Mistletoe Masquerade: A Ridlington Christmas Novella
Page 14
The Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington, Book 4
In which Kitty Ridlington discovers that no matter how thick you think you’ve built the walls around your heart, there will always be one person who finds the weak brick.
Whether he’s the right person or not, remains to be seen…
Coming in Spring 2018
Footnotes
What kind of Charades did the guests play? Not the ones we know.
Charades during this period was a game based on solving riddles and required quite a bit of attention and consideration.
During my research I ran across a few of them, and I’m adding a couple here for your amusement. You can find the answers on the Internet, or drop me a line and I’ll help you out. Don’t be surprised if it takes a while to fully understand the meanings of the rather obscure clues.
REGENCY RIDDLES:
Solve the riddle, win the game. (First answer provided as a clue to the way these word puzzles work. Sometimes…)
My first is in birdcalls but isn’t in hoot, my second’s in treasure but isn’t in loot.
My fourth is in swallow and so is my third, my whole on a Sunday is far and wide heard.
(Answer: Church BELLS)
My voice is tender, my waist is slender and I’m often invited to play.
Yet wherever I go I must take my bow or else I have nothing to say. What am I?
I am in rock, but not in stone. I’ve plenty of marrow but none in a bone.
I cherish a bolster but never a bed, and although I’m not living, I’m really not dead.
We travel much, yet prisoners are, and close confined to boot.
With any horse we’ll match the pace, and always go on foot.
Good luck!!!
With warm wishes from the family of Baron Ridlington
(and their Mum, Sahara Kelly)
For a safe and Happy Holiday Season, however you choose to celebrate.
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If you have wondered about the situation with Harriet Selkirk while reading this story, I do recommend the prior Ridlington novel Word of a Lady. This features Letitia Ridlington as the central heroine, and relates her interesting relationship with Sir James FitzArden.
You can also learn about the awfully shocking book Letitia has dared to write. It might surprise you as much as it does James.
Here’s a little peek into Letitia and Harriet’s first meeting…
Excerpt - WORD OF A LADY
Book 3, The Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington
© Sahara Kelly, 2017
She was well-spoken, and Letitia recognized quality clothing. There was something going on here, and perhaps she needed either a helping hand or a friend. Since Letitia had an hour or so before her visitor was due to arrive, she decided to offer some assistance and perhaps learn more about what had brought this young lady to a country inn.
“Do you have anyone with you? A maid, perhaps?” Letitia put her arm out and touched the woman’s shoulder lightly. She was surprised at the quick jump her move elicited.
“No, I’m afraid it’s just me.”
“Well then. I’m about to have some tea. Will you do me the honour of joining me? I have an appointment later this morning, and would love the company to help pass the time until then.”
“That’s very nice of you. I would love a cup of tea.” She stood a little straighter, as if relaxing under Letitia’s gentle interest.
“Good.” Mrs. Fisher came back into the foyer. “Would you pop another cup onto that tea tray, if you please?” Letitia called over.
“Very good, Miss Letitia.” The landlady nodded, her gaze on the newcomer. “It’ll be ready in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
“Come on. Let’s make ourselves comfortable.” Leading the way, Letitia ushered the young woman into the little parlour. “There. It’s not very large, but it’s warm. Now let’s get the necessities out of the way.” She watched the woman unwrap her cloak and hang it beside Letitia’s on the hooks. The dress she wore was fine wool, as was the matching spencer jacket, although both were unremarkable in style and colour.
“I’m Letitia Ridlington, and I’m happy to make your acquaintance.” She bobbed a little curtsey.
“I’m…I’m Harriet Selkirk.” The words were almost whispered as she curtseyed as well.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Selkirk.”
“Thank you, Miss Ridlington. You’re very…wait…Ridlington?” Her eyes widened. “Like the village?”
Letitia sighed. “Yes, I’m afraid so. Come and sit down. You look weary and I’m ready for my tea. Why don’t we settle ourselves and have a nice talk?”
Right on cue, Mrs. Fisher tapped and entered, followed by a young maid bearing a tea tray.
“I took the liberty of adding a few jumbles, Miss Letitia. I knows how you love ‘em and they goes so well with a nice cuppa.”
“Oooh how delightful.” Letitia grinned at the older woman. “You spoil me.”
“Nonsense. Now you and yer friend set right in and if you need anything else, just gimme a shout, all right?” She smiled at both women and whisked herself out, closing the door behind her.
“Jumbles,” breathed Miss Selkirk. “I haven’t had those in—I can’t remember how long.” She licked her lips.
“Go head, please help yourself.” Letitia watched varying expressions chase across the other woman’s face. “I can recommend them. Mrs. Fisher has a way in the kitchen.”
“Thank you.” Politely, and with a slight hesitation, she put two of the biscuits and put them on a plate, while Letitia poured.
“Sugar?”
It was a uselessly polite interaction, but although Letitia was itching to ask questions, she knew this ritual would serve to calm her guest. Perhaps when it was finished, those questions might be answered more easily. Whoever Harriet was, she was very skittish. Something was wrong, and Letitia determined to find out what it was.
“Now.” She leaned back and put her tea on the table. “Will you tell me how you came to be here, Miss Selkirk? Ridlington Vale isn’t the kind of place that people just decided to visit while on holiday…in fact, it’s awfully quiet most of the time.”
Harriet nodded, and for the first time a quick smile curved her lips. “That is perfect. I am seeking quiet.”
“A place to hide, perhaps?” Letitia tossed out the question to see what the response would be.
Silence fell for a few moments, as Harriet sipped tea. A play for time, if ever Letitia had seen one. But she was patient, and waited.
“You are close to being right, Miss Ridlington. I am looking for a place where I might find some peace. And this seems the ideal spot. Out of the way of the…the…”
“Rest of the world?”
