by Jane Charles
That wasn’t true. They had another sister. One they were never given the chance to know—Julia.
She had a harder life, or so Madeline assumed. Raised by only her mother, who had run away. She lived in a country that was at war with England, and had been ruled by Napoleon most of her life. Julia never had the chance to find out what wonderful brothers she could have come to know growing up.
Even though Julia was the true and rightful lady of the two sisters, Madeline was more blessed for having her family, and Madeline now had a purpose. She was going to find her sister. It was only a matter of time before Society learned the truth. If she found Julia first and had the chance to know her, perhaps being shunned by those who had once been friends would not hurt so much. Perhaps they could become great friends.
Hope renewed as Madeline stood for the closing hymn. Though her heart ached at the loss of Lachlan, she would get by. Somehow, some way, and each day would be a new beginning.
Lachlan pounded on the front door. Why wasn’t anyone answering? There were lights in the lower portion of the house. Surely someone was here.
“Perhaps they have gone to church,” Elizabeth suggested.
As the miles fell behind them, Lachlan finally agreed to call them by their Christian names since John insisted as they were to be family soon. It was still a bit uncomfortable, but he was getting used to it. Lachlan took out his watch to check the time and angled it toward the moon so he could see the face. “How far away is the church?” he demanded.
“Aren’t you the one who owns an estate down the road?” John answered. “I don’t recall it being all that far away though.”
What was he thinking? Of course he knew where the church was. But he didn’t know what time the services began or ended. They could stand here and freeze, or they could go to church.
No, he didn’t want his reunion with Maddie to be in such a public place. Having her family witness the event was bad enough, but he doubted he could make any of them leave.
The front door opened a moment later, and a young woman he had never seen before stared up at them. “May I help you?”
“I am Lord Brachton, and I’ve come to call on Lady Madeline.”
The maid grinned and stood back so he could enter.
“I am Madeline’s brother and this is my wife, Elizabeth,” John said as he crossed over the threshold.
The maid bobbed a curtsey. “They are still at church, but you are welcome to come into the parlor and wait.”
Lachlan brushed past her.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth muttered, and they followed Lachlan in to the room.
“When will they be returnin’?” Lachlan asked with impatience.
The young woman glanced at the clock. “It should be shortly, my lord.”
Lachlan nodded and began pacing in front of the fire.
Elizabeth and John handed their coats to the young woman. “Will you be staying the night?”
“Yes,” John answered.
“I’ll have a room made up.” With that, she quit the room.
John went to the sideboard and poured himself a brandy and a glass of wine for Elizabeth.
“Can I get you anything, Lachlan?”
“Whisky,” he answered and resumed pacing, looking at the clock every two minutes. How much longer would they be?
“I don’t see any whisky.”
There was a bottle at the manor but he wasn’t about to leave and retrieve it. “Brandy, then.”
A moment later John pressed a glass into his hand.
What was taking them so long?
Then the front door banged open and Lachlan heard footsteps running down the corridor. “John, Elizabeth, are you here?” The sweet sound of Maddie’s voice lifted his heart.
“We saw the Danby crest on the coach,” Jordan called.
Maddie rushed into the room, and Lachlan’s heart stopped. Her blond hair was piled high upon her head, and ringlets bounced about her shoulders. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, or perhaps it was the excitement of seeing her brother. Her green eyes danced with merriment, and her smile warmed his blood in a way whisky never could. She was happy. She had been able to go on without him. What if she didn’t want him?
Maddie threw her arms around John and hugged him tightly and then did the same to Elizabeth. She didn’t seem to know he was there, but the rest of her family saw him before the fire, nervously awaiting her reaction.
Maddie must have sensed, or noticed the silence because she turned, and her eyes landed on him.
Lachlan held his breath.
The smile dimmed from her lips, and a moment of pain flashed in her eyes. “Happy Christmas, Lachlan.”
“Happy Christmas.”
Silenced stretched between them and their eyes never broke contact. Lachlan knew what he wanted to say, but what if he was rejected again.
“You came all this way to wish her a Happy Christmas?” Jordan asked.
Lachlan didn’t even bother to look in his friend’s direction.
“Why are you here, Lachlan? I thought you would be married to a Scottish lady by now.”
A grin pulled at his lips. She was hurt by his leaving, and jealous of whom he may have married. Or at least he hoped that was the reason for her cool reception of him. However, she was the one who refused to be wed, not him.
“The one I want isna in Scotland.”
Her eyes widened and she bit her bottom lip.
“I had to come back to get my Christmas lass, if she will have me.”
A smile broke on her lips and tears sparkled in her eyes.
“Say the words,” Jordan hissed.
Though Lachlan wished not to declare himself in front of her entire family, he knew he must. “I am in love with you, Maddie lass, and would be honored if you would become my wife.”
She didn’t answer but the bright smile and pure joy on her face was all Lachlan needed and he barely had time to open his arms before she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Lachlan didn’t waste a moment before he kissed her.
Someone cleared their throat and Lachlan lifted his head to find her family watching them. He didn’t care what they thought. What was important was that Maddie would be his. He looked down in her green eyes, sparkling with tears. “I did get a lass for Christmas after all.”
More titles from Jane Charles
A Gentleman’s Guide to Once Upon a Time Series
His Impetuous Debutante
His Contrary Bride
His (Not so) Sensible Miss
The Wiggons’ School for Elegant Young Ladies Series
To Walk in the Sun
To Love a Governess Series
Sacked – Regency Short
Handfasted – Regency Novella
Ruined – Regency Short
Anthologies
A Summons from His Grace – Compromised for Christmas
The Betting Season – Landing a Laird
A Season to Remember – Devil in Her Dreams
*All three of the Novellas from the Anthologies above appear in one Compilation
Scots, Spies & Salacious Lies
The Tenacious Trents
Compromised for Christmas (A Summons from His Grace)
A Misguided Lord
A Perfect Gentleman
A Lass for Christmas (Novella)
About Jane
Jane Charles has lived in the Midwest her entire life. As a child she would more likely be found outside with a baseball than a book in her hand. In fact, Jane hated reading until she was sixteen. Out of boredom on a long road trip she borrowed her older sister’s historical romance and fell in love. She long ago lost count of how many fiction novels she has read over the years and her love for them never died. Along with romance she has a passion for history and the two soon combined when she penned her first historical romance. What turned into a hobby became a passion, which has been fully supported by her husband, three children and three cats.
Ja
ne can be contacted at: [email protected]
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