Twelve Days in December: A Christmas Novella Read Online Free

told Mr. Vancer she would take Marsali’s place as his bride, Charlotte felt an overriding peace. Matthew would understand. He would forgive her.
    But could she forgive herself?
    She’d loved him since she was nineteen. Now, at twenty-four, she felt the passion of their youth, that time of falling in love with one another, slipping from her memory. Soon it would be gone altogether, replaced with the realities that were her life— unless she clung to them. And she could not allow herself to cling to memories of one husband once she pledged herself to another.
    She must let go and choose a different kind of love, and she must do it today.
    The peace she felt did not leave her but seemed to spread, engulfing her with a desperately needed tranquility.
    Mindful that such serenity was precious, Charlotte stayed at her son’s side, brushing her fingers lightly across his baby-soft cheek and imagining the possibilities ahead for him, the privileges he might have, growing up in this home.
    With a whispered prayer of gratitude for the incredible turn of events, and a bittersweet smile on her face, she readied herself to speak new vows, to be a widow and single mother no more.

 
    William knocked on the guestroom door where Charlotte and her son had been staying. No answer came. He leaned closer to the door, listening for sound from the other side, but it was quiet within.
    Gone already, then. Perhaps Charlotte had decided to accompany Marsali in the search for her husband. He had all but ordered Lady Cosgrove to go with Marsali as an escort. Family friend or no, he was furious with Lady Cosgrove and her lies that had and were going to cost him dearly. For both their sakes, it was best if she was gone from the house a good, long time.
    The door before him began to open slowly. He was both surprised and pleased to see Charlotte on the other side. She placed a finger to her lips, then stepped back and beckoned him in.
    “I could not call out to you to enter for fear I would wake Alec,” she whispered, looking toward the bed where her son lay sleeping. If he misses his nap he gets most ornery.”
    “You haven’t changed your mind then?” William asked, only just now taking in her ensemble. An elegant cream gown draped in layers of delicate lace fit close at her waist and hung with a full skirt near the floor. A matching lace band was woven through the curls of her hair, save those left to fall on either side of her face. And a pair of silk slippers peeked out from beneath her gown. He knew from listening to Lady Cosgrove that this was the wedding outfit that had been fashioned for Marsali.
    “I have not changed my mind,” Charlotte said, meeting his gaze directly, as she had in the hall earlier, when Lady Cosgrove had first proposed their match. “Do you wish me to?”
    “No. Not at all.” He shook his head, somewhat astounded at her directness and this potentially good news. Though I dare not hope.
    “In that case, you should not be here, sir,” she said, stepping closer, as if to usher him from the room. “Do you not know that it is ill luck to see a bride in her wedding gown before the ceremony?”
    For some reason this made him chuckle, though there was nothing the least amusing about their situation. “Given the bad luck I have already had with brides, I cannot fear such superstition.”
    She frowned. “It is true, you have been most unfortunate. Twice now.”
    Twice. If she only knew . He supposed he should tell her that he had been previously betrothed a couple more times than that. I will later. After— if— we are married today.
    “I came to see if you might consider going to the church now,” he said. “I realize it is almost a full hour earlier than was planned, but with the change of brides, we will need to talk to the bishop, and there will be paperwork to fill out.”
    “Of course. I hadn’t thought of that.” Worry creased her brow a moment, causing her to look older than Marsali, and older than