Love and Christmas Wishes: Three Regency Romance Novellas

by Rose Pearson

  Katie was quite taken aback, shocked by the gentleman’s blunt manner of speaking. He had not only seen what she had been so desperately trying to hide – which was her lack of interest in him – but had admitted too that he did not feel anything in particular for her. Was this truly something she was able to consider, knowing the truth as she now did? It was, in a way, a blessing to know that he did not expect her to hold a good deal of fondness for him through such a short acquaintance, although she was quite sure she would never admit to being in love with someone else entirely!

  Seeing that he was still waiting for her response and growing a little flustered, Katie managed to force herself to smile. “You have shocked me completely, Lord Halifax,” she stammered, not quite sure what else to say. “To be so forcefully honest has quite taken my breath away.”

  “But it is for the best, is it not?” he replied, mildly. “I will not pretend to feel something I do not, Miss Brookes, although I will say that I find you to be charming, amiable and elegant. You have good conversation and a quick wit, and I do think that we might rub along rather well together, in time.”

  “I see,” she replied, her heart burning within her chest. “You are quite right to think that I feel nothing of particular affection for you, Lord Halifax,” she admitted, her cheeks burning as she spoke, as though she were being quite rude despite the fact he had asked her to speak honestly. “But I have found you to be a well-spoken, well-mannered gentleman who appears to be both kind and good-natured.”

  “Appears to be!” he exclaimed, a smile tugging at his lips. “I can assure you, Miss Brookes, that I am entirely amiable and will be the most generous and kind husband you could ever have asked for.”

  She blushed, furiously.

  “But I did not mean to humiliate you,” he continued, quickly, patting her hand. “I was simply teasing you, Miss Brookes.”

  “Oh.” She dared a glance up into his face and saw that he was looking rather apologetic, his eyes hopeful. “I understand, Viscount Halifax. It is just that I do not know you particularly well.”

  He nodded, his eyes returning to the path ahead of them. “I quite understand, Miss Brookes. I confess that I have asked my host and his sons about both yourself and Miss Jane Brookes, in the hope of learning about you both. They have been very generous with their compliments and have given me no reason to doubt that you would be a vastly suitable wife.”

  She colored again, heat searing her cheeks. “They are most kind, Lord Halifax.”

  “And honest, I think,” he added, complimenting her yet again. “Although you are right to say that you do not know me particularly well at all. That, I think, shall have to be remedied. After all, there is no reason to consider matrimony without knowing whether or not one will actually like their spouse!”

  This, at least, brought a smile to her lips.

  “I think, Miss Brookes, that I would like to ask your father’s permission to court you for a fortnight or so,” he continued, thoughtfully. “I will not hide from you that I expect our courtship to lead to matrimony, should we get along well enough.” He stopped and turned to her, taking her hand in his. “That is, however, only if you will give me permission to speak to your father, Miss Brookes. There is no point in me meeting with him if you are disinclined towards me.”

  Her heart was in her throat and she looked away, seeing Jane frozen in place, her eyes fixed on the viscount. Slowly, Jane turned around, her back to them both as Katie struggled to know what to say.

  Samuel. All she could think of was Samuel. She did not want to accept the viscount’s court, not when all she desired was Samuel’s affections. And yet, despite herself, the words he’d called back to her came floating into her mind, wrapping around her very soul.

  Go to your viscount, Kate. Be happy with him. Build a life with him and forget about me.

  “Yes,” she found herself saying, looking up into Viscount Halifax’s face. “Yes, Lord Halifax, I will accept your court.”

  He beamed at her, looking as delighted as could be, and Katie found her lips curving into a smile in return, even as her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

  Chapter Six

  Katie smiled up into Viscount Halifax’s face as he spun her around the floor. It had been five days since he had first asked to court her and since that time, he had been nothing but attentive.

