A Very Scandalous Fairbanks Christmas by Alyssa Clarke

Author:Alyssa Clarke [Clarke, Alyssa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Darkan Press Inc.
Published: 2025-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

The fire in the drawing room crackled softly, casting a warm, golden glow over the gathered family and friends. Laughter rang through the air, carefree and generous, filling the space with an undeniable sense of joy and ease.

Daniel sat near the hearth, his glass of port untouched in his hand, watching as the evening unfolded around him. The children had long since been tucked into bed, exhausted from a day of skating on the frozen lake. The adults, however, had transformed the drawing room into a lively parlor, where they engaged in charades, riddles, and all manner of games.

Not everyone had stayed for the evening’s entertainment.

Phoebe, heavy with child, had retired early with her husband, Gabriel, his protective hand resting against her lower back as he guided her upstairs. Sarah, though not yet showing, had also left for bed, James following after her with a rather salacious wink. Sarah had only laughed, slipping her hand into her husband’s as they disappeared down the hallway.

Daniel exhaled slowly, his grip tightening ever so slightly around his glass. Why did everything feel so … different? Five days had passed since he had arrived in Penporth. Five days of witnessing a world he had never allowed himself to consider.

Happiness. Love. A family’s warmth.

He had spent years believing that to have such things meant inviting agony—that the deeper one loved, the greater the suffering when fate inevitably tore it away.

But now …

Now, whenever he looked at these people, at their joy, laughter, and their devotion to one another, he felt something unfamiliar settle in his chest.

Envy.

It was strange, to feel this particular ache for the life he observed. Sometimes it felt as if he had fallen beneath deep waters and entered an enchanted world, one filled with possibilities he had never dared to imagine.

His gaze drifted toward Ravenswood and his duchess, seated across the room in a picture of effortless intimacy. Lizzy was laughing at something her husband murmured, her hand resting lightly on his knee. There was no distance between them, no hesitation. The love in Ravenswood’s expression—the tender amusement, the possessive warmth—was a thing of wonder.

And Daniel did not understand it.

Because for the first time, he wanted to.

A ripple of feminine laughter drew his attention, and he turned his head, dragging his gaze away from Ravenswood and his duchess.

His breath caught.

Caroline.

She sat near the center of the room, her eyes bright with triumph, her mouth curved in a delighted smile as she solved the latest charade puzzle with sharp wit and confidence.

By God, she is so damn lovely.

Daniel had always known she was beautiful. But tonight, something about her held him captive—the way her golden curls gleamed in the candlelight, the way her green eyes danced with mirth, the way her laughter wrapped around him, unbidden and inescapable.

A voice drawled behind him, low and amused.

“You are looking at Caroline as if you wish to cart her over your shoulders and take her to your room.”

Daniel smoothed his expression before turning to find

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