Read Online A Bride for Christmas (Sweet Regency Novella) by Aileen Fish - Free Book Online
Authors: Aileen Fish
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that is your plan then? To marry Lady Julianna?"
" If she will have me. I intend to make her the best of husbands."
" I won't question how you can be so certain in so short a time. You always made your choices with little deliberation and were pleased with the outcome."
Nash chuckled. "There was many a night I lay on damp blankets in a wet fog listening to the moans of injured comrades where I would have argued that point. But I never questioned the battlefield was where I belonged."
Geoff slapped him on the back as they resumed walking up the path away from the stables. "There will be times in your marriage you'll feel the same."
Chapter Eight
The entire household had been in a flurry with last minute preparations on the morning of Twelfth Night. Lady Renford might be an elegant hostess, but only after much excitement and direction so that every detail was performed to her exact demand. Hoping to escape the chaos, Julianna slipped quietly up the back stairs to find her niece.
She knew from the behavior of the older children that something special was afoot, but the twins ran out of the nursery before she could ask. The governess was trying to herd all the children before taking them down to the parlor where the festivities were being held.
Little Julie rushed to give her a hug. She wore a pristine white gown slightly too large for her small frame, and had a wreath of ribbons and dried flowers pinned atop her flowing golden curls. Julianna toyed with the dangling end of a ribbon. "You look so pretty!"
" I'm a princess," she answered with a slight lisp.
" Are you participating in the charades today?"
The little girl nodded. At that moment, the governess called the child to join the others, and she steered them out into the hall.
With nothing else to do but join them, Julianna took up the rear of the line of marching children and followed them into the parlor. The arriving neighbors mingled about, adding even more children running about and increasing the hubbub. It was a happy noise, she realized. More laughter than words of cheer.
Working her way through the visitors, she found Clemmie and Evie calming Lady Renford. "All is ready, Mama," Evie said, patting her mother's shoulder. "Marianne has the Twelfth Night cards in a bowl and will let them be drawn after the children's entertainment."
" And Cook has the King's Cakes on platters to be brought up after the rest of the foods. It will be a wonderful evening, Lady Renford." Clemmie smiled at her sister as she led her mother-in-law to a chair.
" Nash has the children ready to perform as soon as we are able to quiet the guests," Evie added. "You rest now, we'll see to everything."
They walked away from the older woman and Clemmie pointed. "Evie, you see that the older guests have chairs to sit in. Julianna, please guide all the children to sit in this area, and their parents can have the benches."
Between the three young ladies, they brought the crowd under control, or to a hushed murmur, which continued until Nash walked out onto the area marked as the stage. He was so regal with his proud military stance, in his dark green coat and wheat-colored waistcoat. The audience grew quiet in anticipation.
" Welcome everyone. Before the dancing begins, we have some entertainments for you to enjoy. First, my cousins Lady Beatrice and Lady Cassandra will perform a medley of Irish tunes." He bowed and exited as the two young ladies, neither of whom could be sixteen yet, sat at the pianoforte. The music was quite pleasant, their voices well suited to the lilting songs. Next, another cousin played Beethoven on his violin, although Julianna couldn't have named the piece upon hearing it. Still, it was an earnest effort and the audience clapped appreciatively.
Nash reappeared and introduced the next act. "We have for you an original charade featuring my nephews, The Earl of Claredon and Lord Frank Whitmore, and my niece, Lady Julie Sinclair."
Julie was led onto the
" If she will have me. I intend to make her the best of husbands."
" I won't question how you can be so certain in so short a time. You always made your choices with little deliberation and were pleased with the outcome."
Nash chuckled. "There was many a night I lay on damp blankets in a wet fog listening to the moans of injured comrades where I would have argued that point. But I never questioned the battlefield was where I belonged."
Geoff slapped him on the back as they resumed walking up the path away from the stables. "There will be times in your marriage you'll feel the same."
Chapter Eight
The entire household had been in a flurry with last minute preparations on the morning of Twelfth Night. Lady Renford might be an elegant hostess, but only after much excitement and direction so that every detail was performed to her exact demand. Hoping to escape the chaos, Julianna slipped quietly up the back stairs to find her niece.
She knew from the behavior of the older children that something special was afoot, but the twins ran out of the nursery before she could ask. The governess was trying to herd all the children before taking them down to the parlor where the festivities were being held.
Little Julie rushed to give her a hug. She wore a pristine white gown slightly too large for her small frame, and had a wreath of ribbons and dried flowers pinned atop her flowing golden curls. Julianna toyed with the dangling end of a ribbon. "You look so pretty!"
" I'm a princess," she answered with a slight lisp.
" Are you participating in the charades today?"
The little girl nodded. At that moment, the governess called the child to join the others, and she steered them out into the hall.
With nothing else to do but join them, Julianna took up the rear of the line of marching children and followed them into the parlor. The arriving neighbors mingled about, adding even more children running about and increasing the hubbub. It was a happy noise, she realized. More laughter than words of cheer.
Working her way through the visitors, she found Clemmie and Evie calming Lady Renford. "All is ready, Mama," Evie said, patting her mother's shoulder. "Marianne has the Twelfth Night cards in a bowl and will let them be drawn after the children's entertainment."
" And Cook has the King's Cakes on platters to be brought up after the rest of the foods. It will be a wonderful evening, Lady Renford." Clemmie smiled at her sister as she led her mother-in-law to a chair.
" Nash has the children ready to perform as soon as we are able to quiet the guests," Evie added. "You rest now, we'll see to everything."
They walked away from the older woman and Clemmie pointed. "Evie, you see that the older guests have chairs to sit in. Julianna, please guide all the children to sit in this area, and their parents can have the benches."
Between the three young ladies, they brought the crowd under control, or to a hushed murmur, which continued until Nash walked out onto the area marked as the stage. He was so regal with his proud military stance, in his dark green coat and wheat-colored waistcoat. The audience grew quiet in anticipation.
" Welcome everyone. Before the dancing begins, we have some entertainments for you to enjoy. First, my cousins Lady Beatrice and Lady Cassandra will perform a medley of Irish tunes." He bowed and exited as the two young ladies, neither of whom could be sixteen yet, sat at the pianoforte. The music was quite pleasant, their voices well suited to the lilting songs. Next, another cousin played Beethoven on his violin, although Julianna couldn't have named the piece upon hearing it. Still, it was an earnest effort and the audience clapped appreciatively.
Nash reappeared and introduced the next act. "We have for you an original charade featuring my nephews, The Earl of Claredon and Lord Frank Whitmore, and my niece, Lady Julie Sinclair."
Julie was led onto the
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