Goodwill For The Gentleman (Belles 0f Christmas Book 2) by Martha Keyes

Author:Martha Keyes [Keyes, Martha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, American West, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Christmas Holidays & Celebration, Christmas Time, Holiday Whimsy, Festive Season, Winter Weather, Belles 0f Christmas, Multi-Author, Novellas, short Storys
Publisher: Martha Keyes
Published: 2019-10-22T04:00:00+00:00

8

Hugh shrugged on his jacket of superfine blue cloth with the help of his valet.

His hands had finally stopped tingling from spending the better part of the day out of doors. The temperature seemed to be warming, though, judging from the sound of water dripping outside his window. It would all freeze overnight again, of course, but perhaps the temperatures would rise enough again the following day to melt a fair bit of what covered the landscape and roads.

That would mean the imminent departure of Emma, of course. Surely she wouldn’t hesitate to leave at the earliest moment possible.

He had known that the remarkably good terms that had flourished between them all day could not last. And he had seen the very moment when Emma had realized it, too.

What had caused her to look at him with such dismay, he couldn’t say.

Nor could he deny the hope he harbored: that she had felt the same pull of attraction that he had felt. But more likely, she had simply known a moment’s lapse in memory which had led her to treat him with more amiability than she had intended.

Whatever the reason, she had reverted to a distant civility toward him, politely refusing his offer to take her up in the sled for the remainder of the way home and engaging Miss Bolton—sitting in the slow-moving sled pulled by Alfred—in conversation for the final ten minutes of the walk.

He had feared that the harmony between them would be short-lived, but he hadn't been able to resist responding in kind to her amiability; to teasing her, if only to see the way her dimple appeared. Seeing her look at him, free of any reserve or anger, full of enjoyment and kinship—it felt worth any cost.

But that blissful rapport was at an end. And now he was left feeling almost desperate to recapture it.

Hugh sighed and thanked his valet, dismissing him and then descending the stairs to dinner. It would be his first Christmas home in three years. Never had he imagined spending it in the company of Emma Caldwell, of all people.

Hugh’s jaw came open upon seeing her, standing in the drawing room, smiling at his mother. Her white crepe dress was simple and elegant, set off with a gold-braided trim which shimmered in concert with her hair in the evening candlelight. She had never looked more angelic than in that moment.

In the company of a married couple and an engaged couple, it was only natural that Hugh would be left to walk beside Emma to the dining room. She seemed to face the prospect with equanimity as he offered her his arm, though there was a restraint in her eyes and in her manner that had been absent since their truce began.

He debated whether to match her reserve, but he couldn’t refrain from an attempt to provoke a smile from her. He leaned in toward her, saying in a low voice, “And to think it was my grave expression which you feared would betray us.

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