The Christmas Heiress Read online

  Charlotte had not seen Lord Edward for several years and she could understand why he was now the center of so much female attention. He cut a dashing figure in his black evening attire. He was tall and broad-shouldered, lean yet muscular in stature.

  His curling dark hair was neatly trimmed to the edge of his shirt collar. His white cravat made his skin appear tanned and healthy and emphasized his uncompromising jaw, and bold nose. Though she could not clearly see his eyes, Charlotte remembered they were an unusual amber-gold color.

  There were other attractive, eligible men in attendance, yet judging by the reaction of the women, both married and single, Lord Edward was the most sought after.

  Charlotte wondered if he was still cautious by nature. And sincerely hoped he was not.

  The music started again. This time the guests began to pair off for dancing, with the earl and countess in the lead. Playing the part of host, Lord Edward first partnered the older women who desired a turn on the dance floor and next began escorting the younger ones. To Charlotte's great annoyance, he barely glanced in her direction.

  "Dance with me, Jonathan," Charlotte insisted, becoming tired of standing on the sidelines and waiting to be noticed by the high-and-mighty Lord Edward.

  "But I am supposed to partner-"

  'Wonderful. It's a quadrille," Charlotte interrupted, allowing her friend no opportunity to protest. She grasped his hand and led the way, making certain they were the fourth couple within a particular set of dancers.

  Initially, her mind was distracted, but fortunately Jonathan was an excellent dancer. He guided her through the movements with skill and confidence. Charlotte's nerves settled and she wove in and out gracefully, humming along to the music. Then she executed a half turn and found herself face-to-face with Lord Edward.

  He smiled, displaying a row of straight, white teeth that gleamed like pearls.

  Charlotte missed a step.

  Her feet felt clumsy, and she was momentarily off balance. Jonathan immediately came to her rescue. He clasped her about the waist and centered her in the correct position. They repeated the pattern of the dance and this time Charlotte thought she was ready. But when Lord Edward grinned at her a second time, her mind spun with possibilities.

  Her senses reeled and her mind whirred and her pulse hammered with excitement. She could feel the heat emanating from his skin, could smell the soap with which he had bathed. She had the strangest urge to reach out and rest her palm on his chest, but thankfully there was no opportunity to indulge her whimsy.

  This was not what she had expected.

  The dance ended, but before Jonathan could escort her off the floor, Charlotte moved to place herself directly in front of his brother.

  "I believe the next is your dance, Lord Edward."

  It was a bold move, but Charlotte decided it was past time to test his lordship's intentions.

  "I am honored, Miss Aldridge," Lord Edward Barringer answered in a neutral tone.

  He bowed, then looked up. She offered him a smile that would melt the bones of a lesser man, but Edward was not fully taken in by it.

  He had known Charlotte Aldridge since they were both children, and he clearly remembered the one thing she had always excelled at was getting her own way. Apparently that had not changed. He had no doubts that the man who succumbed to that smile would dance to her merry tune for the rest of his days.

  Nevertheless, duty demanded that he be a polite host. This was as good a time as any to engage in the one obligatory dance of the evening he had promised his mother he would make with each female guest. Though he was honest enough to admit that dancing with Charlotte would hardly be a chore.

  Edward was surprised to feel a pang of momentary disappointment when the dance was announced. It was another quadrille, not the expected waltz. Though in retrospect, he decided perhaps it was better not to hold this lovely young creature in his arms.

  Her green eyes sparkled with lively interest as they took their positions. They began moving the moment the musicians struck the correct chords.

  Edward was an intelligent man, a keen observer of people, but it was not necessary to notice every nuance to quickly see Charlotte's game. She flirted openly with him, and though he tried not to be, Edward found himself amused at the enticing way she smiled whenever he touched her hand.

  She was a very lovely girl. She had high cheekbones, an upturned nose, a generous mouth and skin that resembled the finest porcelain. The blond streaks in her honey-brown hair shimmered in the glow of the candlelight and he wondered if its length went to just beyond her shoulders or fell as far down as her waist.

