Love and Christmas Wishes: Three Regency Romance Novellas

by Rose Pearson

  “I am sorry for the trouble, Lord Halifax,” Lord Fraser said, with a quick bow. “I did not expect such a thing to occur.”

  Lord Halifax chuckled, shaking his head in relief. “None of this is your doing, Lord Fraser,” he said, as the crowd of guests immediately began to talk animatedly to each other. “You need not apologize.”

  Lord Fraser smiled at Jane and inclined his head. “Well, at least my little soiree shall be the talk of the town for a while,” he chuckled, as Lord Halifax raked yet another hand through his hair. “That, I suppose, shall please my wife inordinately. Now, do excuse me. I will attempt to have everyone seated in a short while for a few musical interludes, but I do not think it will be particularly easy given that everyone will now have so much to talk about.”

  Jane managed to laugh as Lord Fraser shot her a wry look before stepping away. She turned to Lord Halifax, feeling as though she had so much to say to him, only for Mary and George to walk over to them.

  “I am terribly sorry, old chap,” George muttered, looking rather abashed. “You are all right, I hope?”

  “Quite all right, I thank you,” Lord Halifax replied, slapping George’s shoulder good-naturedly. “I know that you were doing your best to protect Miss Brookes and for that, I am grateful. Although, I think you need not worry about her any longer.” So saying, he squeezed Jane’s hand, his eyes softening as he gazed at her. “You really are quite wonderful, Jane.”

  “And I am glad that you have been the one to see it, Lord Halifax!” Mary exclaimed, interrupting what could have been a rather wonderful moment. “Jane, you must now surely begin to believe that you are not plain, unimportant or disinteresting! Lord Halifax has made his feelings quite clear and given that my brother and I have always told you to ignore what has been said to you by that wretched mother of yours, I –”

  Jane held up one hand, feeling heat creep up her spine. “Yes, Mary. Thank you. I think that is quite enough.”

  “Indeed,” Lord Halifax murmured, still regarding her but now with a somewhat curious air. “I think you have a great deal to tell me still, Miss Brookes. And, for what it is worth, I truly do believe you to be the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance.”

  She glowed then, feeling warmth hit her cheeks as she smiled up at him. “Thank you, Lord Halifax,” she replied, as Mary and George slowly began to move away. “I think I will begin to believe it now.”

  “I think you must,” he murmured, looking at her still. Then, his gaze moved to just over her shoulder and he moved away, capturing her hand and taking her with her, out of the room and into the dark hallway. Jane felt her stomach fill with butterflies, the anticipation she felt taking hold of her completely.

  Lord Halifax closed the door carefully, turned towards her and took her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he kissed it gently, sending shivers all through her. “My dear Jane, I cannot thank you enough for all that you said in defense of me. It took a great deal of courage to speak so.”

  Her whole being had come alive in a moment. Taking both his hands in hers, she pressed them lightly, wishing she could find a way to express all that she felt. “I am not used to sharing my heart with anyone, Lord Halifax, aside from George upon occasion, but I knew that I could not let you stand there with such accusations raining down upon you. I spoke the truth and I do not regret it.”

  He let go of her hand and touched her cheek. “Then here is my truth, Miss Brookes. I love you.”

  Her breath left her body as she gazed at him, her eyes widening just a little with amazement.

  “It is quite true,” he promised, his fingers gentle as he lifted her chin gently. “I will not let you go again, Jane. My heart is yours.” Lowering his head, he kissed her lips and Jane felt as though the very ground beneath her was shaking. She clung to him as though he was the anchor in a deadly storm, his sweet kiss stealing away her breath.

  He broke it after a moment and rested his forehead against her own. She breathed him in, feeling happiness plunder her soul, sending tremors through her. “I love you too, Lord Halifax,” she breathed, opening her eyes to look up into his handsome face. “I love you more than I can ever express.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “My dear Jane!”

  James smiled as he watched Katie tug Jane into a tight embrace, glad that there was no animosity between the two sisters.

