Chapter One
Prologue
Shropshire, England, Christmas 1803
Evelina sat at the top of the stairs, staring down at the ladies and gentlemen milling in the foyer of her home. Her eyes were wide with awe and wonder at the beautiful gowns of the ladies and the distinguished evening attire of the gentlemen. They looked like something out of one of the fairy tales in the big book Mama read her before bed. It was as if the entire house and the inhabitants were under enchantment.
Spellbound, she cast her eyes around the foyer. Wreaths of holly, ivy and mistletoe were hanging everywhere, along with tall white pillar candles, their flames flickering faintly and casting small shadows on the walls and floor. Her stomach clenched with excitement. Christmas Day was tomorrow. After her parent’s annual Christmas ball was over tonight and the last of the revellers gone, the big clock in the hallway would strike midnight, and it would finally be here.
Evelina loved Christmastide more than anything in the world. Every year, it was the same. Her mother would take her to Charingstoke, the village closest to their home at Bosworth Manor, to deliver packages to the villagers. Sometimes Mama would read Christmas stories to the village children, and there was always the village Christmas pantomime. Often Mama would help with the preparations for it and Evelina would tag along. Mama was the lady of the grandest house in the district and took her role seriously with the local village. Her brother Richard spent more time with their father and didn’t accompany them. It was a special time, just for mother and daughter.
Her parents held the ball every year. Evelina’s nanny, Mrs. Rowe, told her it was the most anticipated event in the district. Every fine lady and gentleman eagerly looked forward to the Duke and Duchess of Bosworth’s Christmas Ball. Preparations for the ball sent the entire household rushing around, and Mama threw herself into the planning. She and Evelina would go into the woods carrying large baskets, collecting the greenery for decoration themselves.
And now, here she was, in her nightgown with her hair in rags, watching the first guest arrive. Her stomach fluttered with excitement. She was only ten and not allowed to attend yet. Her older brother Richard was old enough though, and she watched him standing around downstairs. She was looking forward to the day she could dance at the ball.
When she was safely tucked in bed, she would hear the music and laughter rising from the ballroom and think about dancing with a handsome gentleman of her own at the ball before she drifted off to sleep.
Evelina squeezed her head between the rails of the banister, watching her mother and father come into view. She gasped. Mama looked so pretty tonight in her new pale pink silk gown, her jet black hair swept up in a high chignon, scattered with diamantes. Papa looked handsome in his green velvet jacket. They had their arms around each other’s waists, laughing softly as they greeted their guests, staring at each other lovingly. Mama and Papa were so in love. Mrs. Rowe told her that her parents’ great love story was well known around the district.
“Why, you are under the mistletoe,” cried a gentleman. “You know the tradition; you must kiss.”
Mama and Papa laughed. Evelina saw that her mother’s cheeks were a little pink with embarrassment. But then her father leaned in, kissing her lightly on the lips. The people in the foyer clapped. Evelina giggled. It was at that moment, when the kiss ended, that her mother looked up and saw her at the top of the staircase.
The Duchess sighed, sprinting up the staircase towards her daughter. Evelina got up quickly, smiling hesitantly at her mother. She looked even more beautiful this close, like a fairy princess.
“Evelina,” said her mother, taking her firmly by the hand. “You are supposed to be in bed! Where is Nanny?”
Evelina shrugged. “I think she is in the kitchen.” She gazed at her mother yearningly. “Oh please, Mama! Can I watch for just a little longer?”
“No,” said her mother, leading Evelina towards her chambers at the end of the hallway. “It is past your bedtime already, young lady.”
Evelina sighed, but there was nothing she could do. Her mother settled her back in bed, sitting on the side, gazing at her with such love that Evelina smiled. Mama never stayed mad at her for very long.
“Now, you must go to sleep,” said her mother in her soft voice. “For when you wake, it shall be Christmas Day. You want that to arrive, do you not?”
“Yes,” said Evelina, her eyes shining. “Very much.”
Her mother reached out, stroking her cheek gently. “Then you must rest, dear one. Try not to notice the sound of the ball. When you next open your eyes, Christmas will be here.”