  Her gown was a deep shade of green that matched her eyes. Styled in the latest fashion, it accentuated her hourglass figure and was flounced at the bodice and hem with yards of intricate lace. And while he thought it ridiculous for a girl of her age to be wearing such a sophisticated piece of jewelry, he had to admit the necklace looked stunning on her.

  The diamonds framed the neckline of her gown perfectly, drawing the eye to the soft swells of her breasts above the top of her emerald silk gown. And what impressive breasts they were. Miss Aldridge had a tall, willowy figure, but there was nothing slender about her chest.

  "Your grandfather told me you made your curtsey to the queen this past spring," Edward said, the next time they came close. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

  "Sometimes. But eventually the endless parties started to become boring. Everywhere you go, you always see the same faces. I was quite content to return home. As for the queen ..." Charlotte's voice trailed off.

  Edward's brow lifted in surprise. Most young women of his acquaintance were in awe of the monarch. "Were you not impressed with her regal bearing and majesty?"

  "Personally, I think she takes herself a bit too seriously," Charlotte confided in a hushed whisper.

  Edward had difficulty holding back his laughter, but he feared that would only encourage her to make more outlandish remarks. So he managed to restrain himself.

  "I was not in London this Season," Edward said. "I spent most of the past year abroad."

  "On the grand tour?"

  Edward nearly groaned. Unlike his contemporaries, he had spent his time on the continent studying, learning and working hard, determined to gain the knowledge he needed to make himself a successful businessman.

  "I visited various European capitals," he answered evasively. "It was very enlightening."

  "I assumed you had not been in Town," Charlotte replied. "I am certain I would have remembered if our paths had crossed."

  She gave him another enthralling smile and Edward had the strangest sensation that he was suddenly the only person in the room with her. He blinked and shook his head vigorously to ward off the feeling.

  He was not searching for a romantic entanglement. Or a bride. At twenty-three, Edward believed he was still too young, too unsettled, too financially insecure to take a wife. One day he would inherit his father's title and become the next earl, but alas, there would be no great fortune to accompany his new status.

  Being a sensible and forward-thinking man, Edward was determined to fix that problem. His plans to achieve financial solvency for himself and his family would require all his concentration, a considerable amount of his time and a bit of good luck. There was no room in the equation for a young bride.

  Especially someone like Charlotte Aldridge. She was clever and charming and far too lovely. Her perfume was a delicate fragrance, reminiscent of violets. The scent lingered in the air, charging him with a restless, reckless feeling. The less he had to do with her, the better.

  The steps of the dance called for them to momentarily separate, and he watched her make a graceful pirouette, her gown floating softly around her calves and ankles. When her shapely legs came into clear view, he could hear the buzz of gossip starting from the group of stiff-necked matrons who were sitting around the edges of the dance floor, watching their every move.

  She seemed unaware of it, but then, for
an instant, her thoughtful eyes locked with his and a delicately fine eyebrow arched in amusement. The little minx! She was well aware of the sensation she was causing and clearly it did not bother her a bit. Quite the contrary, she seemed to enjoy causing a stir.

  Edward was unsure if he felt relief or disappointment when their dance came to an end. As Charlotte sank into a final curtsey, there was no mistaking the welcoming interest in her eyes. Yet he answered her with a polite, remote gaze.

  Everyone shuffled about, regrouping for the next dance. Charlotte was claimed by Lord Haddon, a pleasant-looking young viscount. As Edward watched her take the floor, she turned her head and tilted her chin in a provocative pose toward the viscount.

  The gesture merely confirmed Edward's earlier opinion-Miss Charlotte Aldridge would be a bundle of trouble for any man who chose to take her on.

  CHAPTER 2

  The following day, breakfast was served in the morning room, which overlooked the gardens at the back of the estate. When at home, Charlotte seldom left her bedchamber before noon, but at Farmington Manor she found herself wide awake the moment the sun rose.