  “I said I would be back for Christmas and here we are,” he said, as Katie looked up at him. “It is tomorrow, is it not?”

  Katie laughed, as Jane threw him a smile. “Indeed it is, Lord Halifax,” she chuckled, just as the vicar came out of the house to greet them. “And you are just in time for dinner!”

  “George Grainger is gone home to see his father,” Jane explained, as she kissed her father’s cheek. “Although he rode with us. There was no impropriety, Father.”

  Her father shook his head, his eyes a little sad. “I would never have thought it of you, my dear child,” he replied, softly, pressing Jane’s hand. “My dear girl, I have some things to say to you but perhaps now is not the time.” The vicar’s gaze traveled towards James before returning to his daughter, a slight look of confusion on his face.

  James smiled, rubbing his hands to shake away some of the cold from his limbs. “Thank you for the invitation to stay for dinner, Miss Brookes,” he said to Katie, coming nearer to Jane and the vicar. “I would be glad to, if it would not be too much inconvenience.”

  “Not in the least,” the vicar declared, greeting James with a broad smile. “We would be glad to have you join us. We are to have venison, for the turkey is to be saved for the Christmas table, although the cook has chosen to make plum pudding for this evening. I should also say that Mr. Putnam is to be in attendance.”

  James grinned as Katie blushed. “I am glad to hear it.”

  “Do come in out of the cold,” the vicar encouraged, walking into the house. “You must be tired after your journey. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, so you are just in time. I cannot tell where Prudence has gone to, however. I apologize that she is not here to greet you.”

  James, having heard the truth about what life had been like for Jane living with a mother such as Mrs. Cheltham, felt himself grimace. He had not ever really warmed to the lady and now to know what she had said to Jane and how she had treated her made him even less inclined towards her. He caught Jane’s warning glance and managed to put a smile on his face as the vicar welcomed him into the drawing room. “Please, do not trouble yourself,” he replied, as warmly as he could. “I am quite happy to wait to greet her at the dinner table.”

  The vicar looked relieved and charged Jane with ensuring that Lord Halifax was able to rest and refresh himself in the few minutes before the dinner gong would sound. Excusing himself, he pressed Jane’s hand for a moment, whispering something to her before quitting the room.

  Katie smiled at them both as they all sat down. “Are you both quite contented after your trip to London?” she asked, with a quirked eyebrow.

  Jane laughed, and James grinned at the lady. “Very contented, I think,” he said, reaching across to pat Jane’s hand and delighting in the blush that caught her cheeks. “I think it will not be long until this house holds only your mother and your father, Miss Brookes.”

  “Katie, please,” she replied, with a fond look towards her sister. “I am glad to hear you are happy, Jane. I have been so very worried about you. You will also be glad to hear that Papa has been taking a much greater interest in what is going on with both of his daughters – although it has perhaps been a little late.” Her expression darkened for a moment, her gaze drifting away. “Mother has not had the best of intentions when it has come to either of us, I think.”

  “But yet, still we have found our own happiness,” Jane replied, looking at James with such a depth of love in her eyes that he found himself quite overwhelmed by it. “Even though, only a few weeks ago, I could never once have believed it. I was in such depths of despair that the only thing I could d
o was run away to London!” She shook her head, sending a rueful smile towards her sister. “I am sorry I did not tell you all that was going on in my heart, Katie. I thought it was for the best.”

  Katie smiled sympathetically. “I can understand why you did, though you need not apologize. I am truly glad to see you so happy, my dear sister – and you too, Lord Halifax. You look happier than I think I have ever seen you!”

  James chuckled. “You have your sister to thank for that, Katie. Just wait until you hear what she did in the middle of a soiree, coming to my defense in a way that had every guest staring at her, listening to every single word she said.” He grinned as he saw her eyes widen, clearly having not expected such a thing from her quiet, reserved sister. “Although, perhaps that is a story for another time.” The dinner gong sounded just as he finished speaking, raising a smile from both sisters.

