A Christmas Courtship

By Lily George

Anthony Carew, Earl of Bexley, is the unwitting object of scandal when his betrothed elopes with another man. While Bexley is all too happy to return to a quiet life of farming, his formidable grandmother, along with her brother, the Duke of Danby, have different plans. To quiet gossip and fulfill his duty as the eldest son, he must find a wife, and soon.

Shy Rosamond Hughes has secretly been in love with Bexley’s younger brother for years, and she is encouraged by his sisters to sweep the wandering younger son off his feet when he returns home for the holidays. What better way to hone her meager flirting skills than by practicing on their recently jilted brother, Bexley?

In her quest to follow her heart, Rosamond accompanies the Carews to Christmas at Danby Castle. After a few magical days, she finds that the man she adores is the man she’s been pretending to flirt with all along. Now it only remains for the young lady to convince the farmer to take a wife

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lily George
• Release date: Jul 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311465818

Book preview

Chapter 1

December 1, 1816

The Marquess of Westchester’s Study

Thursan Grange

Derbyshire, England

Anthony Carew , Earl of Bexley, leaned back in his chair, glancing around the study at the rather fearsome display of family togetherness gathered therein. The Marquess of Westchester, more commonly known as Father, fitted his fingertips together carefully, but maintained his silence. His mother, the Marchioness of Westchester, turned a shade paler than her usual pallor, but kept her counsel as well. Only his grandmother, the formidable dowager marchioness, dared to break the silence that followed his sudden announcement.

What do you mean, your engagement is broken? She thumped her cane on the floor and glowered at Anthony. Have I heard aright? Genevieve Hopwood has eloped with someone other than you?

I’m afraid it’s all too true. As he said the words, he grew conscious of a feeling of humiliation mixed with heady relief. She met her American cousin just a few days ago, and I suppose she fell headlong in love. They eloped this morning. I just got word from her father.

How absolutely appalling. His grandmother cast a withering look at those assembled around her. An American, no less. Whatever you may say about the Hopwood fortune, or their ancient lineage, I will say there is no accounting for taste.

She would have been much more suited to Anthony, that much is certain, his mother averred, nodding at the dowager. But what can we do now? My poor son is embroiled in a scandal, none of which is of his own making. Once word gets out, there will be no end to the tittle-tattle.

Grandmother flicked her ancient gaze over to Anthony. He had trouble meeting her look. She had such penetratingly blue eyes, despite her advanced age. Do you care much about gossip?

He had never been able to lie to his grandmother, no matter what he did. He could often find ways around the truth with his own parents, but never with her. I don’t, not really, he confessed. I feel like a dashed fool, that much is certain. I never wanted a wife anyway. Genevieve was just a proper candidate. Now that she is gone, perhaps I can turn my attention back to farming. It’s what I love best.

Oh, Anthony. Mother rolled her eyes heavenward. You know that is impossible. You are the eldest son, and your father’s heir. You must find a wife, and you must start your own family. Farming can come later.

I find it heartening that Anthony is so attached to life at Thursan Grange, Father replied, breaking his silence at last. But your mother is right, my son. You must find a wife, and you must marry. If not Genevieve, some other girl will do.

And sooner, rather than later, Mother added, unfurling her fan slowly. Anything to quiet the gossip. Honestly, I don’t know what has gotten into young ladies these days. Eloping with an American! How positively galling.

Anthony turned to his grandmother, hating for the conversation to turn down that same well-worn path. He mopped his brow with his handkerchief. Grandmother had the fire in the grate roaring, which might have suited her, but was causing the rest of the family to break out in perspiration. Yes, Genny had eloped. Yes, she had eloped with her American cousin. He could not feel any kind of anger or remorse about this, because she had freed him—even if only temporarily, from the Marriage Mart. Grandmother understood. She wouldn’t force him to seek a wife over the Christmas holidays. What do you think, Grandmother? Asking her opinion would put an end to Mother’s tirade.

I think, the dowager began slowly, that it is high time we visit my brother, Jonathan. He has invited us all to spend Christmas at Danby, and I feel compelled to go. He is much more acute on matters of matchmaking than I, and besides, I have a wish to see him again. Grandmother looked Anthony directly in the eyes. You aren’t off the hook yet, my boy.

Anthony gave an inward groan. His family was determined to have him married off, no matter how he felt about the matter. And if Grandmother was planning to consult with the formidable Duke of Danby about this situation, then Anthony’s choices really played no part in the matter.

What could he say or do? He knew what he was. He was, at heart, a simple farmer. Nothing brought him greater happiness than seeing the ripe, unfurling rows of wheat reaching toward the sky in early spring. He knew what he was doing while working the land, whereas in a ballroom—well, better to leave that sort of thing to his dashing younger brother, Richard. Richard was the ladies’ man, the bounder, and the cad. Just as one would suspect from such a daring youth, he had gone off to the West Indies to seek his fortune, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him.

Once Richard had gone, and scandals stopped brewing about him, the family’s focus had shifted firmly to finding Anthony a wife, even though he knew he had absolutely none of his brother’s debonair and suave ways.

When do we leave? Mother’s eyes were wide with alarm. There’s so much to do before we can go. I had planned to have Christmas here, of course.

That was before Genevieve Hopwood turned our lives upside down, Grandmother rejoined sharply. "Start making any plans you need for travel and for closing the house over the holidays. I’ll make inquiries of Jonathon as to where we shall stay. I think there are usually one or two homes to let during the season, and we shall simply take up residence in one of those. We shall arrive at Danby no later than the 20th. Jonathon is preparing a ball for Christmas Eve, and I want to make sure I have plenty of time to confer with him about Anthony’s predicament before the festivities begin."

It really was too much. Anthony rose so quickly, he sent his gilt chair skidding backward. Conferring with the duke about his love life,