  She had shied away from him initially but as she had continued to acknowledge to herself that she was not about to fall into Samuel’s arms and find a contentment with him, Katie had begun to realize just how kind a man Lord Halifax was. He was easily able to make her laugh, always had wonderful conversation and ensured that she was the only object of his attentions. Her mother, of course, had been greatly delighted with the news that Lord Halifax had sought Katie’s attention and had congratulated herself on pushing her daughter towards what would soon be a wonderful match. Katie had barely spoken to her father about the matter, aside from accepting his congratulations, for the vicar – whilst not an uncaring man – often seemed somewhat distracted when it came to his own family’s needs. Given that he had a large congregation, it seemed almost wrong for Katie to desire more of her father’s attention when he had such a large flock to consider.

  Jane was the only person she had been able to talk to and, much to Katie’s surprise, she had found Jane fully in favor with both their mother and their father. She continued to remind Katie that a gentleman such as the viscount did not often make note of a vicar’s family, as though Katie ought to be grateful that such a noble gentleman had deigned himself to look down upon her! This was not what Katie had wanted to hear from her sister for she had wanted someone to tell her that she should continue to chase after Samuel instead of agreeing to the viscount’s courtship but it seemed that none in her family were able to do as she wished. No, she was to marry the viscount, it seemed, should their courtship continue to go well. The thought did not bring her as much pain as it had once done, not when she knew that the viscount was a gentleman of good character, but the longing in her heart for Samuel had never once left her.

  “Ah, Mr. Putnam,” she heard someone say, as the music came to a close. “Thank you for coming. You are most welcome.”

  Her heart thudded wildly as she tried to hide from view, mixing into the crowd of dancers as the viscount bowed in front of her.

  “Should you like to dance the next, Miss Brookes?” Lord Halifax asked, with a warm smile. “It is a Christmas country ball and I do not think there will be much said if we stand up together again!”

  Shaking her head, Katie tried to put an easy smile on her face, despite the fact that she was growing rigid with tension. “Thank you, Lord Halifax but I am a little tired.”

  “Some refreshment, perhaps?” he asked, taking her elbow and leading her from the floor. “Although I cannot say what it is they are offering.”

  She smiled, seeing his handsome face crinkle in confusion. “It is mulled wine, I believe,” she replied, gesturing towards where Mrs. Blakely, the wife of their host, Mr. Blakely, was standing. “And yes, I would care for a glass, thank you. I do find it quite warming and regret that we cannot have it more often during the year.”

  Lord Halifax looked down at her, his eyes twinkling. “My, my,” he murmured, with a slight lift of his brow. “Then I shall make note to have mulled wine every Christmas, Miss Brookes, if you are that fond of it.” Grinning, he gave her a small yet rather ornate bow. “Do excuse me. I will be back momentarily.”

  Katie felt her smile still linger as she watched him leave, aware that they were, it seemed, becoming good friends. Friends that might one day become husband and wife, if things continued to go as well as they were at present. The thought still made her shiver, pulling the smile from her face as she sat down in one of the chairs by the wall, wrapping the shadows around her. The blazing fire lit the room, as well as the many candles that seemed to be set on practically every surface. There was a kissing bough in the corner, although, thankfully, Lord
Halifax had avoided it thus far. She was not inclined to go anywhere near it, not unless it was with someone other than Lord Halifax.

  Samuel.

  He was here. She could not bear to turn her head and look at him for fear of what she might see. Either he might have turned his back to her or he would be gazing at her with those beautiful, intriguing eyes of his. It would tear her very soul apart, having to see him again. She had not thought for a single moment that coming to Mr. Blakely’s gathering this evening would force her into Samuel’s presence again. It had been a foolish oversight. Mr. Blakely was a baronet and, as such, mingled with both those below him and those above him equally. Why should Samuel not be present, when she herself had been invited? It was not as though her station was far above his.

