The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781683229186
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2018-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

The day before Christmas Eve was clear and bright. Ashleigh stood outside the library doors and braced herself to speak to Christopher. She had overheard her father telling Christopher about his immense collection of books, and Christopher had said he’d see for himself right after breakfast.

Truth be told, she’d rather spend all day in the library as well, but hosting a houseful of people did not lend itself to her quiet ways.

She opened the library door and found Christopher sitting in an oversized chair, near one of the large windows, a red-covered book in hand. It was well-worn, and when she drew closer, she knew why. It was Charles Dickens’s, A Christmas Carol. One of her favorite stories. Her father had given her a beautiful fiftieth-anniversary edition a few years back, but she still cherished the original copy she’d grown up reading. The one Christopher held in his large hands.

He put his finger on a line in the book and looked up to see who had entered. When he saw it was her, he set it aside and stood. “Ashleigh.”

The reminder of how he’d left the night before, when she had insulted him, was still fresh between them this morning. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him, yet what she had come to tell him would not sit well between them either.

“I thought you’d be entertaining Wessex this morning,” he said with little emotion.

Ashleigh had been able to avoid Eric, but only because Cynthia was near his side, hanging on his every word. Ashleigh would have to work hard to evade him for the remainder of his stay.

“That’s one of the reasons I came to speak to you today.” She motioned for him to return to his seat, and she took the one opposite him.

“Wessex has proposed?” he asked once he was settled.

Ashleigh had been taught to sit tall in her chair, to keep her posture erect, but the chairs in the library were not meant for formality. Neither, did it seem, was her relationship with Christopher. She settled back in the chair and studied the man across from her. No longer did she think of him as the horrible, annoying boy he had been. The man before her was kind, sincere, intelligent—and utterly too handsome. She felt more comfortable with him than anyone she’d ever known, as if they’d been friends all their lives.

“I’ve decided I will not marry Wessex.” Ashleigh tried to make her statement as light-hearted and confident as she could muster.

Christopher set his elbows on the armrests and frowned. “Who will you marry then?”

She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “No one.”

His frown disappeared, and he leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not getting married. Not to Eric, not to you, not to anyone else.”

“I don’t understand.”

It was her turn to lean forward. “Your mother is just as responsible for this mess as mine. Why should I be the one to marry a man I dislike, just so you can walk free?” She shook her head.

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