The Best Husband Money Can Buy: A Holiday Novella by Mary Jo Putney

Author:Mary Jo Putney [Putney, Mary Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pandamax Press
Published: 2022-07-13T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Bubbling with anticipation, Emma held Anthony’s arm as they went down the icy halls and staircases. He wanted her! Even an innocent could recognize the desire in his voice and his touch. He hadn’t been uninterested before, merely giving her the period of adjustment that she’d requested.

Well, she was ready to be a wife now. In fact, she was eager for this long-awaited evening to be over so they could return to their room, and the waiting bed.

The thought made her glance up shyly. He met her gaze, and gave her an intimate smile. His one and only. The knowledge made her want to turn somersaults the way she had when in the nursery.

Almost floating, she let him guide her toward the main salon, where the adults were meeting for pre-dinner sherry. The great house looked exactly as she remembered, with the scent of pine boughs and the bright colors of holly berries and scarlet ribbons everywhere. Christmas at Harley was magical.

The salon was already teeming with people and noisy with talk when they entered. Emma looked around, trying to put names to faces. Most were cousins of some sort, though older family members had generally been made honorary aunts and uncles. Heavens, Aunt Agatha had put on weight. Lord only knew who that tall youth was, except that he was obviously a Vaughn. And was that young woman in blue her cousin Margaret, or could it be Margaret’s sister, Mary?

Someone called out happily, “Verlaine has arrived!”

Emma smiled a little wryly, knowing it would be like this for the rest of their lives. It was Anthony whom people would remember, Anthony who would bring that smile to their faces. He had the same effect on her. As long as he was hers, she didn’t mind sharing his attention at gatherings such as these.

People crowded forward to offer hugs and best wishes on their marriage. Emma knew she must be glowing like a Christmas candle. She’d dreamed of this warm welcome for ten years, and never believed she would feel it again. Once more she was a Vaughn among Vaughns. And to judge by the admiration in men’s eyes, Anthony had not been lying when he said that she looked well.

The dowager duchess entered the room through another door, and many of the group around Emma and Anthony went to greet her. The dowager had been a great beauty as a girl, and she still was.

As the crowd thinned, Emma saw a young woman standing by the great fireplace, her gaze turned in their direction. Emma caught her breath with surprise. It was Cecilia, and she hadn’t changed at all. She must be near thirty, but even after two children, she was slim and graceful. As beautiful as she had always been.

Taking leave of the ancient aunt with whom she had been speaking, Cecilia came to greet the newcomers, her golden hair shining in the light of dozens of candles. Coming to a stop, she said, “It’s wonderful to see you again, Emma.

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