A Holly and Ivy Affair by Sandra Sookoo

Author:Sandra Sookoo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Home for the Holidays series, Regency romance, Christmas romance, holiday romance, sweet romance, family, duke, humor, love at first sight, cat, Sandra Sookoo, historical romance, England, Hallmark style
Publisher: New Independence Books
Published: 2021-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

Interlude

W

hen the Duke of Whittington returned to his bedchamber after he’d ordered his son to escort Miss Holly back to hers, he heaved a heavy sigh as soon as he laid eyes on his wife.

“Beatrice, I believe that young lady is in a bit of a sticky wicket.” He rubbed his eyes while his valet entered the dressing room and helped him off with his evening clothes.

“How so?” His duchess glanced up from a mirrored vanity. She’d donned her nightclothes while he’d been listening to the angry blathering of Lord Breckenridge.

Once stripped down to small pants and linen shirt, he dismissed his valet. “Contracts between her father and Lord Breckenridge—and a rather blackhearted brigand he is—have been not only drawn up but also executed. The man has paid off the squire’s debts. Miss Holly has no recourse except to marry him.”

“Oh, that’s terrible.” She rose to her feet and met him in the middle of the room. “I’m sorry to hear that. Miss Holly seems like a wonderful young lady.”

“Indeed.” He drew his wife into his arms. “To say nothing of the fact that I believe Graham is quite smitten with her.”

“Surely not.” Her chuckle sent gooseflesh over his skin. “She’s only just arrived a handful of hours ago, and Graham would never fall in love so quickly... if at all.”

“Which is what I assumed too until I saw him interact with her in the corridor and then again in his grandmother’s sitting room.” He peered into her upturned face. “That boy is not only smitten but I’ll wager he’s well on his way to falling in love if he hasn’t already.”

“It’s odd, but I had that feeling too. He’s quick to defend her as well as rally to protect her.” She shook her head. “I’ve never seen him act like that.”

The duke grinned. “Perhaps fate has had a hand in matching our boy after all... if we can somehow find a way around the circumstances that bind her.”

“If anyone can do so, it’s you, Whittington.” She bussed his cheek before pulling away and heading toward the adjoining bedchamber. “However, you might wish to consider if Miss Holly is of the same mind as Graham. There’s nothing worse than unrequited love.”

That gave him pause. Where did Miss Holly’s affections—if any—lie? It was entirely possible she wasn’t thinking of romance when she looked at Graham. After the trauma she currently labored under, perhaps she didn’t wish to marry at all.

Slowly, the duke followed his wife. “But don’t you see how perfect they’d be together, Beatrice? Already, their names fairly proclaim it—Holly and Ivy. It’s quite the holiday pun.”

“You can’t build a romance on a joke, my dear.” She blew out the candle on the table at her side of the bed.

Perhaps, but there was something to be said for gut instinct and the way the two younger people exchanged glances despite who might have been looking. He would find some way to use that to his advantage. “Ah, I think you underestimate me, darling.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.