A Summons From Yorkshire (Regency Christmas Summons Collection 1) by Johnstone Julie & Stone Ava & Fish Aileen

Author:Johnstone, Julie & Stone, Ava & Fish, Aileen [Fish, Aileen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2011-12-09T23:00:00+00:00

~ 8 ~

I am in love.

Lady Harriet sighed and stared out the bedroom window in Danby Castle. Her breath fogged the cool glass, but she saw only the conspiratorial smile Archie had given her in her father’s carriage.

His eyes had glittered. His lips turned up in the barest sign of humor, but she felt the laughter in his gaze. They had worked together in their tale, he so much more deftly than she, and her parents had almost believed their fable. He was free of any obligation to her.

The thought brought on a second sigh.

She wondered what marriage to him would be like. Would he be an attentive husband whose love grew over the years? He would be an excellent father, of that she was certain, given the way Ellie spoke of her own papa.

Was there a way she could still escape Grandpapa’s plans for her? Ellie could arrange Archie’s attendance at a ball next Season and surely he would fall madly in love with her upon second sight.

As madly as she had fallen. This sigh clouded the window entirely and she rubbed her sleeve on the glass before turning away. There was no escaping the Duke of Danby’s orders. She was done for.

Harriet had yet to see the duke. She and her mother had been allowed to retire upon their arrival so late in the day. Moving to a chair by the fire, she sat and gazed at the flames, wishing Miriam were here. Or better still, Ellie.

Could she tell Ellie about the kiss? She must. They told each other everything. But by the time she saw her friend, she would probably be married to some other man, and it wouldn’t be proper to talk of another man’s kiss.

Who would Grandpapa have chosen for her? Probably the son of one of his old friends. A younger son, of course, possibly one with a minor title, due to her father’s status. The Duke of Danby was nothing if not a stickler for rank. Several of her mother’s cousins had not been allowed to marry their loves because he felt they did not suit. Perhaps that was the reason Harriet’s cousins had been so slow to wed. Not one of them had married, and almost all were older than she.

A quiet scratch on the door drew her attention, but her mother walked in before Harriet could speak.

“May I join you, my dear?”

“Of course, Mama.”

Her mother sank into the chair opposite Harriet’s and drew a coverlet across her lap with a shiver. “This place has grown no less drafty. In fact, each time we return, I believe it is more so.”

“Yes. I believe it will snow tomorrow.”

“Perhaps Papa will harness a few of the sleighs so we might have a ride before the ball.”

Harriet stretched her legs and wiggled her stockinged feet in the warmth from the fire. “Do you think there will be so much snow? I hope not. All of my cousins haven’t arrived, according to Burney.”

“You are right. I long for a sleigh ride, but not for the snow necessary to accommodate us.

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