Evelina sighed again, nestling down in the bed. Dutifully, she closed her eyes. She felt her mother’s soft kiss upon her forehead and inhaled the scent of her lavender perfume. Then she heard her footsteps leaving the room and the soft click of the door closing.
She turned over in the bed, squeezing her eyes shut. Only a few more hours until Christmas Day arrived.
At that moment, she heard the soft voices of wassailers at the front door. The local village children, singing Christmas songs for pennies. But she was so drowsy she couldn’t open her eyes again. Their sweet voices drifted into her ears, the harmonies and melody swirling around her head lulling her to sleep.
Christmas. It was a time like no other. She couldn’t imagine it ever changing. She would stay at Bosworth Manor with Mama and Papa forever like this. She knew it.
Evelina turned to the other side, and with the sound of the wassailers still in her ears and the scent of her mother’s perfume in the air, finally drifted off into a blissful sleep, dreaming of the day to come.
Chapter One
Bosworth Manor, Shropshire. Twelve years later
Evelina walked into the parlour. Her father was standing at the window, peering out. She sighed heavily. He stood like this, often for hours at a time, these days. It was as if he were searching for something. Or someone.
Her heart flipped over with sorrow in her chest. She knew for whom he hunted and she knew he was searching in vain. At that moment, he turned around, seeing her. She saw his face still haggard with grief before quickly trying to mask it.
“Evelina,” he said, coming to her and kissing her on the cheek. “How lovely you look today, my dear.”
“You were not at breakfast, Papa,” she said, trying to keep a light tone. “You know you need to eat regularly.” Her eyes drifted over him carefully. “You have lost so much weight.”
It was true. Her father’s face was thin and gaunt and his clothes hung on his frame. He looked ten years older than he had just a year and a half ago. Her heart clenched with worry for him, just like it always did these days. It seemed she could never leave it behind.
He waved a hand vaguely in the air. “Oh, yes. I quite forgot.” He sighed, collecting himself. “What was it you wished to talk with me about, my dear child?”
Evelina bit her lip. “I want to talk to you about Christmas, Papa,” she said in a cautious voice. “Most importantly, I want to talk to you about our annual Christmas Eve Ball.” She took a deep breath. “I think we should hold it this year. It was appropriate not to hold it in the year we suffered our loss, of course, but it has been a year and a half now, Papa.”
His face contorted. Evelina felt a stab of sorrow. She knew that he still suffered even mentioning their significant loss, but she had to push through his discomfort. It was important. Christmas was fast approaching, and she wanted things to go back to normal. Or at least to the nearest approximation of normal they could manage.
She felt a stab of grief. Mama was gone forever, carried away by a sudden fever. It had been shocking and the worst pain her family had ever endured. She was still grieving badly herself. But it was nothing compared to her father, who had retreated inward, becoming a virtual hermit. Evelina had no choice but to tuck away her own pain and help him. Her brother Richard spent most of his time in London these days, and during his brief visits at Bosworth Manor, was no help with their father at all.
“I do not think so, Evelina,” said her father, his brow furrowing. “I do not think I could endure the ball without your mother.” His eyes filled with tears. “It was her glory. She was the one who planned and prepared for it. She was the one who did it all.” He sighed. “I would not even know where to start, my dear.”
Evelina took a deep breath. “Let me do it, Papa. I watched Mama for years.” She struggled to keep her tone light. “I want to have it in her memory. I also want to do it for us. Our Christmas traditions have always been so important to our family. I do not want to lose them.”
She watched the uncertainty flicker over his face. “Ah, Christmas,” he said, in a low voice. “Yes, it was always a special time when you and Richard were children.” He looked at Evelina searchingly for a moment. “You are a young lady now, Evelina. A lovely young lady. I am sorry that I am not actively looking for a husband for you as I should be. I am remiss in my duties, but it is all beyond me.”
Evelina sighed. “I do not care about you finding me a husband,” she said in a firm voice. “I am still only two and twenty. There is plenty of time for that in the future. My only concern right now is you and our life at Bosworth Manor, Papa. And Christmas is an integral part of that.”
He still looked uncertain. “You really want to host the ball? You are prepared to do all the preparations for it that your mother undertook? It is quite an effort, you know.”
