A Valentine For Christmas - A Regency Novella Read Online Free

of his head. ‘And of course, you will both spend the night. I am afraid the weather is less than clement and it is a good four miles on to the nearest village.’
    ‘Four miles,’ the stranger murmured, clearly dismayed.
    ‘No matter. We have plenty of room, I can assure you.’ This was untrue. With all seven of the Weathering siblings at home, there were very few spare beds but James and Harry would bunk in together as they so often did and there was one guest room available. ‘Boys?’ The two eldest boys rose to their feet and joined their father immediately, disappearing out the door although each looked lingeringly at the beautiful new arrival on the way past. Bardwell was not invited as he was inclined to a bad chest and the weather was dreadful.
    Lord Valentine and Miss du Pont remained standing, looking at the remainder of the Weathering’s who returned their regard with interest.
    ‘You must both be frozen through,’ Mrs. Weathering said. ‘Come and sit by the fire. Charlotte, please take Lord Valentine’s coat and hang it up. And Miss du Pont’s cloak, as well. They will both take a chill, standing around in wet things.’
    Charlie looked at his lordship, who looked back at her doubtfully. ‘I’m Charlotte,’ she explained, holding out a hand. ‘If you give me your coat, I will hang it up so that it airs out.’
    ‘Ah… thank you.’
    Miss du Pont had already shed her bonnet and cloak, revealing herself in her full glory. She held it out to Charlie without a word, ignoring the proffered smile. Charlie gave an inward shrug. Perhaps she was in shock. A carriage accident could be quite traumatic.
    Taking the garments, Charlie headed into the hallway to hang them up, her head busy with the unexpected turn of events. She had a feeling that the arrival of two such guests must be Meant. Extensive reading of both Mrs. Radcliff and Mrs. Edgeworth had taught her a thing or two about life beyond the sheltered walls of her home. It was a world populated by heroes and villains and all manner of maidens who had the courage to help them (and love them, but that was another matter entirely).
    If the advent of this handsome stranger was not an act of Fate, she’d eat her bonnet.
    Returning to the drawing room, Charlie momentarily forgot Fate and its machinations and eyed the tableau before her with a smile. It was always a treat to watch strangers deal with the Weatherings. If the poor man and his pretty cousin thought that they had fallen foul of circumstance when they had had an accident, they were now in the bosom of her loving family and what an evening lay in store for them. It would make a blizzard look positively peaceful in comparison and she wouldn’t be at all surprised if they each decided to walk those four miles into Barrow’s Cross.
    Lord Valentine and Miss du Pont had been seated by the fire and that they were both being subjected to the scrutiny of four interested pairs of eyes. Mama had resumed her embroidery, not in the least bit interested (but always most polite) in the advent of new arrivals. Well, not dis interested, precisely, Charlie amended. It was just that she was so placid that very little ruffled her serenity. With seven children, it was just as well. Most women would have been quite mad by now.
    To his credit, Lord Valentine did not flinch and look away but instead regarded those who regarded him, although it was hard to judge what he was thinking. He has a good card playing face, Charlie decided, moving forward. Which was an excellent thing to possess, in her opinion. In this house, he was going to need it. She was uncertain if this particularly hero was in need of her assistance, at the moment. That was yet to be determined. Certainly, he was handling the situation he currently found himself in with cool bravado. And Miss du Pont seemed to accept scrutiny she was being subjected to with aplomb. With those looks, she was probably used to it.
    In Charlie’s opinion, an average