  Her heart began to pound in her chest as she slowly began to turn her head, wanting to look for him despite herself. The music began again, making couples immediately move towards the floor, covering her view of the people across from her. Sitting back in her chair, Katie sighed heavily to herself as the music for a waltz began to play, tune almost mournful as it carried across the room towards her.

  “You will excuse me, will you not, my dear?”

  Katie jerked in surprise, having not noticed the viscount returning to her bearing two glasses in his hand.

  “Excuse you, my lord?” she asked, taking the glasses from him. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean to dance with your sister,” he replied, with just a touch of urgency to his voice. “She has not yet stood up with anyone and I feel it is my duty to be the first to do so.”

  Katie smiled up at him, relaxing back into her seat. “You are very kind, Lord Halifax. Yes, of course, I will spare you. You need not ask my permission.”

  Lord Halifax appeared rather distracted, turning his head away to look towards where Jane was standing before glancing back towards Katie. “Indeed. Thank you, Miss Brookes. I will return to you very soon.”

  “There is no need to dash back to my side, Lord Halifax,” she replied, firmly. “Dance as many as you wish, for I am quite contented here.”

  “You are quite sure?”

  She laughed and waved him away, feeling almost a sense of relief when he left her side. She was not inclined to dance any more as yet and to see Viscount Halifax press his attentions on someone else for a time made her rather glad. Watching her sister closely, Katie smiled to herself as she saw Jane flush, her head inclining quickly as the viscount offered her his hand. Jane shot her a quick glance but Katie let her smile spread, wanting to assure her sister that she was more than contented with the viscount’s actions. Jane’s smile was taut, her entire body seeming to radiate a nervous anxiety as she danced with the viscount. Katie willed her to relax, knowing that her sister was unused to receiving any gentleman’s particular attentions and wishing – not for the first time – that it had been Jane who had managed to capture the viscount’s affections.

  Her gaze drifted absently across the crowd of dancers as she took a sip of her mulled wine. The warm liquid went gently down her throat, sending a glow of heat all through her although it did nothing to remove the anxiety that came with knowing that Samuel was here. She did not know what to do when it came to that particular gentleman since speaking to him seemed to do very little for either of them. It was not as though Samuel was about to change his mind either, given that he had told her, in no uncertain terms, that she was to pursue the viscount, just as her mother wished.

  And then, she caught sight of him. He was laughing down into the face of the young lady he was dancing with, his eyes alight and his face alive with merriment.

  Her gut twisted, stealing her breath. She could not help but keep her gaze on him, watching as he danced this way and that, his eyes never lifting from the lady in his arms.

  Tears sprang into her eyes and Katie blinked them away rapidly, knowing that she could not cause a scene. Samuel could not see her like this, not now. She had to remain entirely composed, even though it was as if he had twisted a knife into her heart.

  The lady in question was someone she did not know but from what she could see of her, Katie thought she was rather pretty, with dark, laughing eyes and a bright smile. Samuel seemed entirely enraptured by her, never once looking away from his partner and displaying none of the torment that she herself was considering.

  Forcing herself to look away, Katie somehow managed to find the viscount and her sister, making her gaze rest on the two of them instead of upon Samuel. Her sister appeared to be a good deal more relaxed now, for she now appeared to be resting gently in the viscount’s arms, letting him lead her across the floor with careful and agile steps. They were looking into one another’s eyes without a single word being shared between them, it seemed, for neither of their mouths moved in conversation. Something began to swirl in Katie’s belly, something confusing and uncertain. As she watched the viscount, she saw him smile gently down into Jane’s face, his expression almost tender as he did so. It was not an expression she had ever seen before.

  Getting to her feet, Katie turned her head away from the dancers, suddenly feeling the urge to get some fresh air into her lungs. Even though it would be cold, even though her fingers would soon turn red with the ice in the air, Katie moved quickly towards the door, wanting to escape from everything she had just seen.

