The Earl From Christmas Past: A Regency Christmas Novella by Vella Wendy

Author:Vella, Wendy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vella Ink
Published: 2021-10-09T00:00:00+00:00

Maddie, Verity, and their mother arrived at the Pantomime to a light flurry of snow. Verity was soon claimed by her fiancé and went off at his side giggling, which Maddie found nauseating.

“Don’t scowl, Maddie.”

“Sorry, Mama, but I fear my head is sore this evening.” She planted the seed that would allow her to sleep late tomorrow. Should anything go amiss at the prison and she was delayed returning, no one would bother her, especially if she locked her door. “These late nights are catching up on me.”

“Then you must sleep late tomorrow, darling.”

“I believe I will, Mama.”

Of course, everything could go amiss at the prison, and she wondered what she could do to aid Lewis’s release—if anything. This was unknown territory for Maddie. The problem was, she had no one to ask for help. Her mother would be horrified, and her father was not home.

Dare she asked Gabe?

“If your head pain increases, Maddie, we shall leave, and Stephen will see Verity home, I am sure.”

“Very well, thank you, Mother.” Maddie pushed down the guilt.

“Lady Spencer, Madeline. How beautiful you both look this evening.”

Stay calm. Maddie looked at Gabriel, who had sneaked up on her. He wore a black jacket and waistcoat teamed with the white of his shirt; it was a contrast that only added to the impact of this man.

Before, the only emotion he’d stirred inside her had been irritation and perhaps disappointment, and yet now, since this morning, there was so much more.

“Good evening, Gabriel,” Maddie said slowly.

“Why are you frowning?”

“She has a sore head, but it is not bad enough for us to return home,” Lady Spencer answered him. “Excuse me one moment, I see someone I need to speak with.”

“Who?” Maddie looked around them, but her mother did not answer and had soon disappeared.

“Can I get you anything, Maddie?”

“No, thank you.”

“I was being solicitous.”

“And I am grateful for your solicitousness.”

“I always find that an extremely long word and one that is hard to get your tongue around.”

“I’m sure it is a hard word for some to say,” Maddie said.

He placed a hand against her spine and nudged her to a wall a few feet away so they were not constantly being bumped into.

“You really should be nicer to me, considering what I know about you, Maddie.”

“I was teasing you, and you promised to keep my secret. You are a fiend to suggest otherwise. Now I really must return to my mother.” Maddie only managed two steps before a hand gripped her skirts, stopping further progress.

“What are you doing?” Her whisper was furious.

“Stopping you, as I have not finished our conversation,” he drawled.

No one could see what he was doing, but if she tried to wrench free, they would.

“Now turn around, Maddie.”

“I can’t believe you did that.” She turned to face him. “Are you quite mad?”

He looked far too happy with himself.

“Perhaps, but then you do bring out the worst in me.”

Maddie laughed. He’d often said that when they were children.

“Can I ask you a question, Gabriel?”

“Of course.

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