  Memories of the dance she had shared with Lord Edward last night lingered in her mind. Those recollections had made her dreams restless, exciting, filled with new and intriguing possibilities. Charlotte wished the time she spent with him had been longer, wished there had been an opportunity to speak with him privately. But she contented herself with the notion that this was the beginning of the holiday festivities and there would be many chances to rectify that problem over the coming week.

  Who knew, perhaps today would be the day he would begin courting her in earnest?

  Buoyed by the thought, Charlotte insisted that Jones take extra care with her morning toilette. She wanted everything to be perfect. Her gown was changed twice, her hair done in three different styles before Charlotte was satisfied with her appearance. Feeling confident, yet slightly nervous, she joined the earl and countess, Lord Edward, Jonathan and several other early-rising guests for breakfast.

  It was a clear, crisp morning, with blue skies and few clouds. The grass was lightly browned from the nightly freezing temperature, and though Charlotte thought there was something about the day that felt more like spring than winter, the guests seated at the breakfast table spoke longingly of the possibility of snow before Christmas Day arrived.

  "I for one dislike the snow," the countess declared. "It's so dreadfully inconvenient. It can keep one house-bound for days and days."

  "Snow is so beautiful! " Jonathan protested. "It sparkles and shimmers, white and pristine, especially when it is newly fallen, making everything look clean and fresh and untouched."

  "Looks are often deceiving," the countess retorted, as she crumbled the edge of a piece of toast between her fingers. "My sister, bless her heart, slipped and broke her leg one winter on a fresh patch of snow. Though it eventually mended, she was never the same. To this day, it pains her whenever it rains."

  Across the breakfast table, Charlotte's eyes met Lord Edward's. His left eyebrow raised and a slightly mocking smile escaped as his mother launched into another desperate tale about the perils of snow. Charlotte found she could not resist returning his grin even though it then forced her to concentrate on keeping her hands steady on her knife and fork.

  "There is no need to be so dire," Lord Edward in terjected when the countess paused to take a breath. "Most of us will be happy indeed to see the snow. And if it does arrive, we shall all be building snowmen, sledding over it, clearing the frozen lake so we may skate upon the ice and of course engaging in a massive snowball battle."

  The countess began pleating her linen napkin into tight, narrow folds. "Very well. If it does snow, I shall stand on the terrace and watch all of you lose your dignity."

  "The terrace? Near the south lawn?"Jonathan returned his china coffee cup to its saucer. "A prime viewing location, yet in close enough range to be struck by a stray snowball. Or two."

  The countess puffed out her cheeks. "I cannot even begin to elaborate on the consequences that would befall the individual who dared to strike me with a mass of cold, wet, snow," she warned.

  "The culprit would be thrown into the dungeons at once," Lord Edward said. "We still have working dungeons, don't we, sir?" he asked, turning to his father.

  The earl grinned. "Certainly. I'm sure Harris even knows where the keys to the largest cell can be found."

  "Excellent." Lord Edward got to his feet. "Now that my mother is assured of her safety, I would like to invite everyone on a late-morning outing. The decorating of the house will begin in earnest today, and we need to fetch holly, ivy, pine boughs-"

  "And mistletoe, "Jonathaninterjected.

  "Yes, mistletoe," Lord Edward agreed. "I hope many of you will decide to join my brother and me.

  There was a chorus of enthusiastic interest. Charlotte added her voice to the mix and hastily finished her cup of hot chocolate.

  "Mistletoe?" The countess tried to look disapproving at her son's suggestion, but could not hold the expression for long. "I fear I shall be overruled if I object to having it brought into the house, though I daresay it would not be Christmas without at least one kissing bough."

  "Only one?"Jonathan protested loudly.

  The countess glowered at her younger son. "I will instruct the servants to fetch the ribbons and bows and bells from the attic so we may all properly adorn the greenery. However, I shall personally supervise the placement of all the decorations. The year Jonathan took charge of putting up the greenery, the front parlor and drawing room ceilings were covered in kissing boughs and positively dripping with mistletoe."

