Chapter 1

One

L ady Gabriella St. Giles sat at her vanity and slid a brush through her long black locks until they were shiny and smooth. Now all she had to do was plait in and wrap it up into a knot above her neck. She could have her maid, Ruth, fix her hair, but she liked to be independent when she could manage it. This was one thing she could do for herself. Besides, she didn’t need anything fancy for a dinner at home with her parents. Her brother and sister were not even going to be in attendance. All that was left at home was her. Both of her siblings had married, and that left her all by herself.

Her parents loved her. She didn’t doubt that, but she couldn’t talk to them. Not like she could with her sister. Her closest friend, Clara Adams, understood that loss too. When Clara’s father died, she had gone with her mother to live at her grandfather’s estate. Her grandfather was the Viscount of Redcliffe. Clara’s sister, Juliet, had a different mother and hadn’t been so fortunate. She’d had to take work as a lady’s companion to survive. Clara hadn’t spoken to her sister since their father died, but she’d heard the rumors. Juliet would marry the notorious Duke of Sin soon and she would become the Duchess of Sinbrough. Clara had admitted she’d been envious of her sister, but she missed her more. Even though Juliet would be a duchess, Mrs. Adams still refused to allow Clara to visit her sister. The Duke of Sinbrough’s reputation made him unimpressive in Mrs. Adams estimation even with his lofty title.

Gabriella understood that. She missed her own sister, Genevieve, too, but she was now the Duchess of Argyle and had her own household to run. It was kind of ironic that both Clara’s sister and Gabriella’s had married a duke. That was just another thing they had in common.

She finished plaiting her hair and wound it into a knot, then secured it with hairpins. Satisfied with her ministrations, she stood and smoothed down her skirts. Gabriella was on a mission. After her visit with Clara earlier that day, she knew how she wanted to spend the Christmastide season. Lady Winston was having a house party, and she wanted to attend. Clara was already set to travel with her mother, Mrs. Adams, and invited her to attend with them.

Gabriella’s mother hated house parties, especially during the colder months. Mainly because she hated to travel. Not that she blamed her mother. As the Marchioness of Hollibrook, she shouldn’t be required to do anything she didn’t wish to do. But that didn’t mean that she should suffer because of it. Surely, her mother would understand why she wished to travel to Lady Winston’s home for the holiday season. Gabriella wanted to have a little fun and maybe try to find her own happiness.

She left her room and went in search of her mother. She found the marchioness in her favorite sitting room working on her needlepoint. Her mother slid her needle into the fabric and created a cross stitch that was both elegant and intricate in design. “Who is that for?” Gabriella asked.

“I’m not certain yet.” The marchioness glanced up and smiled at Gabriella. “One of my children should make me a grandmother soon, I would think. This will be for whatever baby is born first.”

Gabriella lifted a brow. “You have high expectations, don’t you? What if Genevieve or Everett decide to wait to bring a child into the world? Then what will you do with that piece of art?”

Her mother shrugged elegantly, like she did all things. “It’ll hold until it is needed. It’s not as if it’ll spoil while it waits for the intended recipient to be born.”

“That is true,” Gabriella said, then sat on the chair next to where her mother worked on her needlepoint. “Mother,” she began. “I wish to discuss Christmastide with you.”

Her mother glanced at her and lifted her brow. “Is that so?” She set the loom on a nearby table. “Go on. What is it you wish to discuss?”

Gabriella now had her mother’s full attention. She wasn’t certain that was an entirely good outcome. It might have been better if her mother had remained distracted as Gabriella spoke. “I’ve been invited to attend Lady Winston’s house party with Miss Clara Adams and her mother.”

The marchioness frowned. “I would rather you stay here with your family.” She tapped her finger on the arm of her chair. “And I don’t care for Mrs. Adams. I attended finishing school with her and she’s always been…” She stopped as if searching for the right word. “I suppose that doesn’t bear repeating. Suffice to say she’s not a pleasant woman.”

“I cannot disagree with you on that score,” Gabriella told her mother. “In my opinion, you’re offering a kindness where one isn’t deserved. She’s perfectly horrid to Clara.” And what kind of woman throws her stepdaughter on the streets with nothing to aid her? When she had learned what Millicent Adams had done to Juliet, she’d cringed, and poor Clara was stuck in the middle of it all. “However, I would still like to attend with them. Clara needs a friend when all she has is her mother to lean on.”

Her mother was silent for several seconds. “As much as I hate to admit this… I agree with you.” She slumped a little in her chair. Her mother never slumped. This couldn’t be good… “Clara needs a friend like you. I’ll allow you to go, but I’m not happy about this situation. I would much rather go with you, but your father’s been ill, and I don’t wish to leave him.”

“I didn’t think his illness was serious.” Alarm spiked through her at her mother’s concern.

“It isn’t,” her mother said. “But that doesn’t mean he should travel and make it worse. I’ll stay with him, and I’m going to trust you to act like a lady of your station. If a scandal of some sort arises out of this house party, your name best not be attached to it.”

