A Lady’s Christmas Rake by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-11-25T22:00:00+00:00

EPILOGUE

EMMA SHUDDERED and peered out of the window for the hundredth time that morning. The snow was falling heavily and the road to the house had vanished. A tug at her skirts drew her attention away from the snowy scenery. She could not help but smile as the five-year-old stuffed her fingers in her mouth and snuggled into her dark green gown.

“Will we decorate a tree soon, Mama?” Isabel said around her fingers.

“As soon as your father has gone to get one. You know he loves to do it himself, darling.” Juggling the nearly one-year-old baby in her arm, she bent to give Isabel a squeeze. “I am sure he will want to go straight out and get one as soon as he returns.”

“Will Papa be back soon?”

“Yes, my darling, very soon.” She hoped. How would he even get through this snow? Alexander had been gone for three weeks, giving a talk on mountain climbing in London while attending to some of his duties. She was glad he’d chosen to spend most of his time instructing on mountain climbing rather than doing it. It seemed to bring him much enjoyment and she could worry less about him, though he still climbed the odd Scottish mountain.

“Can I have a sweetmeat?”

Emma released Isabel and pressed a kiss to her blonde curls before standing. “Yes, but only three. I don’t want you getting sick again.”

“Thank you, Mama,” the little girl said before skipping out of the drawing room where the tray of sweetmeats sat temptingly on the bureau.

Allowing herself a smile, she turned her attention to peering out of the window once more. The baby in her arms wriggled and fisted his hands in her hair, making her laugh out loud as she tried to disengage his tightly closed fist from one of her curls.

With a sigh, she turned away from the window and strode out of the dining room to the drawing room. Isabel spun around, a guilty look on her face as her mother entered. The room was fully decorated with the exception of a tree. Sprigs of greenery ran along the mantelpiece and a giant nutcracker sat to the side of the fireplace. The decorations didn’t look as neat and tidy as usual with Isabel being able to help this year, but they added a nice touch to the rustic room.

Emma turned her attention to her daughter. “Isabel, did you eat more than three?”

“No, Mama,” she said through a mouthful of sweetmeats. “Does Frederick want one?”

“I’m sure he does.” The baby tightened his fist in her hair in agreement. “But he cannot. Besides, it will be time for his nap soon and then we can finish putting up the decorations.”

“But not the tree?” Isabel’s bottom lip jutted out.

“Not until your papa is home,” Emma replied firmly.

“It’s a fine job I am home then, is it not?”

Emma spun, her heart jumping with delight. “Alexander!”

Isabel reached her father before Emma could and he bent to scoop up his daughter and spin her around.

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