A Match Made in Winter: A Historical Regency Christmas Romance by Ellie St. Clair

Author:Ellie St. Clair [St. Clair, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prairie Lily Press
Published: 2022-11-03T16:00:00+00:00

Charles hadn’t thought he would ever fall asleep.

But that morning, he had awoken far more refreshed than he had been in ages. He was energized, even, by his encounter with Sophia last night.

He hoped she would forgive him, or even be glad of what happened between them. While he was a man who enjoyed entertaining others, who was often regarded as a charmer or a flirt, he actually was not given over to be a rake of any sort, partially because it wasn’t often that women took him at all seriously.

Sophia, perhaps, took everything in life rather too seriously, but then, he had been hoping to loosen her up, and last night had certainly showed him just what was beneath that strict façade, her true self that emerged when she let her hair down – quite literally.

She had smiled shyly at him at breakfast, but of course didn’t say anything. His mother had been eager to talk to both of them while his father had started out rather gruffly but had soon warmed up to Sophia, who seemed more comfortable here than she had ever been at Cedarworth Manor and she even began to share more about her own family and her upbringing in Thorney.

His father had spoken a great deal about the weather, but then, his father always spoke about the weather, so it made sense that he would be particularly enthusiastic during the current bluster.

“Gareth and Susanna are going to join us for dinner tonight,” he had mentioned.

“Gareth?” Charles’ head had snapped up at that. He hadn’t seen his brother in a good many years. They had never had a particularly close relationship, despite being the only two siblings in the family and only two years apart. They were just far too different. While Charles liked to jest and make people laugh, he truly believed in laughing with others, not at their expense. Gareth didn’t seem to make that distinction.

“Yes. He usually comes for Christmas.”

“Tomorrow is Christmas,” Charles had said, even though he knew he sounded like a fool.

“He lives not far and often joins us for dinner, Christmas or not,” his father had said. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“Of course not,” Charles had said.

But now, hours later as Gareth walked through the door, he realized that he did actually have a problem – for he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted Sophia to be subjected to his brother and what could often be rather harsh criticisms.

He realized something, then. He had accused Sophia of being just like his brother, but the truth was, she was nothing like him. For though she might be proper and strait-laced, a rigid follower of the rules, she was certainly not harsh or judgemental, as much as he had thought her to be so when they had first met.

“Do my eyes deceive me, or is that my long-lost brother sitting in the corner?” Gareth asked as he reached the top of the stairs leading up from the now-closed shop below, his wife trailing behind him.

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