  “Shall we go through?” Katie asked as Jane got to her feet. “I can imagine that you must be famished.”

  Waiting politely until Katie had quit the room, James caught Jane around the waist, eliciting a small squeal of delight from her.

  “You are not the same lady that left here,” he reminded her, looking down into her beautiful hazel eyes. “You are valued and cherished, my dear Jane. You are beautiful, gentle, sweet and kind and you are loved beyond all measure.” Capturing her lips in a sweet kiss, he felt her shudder in his arms, marveling at the passion that ran through them both. Breaking it reluctantly, he smiled at her again and brushed back a tendril of hair from her forehead. “Now, shall we go to dinner?”

  She blinked and smiled up at him dreamily, her hand on his arm. “You are quite the rogue when you wish to be, Lord Halifax,” she murmured, as they walked through the door together. “Thank you for staying for dinner. I could do with your company.”

  He smiled reassuringly as they walked into the dining room together, seeing Mrs. Cheltham waiting to greet him with a warm smile that did not quite meet her eyes. He was then greeted by a very cheerful Mr. Putnam – a very different fellow from the last time they had met – and soon they had all taken their places, preparing to eat.

  “You are going to have to ensure that you help your sister with her wedding plans, Jane.”

  James forced himself to remain silent, having spent the best part of an hour listening to Mrs. Cheltham make thinly veiled remarks to Jane, evidently a little less than pleased with Jane’s absence so near to Christmas. The beautifully decorated room, filled with greenery, holly berries, and the occasional garland did not detract from the spite that filled Mrs. Cheltham’s features. She also continued to send sharp looks towards Mr. Putnam, her eyes a little narrowed as she saw how affectionate his manner was towards Katie. It was as though she could barely cope with how her plans for her daughters had gone so badly awry.

  “Yes, Mama,” Jane replied, with a tight-lipped smile.

  “And Christmas is to be spent with the baron and his sons,” Mrs. Cheltham continued, glancing towards Mr. Putnam. “I am sorry, Mr. Putnam, but I think –”

  “Oh, I quite forgot,” Jane interrupted before her mother could continue. “Mr. Grainger – George – spoke to me about such things on the way home, Mama. He was quite insistent that the invitation should be extended to Samuel since he is now engaged to Katie.” She sent a warm smile in Samuel Putnam’s direction, who accepted it with a look of relief. “It would not be the same without you, Samuel.”

  “Thank you, Miss Brookes,” he replied, as Katie smiled with delight. “I will be very glad to join with you all there.”

  Mrs. Cheltham’s lips thinned all the more. “Jane,” she said, sharply. “Have you made any attempt to secure Mr. Grainger’s attentions?”

  The silence that settled around the table was deafening. Jane flushed bright red, her gaze dropping to her dinner plate. James felt himself grow angry, his hands curling into fists underneath the table. He wanted so desperately to say something to defend Jane but knew that this was something she would be able to deal with herself if she could only find the courage within herself to do so. He waited in silence as Jane slowly lifted her head, her eyes darting towards his. Smiling, he gave a slow nod, encouraging her as best he could.

  “My dear,” the vicar murmured, as Jane continued to build her courage, her shoulders no longer slumped, her head no longer bowed low. “That is not an appropriate question in front of our current guests.”

  Mrs. Cheltham sniffed disdainfully. “You are quite right. I need not have asked. I already know the answer.” She turned her head away, only for Jane to slam one hand down hard on the table, making the china rattle. Mrs. Cheltham turned her head to stare at her daughter, whilst James could not help but grin, feeling a huge sense of pride at what was beginning to unfold.

  “You do not need to speak to me in such a way, Mama,” Jane said, with a firmness that evidently surprised her mother. “You know very well that George Grainger and I have only ever been the dearest of friends.”

