A Bride for Christmas (Regency Novella)

by Aileen Fish

  ~*~

  Two days later, Geoff caught him as he returned from his morning ride. "You're awake early, brother," Nash called.

  "No, simply out in this miserable cold. With young children one is always about this early."

  Nash handed Caesar's reins to the groom and dusted the sleeves of his greatcoat. "And what brings you outdoors at this hour?"

  "I came to speak to you. About Lady Julianna."

  "I see. Are you going to question my intentions like a good brother?"

  Geoff grabbed his sleeve, pulling him to a stop. "Do I need to? We discussed this before. Yet you continue to have private conversations with her, and offer her gifts. What are you about?"

  He shook Geoff's hand off his arm. "I'm fed up with your interference, Geoff. I have done nothing disrespectful. Has the lady complained to her sister?"

  "Well, no."

  "Has her mother requested your assistance in a graceful removal of my person?"

  "Of course not. And before you ask, her father would come after you himself if he felt the need. My concern is for both of you. Lady Julianna does not desire a husband. She is truly happy with her life as it is. If you divert her heart into an infatuation she mightn't recognize it as such, and might make a choice she later regrets."

  Nash could see the love in his brother's eyes, which was the only reason he listened in silence. Geoff had both his and Lady Julianna's best interests in mind.

  "I wish you all the peace and happiness a man can obtain, Nash. But, I wish it for the rest of your life. I asked once that you to be certain of your heart before making her fall for you. Now I ask you to go slowly enough that Lady Julianna will know her own."

  "And how long will that be? Do you believe her to be of simple mind and unable to know herself? The lady has had ample years in the marriage mart to fully understand how she feels when speaking with most gentlemen. If she recognizes a difference in her happiness when with me, do you not think her intelligent enough to know if it will be a lasting feeling?"

  Geoff ran his gloved fingers through his hair and tugged his hat back on. "You are right. She's not a silly chit, she's an intelligent young lady. So that is your plan then? To marry Lady Julianna?"

  "If she will have me. I intend to make her the best of husbands."

  "I won't question how you can be so certain in so short a time. You always made your choices with little deliberation and were pleased with the outcome."

  Nash chuckled. "There was many a night I lay on damp blankets in a wet fog listening to the moans of injured comrades where I would have argued that point. But I never questioned the battlefield was where I belonged."

  Geoff slapped him on the back as they resumed walking up the path away from the stables. "There will be times in your marriage you'll feel the same."