Evelina nodded. “I am prepared to do it,” she said in a firm voice. “I will do everything that my mother did. I will oversee the ball and every other Christmas tradition that Mama undertook.” She took a deep breath. “I am planning to visit Charingstoke as Mama always did. I will oversee the Christmas pantomime, tend the villagers, and read to the children.”
Her father’s face contorted. “What a saint your mother was! How generous and giving she was to everyone! Her loss must be felt in the village, as well. I must admit, I hadn’t even thought of it.”
Evelina nodded again. She wasn’t surprised her father hadn’t thought of the impact of the loss of the Duchess of Bosworth in the district. He was so absorbed in his own pain that there was simply no room for anyone else’s. Not even hers or Richard’s. Although her brother seemed to be managing his grief well, judging by the life of hedonism he led in London, and the fact they barely saw him here.
Her heart tightened at the thought of her brother. She and Richard had never been close, and they had drifted even further apart since Mama’s death. A lot of it was the age gap–Richard was seven years older than her. They had never shared the nursery or played games together. Her brother had been a young man for most of her childhood.
Richard was superficial and only interested in the pursuit of pleasure, such as cards and dice. Evelina had never been able to have a decent conversation with him about books or art, which were her primary interests. They simply had nothing in common, and the emotional distance between them had grown with the physical distance.
She also resented the fact that he left her here to deal with their father’s heartbreak alone. Richard was the son and heir to the Bosworth duchy. He should be doing his duty to his family here, instead of living the high life in London. Even the thought of her brother frustrated her. She suddenly realised he would arrive home for Christmas soon. She almost gritted her teeth at the thought.
Quickly, she took a deep breath, pushing the unpleasant thought aside. She didn’t have time for it right now.
“So,” she said, looking her father firmly in the eye. “I have your permission to hold the ball?”
The Duke nodded reluctantly. “It will be hard seeing this house filled with revellers again,” he said. “It will remind me of your mother. But I can see it is important to you, dear Evelina, and so you have my permission to do so.”
She hugged him tightly, trying not to notice how his thin frame. “I promise you shall not regret it, Papa. We are doing it in her memory, after all. She would want all our traditions to continue.”
He sighed. “Of course, dear child.” He smiled tremulously. “You have my blessing. I am sure this year’s Christmas Ball will be as spectacular as always.” He looked at her lovingly. “You are your mother’s daughter, Evelina. You not only share her beauty, but you also have her sweetness and kindness. How proud I am of you.”
Evelina’s heart twisted. Her mother’s shoes were hard to fill, but she was determined to try. Christmas was always a special time at the Manor. It was one of her most cherished memories of her mother. Perhaps she could never be as warm, gracious, and giving as the late Duchess of Bosworth, but she must try.
***
Later that afternoon, Evelina went riding with her best friend. She glanced over at Lady Caroline Wynn as they galloped through the woods surrounding Bosworth Manor. The first sprinkling of snow appeared on the hills. She felt a soft stirring of the old excitement that Christmas was indeed approaching.
They stopped at a high point on a hill overlooking the village of Charingworth. Dismounting, they took in the view before Evelina turned to her friend.
“Papa has agreed that we can have the ball this year,” she said, smiling faintly. “He said that as long as I am prepared to oversee it, I have his blessing.”
Caroline’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that is wonderful news, Evelina! Your Christmas Eve ball was always the highlight of the Christmastide.” She paused. “And it is good for you, as well. It will be the first ball you will attend in so long. There will be many eligible bachelors there.”
Evelina frowned. “That is not why I am committed to hosting the ball, Caroline. It is not to take stock of the district’s eligible bachelors. It is to keep our Christmas traditions alive and hopefully shake my poor father out of his melancholy.”
Caroline sighed. “Yes, I know how committed you are to helping your father overcome his low spirits,” she said. “But you have let it overtake your life, Evelina. You never attend Society events anymore. You never talk about finding your match like you used to. You cannot spend your entire life in service to your father and neglect your own prospects.”
Evelina’s mouth tightened. Caroline was always nagging her to go to a ball, garden party, or some other event. She simply had no time to think about courting anymore.
“You know I am trying to keep our house and home together,” she said. “It is hanging on by a very thin thread indeed. I must be the lady of the manor now that my mother is gone, Caroline. That is my priority.”