  Her mother hesitated for a moment, evidently taken aback at her daughter’s pronouncement, only to shrug. “If you had been a little more confident, then mayhap –”

  “No, Mama,” Jane interrupted, her voice rising steadily. “This is nothing to do with how I look, how I speak or how I conduct myself. You have constantly tried to make me out to be nothing more than a disappointment, Mama, but you have never once given me the chance to try and find a happiness all of my own. You have considered me too plain, too quiet and reserved to ever be anything to anyone.” She drew in a long breath, her head now held high, a picture of confidence. “Thankfully, Mama, I have discovered that you are quite wrong.”

  Mrs. Cheltham grew suddenly pale, staring at Jane as though she was seeing her for the first time.

  “Lord Halifax has seen me for who I am,” she said, looking towards James, her voice trembling with emotion. “I have loved him for a long time and, despite your determination that it was to be Katie that accepted his court, Lord Halifax has chosen to pursue me.”

  Mrs. Cheltham began to stammer, clearly quite overwhelmed with Jane’s newfound confidence as well as this news. James could not take his eyes from Jane, seeing how her eyes were shining, her beauty beyond compare. Now was the moment. He felt it in his heart. He had to speak now.

  “You are truly the most wonderful lady of my acquaintance,” he said, rising to his feet as the rest of the family lapsed into silence. “I have never been able to forget you, Jane, and to see you as you are now has only brought sheer joy into my heart.” Coming around to where she sat, he waited until she had risen to her feet, taking her hand in his. He wanted to do this in front of her whole family, proving to them all, to him, Jane was the most beautiful, the most incredible, delightful lady he had ever known. “I love you with all of my heart, Jane,” he murmured, looking deeply into her eyes. “Will you be my wife?”

  She gasped, one hand flying to her mouth as murmurs of delight came from most of her family.

  “I love you,” he said again, pressing her hand. “I will be the happiest man in all of England if you will be my bride, Jane. I can think of no better gift this Christmas, nor for all the Christmases to come. To have you as my wife, to be by my side every day of my life, will be a happiness that I have never known before.”

  “Oh, Halifax,” she whispered, her eyes shining with joy. “Yes, I will. I will be your wife. I love you.”

  Not caring as to what her family made of such an ardent display of affection, James kissed her soundly, his heart overflowing with happiness.

  “And now it seems that I shall have both daughters wed by the new year!” the vicar exclaimed, as Jane laughed up into James’ face with delight. “I could not be happier for you both.”

  “Nor could I,” Jane whispered, as she pressed his hand. “You have been the fulfillment of my every dream, Halifax. I promise to love you for the rest of my days.”

  My Dear Reader

  Thank you for reading and supporting my books! I hope you enjoyed the Love an
d Christmas Wishes novellas as much as I enjoyed creating them for you! If you liked the series, could you please leave a review on Amazon? It would mean so much to me!

  If you like a rags to riches story, check out my Smithfield Market Regency Romance Series! You’ll find heartfelt stories of orphans, their experiences, and how they found love!

  A Smithfield Market Regency Romance Series

  A Rogue’s Flower

  Saved by the Scoundrel

  Mending the Duke

  The Baron’s Malady

  I have included a preview of A Rogue’s Flower on the next page!

  Don’t forget The Duke’s Daughters Series! It includes Five full-length Regency romance stories about the Duke of Westbrook’s four daughters. Pushed into marrying to secure their future, each daughter’s path to love and marriage is filled with obstacles, misunderstanding, and sometimes, danger! The fifth book is the prequel to the series and follows the future Duke of Westbrook and his future wife and shows how love is powerful motivator for change.

  It is only recently available in a boxset at a very attractive price!

  The Duke’s Daughters Series: A Sweet Regency Romance Boxset

  Happy Reading!

  All my love,

  Rose

  A Sneak Peek of A Rogue’s Flower

  Prologue

  “Elsbeth?”

  Miss Elsbeth Blakely, daughter to some unknown persons and nothing more than an orphan, turned her head to see Miss Skelton enter the room, her thin figure and skeletal appearance matching her name perfectly.