Chapter 1

Chapter One

A fter being introduced to everyone, Rebecca took her seat beside her very dear friend, Miss Augusta Moir, whom she was very glad to see. They had exchanged letters quite frequently, and when news of the house party reached Rebecca, one of the first things she did had been to write to Augusta. How glad she was to receive Augusta’s letter back, and how delighted to know that she would also be present!

“And that is almost all of us!” Lady Meyrick put her hands out wide, welcoming them all. “There are only one or two other guests still to arrive. I do not know why they have been delayed, but that does not mean we cannot continue. We will soon begin our festivities and they will join us when they are able. Pray, enjoy your conversations for a few minutes longer and, thereafter, the first of our games will begin!”

Rebecca glanced around the room, looking at each and every face and recognizing only a few of them. She did not know exactly who else would arrive, but the company here seemed to be quite delightful. In addition to the fact that she had her dear friend Augusta present also, she was quite convinced it would be an excellent few weeks.

“I do wonder what such festivities will be,” Speaking in a hushed whisper, Miss Moir leaned towards Rebecca. “I have heard the Duke is something of an extravagant fellow. Perhaps that will mean this holiday house party will be an exceptional one.”

“Yes, but all Dukes are known to be extravagant fellows,” Rebecca reminded her friend, chuckling. “I would expect nothing less. Although,” she continued. “I do wonder where the Duke himself is.”

“Did you not greet him when you arrived? He was waiting on the steps to make certain that we were greeted. I certainly was made to feel very welcome by his mother!”

“Yes, he did do so.” Remembering the slightly pinched expression on the Duke’s face when he had greeted both her and her mother, Rebecca allowed her own concern to remain. “He did not appear to be very glad to see us, however. I will say that for him.”

Her friend nodded slowly, her gaze drifting around the room as murmurs of conversation continued between the other guests. “He did not smile once, and certainly I found him rather stiff. His mother, on the other hand, was quite the opposite.”

“Mayhap he simply does not like the cold, and given the Season, it is rather cold.”

Her friend nodded in agreement, although Rebecca did not miss the twinkle in her friend’s eyes. “It is almost as though he does not realize it is wintertime,” she remarked, making Rebecca laugh. Her laughter changed into a sigh. “Perhaps he is as I am, in waiting and hoping for the summer to return,” Her mind grew suddenly heavy, and she looked away. “I confess I struggle with this long winter. My mood is much improved now that my father has permitted me to come to this house party, however.”

Miss Moir laughed softly. “And I am also grateful for your presence here. I am, as you know, a little shy, and I confess that not knowing a great many people here as yet has allowed my anxiety to rise a little.”

“You have no need to be at all anxious,” Rebecca replied firmly. “You are more than handsome, come from an excellent family and you are well able to have many a conversation with both gentlemen and ladies.” She lifted one eyebrow. “At times, I think you pretend this anxiety is a part of your character, for I do not think I would be aware of it otherwise.”

“I swear to you, I do not pretend!” Miss Moir exclaimed, only to let out a chuckle and to shake her head, realizing that Rebecca was teasing her. “Do you hope to meet anyone of interest here? Or shall you only be interested in furthering your acquaintances? Christmas is a time where many a gentleman will seek to steal a kiss!”

Hesitating, Rebecca wondered how she was to answer. Her friend was entirely unaware of how her heart had been broken this last Season. Indeed, neither her mother nor her father was aware of it either, but she had borne this heavy weight for many months. The pain lingered still, and there was only one gentleman that she was to blame for it. Her mother and her friends might be hopeful that she would acquaint herself with a gentleman of note with the hope that perhaps the match would be made in the summer Season, but for the present, Rebecca was quite contented to have only acquaintances – and nothing more. Her heart was still too damaged. It certainly had not been healed enough for her to even think about becoming closely acquainted with another gentleman.

“Lady Rebecca?”

Rebecca blinked quickly, and then silently demanded that she smile in response. “Forgive me, I became a little lost in thought.” Shrugging, she looked away. “I think I should be glad of new acquaintances for the present at least. I do not want nor require anything else.”

“I quite understand,” Miss Moir looked away, just as Rebecca turned her gaze back towards her friend. Rebecca chose to say nothing further, waiting until her friend looked back at her before she continued the conversation.

“What do you think shall be our first game?” With a quick breath, she returned their topic of conversation to the house party itself. She did not want to go into any particular details about what had happened the previous season, given that a good deal of it was still a secret.

