Read Online Twelve Days in December: A Christmas Novella by Michele Paige Holmes - Free Book Online

how Alec and I fared. I was carrying another baby but lost it in the two weeks after Matthew’s death. After that I took Alec and returned to my previous employer. Without Matthew to help, and in my own, weakened condition, I couldn’t make enough for room and board for Alec and me, let alone anything else we needed. I didn’t know how we were going to get through the winter. When your carriage arrived, it seemed an answer to my desperate prayer.”
    “I remember making that decision,” William said. “It happened at the oddest of times. I was at work, in the middle of writing up a contract for a new client, when the idea came that I should send for Marsali’s sister. And so I stopped what I was doing and did so right then.”
    “Thank heaven,” they both said at once, echoing the other’s thoughts. Charlotte found that she could laugh, and the corner of William’s eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.
    “How old are you?” he asked when her mirth had fled.
    “Twenty-four. And you?”
    “Ten years your senior,” he said soberly. “Yet your hardships have no doubt made you wiser than I.”
    “I am not certain ‘wise’ is the right word.” She lay her head back against the sofa and was not entirely surprised to find William’s arm behind her.
    “They have made you gentle, then,” William said. “Grateful. Cautious.”
    He was correct on all counts, though she did not tell him so. She had known what it was to lose the man you loved, and so she had felt empathy for Marsali and treated her gently, as she had wished to be treated— and had not been— following Matthew’s death.
    And I am grateful to be here, to be warm and safe, to have food enough for Alec .
    And cautious— who wouldn’t be? Charlotte didn’t know if she could ever live through pain as she’d felt last summer again. Keeping William at arm’s length, not allowing herself to become too attached to him, was definitely the safer route.
    And then there was guilt. She felt it constantly. Matthew had suffered and died from trying to provide for her. And she had repaid him by marrying another.
    William’s fingers brushed her shoulders, and Charlotte straightened quickly, scooting to the edge of the settee, though a part of her would have liked nothing more than to escape into the comfort of his arm around her.
    A long, awkward minute passed in silence.
    At length William spoke. “I will do my best to care for you as Matthew would have.”
    “Thank you,” Charlotte murmured, not daring to say more. He was already caring for her too much, and would she but allow it, she feared William might do just as he said, caring for her as Matthew, and completely obscuring her memory of him in the process.

December 25
     
    William withdrew his pocket watch from his vest and glanced at it again. “Alec has been riding that horse for twenty-two minutes.”
    “I do believe you have hired your first nanny, one that will be quite good at keeping Alec occupied for great lengths of time.” Charlotte sat on the floor beside Alec as he rocked, though she had quickly realized he had full command of the rocking horse and there was little cause for concern. At least with regard to injury. She feared a tantrum when she removed him from the toy at naptime.
    “At this length he shall be five years old before we get to unwrapping the parcel with the blocks.” William’s tone was good natured as he tucked away his watch.
    “He is obviously delighted with it,” Charlotte said. “You have given him the perfect gift.”
    “Let us hope I am as successful with yours.” William crossed the room to stand closer to them.
    Guilt— for all he had done and was doing for her— rushed to the forefront of her mind. “You have already bought me gowns and hats and shoes and a new cloak this week.” Charlotte looked up at him. “Please do not get me anything else. I feel badly enough that I am unable to give you even a simple gift.”
    William leaned close to her, one