“Well, not exactly.” Harriet risked a glance at Letitia from beneath her eyelashes. “You do have an illustrious resident. If I recall correctly, there is a Baron Edmund Ridlington?”
“My brother.” Letitia nodded. “We live a mile or so up the road from here, Ridlington Chase. You can’t miss it. Some of it is falling down, so you have to be careful in case the Chase doesn’t miss you.”
Smiling at the little jest, Harriet nodded. “’Tis the way of many an older home, sadly. Repairs become so costly they’re postponed. And once postponed…”
“The damage is done,” agreed Letitia. “Was it so for you and your family?”
“Yes.” Harriet’s smile vanished. She sighed. “May I confide in you, Miss Ridlington? I don’t know you, but I sense that you are a person who would understand my request for privacy in this conversation.”
Letitia leaned forward a little. “Of course, Miss Selkirk. Whatever you choose to tell me will be kept in utmost confidence. Word of a lady. I would be honoured should you decide to share your thoughts.”
“Very well.” Harriet took a deep breath. “I am escaping an intolerable future, Miss Ridlington. I refused to marry an elderly, debauched gentleman who wished for a brood mare. Having
done so, I was informed that I had no other choice but to become another man’s whore, instead.”
Available at Amazon.com, and if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you may read for free.
About the Author
British born and bred, Sahara Kelly has enjoyed writing and reading Regency romances for many decades, beginning in her childhood with Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and Barbara Cartland.
Arriving in America with her almost-complete collection of Leslie Charteris’ Saint novels and a passion for Monty Python, Sahara’s new life eventually expanded to include a husband, offspring, citizenship, and a certain amount of acclimation to her new surroundings. She never quite managed to attain a level of comfort with the American way of spelling, however, and creating a Regency novel offers challenges in that regard. So you’ll see words that UK readers will recognize, but USA readers might perhaps find unusual. It’s a choice…should one write an English romance using English spelling? Sahara has come around to that belief. She can now enjoy the extra “u” which has always seemed so colourful…
After more than two decades of writing, Sahara is now enjoying the greater freedom offered to authors by the rapidly expanding self-publishing scene, and looking forward to many more such experiences. Being freed of restraints has opened doors—for Sahara and many other writers. There are now no impediments; no obstructions barring the path from writer to reader. Which is, in many ways, exactly as originally intended when that first storyteller sat on a rock outside her cave, tugged her bearskin around her shoulders and smiled at her kids across the open fire with the words “Once upon a time...” (or however it sounded several million years ago.)
To find out more about Sahara Kelly and her writing, please drop by her website and visit her at:
Sahara Kelly (Website – http://www.saharakelly.com)
This is where Sahara shares none of the intimate details of her life, but will present you with a list of books she'd like you to buy so that she can go do research on a beach in Aruba and be pampered with massages accompanied by drinks with umbrellas in them. She’ll send you a postcard. Thank you.
When not dreaming of lazing on tropical beaches, Sahara has a relatively active social presence on the Internet. Take a look:
Follow Sahara on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SaharaKelly
Friend her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sahara.kelly
See what she’s blogging about: http://writersaharakelly.blogspot.com
Follow her on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sahara-kelly
Get her latest release info from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2w78KbM
You can stay on top of what’s on the way from Sahara’s fertile imagination by subscribing to her newsletter and keeping up to date with everything going on by clicking this link. (http://eepurl.com/bxpvp) She doesn’t send them out too often, so you won’t be swamped with unwanted mail. Sahara loathes that and refuses to inflict it on anyone else, so you can go ahead and subscribe without worrying about it.
Also By Sahara Kelly
(*- co-written with S.L. Carpenter)
The Landlocked Baron
Book 1 in the Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington series
St. Simon’s Sin
Book 2 in the Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington series
Word of a Lady
Book 3 in the Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington series
~
The Mistletoe Marquess
Outrageous Ladies
~
The Gypsy Gentlemen Series
Honor and Secrets
Control and Compassion
Endings and Beginnings
~
Sword Play
Oh My Laird!
Deverell’s Obsession
The Fifth Wife
Julia and the Devil
Discreet Madness
The Viscount and the Witch
Feels So Right*
~
Whole Lotta Love Series
Love in the Cards*
Love on the Road*
Love Under the Lights*
A Whole Lotta Love* (the boxed set)
~
Happy Endings*
With a Little Help from my Friends (with Ciana Stone)
Letting Off Steam
Winding Her Up
Stripping Her Gears
My Renaissance Romance
Hired Help*
Open House
So Into You*
Faerieland needs YOU
My Wish
My Prize
My Hero
Showing Off*
And many more…
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Several of the above titles were co-written with friend and writing partner S.L. Carpenter. Together, they have a dozen or so books available, each featuring their trademark touches of humour and heat. Their most recent releases are a contemporary romance - a bundle of their very first three books now available together – Feels So Right, a collection of strange fairy tales – Happy Endings - and the Whole Lotta Love series.
These, and a whole bunch of Sahara Kelly’s other books, can be found online for your eReader or your reader app. Quite a few are also in print. No excuses, people. You can add her stories to your bookshelves physically or digitally. Go get ‘em.
*~~*~~*
Sahara would like to mention that she and S.L. Carpenter co-own a small business, and have been up and running for over five years. They have blended another of their shared passions — art — and formed an online graphics business focusing on the complicated world of writers. If you’re interested in seeing what they get up to when they’re not writing something twistedly hot and sexy, they’d like to invite you to come visit their company at the link below and check out some of the amazing cover art currently being created by S.L. Carpenter. They’re certainly never bored…
P and N Graphics, LLC
www.pandngraphics.com
Happy Reading.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Author’s Note
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Excerpt - WORD OF A LADY
About the Author