Once Upon a Christmas Castle by Virginia Barlow

Author:Virginia Barlow [Barlow, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027070 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Regency
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2023-04-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The duke rose to his feet. “What say we retire to the ballroom and string cranberries for the tree until time for tea?”

Her dry mouth refused to form the words, and they burst forth in a croak. “Of course. I am delighted to.”

Ellen appeared as if by magic and rolled a woolen stocking over her left foot before the duke carried her into the ballroom to decorate the enormous tree.

They spent every possible moment during the week and the first part of the next stringing fruits, candies, and paper before draping them on the majestic branches of their twenty-foot tree.

Workmen carried in scaffolds to stand on while they worked the ropes of sweets to Rosalind’s satisfaction. Mama entered the ballroom once for a half hour and left when her daughter did not submit to her demands. Papa joined them quite often and sat beside Rosalind while the men worked. His opinions carried wisdom, and she accepted them with gratefulness.

Thomas stood beside her or climbed the scaffolds when the duke allowed draping strings of sweets to his heart’s content.

When the last string hung from the branches, and only the angel for the treetop remained, the duke ordered everyone from the ballroom. When Thomas complained, Cousin Lucius dropped to his haunches so he could gaze into Thomas’ eyes. “We want to wait until Rosalind can stand. She has not put anything on the tree because of her foot. She should do the angel. Do you not agree?”

The boy gazed from the wonderful tree to Rosalind and back to the duke. “Aye. Ruby should put the angel up.”

He said not a word about the matter again, and Rosalind believed the matter settled until the day after the family dinner when all hell broke loose.

The snow did wonders for her foot, and Rosalind could put weight on it and walk around with a slight limp. So, when the day of the dinner rolled around, she could enjoy the occasion without aid.

The evening turned out well, with everyone exhibiting their best manners and behavior. Rosalind met several relatives she knew nothing about, and a few she did.

Then she turned and met the blonde who whispered to Cousin Lucius at dinner when the local nobility dined with them.

“Hello.” Rosalind held out her hand in greeting.

The other woman assessed her from head to toe and gave her an icy smile. “I am Lucius’ sister-in-law, Lady Abigail. His late wife Lucinda is my sister.” She made no effort to take Rosalind’s hand.

“How nice to meet you.” Rosalind dropped her hand, not at all pleased to meet the sour-faced woman with the narrow calculating eyes. She turned to go, but the other woman’s words stopped her in the act.

“You cannot have Lucius. I promised Lucinda I would look after him, and so I shall. Lucius is a man of discriminating taste. He prefers women with…age and experience. I do hope you have not set your cap for him, for you will be disappointed. He is too important a man to risk his all for a simple girl like you.

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