Miss Moir clapped her hands lightly. “I do hope it will be something that will make us all laugh and smile so that there is no awkwardness between any of us any longer.” Excitement shone in her eyes, and Rebecca could not help but smile.

“Perhaps there will be some Christmas games! Out of all the ones you can think of, which one would be your favorite?”

The two considered this for some minutes and, thereafter, fell into a deep discussion about whether the Twelfth Night cake or Snapdragon was the very best game. But eventually, their conversation was cut short by Lady Meyrick speaking again.

“I do not think we shall wait any longer. Instead, we shall proceed to the library – but not to dance or any such thing! No indeed, there shall be many a game at this house party! Yes, we are to be provided with a great deal of entertainment during your time here, but on occasion we shall be required to make our own entertainment… as we shall do this evening.”

Chuckling good naturedly, Rebecca grinned as Miss Moir looped her arm through hers so they might walk together. It appeared this was to be the beginning of a most excellent holiday.

“Do you know who it is that is yet to arrive?” Rebecca asked quietly, as Lady Meyrick spoke quietly to her son, who had interrupted her for some reason.

“No, I do not know,” Miss Moir shot her a glance. “But I, myself, would not dare to be tardy to something such as this, not when the Duke and his mother have shown such generosity!”

Rebecca shrugged. “Mayhap those still absent are well known to the Duke and had always stated they would be tardy?”

“Mayhap,” Miss Moir looked around the room at each guest in turn as they waited to make their way to the library. “I admit I am eager to know who else is to arrive!”

“As am I.” Rebecca grinned at her friend just as Lady Meyrick clapped her hands brightly, catching everyone’s attention again. The bright smile on the lady’s face reflected the joy and anticipation in Rebecca’s heart as she waited to hear what it was they were to do.

“We shall begin by playing ourselves a few hands of cards. However, it shall be a little different, for there will be forfeits for those who lose, but gifts for the winner!”

This was met by murmurs of excitement as Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat in a thrill of anticipation. She was already looking forward to the game, wondering whether she would have any chance of winning, and if she did, what the gift she would receive might be. A million ideas went through her mind as she battled to catch her breath. There was often a good deal less consideration to propriety and society’s customs at such occasions, according to her mother. They were a good deal freer, no longer bound by a set of strict and rigid rules. This was a chance to laugh, to make merry and to enjoy every moment of being here. She was already looking forward to it.

“If you would like to make your way through to the library, the card tables have already been set out.”

Unwilling to show any great eagerness for fear of being teased about it by either her mother or her friend, Rebecca stood quietly but did not move.

“Come!” Miss Moir immediately moved forward, tugging Rebecca along with her. “What do you suppose the forfeits might be?”

Rebecca laughed as they made to quit of the room. “I confess I can think of a great many things, but I cannot be certain whether I am correct!”

Miss Moir bit her lip. “I do hope I shall not fail. I would be most embarrassed should I make a fool of myself.”

Rebecca pressed her friend’s hand. “I do not think you need to have any fear in that regard, my dear friend. The forfeits will not be severe. They may make us a little embarrassed, but it is all in good humor. At least, that is what my mother has told me!”

At this, Miss Moir let out a long breath. “I understand. There will be nothing of any severity.”

“Nothing.” Rebecca smiled as she walked into the library. “Absolutely. In fact, I do believe there will be nothing in all the time we reside here that should bring you any shame, embarrassment, upset, or anger.”

With a smile still upon her face, she walked directly into the room, only to come to a sudden halt. To her utter horror, she perceived a gentleman standing directly opposite her, a gentleman whom she recognized immediately but whom she had vowed never to see again. Her breath hitched as she looked directly at him.

Surely it could not be. Fate would not be so cruel to demand this of her, would not take such a happy occasion and quite ruin it by his presence, would it? And yet, it appeared she was to have such misfortune, for the one gentleman sitting there was the one who had broken her heart. The gentleman who had taken all from her, who had left her with nothing – and at the end, begged her to keep it from the ears and eyes of the ton. A gentleman who now went pale as he realized who she was, a shadow in his eyes as he looked at her.

And everything suddenly went very cold indeed.

Oh, no! It seems someone from her past was invited to the house party…someone she didn’t want to see again! Check out the rest of the story in the Kindle store The Lady’s Christmas Kiss