A Countess for Christmas (Regency Short Story) Read online

  “Mostly, though I’m a bit chilled.” Her voice was weaker than he liked.

  “Your brother has gone to find the keys. We’ll have you out of there in a thrice.”

  “Liam?” There was a desperate ring to her words. “Please keep talking to me.”

  “What should I say?”

  “Anything. I just—I need to hear the sound of someone’s voice. Your voice.”

  He drew in a deep breath and then, before he could persuade himself otherwise, said the words.

  “Miss Fairfax, will you marry me?”

  Silence, underscored by the heavy beating of his heart.

  “Excuse me? Are you jesting?”

  “Never. I know the situation is hardly…” Damnation. What was he thinking, asking Cecilia to marry him through the thick expanse of a wooden door. He was a coward of the first order. “That is to say—here comes your brother.”

  Liam stepped back as Marcus bounded down the stairs, a ring of keys in his hand. Behind him came Lord Fairfax, the Widow Pomfrey, and a cluster of servants, white-haired Mrs. Bess among them.

  “Which key is it, Cecy?” Marcus rattled the ring in frustration.

  “The smaller iron one,” she called back.

  Marcus fitted it into the lock and, after another excruciating second, it turned. He threw open the door to reveal the wan and trembling form of his sister, coarse burlap sacks wrapped around her shoulders and upper body.

  Without a word, Liam stepped into the dank interior and swept Cecilia up into his arms. She made no protest, only blinked and turned her face to his chest when they emerged into the light.

  “Brandy,” he said, ascending the stairs with her. “And blankets—in the parlor. Is there a closer entrance into the house?”

  “Here,” her father said, holding open a door that led into the kitchen.

  Liam bore his precious burden to the parlor and sank down before the fire, still holding Cecilia. Shivers ran through her, and bedamned if he was going to let her go.

  Unless, of course, she wanted him to. Terrible though the prospect might be.

  “Here,” Marcus said, holding out a glass of brandy.

  Cecilia lifted her head, her eyes the color of a bruise, and took a tiny sip.

  “More,” Liam said. “You must get warm.”

  She took a larger drink, then coughed and shuddered as the brandy went down.

  “Blankets, milord.” The dark-haired maid hastened to the hearth, her arms full of woven wool.

  As if the sight of the maid was a catalyst, Cecilia sat up and gently slid from Liam’s arms. She pulled off the burlap sacking, leaving streaks of grime on her red dress and a smudge on her cheek. Before she could start shivering again, the maid draped a blanket about her shoulders, and another across her lap.

  “Thank you,” Cecilia said, glancing about the room. “Thank you all. I’m so glad you found me.”

  “How the devil did you get locked in the cellar?” Marcus said.

  “Poor Mrs. Bess is wandering in her wits. She didn’t mean to lock me in, but I fear she forgot my presence.” Cecilia shook her head. “I didn’t want to relieve her of her duties.”

  “And look at the cost to you, poor dear,” the Widow Pomfrey said.

  “She must be retired,” Cecilia’s father said, in a tone that brooked no argument. “Immediately.”

  Cecilia bit her lip. “Yes, but I have no one to take her place.”

  “As to that…” The widow glanced at Lord Fairfax, a faint blush suffusing her round cheeks. “Please let me assist you. I know a woman from the village who might suit admirably.”

  “Excellent,” Cecilia said, meeting the widow’s gaze.

  Liam had the impression some small, secret communication known only to women passed between them, for the widow smiled and Cecilia nodded again.

  “Lord Tarrick,” Cecilia said, turning to him. “I believe you asked me a question.”

  He stiffened, the blood catching in his veins.

  “I did.”

  “Would you do me the favor of asking it again?”

  “Here?” He glanced about the parlor, from Marcus sitting on the carpet beside his sister, to Lord Fairfax and Widow Pomfrey, to the dark-haired maid.

  “Yes.” Cecilia’s voice was clear and firm.

  Very well. His chest tightened, but he was hers to command. Liam shifted onto his knees and faced her. Taking her hands in his—her fingers still too cold for his liking—he swallowed once, for courage.

  “Miss Cecilia Fairfax. Would you do me the very great honor of becoming my wife?”

  The room stilled. Even the flames in the hearth seemed to pause. Liam could scarcely breathe.

  Cecilia tipped her head.

  Liam wanted to close his eyes, wanted to leap to his feet and rush back to the isolated safety of Tarrick Hall, never to come out again. Instead he forced himself to wait, the signet ring heavy on his finger.

  At last, Cecilia smiled, and it was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds in a blaze of promise. His heart gave a tremendous thump, then settled into a new, stronger rhythm, borne by a sense of hope beyond anything he had ever felt.

  “Yes, Liam. I will marry you.” She leaned forward and kissed him, gently, on the lips.

  The world spun from that point of contact, the moon revolved, the planets danced, all because Cecilia Fairfax had consented to be his bride. Something inside Liam mended—something he had not even known was broken, until recent months.

  Marcus let out a whoop and clapped him on the back, the maid cheered, and Lord Fairfax smiled broadly.

