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“Everything will be just fine, dear,” she assured Holly. “This will be our most wonderful Christmas yet.”

CHAPTER1

Lady Holly Sallinsgazed out at the frost-tipped gardens of Northwood Manor, the familiar grounds looking lovelier in the winter, but still much the same.

It baffled her that the viscount was insisting on hosting people at the house. Especially at this time of year.

It could only be because of the interference of Holly’s grandmama.

The dowager viscountess had far too much to say about Holly and her life, in Holly’s opinion.

And her father, being neither familiar with nor interested in the needs of a young lady, was far too quick to concede to his mother.

Grandmama had decided that it was time Holly married.

And rather than wait until next year’s Season and the marriage mart, she wanted things expedited.

“You will be turning twenty-one, my dear,” Grandmama said. “What better way to celebrate that than with a ball? And if you should happen to meet an eligible gentleman, so much the better.”

Holly had been horrified.

Christmas wasn’t just the time of Holly’s birthday. It was the anniversary of Mama’s death.

The last thing she wanted was a party, for goodness sake.

Fun and frivolity had no place in this house at this time of year.

For the last few days people had been arriving, and given that Lord Northwood wasn’t exactly known for his friendliness, it had been left to Grandmama and Holly to welcome them.

And since Hollydidn’tactually want them there, or to welcome them, the entire thing was rather trying.

A movement caught her eye, distracting her from her irritation, and she watched as a group of men began to amble across the lawn.

Given the guns they held, she imagined they were going hunting. Her father then would be among them.

That was one of the few social activities he took part in.

Ah, yes. There he was.

Still straight-backed though portly, her father could be a man twenty years younger if not for the silver of his hair, hidden now by his hat. But she recognised the stride.

Beside him – Holly leaned forward –was Lord Stockton.

Holly’s stomach fluttered suddenly as she watched the young earl.

They had met but briefly when Holly had been in London for her Come Out three years ago. She didn’t remember much about him. Only that he’d been rather startlingly handsome. To her mind, at least. Tall, too. Much taller than any other gentleman of her acquaintance.

He was some eight years her senior and had been betrothed to the daughter of a distant friend of Grandmama’s.

His seat in Scotland was a considerable distance from Northwood, and she’d seen naught of him in Town during the last couple of Seasons.

In fact, now that she thought of it, she hadn’t seen the earl since that first introduction. And hadn’t yet been reacquainted with him.

He had arrived late to Northwood Manor, after the dinner hour, and had gone straight to his rooms.

As she watched him stride across the frost-tipped lawn, she cast her mind to what little she knew of him.

If she remembered correctly, the engagement hadn’t resulted in a marriage, which was really quite shocking. There’d been some scandal attached to the lady, according to Grandmama.