer, pushing the stroller all year round, and, of course, with her computer in her lap or a book in hand.
She also loves corresponding with readers, so be sure to contact her!
www.elliestclair.com
[email protected]
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