Yuletide Happily Ever After II: An Original Regency Romance Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-19T23:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

That night after supper, Abigail excused herself for the evening. “Tomorrow will be such a busy day. I shall need my rest.”

She gave her niece a peck on the cheek and squeezed one of Emma’s hands.

“Goodnight, Aunt Abigail,” Thomas said to her awkwardly.

Abigail gave him a nod, exceedingly pleased the young man had addressed her as she now expected him to. Her designation as aunt was one she was very proud of. It came with many obligations to her mind. One such duty was to be carried out that very night.

With no one the wiser, she did not go upstairs to her bedchamber. Her lady’s maid had secured the information of where the dower house was located on the estate. All Abigail had to do was go out the east family entrance of the manor and past the walled rose garden. A gravel path led to the small dower house.

The snow had all but melted and there was a bright moon that night. Attired in her thick cloak retrieved from the entry hall, she found she was warm enough for her errand.

The dower house had two floors and according to her maid, some ten rooms. As she approached the house, she could see lamps burning in rooms upstairs and down. It was only nine of the o’clock. Lady Childs would surely still be awake.

Her knock at the door was answered by a footman. Further intelligence from her maid had advised her that Lady Childs had a footman and two housemaids to attend to her during her stay. One of the kitchen maids was also on hand to cook.

“Lady Markham, what a pleasant surprise,” Lady Childs said with a brittle smile when the other woman was shown into the parlor of the small house. “Do sit down. Do you require refreshment?”

“No thank, you,” she replied and took a seat across from the woman who reclined on a sopha. Truth be told, Abigail was surprised Lady Childs had consented to see her.

When the footman had departed Lady Childs asked, “Why are you here? It surely isn’t to wish me Happy Christmas.”

“No, it isn’t.” The room felt too warm after her recent walk outside. Perhaps she should have asked for a cup of tea or lemonade. “I came here to offer you a very advantageous arrangement.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed on Abigail although she asked casually, “And what arrangement might that be?”

“I will give you five thousand pounds if you will agree in writing to never contact Thomas or Emma again unless I instruct you to.” There. It was done.

“And why would I agree to such a thing?” The woman sounded curious rather than affronted.

“You will agree because your son plans to return your stipend back to the miserly sum it was when your husband died. Thomas no longer cares what you say to others. You have no hold over your children anymore.”

“If Emma and Thomas do not care what I do or say, why would you offer me funds to leave them alone?” She raised a brow.

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