Blessings and the Thief: A Spirited Regency Christmas novella by Elaine Violette

Author:Elaine Violette [Violette, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: EV's Books
Published: 2016-11-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

The next morning, all the guests were dressed and ready to board the waiting coaches by nine thirty, for the vicar’s parish. The innkeeper and much of his staff would also attend. The quaint church was only a short distance away, so the entire party was settled in the pews by ten to await the sermon.

Tess sat by her aunt and uncle, crutches by her side while Damien took a seat across the aisle. Members of the parish, wealthy land owners, servants, and those of humble means, were in attendance to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

Damien hadn’t attended a church service since his mother’s funeral and had seldom attended before that. This Christmas morning, he found himself moved not only by the choir, whose voices filled the small church, but by Atkins’s uplifting sermon that followed.

How his world had changed in a mere three days. His feelings toward the future had transformed from dreary expectations to intriguing possibilities. When the vicar offered a final prayer of thanksgiving, he joined the congregation in singing a joy-filled hymn. He didn’t notice Tess looking his way, a smile forming on her lips as she listened to his grand voice rising above others.

When the service was concluded, Atkins walked up the aisle, shaking the hands of members and wishing them a happy Christmas. The members did the same as they filed out of the church. Damien was at Tess’s side, insisting that she lean on him rather than a crutch. She obliged, not wanting to cause a fuss. Once she was settled in one of the inn’s coaches along with her aunt and uncle, Damien boarded Gregory’s waiting coach.

When everyone returned to the inn, Damien was on hand to carry Tess inside. Despite her discouragement to his constant attention, he carried her through the hall to the breakfast room with one motive in mind, to walk under the mistletoe. He paused and planted a kiss on her soft, pliant lips before reaching up to pull off another berry.

“I seem to have become your captive,” Tess murmured.

“And a lovely captive you are, a golden beauty.” His eyes roamed over her elegant holiday dress, gold velvet with a matching tunic trimmed in velvet and ivory lace.

Tess lowered her lashes unable to hide her blush. She couldn’t deny her attraction, but she remained cautious. His strong arms held her too securely, his eyes watched her reaction too closely, and his breath mingled with her own caused other feelings to emerge. With his lips only inches from hers, she was at a loss for a reply.

While seated at the service, she’d secretly admired the superb fit of his double-breasted, claret waistcoat of superfine wool and his crisp, cream-colored cravat. She’d reprimanded herself at her negligent attention to the sermon and tried to block out her inappropriate thoughts. The man was cutting through her defenses and worse, she was feeling more than admiration.

William had swept her off her feet and she’d thought it was love. She’d

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