  "Aye, now that was a grand Christmas," Jonathan remarked with a dreamy look in his eyes. "You could not take more than three steps without standing beneath a cluster of greenery that required a kiss."

  Everyone laughed, and even the countess smiled. "The placement of mistletoe is very important," she insisted. "Most people make the mistake of putting it over a doorway and eventually everyone gets tired of kissing everyone else."

  "Tired of kissing?" Jonathan exclaimed in mock horror. "Impossible!"

  Plans were made to meet outside within the hour, so those who wished to partake of the holiday activity of gathering greenery could leave before it became too cold.

  Charlotte was momentarily disappointed when she realized her grandfather was not among the group bundled up for the outdoors, but his cheerful smile and merry wave from the terrace windows softened the blow. And made her feel like a very mature woman, since she was the only unattached female attending the outing without a formal chaperone.

  Of course there were several married women in the party, and three dowagers, to lend an air of respectability. The older women rode together in an open carriage, their legs covered in heavy blankets, their heads covered in fur hats. Everyone else traveled on foot.

  However, when they reached the edge of the woods, the carriage was unable to follow on the narrow path. Those on foot were organized into four groups and Charlotte found herself in the party comprised of the Chambers sisters, Lord Edward, Jonathan and Lord Haddon, the pleasant viscount she had danced with last evening, who was reputed to be sweet on Miranda Chambers.

  With Lord Edward in the lead, they walked in companionable silence as they entered the thickest part of the woods. Sunlight glittered through the canopy of bare interlaced branches, creating a mystical atmosphere. Privately, Charlotte thought it was wonderfully romantic. Luxuriating in her surroundings, she slowed her pace and breathed deeply.

  "We should probably find a Yule log first," Lord Edward said. "Though we will of course decorate an evergreen tree, my father prefers the older traditions and it usually takes the gardeners hours to find a Yule log he deems suitable."

  Everyone nodded in understanding, then set themselves eagerly to the assigned task.

  "There." Miss Elizabeth Chambers pointed to a fallen branch. "How about that one?"

  Jonathan went ove
r to inspect her choice. "Much too small," he decided. "The log must be wide enough to fill the hall hearth and solid enough to burn for days."

  "Is this a better choice?" Charlotte called out merrily. She had hoisted herself onto the base of a fallen tree trunk and settled comfortably in the center. Her feet dangling, she swung them back and forth, feeling quite pleased with her discovery.

  "Clever girl," Lord Edward said with an approving smile. He came up beside her and patted the log to test the soundness of the wood. "I will send out the gardeners with a cart and a team of horses to fetch it. Once they cut it to the proper size it will be perfect."

  "It will burn until spring," Miranda Chambers said with a shy grin. "Excellent find, Miss Aldridge."

  "Thank you." Charlotte was warmed by the com- pli ment, which was sincerely given.

  "Now on to the mistletoe," Jonathan exclaimed, hopping onto the log and walking carefully along its length. "It grows best and fullest in the tops of the older oak trees. I shall retrieve a choice specimen to show all of you what we need."

  "No, that honor will be mine," Lord Edward declared in a voice that let them all know he would not be put to shame by his younger brother.

  "I'll take a piece of that challenge," Viscount Haddon said, not to be outdone. "Though I have not done so since I was a lad, I still remember how to climb a tree."

  The gauntlet thrown, each man turned in different directions and started off on their quest, leaving the women standing alone. The three women stared at each other for a quick moment and then also scattered. Miss Miranda dogged the viscount's heels, and without hesitation Charlotte took off behind Lord Edward. With a philosophical shrug, Miss Elizabeth trooped behind Jonathan.

  The fingers inside Charlotte's gloves tingled from the cold, her cheeks and nose felt tight and nearly numb, yet she could not remember the last time she had had so much fun out of doors. The sun had disappeared and the sky had darkened considerably, making her wonder if it truly would snow, as everyone had hoped.