Read Online Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay by Christina Courtenay - Free Book Online Page A

distance, so you can contact me at any time if necessary.’
    Amelia was taken aback. ‘I see,’ she said calmly, although inwardly she wanted to rail at him. They had made a bargain, that much was true, but surely it would be better for them to live together if they wanted to get used to it? She said nothing, however, merely asked if she would be in charge of the household while he was gone.
    ‘ Yes, of course, and you may do as you please. This is your home now, and if you wish to make any changes, you are free to do so, within reason of course. I leave it entirely up to you and should you need funds for anything, just send a groom over to me with a note. I think you will find that the shopkeepers in these parts will be only too happy to extend you credit and send their bills to me.’
    ‘Very well. Thank you.’ Amelia didn’t know what else to say, so she folded her hands in her lap and waited.
    ‘There is one more thing,’ James said. ‘I have asked the children’s nanny to bring them down here to be introduced to you. Perhaps you can oblige me by becoming acquainted with them while I am away?’
    As he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door and upon his ‘Enter’, a rather sour-faced woman in her early thirties came in with two little girls in tow.
    ‘Ah, there you are Miss Downes, children. Amelia, allow me to present my daughters Mathilde, who is six, and Chloe, who is four. This is their nanny, Miss Downes. Girls, this is your new step-mama, my wife. Please come and make your curtseys.’ He sounded stern and Amelia was just beginning to wonder what sort of man she had married, when he added with a smile, ‘And then you may come and give your papa a kiss.’
    The little girls obediently curtseyed to Amelia, under the watchful eye of the nanny, but only the older one said, ‘Pleased to meet you, ma’am.’ She was a sturdy, bright-looking child, with straight corn-coloured hair and eyes exactly the same shade of arctic blue as her father’s. She seemed curious, but not unfriendly, so Amelia smiled at her.
    ‘ I’m very pleased to meet you too. I have heard so much about you. Perhaps later on we can have a little chat and you can tell me more about my new home?’ She turned to the other little girl, who was completely different from the older one. A tiny thing with dark curls and huge grey eyes in an elfin face, she looked both scared and wary at the same time. Amelia smiled encouragingly at her to try and put her at ease, but she could see that it would probably take time to win her trust. She decided to take things slowly so as not to frighten her.
    Duty done, the girls ran to their father and gave him a hug and a kiss each. He managed to lift them both up at the same time and sat down o n a sofa with them on his lap. The nanny, meanwhile, was still looking dour, and as soon as James had finished chatting to the girls, she whisked them out of the room saying it was time for their tea.
    Amelia rose to go too, but James halted her with the words, ‘Wait, what did you think of your new daughters?’
    ‘ I think they are delightful and I’m sure we shall deal very well together. Mathilde seems very confident and mature for her age and I think that if I give Chloe some time to get used to me, she will overcome her shyness.’
    ‘Good,’ he said in a softer tone than the one he had used earlier. ‘I am aware that being a step-mother is not always easy and I shan’t expect miracles, you know. I’ll be happy if you just do your best.’
    ‘ Of course I will, I told you I like children.’ Amelia hesitated. ‘There was one thing though …’
    ‘ Yes?’
    ‘ The nanny, has she been with them long? I mean, it’s probably not my place to say so, but she looked a trifle severe to me.’
    ‘ I suppose you may be right, but nannies have to be a bit severe, don’t they? I know mine always were. Discipline is necessary for children, don’t you think? But you may do as you see fit – if