“Oh, dearest,” said Caroline, reaching over and touching her lightly on the arm. “I know you are trying your best to manage a difficult situation and it shows your caring nature. And your great love for your father.” She hesitated. “But I worry about you. You used to love dancing and socialising. We used to spend hours dreaming about our future husbands. I miss the girl that you used to be, and I know she is still inside you, longing to get out again.”
Evelina turned back to the view, blinking back tears. She sometimes missed that carefree girl herself. But she had been forced to grow up quickly since losing her mother, and she took on the role of caretaker for her father and lady of the manor to the district. Her mother had left a gaping hole, and she was simply doing her best to fill it.
She closed her eyes briefly. Once upon a time, she had longed for the day when she would be swept off her feet and find the love of her life. She had been a regular lady with the same dreams and wishes as any other; just like Caroline.
She slowly opened her eyes. The girl that I used to be is gone forever, she thought.
She took a deep, ragged breath. And there was no use mourning her. She had quite enough on her plate as it was. And quite enough to do now that Christmas was approaching and Papa had given his permission for the ball to even think about her own lost dreams.
She was the lady of the manor now. Her life was devoted to duty, and that was all there was to it.
Chapter Two
Jude Huxley stared at the cart slowly approaching. He grinned. He was sure this would be his ride to Bosworth Manor. He had been told that a worker from the grand estate would pick him up from the square of the local village in a cart. When the cart drew alongside him, he was certain.
A man with a bushy red beard gazed down at him, his green eyes twinkling. “You Jude Huxley, by chance?”
“That’s me,” said Jude, climbing aboard the cart with his small knapsack, which was the sum of his personal belongings. “Nice to meet you.”
The man stretched out a large hand. Now that he was close to the man, Jude was overwhelmed by how massive he actually was. A giant, judging by his proportions. He had fine wrinkles around his eyes. Jude thought the man was probably in his mid-thirties.
“Lenny Markham,” said the giant, grinning at him. “Welcome to Charingworth. Are you from Shrewsbury?”
Jude nodded. “I am. I lived there my entire life.” He took a deep breath. “Up until now.”
The giant grinned again, cracking the whip. The cart lurched forward through the small village. It didn’t take long until they were on a rural road, with green hills surrounding them. Jude took a deep breath, breathing in the unfamiliar country air.
“What’s your position at the grand house again?” asked Lenny, keeping his eye on the road.
“I am working on the coach,” said Jude. “What do you do at Bosworth Manor, Mr. Markham?”
“Call me Lenny,” said the man. “I work in the garden. One of a team of five. One day I hope to be head gardener there.” He paused. “The grounds are very large at the manor. But they pay well and you have a job for life if you want it. What did you do for a crust in Shrewsbury?”
Jude sighed. What hadn’t he done in Shrewsbury? He had been working since he was fifteen, and he had just had his twenty-seventh birthday. Or at least, he thought he had just passed his twenty-seventh birthday. The orphanage assumed he was around two when he was left on a church doorstop and they had taken him in. They made his birthday the date they found him.
His heart clenched. He didn’t really want to think about his days growing up in the orphanage. He rarely did anymore. But it was a part of his history and he supposed he just had to accept it. He pushed the thought aside, focusing on Lenny’s question.
“I worked in a blacksmith’s shop for a long while,” he said. “Over five years. Before that, I was a groom in a stable. Before that–”
“I get the picture,” said Lenny dryly, glancing at him sideways. “How did you hear about the position at Bosworth?”
“A friend of a friend,” said Jude, grinning back. “He had been working in Charingworth for a while and heard word they were looking for help. So I wrote a letter,” he said after taking a deep breath. “The steward from Bosworth Manor happened to be in Shrewsbury and interviewed me there. And now, here I am.”
“Just in time,” remarked Lenny. “Christmastide is approaching. It’s a busy time of… it hasn’t been as busy at Bosworth since the Duchess died.”
Jude stared at the man. He knew he was going to work for the Duke of Bosworth, but he knew nothing about the gentleman or his family. Only the steward was at the interview, and he hadn’t seen any member of the family. Not that he expected to.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Jude. “Did she pass recently?”
