A Duke for Christmas by Emma Sloane

Author:Emma Sloane [Sloane, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stefanie Sloane

Chapter 7

The two traveling coaches slowed to turn off the main road, then bowled down the snowy surface of the well-maintained lane and approached Sheffield Park. The sturdy trunks of tall oaks lined the snowy roadway like welcoming sentinels, their bare limbs lifted toward the sky.

“Oh, my, it is lovely, isn’t it, Penelope?” Amelia commented from her seat within the leading coach as it rounded a sweeping curve and the great house came into view.

“Indeed,” Penelope agreed. Her bonnet brim brushed Amelia’s as they both leaned forward for a better view of the grand building. The honey-colored stone and tiled roof of the stately house were brushed with snow, but the wide arc of the circular drive had been shoveled and swept clear. As they watched, a cluster of people left the house and gathered before the entry’s impressively tall double doors.

“I wonder if the Duke will greet us or if one of his female relatives is acting as hostess,” Amelia said, sitting back to anxiously brush at the dove grey bodice of her woolen pelisse and straighten her already tidy bonnet ribbons.

“I hope it’s Hugh,” William put in. “He promised to go sledding with me while we’re here.”

“I’m certain whoever greets us will be most welcoming,” Penelope assured them. She wasn’t nearly as confident as she wanted her cousins to believe. Granted, the Duke and Hugh had both seemed happy to learn she’d accepted their great-aunt’s invitation, but that didn’t guarantee the rest of their family would be as eager for their company. Please let the St. Cyr’s be generous with their kindness to Amelia and William, she thought as she smoothed her kerseymere pelisse and straightened her own bonnet. The cherry red edged with white ermine of the stylish hat matched her woolen twill coat and kidskin gloves. All were recent purchases made especially for the trip, as was the lovely pale gray bonnet and pelisse that Amelia wore. Braided darker gray ribbon edged the brim of her cousin’s bonnet and added a touch of elegance. Penelope firmly believed that mourning was no excuse for a woman to eschew fashion and Amelia’s attire happily expressed her agreement.

Both coaches slowed as they neared the house, finally pulling to a stop in front of the doors. A trio of servants immediately left the waiting group of people and moved toward the second coach where they quickly handed out the two maids and began to unload luggage. An older man in a black coat and trousers of a butler neared Penelope’s coach and lowered the coach steps before pulling open the door.

“Good afternoon, madam,” he said, holding out a white-gloved hand.

Penelope accepted his assistance with a smile and a murmured word of thanks, pausing to give Amelia and William time to join her before turning to greet the Duke, Hugh, and the older woman who stood with them. Petite and slim, she was wrapped in a voluminous sky-blue shawl and beneath the fringed edges peeped an afternoon gown of darker blue.

“Lady Wentworth.

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.