Regency Romp - Happy Christmas Mr Jones (Regency Romps) Read Free Page B

eyes had been and of the way he’d held her hand and smiled at her.
                  Now what foolishness was this?  Lydia laughed and shook her head.  One did not fall in love on such slight acquaintance.  She knew nothing of Captain Milliband or his family – and it was unlikely that she would meet him again.
                  A sigh left her as she regretted the fact, for he had been so very charming.
     
     
     
    ‘Have you finished the handkerchiefs?’ Jane asked three days before Christmas.  ‘Annabel thinks we should distribute the gifts tomorrow.  All the sweets and cakes have been tied up in muslin bags with pretty ribbons, and Uncle Simeon has given us the gifts he promised.  All we need is the kerchiefs and the boxes will be ready.’
                  ‘Yes, here they are,’ Lydia said, taking a pile of neatly hemmed linen kerchiefs from her workbox.  ‘I just have to finish my scarf for Mr Jones.’
                  ‘We do not know if he will be at home for Christmas,’ Jane reminded her.  ‘When Papa called, he was told that Mr Jones had gone to visit Harry at Captain Milliband’s home – and we do not know if he has returned.’
                  ‘At least we know that Harry was wounded but still alive when his father went to visit,’ Lydia said.  ‘I shall finish the scarf this afternoon and his box will be ready to deliver tomorrow.’
                  ‘And the next day will be the day of the Christmas Ball,’ Jane said.  ‘Are you excited, dearest?’
                  ‘Yes, of course,’ Lydia’s face lit up.  ‘We shall be wearing colours again, Jane – and perhaps…perhaps we shall meet someone exciting.’
                  ‘Yes, perhaps,’ Jane said, but turned her face away.  Jane had a secret that she had never told anyone.  She was in love with someone, but it was hopeless and she could never reveal it to anyone.  ‘I know Annabel and Mary have new gowns, but I had a new gown just before we went into mourning and do not need one.  Shall you wear your jonquil silk?’
                  ‘Yes, it has been worn only twice before and I did not like to ask my uncle for a new one,’ Lydia said.  ‘I am quite content with it, Jane – and I have a new pair of satin dancing slippers.’
                  ‘Yes, I know.’  Jane smiled affectionately at her.  ‘I wish it might have been different, my love – but I fear we must make the best of things as they are.’
                  ‘I am content as we are, Jane,’ Lydia assured her, but it was not quite true.  She did not envy her cousins their new gowns, but she had been unable to get the thought of Captain Milliband out of her mind.
                  As Jane settled down with a book to read, Lydia went on with her knitting.  The colour was a deep scarlet and looked warm and cosy, though some of her stitches and been dropped and picked up again, and she feared it was not as perfect as the scarves Annabel and Mary had knitted.  However, it had been a labour of love and Lydia hoped that Mr Jones would not notice a few untidy stitches.
                  She worked diligently, her thoughts transgressing from the work in hand only half a dozen times.  Had Captain Milliband thought of her at all?  Of course he would not.  He would not be interested in a young woman of no fortune who was only moderately pretty.
                  What a foolish girl she was to let her thoughts dwell on the handsome captain.  She must forget him and think of the Christmas Ball, when she might meet an earnest young farmer who would fall in love with her and sweep her off her feet – it was the most she could hope for in her circumstances.
    *
    Tomas Milliband saw the young woman coming through the park and took a hasty detour.  It was most ungallant of him to avoid Miranda, but