A Christmas Secret by Janelle Daniels

Author:Janelle Daniels [Daniels, Janelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, Victorian, Holidays, Regency, Romantic Comedy, 30 Minutes (12-21 Pages), Historical Romance, Inspirational
Amazon: B0195ZS2SC
Publisher: Dream Cache Publishing
Published: 2015-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

She’d been able to pull Miss Smith away from Lady Tisdale easily enough. Her employer had fallen asleep the chapter before, and Miss Smith was sitting there, merely waiting for the Lady to wake.

But now, she was headed to meet Harry again. And two hours hadn’t been nearly enough.

For the first time, she realized how serious the situation had become. She couldn’t be around him. And that one realization deflated her. She was going to have to avoid him after this.

But why did it have to hurt so much?

Straightening her shoulders, she notched her chin up and marched into the conservatory. She had to be strong right now. She could fall apart and figure out what needed to be done after they completed their task.

“Harry?” she whispered.

“Over here,” he called quietly.

She walked toward his voice, but didn’t see him. “Where?”

“A little farther.”

She could hear him clearly, but couldn’t see him. Her steps slowed on the path, her hands fisting at her hips. “I don’t see you—ah!” she shrieked as arms reached out, pulling her into the dense bushes to her right.

Her heart thundered in her ears as he chuckled. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” He laughed, completely unrepentant.

The happy sound warmed her soul, but she shut her eyes against the feeling, guarding her already bleeding heart.

“Are you all right?” he asked, sensing something was off rather than seeing her face in the dim lighting now that the sun had set.

“Of course.” She cleared her throat as she stepped away from him. “Just a little pressed for time. The gown my mother laid out has a million buttons down the back, and my maid needs extra time to dress me.”

He was silent for a moment, but she couldn’t tell if he believed her or not. “We won’t take too long then. Were you able to find anything out?”

“Yes. There’s a particular song she loves. Apparently it’s her favorite, especially this time of year.”

“Do you know why? What’s the significance?”

“I don’t. And neither did Miss Smith. But I thought that since it was Lady Tisdale’s favorite, I would play it for her, for everyone actually, this evening after dinner. I’d never heard of it before, but I was able to find sheet music for it in the music room. I should be able to play it easily.”

“Excellent.” He squeezed her shoulders, and she stiffened against his touch. It was too much right then. With her feelings out of control as is, his touch overwhelmed her.

He jerked his hands away as if scalded, but he didn’t mention it. “Shall we meet up again before you perform? Are you sure you don’t need to sneak away to practice?” he asked, but his voice had lost its playfulness. She regretted that, but it was for the best.

They couldn’t go on as they were.

“No. I should be fine. I think Lady Tisdale will really enjoy this,” she said, unable to think of anything else.

“I agree.”

She edged toward the path. “I should really get back.

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