Lenny hitched the reins on the horses higher for a moment. “About a year and a half now, I reckon,” he replied. “The family were devastated. The Duke has never gotten over it. He is a shadow of the man he once was.”
Jude nodded. “That’s sad. How long have you been at the estate, Lenny?”
“Five years,” said Lenny. “You get to know everything that happens in the big house. Even if you don’t talk to the family very much.” He sighed. “The Duchess was a kind woman, though. Very generous and giving. She was popular with the villagers.”
“Does the Duke live there alone now?” asked Jude, staring out at the green fields surrounding them. He supposed it was good to know as much as possible about the family he was about to work for.
“No,” said Lenny. “It’s just him and his daughter, Lady Evelina. He has a son as well, Lord Percival, but he’s rarely here anymore. He lives in London.” He hesitated. “We all feel a bit sorry for the Lady Evelina. She’s a young slip of a thing, quite lovely, but she’s had her youth robbed of her. She cares for her father now. She has since the death of her mother. It’s as if the man is an invalid, leaving her with no life of her own at all, really.”
“That is sad,” said Jude, feeling a bit sorry for Lady Evelina. “How old is she?”
“About twenty, I reckon,” said Lenny, scratching his head with the hand that wasn’t holding the reins. “She really is lovely. Hair as black as a raven’s wing and the bluest eyes I have ever beheld in my life. She takes after her late mother in temperament and looks. A sweet girl, always offering a kind smile.”
Jude was picturing the lovely Lady Evelina in his mind. He had never been close to a proper lady before. She was not just an aristocrat either; she was the daughter of a duke. What would it be like to even behold such a grand lady, even if she was years younger than him?
He started to feel uncharacteristically nervous. Working for a noble family came with its own unique rules and requirements. Did he have to bow every time they swept past? What was the proper way to address them? He wondered. He supposed he would be told all that before he started work.
“The son is different,” continued Lenny, frowning slightly. “Lord Percival has always been aloof and haughty with the servants. He has none of his late mother’s sweetness or his father’s warmth. The two siblings are as different as chalk and cheese.”
“But he doesn’t live there, you said?” asked Jude.
Lenny shook his head. “Spends most of his time living it up in London,” he said. “He is overfond of gambling and rarely comes to Bosworth. When he does, he doesn’t stay long.” He shook his head in distaste. “Anyway, tell me a bit more about yourself, Jude. Do you have family back in Shrewsbury or a sweetheart?”
Jude smiled ruefully. “I have neither,” he said slowly. “No family. I grew up in St. Ursula’s Orphanage.” He hesitated. “That’s probably the reason I don’t have a sweetheart, either. I want to find my family before I start a family of my own.”
Jude thought of the girl he had just left behind. She begged him to stay with her. They had been good together, and the passion was strong between them. He enjoyed bedding her, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from coming here.
“That’s bad luck, lad,” said Lenny in a gentle voice. “Do you have any clue as to who they are? Any details at all?”
Jude shook his head, his heart in anguish, as always when he thought of his unknown family. His abandonment. It was still like an open wound inside of him, even though he didn’t remember anything of his life before he went to the orphanage. He had been far too young.
His gaze automatically fell on his right forearm. The scar was just visible beneath his jacket. The mistress of the orphanage told him he had it when he got there. The scar was the only thing he possessed of the time before.
It was a large scar, probably from a severe burn. The skin was mottled in the manner of burn scars. It had faded a lot over the years, but it was still there. Jude thought he would probably have it for life. And as unsightly as it was, he was glad of it. He never wanted it to fade, for if it did, that would be the last connection to his unknown family.
“None at all,” said Jude, swallowing a lump in his throat. “I was abandoned on a church doorstep. Apparently, my wails were heard by the priest, who rushed out to find me there.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “There was nothing and no one with me. I was left there, and whoever left me there vanished before anyone saw them. The priest took me to the orphanage, and that was that.”
“That’s a rough start,” said Lenny, shaking his head. “Were they good to you at the orphanage?”
Jude smiled. “It was a good orphanage. They were kind, at least. I have heard some terrible tales about other orphanages.” He paused. “It wasn’t a family, though. It never felt like family. It’s not the same. There’s always something missing.”
