The Widow's Christmas Surprise by Jenna Jaxon

Author:Jenna Jaxon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

When Maria and Jane came down to breakfast early one morning several days later, Maria was surprised to find the room unusually full. She and Jane almost always breakfasted alone. Lady Kersey was wont to have a tray in her room, her husband broke his fast very early, and their two sons apparently did not eat breakfast, or ate much later in the morning, for they were never in evidence. Today, however, all the family were gathered around the table, with the startling addition of Mr. Ganger and his sister.

Heat raced into Maria’s cheeks. She had not seen Mr. Granger for almost a week. Ever since their tea the previous Sunday, Jane had watched her like a hungry hawk circling a field mouse. Therefore, Maria had had no chance to seek out Mr. Granger, to talk about his declaration and assure him of her interest as well. Now her mouth was so dry she probably couldn’t speak a word if she got the opportunity.

An insistent nudging in her back turned out to be Jane pushing her to continue into the breakfast chamber.

“Good morning, all.” Jane breezed by her, making for the nearest place, next to Lady Kersey and Miss Granger.

“Good morning, everyone.” Putting on a bright smile, Maria went forward, toward the one seat left—between Mr. Granger and Lord Wetherby

“Good morning, my dears.” Lord Kersey stopped eating his eggs to beam at her. “So splendid you are down at last.”

Murmuring a polite “good morning” to the men on either side of her, Maria slid into her seat and took up her napkin with shaking hands. This assembly had been the last thing she’d expected when she’d come down this morning. Her place between the two gentlemen both a dream and a nightmare.

Lord Wetherby glanced down at her, a knowing smile on his face. He’d tried to get her alone several times during the week, but Jane’s almost constant presence had deterred his success. Now he exuded a confidence that gave Maria cause to dread the meal.

On her right, Mr. Granger ate sausages and ham while conversing with his sister. He turned to greet her, smiled briefly, then went back to his other partner.

A footman placed a plate before her and she swallowed hard. Given her current situation, food would likely choke her. Slowly she adjusted her napkin in her lap, lifted her cup of tea and stirred it.

“Did you forget something, Cousin Maria?”

She jumped at Lord Wetherby’s silky voice so close to her ear. “Forget what, my lord?”

“The sugar.” He nodded to her still stirring hand, although she’d not put either milk or sugar into the cup yet.

“I suppose I did not. Thank you,” she added as he handed her the sugar basin. His finger brushed hers in the process and she gasped at the contact of his bare skin on hers. Hastily she fished out the smallest lump she could find and dropped it in her cup.

“Milk as well?” His eyebrow rose, likely in anticipation of another touch of her hand.

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.