Star of Wonder: A Sweet Victorian Holiday Novella (Love’s Journey Book 1) by K. Lyn Smith

Author:K. Lyn Smith [Smith, K. Lyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Davenwood Press
Published: 2022-10-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The ache in Andrew’s chest grew over the course of the afternoon. Aster assisted Mrs. Marley with the children, and together they strung garlands of berries and dried fruit as Mr. Marley and Andrew hung boughs at their direction.

“Not there,” Aster said as Andrew balanced on a ladder. “A little higher. What do you think, girls?”

The Marley girls nodded their assent, and Andrew stretched to fix a lengthy bough of fir to the parlor’s rafter.

Her smiles were ready and frequent for the Marleys, he noticed, but not once did she look at him as if she’d like an encore of their kiss. She looked, in fact, like she’d all but forgotten the incident. He pressed his irritation back where it belonged, beneath a heaping pile of self-pity.

Marley pressed a mug of ale into his hands as they watched the ladies discuss the proper placement of the kissing bough.

“Ladies and their traditions,” he muttered at Andrew’s elbow. “You’ll have your hands full with all this nonsense once your little one comes along.”

Aster, who’d never been hard of hearing, colored at that, although she didn’t deign to favor them with a glance. Andrew merely nodded his agreement and stared into his ale.

“Did you have a look yet at the extra wheels in my barn?” Marley asked.

Aster did look up at that. Her eyes brightened as Marley continued.

“As I said last night, there’s sure to be one that will be a fit for your carriage. And if not, there’s a wheelwright not far from here who can fix you right up.”

“Er, no, I haven’t looked yet,” Andrew replied. He avoided Aster’s gaze.

Aster dropped the thread she was weaving through a pile of berries and leaned forward. “That would be wonderful, Mr. Marley, if you have a wheel that will fit. Andrew, dear, go have a look. We might be able to continue on our way sooner than we expected.” She smiled sweetly as she shooed him from the room with berry-stained hands, clearly eager for them to leave.

He nodded and set his ale aside. “Yes, thank you, Marley. I’ll have a look and see what’s to hand.”

——

That night, after bellies were full and the Marley house had settled, Andrew and Aster assumed their respective positions in their shared room. Aster lay atop the quilt, arms crossed over her stomach as Andrew shifted on his rug. She’d left her boots on this time, and they hung off the end of the bed.

He’d quirked an eyebrow at that but had remained blessedly silent.

“It’s unfortunate Mr. Marley didn’t have a wheel to fit our coach,” she said, picking at a thread on her dress.

“Yes,” he agreed. “It’s unfortunate, indeed.”

“And that the wheelwright was unavailable.”

He murmured another agreement. “I’ll check the condition of the roads tomorrow. Perhaps try the wheelwright again.”

She nodded, although he couldn’t see her from his position on the rug. He lay silent on the floor below her, and she wondered if he’d fallen asleep.

Although she was anxious to reach her family and ease their worry, a large part of her didn’t mind the extra time spent with Andrew.

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