“How long have you been searching?” asked Lenny.
“Years,” said Jude, in a rueful voice. “Too long. I know I should stop and just let it be, get on with my own life. Perhaps I will one day soon.” He took a deep breath. “It’s one of the reasons I applied for this position. I wanted to get out of Shrewsbury and start anew.”
“You should make a fresh start,” said Lenny, nodding. “This is the place for it. A handsome lad like yourself should have no trouble finding a girl to start a family with. Put all of that behind you.” He slowed as a turn approached. “Ah, here it is. Bosworth Manor. Your new home.”
Jude’s jaw dropped as a grand manor house came into view atop a hill. It looked more like a castle or a palace with battlements and turrets. It was as wide as the eye could see, sprawling in every direction, with outbuildings beyond the main house.
He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was incredible, like something out of a book.
They rattled through tall wrought-iron gates. They didn’t continue onto the circular drive in front of the house. Instead, Lenny headed the other way, towards the back of the house where Jude knew the servant’s quarters were likely to be.
He was right. Lenny pulled on the reins. The cart stopped. They jumped down. Jude grabbed his knapsack, gazing around.
Beyond the servant’s quarters, he saw a long line of stables. And beyond that, meticulously manicured grounds that seemed to go on forever. He knew he was gaping, but he couldn’t help it.
Lenny laughed. “You’ll get used to it, lad. I was like that when I first started working here. Come on, I will take you inside, where you can meet the others.”
Jude nodded, following Lenny towards the back of the grand house. He suddenly felt nervous again. Very nervous. How was a city boy like him going to fit in to life on a palatial country estate?
He reminded himself of why he wanted this position and why he accepted it when it was offered to him. It was the chance for a fresh start; somewhere completely different from the crowded streets of Shrewsbury. A place to leave the past behind. He knew his search for his family had been consuming him, and he had to leave it alone. Besides, he was ambitious. This was a chance to make a good living for a long time, just as Lenny had said.
He took a deep breath. Perhaps he could do that here. What awaited him at Bosworth Manor?
Chapter Three
Evelina clattered down the staircase, hastily pulling on her gloves. She was running late. She had ordered the carriage be ready by ten, and it was already half past the hour.
She stopped in the foyer, putting on her bonnet, before continuing to the door. She was going to Charingworth to hand out baskets of Christmas goodies, just like Mama had always done. It was practical items like bread, eggs, fresh vegetables and pots of honey from the Bosworth Manor beekeeper. Each basket included a small gift that wasn’t practical at all. It could be anything from small vials of perfume to children’s books.
Evelina spent the entire previous afternoon preparing the baskets herself, painstakingly selecting the personal gifts to add to the bounty. The baskets were already on the carriage. All she needed to do was get on it herself, and she was on her way.
She rushed through the front door, looking the other way at a potted plant that she had just noticed needed attention. Suddenly, she collided with someone.
“Oh,” she cried, stumbling backwards.
She stared at the man with whom she had collided. She had never seen him before, but he was wearing the Bosworth livery. A new coachman?
Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at him. He was tall, very broad across the shoulders, with russet brown hair and sparkling green eyes. He was probably in his late twenties or early thirties. A very handsome man indeed.
She noted his strong, sharp jawline. Yes, he was very handsome. She felt an unfamiliar fluttering within the pit of her stomach and further below. It caused a strange restlessness.
“Milady,” he said in a deep voice, reaching out a hand to steady her. “I apologise.”
Evelina tried to catch her breath. She felt a flood of colour rush into her cheeks. It was disconcerting being so close to him, but to her surprise, she wasn’t scurrying to get away from him. In fact, she wanted to stay exactly where she was.
“There is no need to apologise,” she said breathlessly. “It was my fault entirely. I was rushing and not looking where I was going.”
He gave her a half smile. It was a lovely smile and his green eyes sparkled. She felt another stirring deep inside her.
“I have never seen you before,” she rushed on. “Are you new? What is your name?”
“Jude Huxley, milady,” said the man, bowing slightly. “I only started yesterday.”
“I see,” said Evelina, her heart thumping hard. She vaguely recalled Mr. Harrington, the steward, telling her they were employing a new coachman. “Well, welcome to Bosworth Manor, Jude. I am Lady Evelina, as you are clearly aware.”
