A Regency Christmas Collection by Emma J Lane

Author:Emma J Lane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emma J Lane
Published: 2017-11-30T23:21:17+00:00

Chapter Seven

Rosalind opened her eyes and felt disoriented for a moment. She was snuggled into a brawny arm that tightened around her when she moved.

“Nicholas, the girls will be up here soon. We should get dressed.” She sat up in bed.

“The girls should meet their new papa, don’t you think?” he asked, sitting up lazily and pulling her back down. He tucked the covers around her shoulders, while he uttered a sound of satisfaction.

He leaned down to place a kiss on her lips, which he had been doing for most of the night. Rosalind thought he must be trying to make up for all the years they missed in only one night. She smiled into the blanket. Perhaps she was too.

The door opened, and two curly-haired girls tumbled into the room and bounced on the bed. Rosalind hid underneath the covers embarrassed to be caught so.

“Is this our new papa?” Nicole screamed in glee.

She stared at him while Nicholas grinned and touched her black curls. He nodded.

“He is a very big papa,” Claire said with her slight, little girl lisp. “Do you think he brought us Yule Tide presents?” she whispered loudly to Nicole.

“There was no room in the carriage, Claire, sweetling, but we will go shopping later and find many presents for you.” He grinned when the two of them jumped down and ran out the door.

“They are off to tell Sally’s children. Hurry, Nicholas. Let us get dressed before they come back.”

Finally he complied. “They are both precious girls. Why did you keep them to yourself so long? Are you turning out to be a selfish woman? You knew I would love to have them,” he teased and tugged her curls.

“You were married, I thought. To someone named Anne. Was she beautiful? No doubt with a very big title and tremendous dowry.” She frowned at him as she tied the ribbons on her bodice.

He grinned and teased her more. “Jealous, are you? Come over here and I will reassure you.”

She ducked out of his reach. “No, Nicholas. You must learn that children are to be thought of first. This is not proper behavior in front of the children,” she said sternly, while he stood chastised.

They heard a commotion on the stairs and readied themselves for company.

“Mother, we have found a lady who says she is our grandmother. Here she is.”

The girls dragged the duchess into the room, one on one side, and the other clutching her fingers on the other. She had a wide smile as she joined them in the now crowded room.

“Be ready for more company, my children,” she said to Nicholas and Rosalind. “You will never believe who followed us here.”

They heard the scrape of boots on the stairs and turned curiously toward the door.

“Rosalind? Oh, my dear. I have missed your company so much,” Charlotte said as she entered the room and immediately clasped Rosalind in her arms.

They both wiped tears from their eyes. Soon Richard held out his arms and Rosalind tumbled into them for a monstrous hug.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.