Read Online A Christmas Affair by Joan Overfield - Free Book Online
Authors: Joan Overfield
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that he had never once been caught listening at keyholes. She closed the door quietly behind her, Linsley’s acuity forgotten as she resumed her seat. What was she going to do?
It was the middle of December, and if Aunt Elizabeth adhered to her promise to return at the end of January, that left her less than seven weeks to find a new home for her family. She’d contact the solicitor at once, of course. She’d sent him a note inviting him to Daniel’s memorial service, so he already knew the worst.
Perhaps he might know of some house she might hire, she thought hopefully. It needn’t be anything grand, just clean and sturdy, with enough room for the children and perhaps a few of the servants as well. She doubted any of them would wish to remain in her aunt’s employ, even if the old harridan would have them. And perhaps they might even arrange to sell the horses and ancient carriage sitting in the stables. They’d belonged to her stepfather and so were not entailed with the house.
Then there was the money Daniel had given them. One hundred pounds, if spent judiciously, could last months, longer even, if she practiced every economy. The thought spurred her on, and she grabbed a piece of paper, adding figures in a desperate attempt to solve her family’s current dilemma. But no matter how often she added them, or how many items she subtracted as unnecessary, the result was always the same. Two hundred and fifty pounds per anum was simply not enough to keep so large a family in anything approaching style.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared down at thelast column of figures. Stephen would be arriving home tomorrow; how was she to tell him there was no money for him to return to his beloved school? Thank heavens Christmas was so close. School would be closed for the holiday and she could. . . .
Christmas. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. What was she going to do about Christmas? Naturally with Daniel’s death they wouldn’t entertain as lavishly as they usually did, but the children, especially the younger ones, would still be expecting the usual trimmings. Presents, a fine dinner, and the
tannenbaum
that was part of the family tradition. How could she deny her family these things?
Suddenly Amelia knew that she could not. This could well be their last holiday as a family, and she was determined it would be the best they had ever known. She thought of the one hundred pounds that was Daniel’s last gift to his family, and a slow smile spread across her face. Foolish or not, she knew what she was going to do.
Chapter Four
“Shhh! You’ll wake him!”
“Will not, you old bossy! I just want to look at him.”
The quarrelsome voices edged into the thick mists filling Justin’s head, drawing him slowly out of the darkness. The speakers were young, male, and he was vaguely aware that he knew them. He frowned, trying to think of any drummer boy or powder monkey in his regiment daring enough to slip into his tent. Most of them seemed terrified of him, although God only knew why; he’d never spoken so much as a cross word to one of them. Before he could puzzle the matter any further, the voices drew closer and increasingly strident.
“Stop pushing! You almost made me spill it.”
“I’m telling Mandy! You know she said we wasn’t to come in here.”
“Well, since you’re in here with me, you’ll be in just as much trouble, so you’d best keep your tongue between your teeth. Now, you hold his nose and I’ll stick the spoon in his mouth.”
Seconds later Justin felt his nose being tentatively pinched, and then a spoon was thrust between his lips. At the sharp bite of raw spirits in his throat, he gave a choking gasp, sputtering indignantly as his eyes flew open to focus on the two wide-eyed youngsters standing beside his bed.
At first he thought he was seeing double, for the two were virtually mirror images of each other. He blinked his eyes to clear his vision, but both boys
It was the middle of December, and if Aunt Elizabeth adhered to her promise to return at the end of January, that left her less than seven weeks to find a new home for her family. She’d contact the solicitor at once, of course. She’d sent him a note inviting him to Daniel’s memorial service, so he already knew the worst.
Perhaps he might know of some house she might hire, she thought hopefully. It needn’t be anything grand, just clean and sturdy, with enough room for the children and perhaps a few of the servants as well. She doubted any of them would wish to remain in her aunt’s employ, even if the old harridan would have them. And perhaps they might even arrange to sell the horses and ancient carriage sitting in the stables. They’d belonged to her stepfather and so were not entailed with the house.
Then there was the money Daniel had given them. One hundred pounds, if spent judiciously, could last months, longer even, if she practiced every economy. The thought spurred her on, and she grabbed a piece of paper, adding figures in a desperate attempt to solve her family’s current dilemma. But no matter how often she added them, or how many items she subtracted as unnecessary, the result was always the same. Two hundred and fifty pounds per anum was simply not enough to keep so large a family in anything approaching style.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared down at thelast column of figures. Stephen would be arriving home tomorrow; how was she to tell him there was no money for him to return to his beloved school? Thank heavens Christmas was so close. School would be closed for the holiday and she could. . . .
Christmas. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. What was she going to do about Christmas? Naturally with Daniel’s death they wouldn’t entertain as lavishly as they usually did, but the children, especially the younger ones, would still be expecting the usual trimmings. Presents, a fine dinner, and the
tannenbaum
that was part of the family tradition. How could she deny her family these things?
Suddenly Amelia knew that she could not. This could well be their last holiday as a family, and she was determined it would be the best they had ever known. She thought of the one hundred pounds that was Daniel’s last gift to his family, and a slow smile spread across her face. Foolish or not, she knew what she was going to do.
Chapter Four
“Shhh! You’ll wake him!”
“Will not, you old bossy! I just want to look at him.”
The quarrelsome voices edged into the thick mists filling Justin’s head, drawing him slowly out of the darkness. The speakers were young, male, and he was vaguely aware that he knew them. He frowned, trying to think of any drummer boy or powder monkey in his regiment daring enough to slip into his tent. Most of them seemed terrified of him, although God only knew why; he’d never spoken so much as a cross word to one of them. Before he could puzzle the matter any further, the voices drew closer and increasingly strident.
“Stop pushing! You almost made me spill it.”
“I’m telling Mandy! You know she said we wasn’t to come in here.”
“Well, since you’re in here with me, you’ll be in just as much trouble, so you’d best keep your tongue between your teeth. Now, you hold his nose and I’ll stick the spoon in his mouth.”
Seconds later Justin felt his nose being tentatively pinched, and then a spoon was thrust between his lips. At the sharp bite of raw spirits in his throat, he gave a choking gasp, sputtering indignantly as his eyes flew open to focus on the two wide-eyed youngsters standing beside his bed.
At first he thought he was seeing double, for the two were virtually mirror images of each other. He blinked his eyes to clear his vision, but both boys
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