  Hearing the bellowing voice of George Grainger coming towards her, Katie squeezed herself into the shadows once more, not wishing to be greeted by him at this present time. Waiting until he had walked into the room with his father by his side, she made a dash for the door, praying silently to herself that she had not been noticed by either her mother, her father or the viscount himself.

  The night air was cold, her lungs burning every time she took a breath. Her skin immediately began to cool and she began to shiver, but Katie did not return back inside. Instead, she took a few steps further out, away from where the two footmen stood by the front door. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to try and find her composure again before she would have to go back inside, a pretend happiness and contentment plastered all over her face.

  Tears began to run down her cheeks, bringing a deep, shuddering pain with them. She did not feel the cold any longer, did not feel the frosty air try to cling to her skin. The pain of what she had seen inside tore at her and Katie wrapped her arms about her waist, her breathing ragged as she sobbed. Samuel did not care for her in the way she thought. He was much too busy staring into the eyes of someone else, laughing down at the young lady without so much as a single shred of discontent. She had kissed him once, for just a moment, and her world had shattered apart in an explosion of color and vibrance, but it had not been that way for him. It was obvious to her now. She had been a fool.

  Lord Halifax, however, had not exactly noticed her distress, given that he had been too busy dancing with Jane to notice. Katie closed her eyes tightly, her heart aching with her. What was it she had seen in his expression that troubled her so? The viscount had simply been glad to dance with Jane, to help her take to the floor for the first time that evening, Katie told herself firmly, not wanting to let herself consider any other suggestion. She was being ridiculous. If the viscount had wanted to court Jane, then he would have done so at the first. He would never have sought her out in Jane’s place, given that he was a viscount and could choose whomever he wished to court. No, she was being quite foolish and it simply would not do. She needed to get a hold of herself.

  Stamping her foot on the hard, frosty ground, Katie wiped her eyes ineffectually with the back of her hand, praying that the puffiness of her eyes would not linger for too long. She did not want to give rise to any questions from either her sister or the viscount.

  “Kate?”

  Her heart slammed into her chest, hard.

  “Kate? I saw you leave…..” Samuel’s voice trailed away into the darkness as she slowly turned towards him. “Are you all right?”

  She let her gaze rest on him, pretending she did not feel a
ny pain. “You need not have come out after me, Mr. Putnam,” she replied, with emphasis. “I am quite all right.”

  He cleared his throat, shuffled his feet and lowered his head, clearly a little embarrassed. “It is rather cold out, Miss Brookes,” he said, softly. “Will you not come back inside? I would not want you to become ill.”

  Lifting her chin, Katei put a hard smile on her face. “I do not think that my wellbeing is any of your concern, Mr. Putnam. I will return inside when I am ready. You had best return at once, however. I do not want your partner to miss your company.”

  She regretted the words as soon as she had spoken them, seeing the way his eyes flashed. His lips pulled tight and, much to her surprise, he came towards her instead of retreating back inside. The flickering lights of the house covered them both in shadows, making him appear more of a wraith than a man. Katie’s stomach began to fill with butterflies.

  “Do not think for one moment that I have any enjoyment here this evening, Katie,” he hissed, one hand reaching for hers and holding it tightly. “I am doing all I can to forget you, to find it within myself to wish you happy with Lord Halifax, and I will not have you sneer at me for doing so.”

  Shame washed over her, making her shoulders slump as she dropped her head. “I should not have said such a thing, Samuel,” she whispered, aware that her heart had already begun to quicken with his nearness. “It is just that I cannot bear to see you so happy when –”

  “Do you think that I want this?” he asked, his face only a few inches away from her own. He swallowed hard, his face contorted in the gloom. “I must find another to remove you from my heart.”

  Her mouth was dry as she felt his hand begin to loosen on her fingers. There was so much she wanted to say but she felt the words die on her lips, knowing that she could not convince him.

  “Besides,” he finished, hoarsely, his fingers dropping from hers. “Lord Halifax seems quite taken with you, Kate. I do hope he will make you a good husband. You deserve that.”