Read Online Christmas By Candlelight: Two Regency Holiday Novellas by Andrea Pickens - Free Book Online Page B

flutter of papers, out fell a filigree penknife, a small book whose marbled cover had seen better days and a Spanish gold coin.
    “This is from a tiny artisan’s shop in Lisbon,” he mused, fingering the silver blade of the knife. “And the coin—well, after escaping the French patrol, I considered it a lucky charm.”
    “And the book?” she asked.
    “Dante’s sonnets. Italian is a lovely language.” He opened it and angled the page to the fire. “Here, I shall read one aloud.”
    The words were like warm honey. Anna closed her eyes, savoring the sweetness of his voice.
    “How beautiful,” she whispered, when he was done.
    A rustle of wool, and suddenly the book was in her lap, along with the knife and the coin.
    “Merry Christmas, Anna,” said Nicolas softly.
    Her lashes flew open. “Oh, I couldn’t—”
    “The gift of friendship is what Christmas is all about.” His fingers twined with hers. “As is sharing. And caring.”
    “And wishing good will to all men,” she added.
    He chuckled. “A sentiment you did not hold dear when first we met. With good reason I might add. Though I hope we are now. . . friends.”
    “I-I have come to think of you as that,” said Anna.
    Nicholas snuggled her a bit closer. “I have read you poetry, now won’t you sing me one of the carols your mother played on this eve?”
    Shrew drew in a deep breath. “S-Silent night, holy night. . .” At first the words were hardly more than a zephyr of breath, but they grew stronger as he added a bass note to her clear soprano.
    “I should like to hear one in Russian,” he encouraged, when they had finished.
    “Now it is your turn,” she said, once the lilting melody died away.
    “Hmmm.” He rubbed at his chin. “How about God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in Dutch?”
    When Anna was done giggling at his off-key rendition, she had her own exotic suggestion. “Would you care to hear Good King Wenceslas in Polish?”
    The winter night was long, but the hours passed quickly as they filled them with songs in a gaggle of other languages. Shared laughter filled the gaps of missing words or melodies. Anna did not quite realize how quickly until Nicholas pulled out his pocket watch and thumbed open its case.
    “Good Lord, it is a few minutes past midnight! This calls for a holiday toast.” He found the flask of brandy in his bag and passed it to her with a wink. “We must keep the body as well as the spirit warm.”
    Anna did not need strong drink to feel a delicious heat curl down to her toes. Still, she took a small swallow. And shivered as fire filled her mouth.
    Would a kiss from Nicholas taste. . .
    Handing it back, she scrabbled to her feet. “Let us go outside for a moment. I-Ishould like to see if I can spot the Christmas star.”
    Overhead, the sky was a canopy of black velvetalight with the infinite sparkle of hope. “I wished ona star the night of the storm,” she said, as Nicholas cameup behind her.
    “Make another wish,” he murmured.
    She bit at her lip. It was cold. “You aren’t supposedto say such dreams aloud. Else they won’t come true.”
    He nodded solemnly. “Then how about this—let us both make a wish, and keepit secret.”
    Silence stretched for several moments. Drawing in a deep breath, Anna spun around and kissed hischeek. “May all your wishes come true, Nicholas,” shewhispered, then turned and hurried back to the abbey.
    But not before slanting a last, longing look at acertain point of light that seemed to twinkle just a bitbrighter than all the others.

    * * *
    A nna awoke to early morning sunlight filtering in through the crumbling stone. She smiled as its pale warmth suffused her face, recalling a memorable night.
    “Good morning, Nicholas. Now we can truly say Merry Christmas,” she called softly.
    Hearing no answer, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and turned to the fire. The coals, rekindled at some point during the night, crackled with a cheery red glow, but the rumpled blanket