Christmas Delights Read Free Page A

expecting to feed three people. Penelope was growing fast, and in a spindly stage. She needed the food far more than Victoria.
    A good three hours passed before the horses slowed as they approached Polegate. “I’m sure we can find accommodation for you at the Manor,” Rose suggested with a yawn.
    Victoria blinked, startled out of a half sleep by her words. “How much farther to Pevensey?”
    “Another seven miles,” Rose told her.
    “Then we shall accept your kind invitation,” she said, looking at her cousin, fast asleep with her head on Victoria’s lap. Once again, she remembered the bawdy fun she’d dreamed of when she’d first accepted this invitation for a holiday house party on the coast. Nothing was working out as she had imagined.

CHAPTER 2
    T hey had a late start the next morning, since Lady Redcake, Rose’s mother, had insisted they allow Robbie a full night’s rest. Victoria and Penelope ate breakfast with the family in the formal dining room. The two fireplaces, one on either end of the room, were covered in holly and evergreen boughs, and two small trees on tables near one of the fireplaces had cheerful red ribbons tied to many of their branches, along with an assortment of German ornaments. When Victoria had two steaming cups of black tea in her, she realized that the next day was Christmas Eve.
    “How nice to have a house full of family,” she said politely to Lady Redcake, hoping to distract herself from the plate of fried apple dumplings that had been placed in the middle of the table after everyone had served themselves from savory dishes on the sideboard. The scent of cinnamon had her mouth watering.
    “This is not everyone, of course,” Lady Redcake said, her flowing sleeve drifting into her bowl of porridge. “Just our youngest daughters and one grandchild. We will see Alys and her family tomorrow afternoon, and Sir Gawain and his family for Epiphany.”
    “I didn’t realize you’d married, or been widowed, Lady Allen-Hill,” Matilda, the middle daughter, broke in. She did not share her younger sister’s cool blond looks but had red hair, pulled severely away from her face, and a dusting of large brown freckles across her cheeks and forehead.
    “I did become engaged in London but married in Liverpool very quietly,” Victoria said. “My husband passed suddenly and then—”
    “And then you had to go into mourning for what, twenty-four times longer than you’d been wed?” Matilda interrupted. “Outrageous, really, these customs of ours.”
    “Matilda has become quite strong-minded.” Lady Redcake sighed. “She’s working in the family business now. Do you do the same?”
    Victoria gave in to temptation and reached for an apple dumpling. Penelope giggled. With a sigh, Victoria cut the fragrant pastry in half and slid a portion onto Penelope’s plate, though she thought it would have been quite reasonable to keep all of the fruit for herself.
    “Cousin Victoria has taken charge of me.” Penelope poured cream from a jug over her dumpling, overflowing the plate. “And I’m quite a handful.”
    Victoria’s fork stopped just over her sugar-iced pastry. “Penelope!”
    Sir Bartley, Rose’s father, chuckled. “The young lady has just proved her point. You will have a time managing this one. No children of your own?”
    Victoria shook her head. “No, I wasn’t blessed.”
    “Pretty girl like you, certain to find another husband,” Sir Bartley said, his ruddy face creasing into a smile. “I’d offer you a son if I had any to spare.”
    “There’s Lewis,” Rose said. “Our cousin Lewis.”
    “Who makes the birds?” Penelope asked.
    “Yes. I thought he was coming down for Christmas.”
    “I invited him,” Matilda said, with a significant glance at her father.
    “He’s never been one to take meals,” Lady Redcake said serenely. “Always fussing over some bit of machinery.”
    “Who is going to be at this house party you’re attending?” Matilda asked.