Christmas Secrets by Pam Binder

Author:Pam Binder [Binder, Pam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027070 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Regency
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2024-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Elizabeth could not imagine a better reunion. The moment she entered Glen Castle, she was directed into the drawing room, where tea and small cakes were being served. Two of the new Ladies in Waiting, who introduced themselves as Miss Turnby and Miss Waverly, hurried over to meet the children, Miss Turnby asking if she could hold Jane, and Miss Waverly asking if it was okay for Jonathan to have cake.

With a nod to both and feeling relaxed for the first time in days, she smiled as Jane and Jonathan were fussed over as though they were royalty.

Margerie stood from her chair and swept Elizabeth in her arms. “You have arrived. I despaired that you would never come.” She bent to tousle Jonathan’s curls. “Elizabeth, who is this handsome lad? No, let me guess. This is Jonathan, Dr. Westerly’s son. They have the same eyes.”

Elizabeth laughed, taking Jonathan’s hand. “They do indeed. It is good to be back. I have missed this drafty old place.”

“Drafty?” Lady Tinsworthy said, holding out her hands toward Elizabeth as she approached. “How can you call this grand old lady drafty? She is a marvel.”

“She is indeed,” Mr. Fitzwilliam said, smiling, as he appeared from the hallway.

Lady Tinsworthy used her fan to swat the butler on the arm. “You are impudent. Remind me why I have not fired you today?”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “The day is young, and you anticipate that I will yet prove myself indispensable.”

Elizabeth took Margerie’s arm and drew her to the side. “What is transpiring between these two since I left? They behave like young lovers.”

“It happened soon after I gave birth to Charles. One of the chambermaids caught them in her ladyship’s rooms. They were chasing each other around the room with a feather and they were both stark naked.”

“Chasing each other? With a feather?”

Margerie nodded. “I know. Who knew either one of them could run?”

Elizabeth laughed so hard she snorted, then laughed again. “Did the maid say what they were doing with the feathers?”

Margerie grimaced. “No one wanted to ask. But ever since they were discovered they have been like you see them now. Inseparable and as giddy as two schoolchildren. We guess they have figured since everyone knew they were lovers it no longer mattered that they keep it a secret.”

Elizabeth lowered her voice. “Quick, before anyone else joins us. Do you know anything about Dr. Westerly’s brother, the Earl of Willowdown? Is it true that he has tried to hire most of Lady Tinsworthy’s servants?”

“All true,” Margerie said as she drew Elizabeth beside a corner window. “Lady Tinsworthy asked me to invite a Mrs. Scotchwich for tea in the village. She had been working here at Glen Castle for only a short while when she received the offer to work for the earl. She has a small child and was happy about the increased salary. But she said that Sedgwick House was not a happy place to work. The earl is drunk most of the time, and even when he is not visibly in his cups, he is morose.

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