Gabriella’s lips twitched as she fought a smile. “I promise not to elope to Scotland with the first rake that crosses my path. However, shall I resist…” She lifted her arm on to her forehead in a woe is me pose.

“There’s no need to be cheeky with me,” she said, but she smiled. “You know how you’re to present yourself. Be the lady you were raised to be.”

“I will, mother,” she promised. “Now I’m going to summon Ruth so she can pack my trunks, and I need to send a missive to Clara to inform her that I will be joining them.”

“I’ll miss you when you are gone,” her mother said. “I hope it will be a pleasant excursion.”

“Me too,” Gabriella said, then left her mother alone to do her needlepoint. She had a lot to do before her upcoming trip to the English countryside.

The carriage rolled across the road as smooth as one could on a road with the occasional hole in it. When a wheel bounced over one of those holes, it would toss Gabriella into the side with a hard thump. She was starting to regret her choice to travel with Clara and her mother to Lady Winston’s house party. Not because of the rough roads and frigid weather. That she could endure if needed. No, her issue had nothing to do with anything so mundane.

“Clara don’t slouch. Ladies do not slouch.” Mrs. Adams glared at her daughter.

Gabriella barely refrained from rolling her eyes. They were in a carriage on a long journey. Slouching was a necessity at times. How could Mrs. Adams expect her daughter to remain stiff and unmoving? Especially when they were bouncing around the carriage whenever they hit an unfortunate bump?

“I’m trying, mother,” Clara said in a frustrated tone. “It’s not as easy as you seem to believe.”

“You’re not trying hard enough,” Mrs. Adams chastised her. “I’m not having the same difficulty you are.”

Gabriella mashed her teeth together. How could a woman as rotten as Mrs. Adams be the mother of a girl as sweet as Clara? If she could have intervened, she would have, but it wasn’t her place. She was their guest for this excursion, and she had to be as polite as possible. “We should arrive at Lady Winston’s soon,” she told Clara. “Then you will be free from this carriage.” Unfortunately, Clara would never be free from her mother’s disapproval.

“And when we get there, you best act like the lady I raised you to be,” Mrs. Adams said. “You’re the granddaughter of a viscount. Do not shame our family and act like a hellion.”

“I promise I will do nothing you don’t approve of,” Clara said in a meek tone. That poor girl…

The carriage turned, and they were finally going down the long drive to Winston Manor. Lady Winston was a widow and quite wealthy in her own right. Her son was a mere ten years old and the new Earl of Winston. Somehow, Lady Winston had convinced her husband that she should remain in control of her son’s inheritance. Which meant she remained at Winston Manor as long as her son was a child. When he was older and ready to start a family of his own, she would most likely remain in London at the townhouse she owned separately from the Winston estate. The widow had always fascinated Gabriella, and she conversed with her when she could. She liked the idea of having control over her own fate and often thought that perhaps marriage was not something she wanted to agree to.

She had a fortune of her own that her father settled on her. Gabriella also had a dowry that was separate from her inheritance. She could live her life without ever marrying if that is what she chose to do, and she might. That decision was not something she wished to make yet. “This estate is gorgeous,” Gabriella said as she peered out the window. “In the summer, it must be breathtaking. Even with snow and ice as decoration it is quite imposing to behold.”

“Surely it is not as grand as your grandfather’s estate,” Mrs. Adam said in a shrill tone. “This is the estate of an earl. A duke would have something far more impressive.”

Gabriella frowned. “Cranbrook Castle is breathtaking.” She wrinkled her nose. “But traveling there is a bit tedious. His estate borders the lowlands of Scotland. He’s actually friendly with some of his Scottish neighbors and some of his servants are Scottish.”

“You have something against the Scots?” Clara asked.

“Not at all,” Gabriella clarified. “It’s merely an observation. Traveling that far north is not something we do often. Father’s estate is much closer to London if we need to stay in the country. Mother prefers to be in town and father humors her request.”

“I like the country better,” Mrs. Adams said. “But my father insists we stay in London. I believe he doesn’t enjoy having us near him.”

She almost sounded sad… “I’m sorry,” Gabriella said. Mostly because she didn’t know what else to say. Thankfully, she was saved from having to continue the conversation when the carriage came to a stop. A footman opened the door immediately and helped them out of the carriage.

“Welcome to Winston Manor,” a man said from the entrance. “Please come inside. Your trunks will be unloaded and taken to your rooms.”

Gabriella smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“More guests have arrived.” Lady Winston clapped her hands together in glee. “I’m so happy you could join us for Christmastide. You all will want to rest and freshen up. The evening meal is in two hours. I will have a maid show you to your chambers. You can stay there and rest or you may join the other guests in the large salon. I’ve set up various games and activities in there for your entertainment. Just ask the maid directions if that is what you choose to do.” She beamed at them. “Now I have some other tasks to see to. Welcome again.” She waved at them and wandered off.

Gabriella would have liked to speak with her more, but she supposed she could later. They were there for the next couple of weeks and there was time for that. She followed the maid up to her assigned chamber and smiled because she had a room to herself. How wonderful! She hadn’t expected to be that lucky. She would enjoy the solitude when she needed it.

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