A Visit From Sir Nicholas (Effington Family Book 9) by Alexander Victoria

Author:Alexander, Victoria [Alexander, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

“In many ways I think Scrooge was nothing more than an astute businessman,” Jonathon said in an idle manner. He glanced across the table at Nick, and a wicked spark shone in his eye.

“Lord Helmsley, how can you possibly say such a thing?” The debutante sitting beside Jonathon gasped in shocked dismay. She was pleasant enough in a very young, very sweet, very naïve way, and for the life of him, Nick could not remember her name.

Juliana, seated next to Nick, turned away from an animated discussion with her husband and another guest, a gleam similar to her brother’s in her eye. “His lordship says something along the very same lines every year as Christmas approaches.” Anticipation sounded in her voice. “Usually when he judges the dinner conversation at his end of the table to be not as amusing as he thinks it should.”

Jonathon chuckled and took a sip of his wine.

“Still, it is, as always, an interesting question.” Elizabeth studied Nick from her place beside her brother. “What do you think, Sir Nicholas?”

Nick chose his words with care. “I think Scrooge was extraordinarily lucky.”

“Really?” Elizabeth studied him. “Why?”

“He had the opportunity few of us do in this life,” Nick said thoughtfully. “To make amends for his mistakes. For a second chance at happiness, as it were.”

“Very good,” Jonathon murmured.

“How lovely.” Miss Sweet Young Debutante sighed.

“Yet he could have simply avoided his mistakes in the first place,” Juliana said pointedly.

“Indeed he could have, but how many of us do? I know of any number of people, myself included, who have made serious mistakes in judgment in their youth. Mistakes that have affected their entire lives.” His gaze met Elizabeth’s. “Even if the reasons behind their actions seemed at that particular point in time to be not only wise but indeed noble.”

Elizabeth raised a brow. “Noble?”

“Sometimes it’s necessary to sacrifice one’s own desires in the best interest of someone else.”

“I don’t think Scrooge sacrificed anything in the best interest of anyone else. I think his only concern was his own interests.” Juliana shook her head firmly. “He gave up Belle, the one love of his life if one reads beyond Mr. Dickens’s words, for the sake of his own pursuits and nothing more than that.”

“Although, according to the story,” Nick said smoothly, “it could well be argued he gave her up because, however right or wrong he may have been in the matter, he did not feel he was financially able to wed. Many consider that position wise in this day and age. If you look at it that way, sacrificing his own desires for her welfare,” he shrugged, “could indeed be viewed as noble.”

“Rubbish.” Juliana huffed. “He sacrificed her for the sake of his own ambition.”

“Ambition is a demanding mistress,” Nick said in an offhand manner.

“Even so.” Elizabeth leaned forward slightly. “Couldn’t he have pursued his ambition without losing his soul?”

“Did he lose his soul, I wonder?” Jonathon said.

“Yes, I think he did.” Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. “In spite of his success in business, he was not a happy man.

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