The Folly of Caroling by Sandra Sookoo

Author:Sandra Sookoo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: holiday romance, Regency romance, Christmas romance, socially awkward, shy, meddling parents, duke, earl, sweet romance, Hallmark style, older characters, seasoned romance, family
Publisher: New Independence Books
Published: 2021-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

December 13, 1818

G

riffin shifted positions in his chair for what felt like the tenth time. His copy of The Times rattled, but his attention had long fled from the words. Members of the house party had assembled in the drawing room since it was a gloomy, gray day where snow was in the offing. There had been promises to his niece that once it did snow, everyone would go out and enjoy the wintertime climate, but until then, creating festive paper garlands was the order of the afternoon.

Knowing that Nora was in the same room had scattered his concentration, for it was as if her soul called out to his and he was powerless to resist. Which made absolutely no sense whatsoever. They were merely acquaintances, had barely taken up a friendship.

“By the by, I’ve put together a small group for wassailing this evening,” his mother said as soon as she entered the room. “I hope you all will join in.”

“What?” Griffin turned down a corner of the paper in order to look at his mother. What sort of gammon is this? “Isn’t it too early for that? Traditionally, wassailing is done on Twelfth Night.”

His mother huffed. “Then we shall call it caroling. That can be done throughout the season.” She waved a hand as if the semantics didn’t matter. “In any event, it should prove good fun and is something your father and I used to do in our younger years.”

His sister chuckled. “Mother, are you quite certain you want Griffin to make up part of the numbers? You know how horrid he is with singing.” A hearty amount of teasing wove through her voice.

“I like to sing,” Lucy said as she brushed tiny bits of paper scraps from her person. “May I come?”

“No, you may not,” Letty said. “It’ll be past your bedtime.”

“But you may sing for us later,” Graham said as he came into the room, went directly to Lucy, and scooped her up into his arms. “How does that sound?”

She answered with a string of giggles.

His mother watched their antics with fondness in her expression. “Yes, I want Griffin to go. It matters not how skilled he is with singing.”

Griffin stifled a sigh as he fixed his gaze briefly to the ceiling. “How many will make up the party?”

“That depends.” His mother shrugged. “I’ve asked everyone here, of course, and I believe even Stephen has decided to go.” She gave him a smile. “Isn’t that nice? It’s not often he participates in these things.”

“Yes.” There wasn’t much conviction in his response. He rattled his paper, more for something to do with his hands than anything else. Cold worry snaked through his gut. Would his brother, whose greatest hobby was teasing him, portray him in a negative light in front of Nora? He glanced at Nora and then looked at Stephen. He stood near the fireplace in a negligent pose. Worse, would his brother try to steal her attention? “Stephen, you needn’t come. Everyone knows you detest such outings.

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