Read Online Jane and Bingley (Countdown to Christmas Book 8) by Jenni James - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jenni James
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Jane’s call, not his. He didn’t like the idea of waiting, but if that’s what Jane needed, then he’d buck up and do it.
The next morning, he collected his basket of eight different locally crafted artisan milk soaps and lotions and set them in a bag outside her door with a note. He wished he could knock and see her—he missed that pretty smile. He hesitated, but Grammy’s words began to ring through his head, and common sense prevailed. Charles was amazed at how lonely his heart could feel in the past two days without her. Why was it that it took him doing something stupid before he realized how much in love with Jane he actually was?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nine Ladies Dancing
On the ninth day of Christmas, Jane opened her door for a brisk walk around the complex and found an invitation to a masquerade charity ball for that night. The beautiful silver calligraphy made her burst into tears all over again. A ball! Her whole life, she’d wanted to be invited to a ball, and now she was. And . . . and it was for that night. All at once she felt like Cinderella, not allowed to go, except the only one stopping her from going was herself.
For the first time in a couple of days, her heart began to crack, and the tiniest sliver of warmth returned.
She was the one who couldn’t forgive Charles for thinking she was only after his money and didn’t love him. She was the one who was making her own life miserable—and most likely his too. Clearly, he was still thinking of her—bringing her the gifts of Christmas even though she was being stubborn.
But she was right, wasn’t she? She should stand her ground, right? Where was Eliza when she needed her most?
Jane walked back into the apartment and shut the door, and as she placed the stunning invite into the envelope again, she noticed Charles’s hurried note on the back.
Jane,
I’ll be there. Please come. It would mean the world to me. However, if you choose not to, I understand. And know that whatever is going on, I’m thinking of you…
Love,
Charles
Love.
Could a man love her and still think she was a gold digger? No. He couldn’t, could he?
She plopped down on the couch and then sat back up again. Wait a minute. Didn’t he already have a change of heart? He clearly didn’t think she was only after his money or he wouldn’t be here. The man was attempting to fix everything. But if she kept treating this as if they were stuck in the past, she’d never see what was really happening now. She was more caught up in her own embarrassed pride than anything else.
This really was just about her own forgiveness toward a man who thought the worst of her, but had since changed.
And then the reality hit once more and her heart grew just that bit warmer.
Everything was hinging on Jane. It was all weighing on her attitude and forgiveness.
The true question wasn’t whether or not she was willing to go to her first ball with him. The real question was, was she willing to forgive and overlook his stupidity? He saw her. He cared about her. And to keep being so stubborn, refusing to see him instead of allowing him to explain himself, was only hurting her more.
Why not speak with him? Why not allow her heart to soften enough to ask him what he was thinking?
But then a sharp pain pricked her heart as the memory of Eliza’s letter came back in full force. Jane tried to push the sadness back out, but it was pretty hopeless. The letter still stung.
Okay. Maybe she wasn’t willing to talk about it yet. However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t talk about it tomorrow. If she had time to prepare herself.
Jane walked into her closet and pulled out the dress Eliza had given her. It worked for the dinner, but it would be perfect for the ball too. Even though he’d already seen her in it, it really didn’t matter—what mattered would be that she came.
But would she? Did she dare?
She glanced around the room and found the purple-and-black lace mask she’d
The next morning, he collected his basket of eight different locally crafted artisan milk soaps and lotions and set them in a bag outside her door with a note. He wished he could knock and see her—he missed that pretty smile. He hesitated, but Grammy’s words began to ring through his head, and common sense prevailed. Charles was amazed at how lonely his heart could feel in the past two days without her. Why was it that it took him doing something stupid before he realized how much in love with Jane he actually was?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nine Ladies Dancing
On the ninth day of Christmas, Jane opened her door for a brisk walk around the complex and found an invitation to a masquerade charity ball for that night. The beautiful silver calligraphy made her burst into tears all over again. A ball! Her whole life, she’d wanted to be invited to a ball, and now she was. And . . . and it was for that night. All at once she felt like Cinderella, not allowed to go, except the only one stopping her from going was herself.
For the first time in a couple of days, her heart began to crack, and the tiniest sliver of warmth returned.
She was the one who couldn’t forgive Charles for thinking she was only after his money and didn’t love him. She was the one who was making her own life miserable—and most likely his too. Clearly, he was still thinking of her—bringing her the gifts of Christmas even though she was being stubborn.
But she was right, wasn’t she? She should stand her ground, right? Where was Eliza when she needed her most?
Jane walked back into the apartment and shut the door, and as she placed the stunning invite into the envelope again, she noticed Charles’s hurried note on the back.
Jane,
I’ll be there. Please come. It would mean the world to me. However, if you choose not to, I understand. And know that whatever is going on, I’m thinking of you…
Love,
Charles
Love.
Could a man love her and still think she was a gold digger? No. He couldn’t, could he?
She plopped down on the couch and then sat back up again. Wait a minute. Didn’t he already have a change of heart? He clearly didn’t think she was only after his money or he wouldn’t be here. The man was attempting to fix everything. But if she kept treating this as if they were stuck in the past, she’d never see what was really happening now. She was more caught up in her own embarrassed pride than anything else.
This really was just about her own forgiveness toward a man who thought the worst of her, but had since changed.
And then the reality hit once more and her heart grew just that bit warmer.
Everything was hinging on Jane. It was all weighing on her attitude and forgiveness.
The true question wasn’t whether or not she was willing to go to her first ball with him. The real question was, was she willing to forgive and overlook his stupidity? He saw her. He cared about her. And to keep being so stubborn, refusing to see him instead of allowing him to explain himself, was only hurting her more.
Why not speak with him? Why not allow her heart to soften enough to ask him what he was thinking?
But then a sharp pain pricked her heart as the memory of Eliza’s letter came back in full force. Jane tried to push the sadness back out, but it was pretty hopeless. The letter still stung.
Okay. Maybe she wasn’t willing to talk about it yet. However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t talk about it tomorrow. If she had time to prepare herself.
Jane walked into her closet and pulled out the dress Eliza had given her. It worked for the dinner, but it would be perfect for the ball too. Even though he’d already seen her in it, it really didn’t matter—what mattered would be that she came.
But would she? Did she dare?
She glanced around the room and found the purple-and-black lace mask she’d
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