  “I beg your forgiveness, sir,” Liam said, glancing up to her father. “I ought to have asked you first, but—”

  “I understand,” Cecilia’s father said. “Sometimes the heart precedes the head in such matters. You have my blessing.”

  Liam slipped the gold signet of the Earls of Tarrick from his finger and handed it to Cecilia. The sapphire shone in her cupped hand.

  “This is all I have to give you,” he said. “My name, my title. My heart. Everything I am and everything I have is yours, Cecilia Fairfax.”

  “It is more than enough, Liam.” Tears shone in her eyes, brighter than the sapphire in his ring. “More than I had ever hoped for.”

  “Happy Christmas, my countess,” he said.

  Something half-seen at the edge of his vision made him glance to the doorway. The transparent figure of Lizzy stood there, smiling. As he watched, she faded away, leaving only mortal joy to fill the parlor.

  Which was, indeed, enough.

  OTHER WORKS

  Discover all of Anthea’s historical romances on Amazon!

  Newest release!

  ~ SONATA FOR A SCOUNDREL ~

  “Mesmerizing and addictive… this highly engrossing read will keep historical fiction fans clamoring for more.” -Starred Review, Library Journal

  “I really enjoyed Sonata for a Scoundrel. So many lovely telling details ... I'd recommend Sonata for a Scoundrel to any and every classical music lover...” -Dear Author

  The Muse...

  Clara Becker is a supremely gifted composer--a talent of little to use to a woman in 1830s Europe. Her compositions only have worth when they are published under her brother's name, yet this deception barely enables them to scrape out a living in the poorest quarter of London.

  Meets the Master...

  Darien Reynard, the most celebrated musician in Europe, pursues success with a single-minded intensity. When he comes across Becker's compositions, he knows that this music will secure his place in history. Darien tracks the composer down and, with some difficulty, convinces the man to tour with him. Mr. Becker agrees, but with the most unusual condition that he bring along his sister...

  Set against the glittering backdrop of 19th century celebrity, Sonata for a Scoundrel is the newest full-length historical romance novel from RITA-nominated author Anthea Lawson.

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  SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS, & COLL
ECTIONS

  Maid for Scandal – Miss Anna Harcourt disguises herself as a maid to be near the man she thinks she loves, but little does she know how far this charade will lead her ... or how close to scandal.

  ~An Amazon Top 100 Regency Romance Bestseller for over two months~

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  Five Wicked Kisses – To pay a debt, Juliana Tate must accept five kisses from the Earl of Eastbrook ... but she never suspects how wicked each kiss will be.

  ~Five months on the Top 100 Romance Short Story bestseller list~

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  To Wed the Earl – Miss Miranda Price detests her neighbor Edward Havens, the rakish Earl of Edgerton - but when he catches her breaking into his library at midnight, secrets are revealed that will change the course of their lives... forever.

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  The Piano Tutor – Encouraged by her scandalous friend to take a lover, Lady Diana Waverly finds that the new piano tutor is more than he seems -- especially when it comes to passion.

  This spicy Regency-set short story originally appeared in the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.

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  The Worth of Rubies – A Victorian-set short mystery. Noble ladies are falling victim to a string of brazen public jewelry robberies, but the inquisitive Miss Isabelle Strathmore suspects more is afoot than mere theft...

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  Kisses & Rogues – A collection of Anthea’s shorter romance fiction. Includes the titles above, with the exception of The Worth of Rubies.

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  FULL-LENGTH NOVELS

  PASSIONATE – A finalist for both the Golden Heart and the prestigious RWA RITA award, this Victorian-set novel takes the reader on a romantic adventure from the ballrooms and parlors of London through the Mediterranean to the exotic valleys of Tunisia. Fans of Julia Quinn and Connie Brockway will enjoy this witty foray into the outer edges of civilization – and propriety.

  “A lush, exotic tale of romance and adventure.” – Sally MacKenzie, USA Today bestselling author

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  ALL HE DESIRES – Self-exiled on the Isle of Crete, an English doctor with a troubled past meets the one woman who can bring him out of the shadows and into the light.

  “Lawson, a RITA-nominated husband-and-wife writing team, deftly combines danger, desire, and a deliciously different Victorian setting into a sexy version of Victoria Holt’s classic gothic romances.” –Booklist Reviews

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  Visit Anthea’s website, friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter. Be the first to know about upcoming releases and special offers for readers by joining Anthea’s mailing list!

  Anthea also writes YA Fantasy as Anthea Sharp - visit her website or author page on Amazon

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Anthea Lawson, called "a new star of Historical Romance" by Booklist, has won readers with her combination of spicy love scenes and elegant prose. Her first novel, PASSIONATE, was a Best First Book finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA awards.

  She lives in the Pacific NW where, in addition to writing, she drinks strong tea, plays the fiddle, and spends time with her small-but-good family.

  Anthea also writes award-winning YA Urban Fantasy under the pen name Anthea Sharp. Find out how high-tech computer gaming intersects with the Realm of Faerie at http://antheasharp.com/

  For news of upcoming releases, please join Anthea’s mailing list - http://www.tinyletter.com/AntheaLawson. Visit Anthea’s website at www.anthealawson.com, friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter. See you there!