“Yes,” he laughed. “I can see clearly that you are a lady.” He paused, gazing at her intently. “Thank you, Lady Evelina.”
His green eyes deepened a shade as he gazed at her. Her face felt like it was on fire. Their eyes met and locked. Evelina felt a jolt of lightning shoot down her spine.
Confused, she stepped back, gazing down at the ground. He moved away from her, opening the carriage door. Evelina took a deep breath and stepped in, settling herself within. She heard him close the door, but she couldn’t look at him again for fear that the same strange thing would happen to her.
The driver cracked the whip, and she was finally on her way. Evelina sat back in the carriage, gazing out the window. She didn’t see anything. Her gaze was entirely inward as she contemplated the new coachman and her strange reaction to him.
His name is Jude, she thought. I like it.
She wondered where he had come from. Was he a local? She had never seen him around Charingworth, and she thought she would remember such a strikingly handsome man. Perhaps he was from another village in the district, or from one of the rural hamlets that scattered the area. Perhaps he was from a local farming family.
She took a deep breath. It was hardly appropriate to ask him. Papa always said that it was important to be kind and friendly to the servants, but not to get too familiar with them. He said that to do so muddied the boundaries between the classes and that an unscrupulous servant could use a close relationship against you. It was important to be kind, but distant. Always.
Evelina took another deep breath, trying to push the thought of the encounter with the handsome new coachman out of her mind entirely. But it was hard. Very hard indeed.
***
When they reached Charingworth, Jude jumped down from the carriage, opening the door. He held out his hand to assist the lady. Even though her hand was gloved, he felt a definite spark. He had experienced quite a few sparks when she had collided into him rushing out the front door of Bosworth Manor.
He had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.
His eyes flickered over her before sliding away. He knew it wasn’t appropriate to gawk at her in such a way, but it was hard not to. Lenny had told him the Lady Evelina was lovely, but it was a complete understatement. She was a great beauty.
She was a petite woman. Her hair was indeed as black as a raven’s wing, just as Lenny had said, and soft and silky. Her eyes were cornflower blue, large and expressive, accentuated by dark lashes. She had the most startling pale skin, as white as milk, without a blemish. He felt his loins stir as his eyes slid to her mouth. A perfect rosebud.
She flashed him a quick smile, mumbling her thanks, before pulling her hand away. He took a deep breath before jumping on the top of the carriage to take down the collection of baskets assembled there. Apparently, Lady Evelina was taking them to the villagers for the Christmas season. It was an act of generosity that Lenny had told him her late mother always did.
As he trailed her from cottage to cottage, carrying the baskets, he tried to stop looking at her. To distract himself, he focused on the village. Charingworth was beautiful, with thatched cottages and cobblestone streets surrounding the central village square. He had never journeyed far out of Shrewsbury before, and it was beautiful. This part of Shropshire was on the border of Wales, and he had never seen it before. His entire world had been the city ever since he could remember.
But, of course, he had a life prior to that, which he couldn’t remember. He had always assumed the family that had abandoned him were from Shrewsbury, which was one reason he had never left the place. He had always thought that if he was to discover that long-lost family, it would be there. But what if it wasn’t? What if his family had journeyed to Shrewsbury to abandon him and were actually from somewhere else entirely, like one of these pretty little Shropshire villages?
Stop it, he told himself, taking a deep breath. You have come here to make a fresh start and leave the obsession with finding your family behind, not create a whole new imagined scenario about it.
“Jude?”
He jumped. The beautiful lady was standing outside one of the cottages, looking at him intently, her blue eyes huge.
“A basket?” she pressed. “You look like you are miles away in your mind.”
“I am sorry, milady,” he said, taking a deep breath, passing her one.
She smiled, then walked off towards a cottage. Jude took another deep breath. He must stop this rumination and focus on this new life he was trying to create. He must leave the past behind.
He watched her petite figure walk through the doorway of the cottage. His loins tightened again. He must be careful that he controlled this sudden intense attraction towards her, as well. He may have come here to start a whole new life and leave his past behind, but that didn’t include developing a pointless fancy towards a woman which he would never have a chance to pursue. She was so far above him; it was laughable.
