The Duke's Winter Promise: A Christmas Regency Romance by Thorne Isabella

Author:Thorne, Isabella [Thorne, Isabella]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Mikita Associates
Published: 2019-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

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17

On Monday, Emily and Aunt Agnes, along with William’s sisters Claire and Caroline were joined in town by the Albright sisters and their mother Lady Aldbrick.

Northwick was a booming town with several rows of shops and gathering places. Lady Aldbrick took her youngest daughter, Susanna to find trimmings for their Christmas gowns and promised to meet the other ladies back at the carriage before too long. Aunt Agnes kissed Emily upon the cheek. She went with Lady Aldbrick, ushering William’s young sisters away like a mother hen with her chicks.

The remaining three, Emily, Anne and Eliza giggled and clasped each other’s arms as they hurried off to a trinket shop to see what treasures might be found. Trudy’s Emporium was a perennial favorite. It always had interesting items. Mostly they were shipped from London, but Emily humored her friends. Anne and her sister, Eliza wanted to visit the shop.

Nonetheless, Emily found herself fascinated with the sheer volume bobbles and odds and ends that could be gathered in one place. She had to admit the emporium was a wonder. She conspired with Eliza to keep her sister busy and spent much more than she had intended on a pair of glass earrings that looked to have been made just for Anne. She tucked them away after purchase so that her friend might not suspect her gift.

When Emily returned to the sisters after her purchase was completed, Eliza was teasing Anne about a possible suitor, a gentleman Emily did not know.

She prayed that Eliza did not tease about the duke for she might not be able to hide her feelings from her best friend. Thankfully, Anne was distracted by her sister. Eliza, giving up on her game brought Anne’s attention to a chain and watch fob.

“Do you think Father will like this?” Eliza asked and Emily was saved from a failed attempt at acting coy.

Emily considered those gifts she still had to purchase. She thought of Henrietta. Emily was not a close friend of the lady since she had been away for so long, but she did not want to be embarrassed if Henrietta bought something for her. She purchased a silk scarf in cornflower blue that would set of her eyes and make her blonde hair shine.

“Also more sweetmeats for William’s sisters,” Emily added.

The young ladies walked down the street to the candy shop and were happy to get out of the wind and cold. They had to wait behind others buying treats. Then, they lingered a bit warming themselves after making their purchases and deciding where to go next.

The heady smell of peppermint and chocolate brought back memories of Christmases spent at Sandstowe. Emily remembered her own Christmas stocking filled with the sweets and sharing them before the fire with Edmund and with Alexander.

Anne popped a peppermint into her mouth and gave Emily a look of appraisal.

“What is it?” Emily asked.

“I could not say,” Anne shrugged slightly. “Something is different. You seem most distracted. Are you in love?”

Emily shook her head.

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