Seven Christmas Kisses by Jillian Eaton

Author:Jillian Eaton [Eaton, Jillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

“That should be the last of it.” Nodding approvingly as the final wreath was centered above the fireplace in the drawing room, Lady Appleton stepped back to admire the decorations that now covered every single mantle, window, doorframe, and staircase in the manor. “Perfect.” She beamed, and one by one her daughters nodded in agreement.

“Lovely,” Emily said.

“The best yet,” Rebecca put in.

“Positively divine,” Anne chirped.

They all turned to Honora, whose gaze had fixed of its own accord to the mistletoe dangling from the drawing room doorway. Similar boughs of mistletoe hung from every door in the house, even the ones leading into broom closets and the servant’s chambers.

Ridiculous, really. Six years ago the only mistletoe had been in the ballroom, and now a person couldn’t turn around without running into it. Of course, six years ago Lord and Lady Appleton had found themselves with the unenviable chore of marrying off four daughters, until the mistletoe worked its magic. Now they had one daughter to marry off.

And she was glaring at the mistletoe as if it had personally offended her.

“Honora dear,” her mother said gently. “What do you think of the decorations?”

“They’re beautiful.” Dragging her gaze away from the offensive evergreen, Honora managed a smile. “Positively divine.”

Anne frowned. “That’s what I said.”

“You don’t think the ribbons on the staircase are too much?” Lady Appleton worried. “I know last year we left it bare, but with more people coming–”

“They’re wonderful,” Rebecca assured her.

“Oh good. I’m so glad you think so. Now the only things we have to do are pick up the sticks of cinnamon I ordered from the village, dust off the wine, set out the good China, and we’ll be ready for the first guests to arrive!” Lady Appleton clapped her hands together, as giddy as a little girl on Christmas morning. “I cannot believe they’ll be here before sundown.”

Neither could Honora. The past two weeks had flown by, and she wasn’t ready for what the next five days would bring. While her siblings had temporarily stopped beating her over the head with potential suitors, she knew they’d resume their matchmaking as soon as the first eligible bachelor stepped through the door.

Yesterday, she’d stumbled upon Emily and Anne conspiring in the library. She hadn’t been able to eavesdrop on the entire conversation (a creaking floorboard had given her away), but she’d heard enough words to understand they’d been talking about her. When she’d demanded to know what they were plotting, they’d just giggled and run out of the room, leaving her to assume whatever plan they were concocting wasn’t going to be one she liked.

“I can get the cinnamon,” Honora said suddenly. “Is it at the spice shop?”

Lady Appleton clucked her tongue. “That’s very kind, darling, but I was going to send one of the servants to fetch it. You and your sisters should be getting ready.”

“I am ready.” Honora touched her hair, which her maid had fashioned into an elegant twist at the nape of her neck with little tendrils curling down from either side of her temple.

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.