***
Evelina walked out of the last cottage. The handsome new coachman was standing there waiting for her. The baskets had all been distributed. Her duty was done for the day, and it was time to return home.
But she didn’t want to yet. Her gaze lingered on the small church in the near distance, St. Thomas’s Church. She was sure it would have its nativity scene set up now, and Mama had always liked to take her there after they finished this duty to sit and contemplate the scene. Afterwards, they would pray.
“I am going to the church,” she said. “I will not be long. You can return to the carriage to wait for me there.”
The handsome coachman nodded. Her heart beat a little faster as she regarded him, before hastily turning away. She knew her cheeks were flushed. She hoped his sudden presence in her life was not going to be a problem. For the simple fact was, she had never felt such an overwhelming attraction towards a man in her life, and it wasn’t at all appropriate to be feeling it towards a servant.
All was quiet within the church. Evelina took a deep breath. They had indeed set the nativity scene up at the altar. Her heart leapt at seeing it.
She walked slowly down the aisle, taking a seat in the nearest pew. It was the same figures that had been used ever since she was a child. A serenely smiling Mary, dressed in blue, looking down into the manger where baby Jesus lay. Joseph stood behind her, holding his staff. The three wise kings were to the left; the shepherds to the right.
She closed her eyes, remembering sitting here with Mama. Often, her mother would tell her the Christmas story in a low voice. Evelina had been spellbound by the scene, imagining the miracle, the start of Christmas. Time drifted by as the years of doing this filtered through her mind, one after the other, like a deck of cards being shuffled.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. She saw snow falling softly through the windows. It had started to thicken. She didn’t know how long she had been sitting here in silent contemplation, but she should get back to Bosworth. Often, if the snowfall thickened, sections of the road could become difficult to traverse.
“Milady?”
Jumping, she turned around. The handsome coachman was standing there, watching her. Her face reddened.
“What is it?” she asked, in an abrupt voice, caught at a disadvantage.
“I am sorry to interrupt,” he said. “But the driver told me to fetch you. He said we must be on our way on account of the snowfall.”
“Of course,” said Evelina, standing up quickly. “I was just thinking the same thing.” She paused, feeling disoriented. “How long have I been here?”
He smiled slowly. “About a half hour. Not so very long.” He paused, staring at the nativity scene. “It is beautiful. It reminds me of the orphanage where I grew up. They always put up a nativity scene for the children at Christmas. It is one of my best memories of my time there.”
Evelina gaped at him. He was speaking to her in such a free, easy manner, as if they were equals. This had never happened before.
She contemplated her options and thought. I could nod politely, keeping my distance, which was the appropriate action, or I could take the opportunity he was offering to talk to him, as if they really were equals. What will I do?
“An Alluring Lady’s Christmas Wish” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!
Lady Evelina Percival just wants Christmas to be like it used to be when her beloved mother was still alive. Having sacrificed her own life and prospects to care for her father, the Duke of Bosworth, Evelina is determined to at least make the festive season joyous. Yet the arrival of a captivating new coachman at Bosworth Manor might prove to be a tantalizing distraction from her goal. She has never experienced such an all-consuming desire for any man before, and certainly not a mere servant…
Why can’t Evelina stop thinking about the seductive coachman?
Jude Huxley’s arrival at Bosworth is supposed to be a fresh start for him. He wants to leave the past behind, along with any questions about a family who abandoned him and he can’t find, despite years of searching. Before long though, Jude’s determination to rise within the ranks of service at Bosworth begins to come undone. He never counted on his intense and unexpected attraction to the alluring lady of the manor…
Can he suppress his lust for her before it grows out of control and ruins them both?
When Evelina’s brother returns for Christmas, insisting she needs to be betrothed, Evelina and Jude’s powerful feelings are further complicated by an unwanted suitor. Not to mention the maid who has her eye on the enticing coachman as well and doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Can Evelina and Jude keep their fierce, illicit attraction under wraps, or will it be exposed, causing calamity for everyone and ruining Christmas?
“An Alluring Lady’s Christmas Wish” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Hello my dear readers. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek! I will be waiting for your comments below. Thank you so much! 🙂