A Christmas Surprise by Cynthia Moore

Author:Cynthia Moore [Moore, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, Regency, Christmas, unconsummated marriage, misunderstandings, reunion
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Clara shut her bedchamber door behind her. Hot tears immediately cascaded down her cheeks. Was she crying because of her sense of frustration and hopelessness over her relationship with Julian or was she so emotional because she finally learned how her father had died? With her vision blurred, she made her way to bed, laying facedown upon the counterpane.

She sniffed and sniveled there for several minutes as she thought about what transpired during the discussion in the library. An errant idea suddenly made her start in surprise. She realized this was the first time since she learned of her father’s death that she had actually cried. Had her husband’s return set her brittle sensibility on edge? Was she unconsciously attempting to appear strong to the household staff in his absence? Gradually the weight of sadness she lived with in her heart over the past several months loosened and she was conscious of a sense of release. She pushed herself up to lean on one elbow and wiped her free hand across her eyes in a feeble attempt to remove any trace of tears.

From her place on the bed, she stared outside at the gray, overcast sky. After a few minutes of careful deliberation of the weather, she sighed. “It is silly to mope here in my room when there is so much to be done. I vow my father would be quite dismayed if he could see me now.”

She untangled her feet from her skirt, slid off the side of the bed and walked over to the table that held her brushes, coombs and powders. As she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, she carefully combed and smoothed several wayward strands of hair that had escaped from the elaborate coiffure her maid had secured for her earlier. She applied a light dusting of powder to her flushed cheeks. Her eyelids still showed some evidence of recent tears but surely others in the household would not be surprised at such a display of emotion at the return of her husband. With one final glance at her image, Clara straightened her shoulders, walked to the door, opened it, and emerged onto the landing.

She became aware of the whispering of two chambermaids who were dusting some pieces of furniture in the hallway. As she turned toward the sound of their voices, she suddenly realized she had not checked with Mrs. Copley to see if there was anything further she required for Nellie’s comfort. She immediately set out for the nursery wing, pausing to nod a greeting to the now respectfully silent maids as she passed them.

She arrived at the nursery and opened the door. The chamber was welcoming and cheerful. The entire room had been festively decorated with the greenery. The governess was busy straightening a pile of books on a large shelf near her desk. Nellie was sitting close by at a child-sized table concentrating on drawing of some sort of scene. She was using chalks. When the little girl looked up and saw her, she smiled readily but suddenly she frowned and looked down at the paper.

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