One Perfect Christmas (Short Story) by Stefanie Sloane

Author:Stefanie Sloane
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780345542519
Publisher: Random House LLC
Published: 2013-11-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Jane was absolutely chilled to the bone, but it had nothing to do with the weather outside. She sat stone-still in the pew, Lord Needles on her left, her mother on her right. Several minutes had passed since Lucas’s departure from the church, and still her eyes remained focused ahead, concentrated on the vicar.

She didn’t hear a word the man imparted, though, and was only vaguely aware of his presence as he bowed his head over the scripture.

Her entire being was consumed by the look in Lucas’s eyes as he’d stormed from the church, the somber sound of each step on the stone floor driving a nail into her heart.

He’d been offended by her impersonal and distant behavior, which had been her intent, of course. After last night’s kiss, Jane could no longer pretend that continuing on as Lucas’s friend would ever be enough for her.

She loved him.

And because she did, she needed to keep as far away from him as possible.

The congregation stood and Jane automatically rose with them, covertly studying Lord Needles while the vicar made his closing remarks.

He could take her far away from Surrey and Lucas. Encouraging his courtship might make all of her problems dissolve into thin air. Her parents would be saved from ruin. Jane could build a life with Lord Needles, start a family, and forget all about Lucas Cavanaugh.

Her mother moved toward the end of the aisle and Jane followed, with Lord Needles closely behind.

“Lady Cybil, might you and your nephew wish to join us for Christmas luncheon?” Lady Merriweather inquired of Lord Needles’s aunt as they met at the back of the church.

Lady Pearson smiled graciously as she adjusted the velvet cloak about her shoulders. “That would be lovely, Alice. Thank you for the invitation.”

They said their good-byes to the vicar and stepped outside, a bracing wind hitting each in the face as they took their first steps into the storm.

“Best move quickly, before the snow overtakes us all,” Jane’s father suggested, offering one arm to his wife and the other to Lady Pearson. “Ladies, hold tight. I would not want you to blow away in this treacherous wind.”

All three laughed heartily, then set off toward Juniper Hall, Jane and Lord Needles bringing up the rear.

“Well, it would seem they were right,” Lord Needles said, setting a brisk but comfortable pace. “We’ll have more snow for Christmas than we’ll know what to do with.”

Jane smiled at him, attempting in earnest to forget everything that had occurred before. “I must admit, I’m quite fond of the snow,” she replied, pulling the collar of her fur-trimmed mantle higher about her neck. “It has the ability to magically transform one’s surroundings—as if you’d suddenly found yourself in the middle of a fairy tale.”

Lord Needles nodded in agreement and turned to take in the quiet beauty that surrounded them. “Such a romantic notion, fairy tales, don’t you think?”

“Oh yes,” Jane replied without thinking as she watched her parents and Lady Pearson disappear around a bend in the path.

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