Once Upon a Regency Christmas by Louise Allen & Sophia James & Annie Burrows

Author:Louise Allen & Sophia James & Annie Burrows
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-11-01T00:00:22.078176+00:00

Chapter Five

She had not seen William Miller since yesterday for he had taken a horse and gone back to London early on the morning after their kiss.

To run, she thought, or to hide, though Lucien was adamant that it was on his bidding he had left to undertake an important errand for him in the city.

Christine was to return alone in the afternoon, Lucien and Alejandra staying on for a day or two with their two small sons. ‘To finish the decorating,’ Alejandra had told her, ‘so that it will all be done for Christmas when you come back again.’

Two sturdy male servants were to accompany her and her maid on the carriage box for the homeward journey as Lucien was taking no chances with her safety.

‘Tell Mr Miller I will see him on Wednesday and make certain that you give him this.’ Withdrawing a letter sealed in wax, he gave it over to her. ‘I like him, Christine. I think he is a good man. Be kind to him.’

Astonished, she simply nodded. Lucien seldom offered his opinions on such matters and to do so now and like this was unprecedented.

‘If you would enjoy for him to come at Christmas, I am sure he will want a family meal, Christine.’ Alejandra squeezed her arm with a sort of cheering joviality, her dark eyes smiling, the two small children around her feet.

Sometimes Christine thought her family caught the gist of things before she was able to. Hugging them both she made her way to the carriage and was glad as the horses were spurred on and she could simply lean back against the leather seat and think.

She would confront William Miller the moment she arrived home. She would demand some answers and find out what he meant by the kiss and also by his absence. Had he developed cold feet? Did he regret their closeness? Was he laughing at her even now, a woman who had divulged her secrets and then shown him directly that she wanted more of him?

Had she no shame? Was he at this moment packing his haversack and heading for the harbour? Her eyes went to the missive Lucien had directed her to give him. What was in that? she wondered. Her brother had impressed on her the importance of staying at home until he returned. He had made her promise that if it was imperative she attend to some business then she was to take Mr Miller with her. At all times.

Mr Miller. All her thoughts invariably came back to him and she was impatient to reach the Ross town house just to make certain that he was still there in the plain downstairs room of the garden wing.

* * *

He had gone, she thought five hours later, though his belongings still lay in a neat and tidy pile, the slouchy hat laid across the top of it.

Gone, but not left. She let out a sigh of relief and went in to ask the housekeeper of his movements.

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