Spying on Christmas: MIracle Express, #8

By Leona Bushman

Christmas is not always what it seems.

Melody hated Christmas. Ever since her parents died in the Christmas season, nothing had ever been the same. She and her brother had been forced to live with their grandfather. Her brother, the now presumptive heir, received most of the attention as he learned about the holdings.
She had been given lessons on how to be a lady.
As if she wanted them. She would rather do anything else than be a lady with no rights. One night, at a soiree, someone had approached her to spy for them. Not giving her a choice, really. So, with great reluctance, she'd accepted the invite to her cousin's Christmas house party.
Two weeks pretending to be happy about Christmas? Worse punishment ever for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Then she met her prey—Kit Stuart the third. Her heart raced, and her body yearned for something she never wanted before.
Kit Stuart searched for a rebel spy said to be coming to the Christmas party of his best friend. Not hard to accept as ordered, but then he found the rebel spy, and his heart denied it. His body craved hers. How could he arrest and maybe kill the first woman to make him believe that maybe there was such a thing as Christmas miracles?
Then the real betrayal was revealed.
Could they save their family and friends before it was too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leona Bushman
• Release date: Dec 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393013679

Book preview

This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places and incidents are used fictionally, or are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to real places or people are purely coincidental or fictionalized.

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To my muse.

Spying on Christmas

Christmas is not always what it seems.

Melody hated Christmas. Ever since her parents died on Christmas Eve, nothing had ever been the same. She and her brother had been forced to live with their grandfather. Her brother, the now presumptive heir, received most of the attention as he learned about the holdings.

She had been given lessons on how to be a lady.

As if she wanted them. She would rather do anything else  than be a lady with no rights. One night, at a soiree, someone had approached her to spy for them. Not giving her a choice, really. So, with great reluctance, she’d accepted the invite to her cousin’s Christmas house party.

Two weeks pretending to be happy about Christmas? Worse punishment ever for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Then she met her prey—Kit Stuart the third. Her heart raced, and her body yearned for something she never wanted before.

Kit Stuart searched for a rebel spy said to be coming to the Christmas party of his best friend. Not hard to accept as ordered, but then he found the rebel spy, and his heart denied it. His body craved hers. How could he arrest and maybe kill the first woman to make him believe that maybe there was such a thing as Christmas miracles?

Then the real betrayal was revealed. Could they save their family and friends before it was too late?

Prologue

Cornwall, England, 1845...

Miss, my lady, you must wake up. Your grandfather, His Grace, is here and wants an audience with you in the study immediately.

Melody sat up groggily. Grandfather was here, now? She pushed the covers back and began putting on the clothing the maid set out. In record time, she had dressed in her simplest clothes and a wrap donned to ward off the chill.

How long has he been waiting?

It is not for me to know, miss. The butler awoke the housekeeper, though, and something is afoot. The whole house is awake now.

Even Richard and my parents? Her brother, the spoiled, presumptive heir who could do no wrong.

Yes, my lady. Even your brother. Your parents have not returned from the party according to the under butler.

That was unfortunate. She would prefer to deal with emergencies without him. Thank you, Jean-Anne.

Melody walked down the dual staircase to her father’s study. Despite not being the favorite, her father had showered her with governesses and tutors, the best of everything. Anything she wanted, as if to make up for her being unable to inherit. Her mother preferred Richard, stating that Melody was too much like a boy for her, and that Melody would never amount to a proper lady, in other words, never be married off. She shook her head.

What could her grandfather want with her when her parents were not even home?

You must prepare yourself, Melody, he said as soon as she entered. No hello, nothing. Trepidation wrangled its way into her heart. Her manners make the difference between humans and animals grandfather not displaying them?

What for, Grandfather?

You and your brother are being moved to my estates, posthaste. We must hurry before the news spreads about town.

Melody stared in horror at her grey-haired grandfather. The words refused to penetrate as they could not be true. Must not be true. Her and her brother would be moving to the main estates immediately?

Why? Father wants us raised here, in southern England, away from the ton as much as possible.

In truth, she had been forced to make her introductions to the queen like every other debutante, but she had gone mostly unnoticed, other than the eldest daughter of the heir to a dukedom. The queen and her grandfather got on famously, but that would not allow Melody to be the heir presumptive. Not since Richard was born.

She resented that her being a female prevented her from inheriting so much. Why could she not have had one that was sent down through the female lines? Richard hated the estates. Hated the very idea of having to work, in fact.

Melody Joy Hampton. Have you been listening?

But of course, she had not. I am sorry, Grandfather. I cannot seem to wake up fully.

For the first time since she had turned fourteen, her grandfather gave her an openly kind look. Melody, your parents are gone. They will not be back. There is a scandal brewing. I cannot tell you more than that at this time. He came to her and awkwardly patted her shoulder. I know we are not the closest. I was afraid your mother would...that is neither here nor there.

Now she wondered what he wanted to say, but after a pause in which he seemed to pull himself together, he continued. In truth, I will have to put my time into making sure Richard is ready to be the next duke, but I will tell you this. I have always admired your spunk. Right now, you will need it to get through the challenging months ahead.

His words surprised her. Mayhap she had misread him these many years. Before she could ponder too closely, the door to the study opened, and Grandfather stepped back, clearing his throat. As I was saying, we must prepare to move immediately. It is a long drive. Pack what you need for today and tomorrow. The servants can pack up the rest and bring it along.

Her father’s estates—unentailed—that they currently resided in lay near Cornwall, and she loved them. However, Cornwall was a beehive of gossip and scandal, the juicier the better.

What about Mother and Father?

Grandfather put a hand on her shoulder, though his gaze moved from her to Richard. That is what I am trying to tell you, my child. They are gone. The tears in his voice broke through to her.

Both of them? Gone? How? No. No, no, no, no, no.

A freak accident, a tree fell on them from the storm last night up London way. However... He gave her a long, assessing look. We will speak more of this later. For now, we must go. I have heard rumors.

How? You do not live here. And what were her parents doing in London? They had said they were going to a friend’s house party. The name would not come to her, but she distinctly remembered them being in southern England, much closer to Cornwall.

Where are we going, Richard cut in. Right. He missed the earlier bit.

To my London Townhouse. The early season is just getting underway.

I adore London. I have hated living in this backwater town, Richard said. I will be ready to go at once.

As I told your sister, pack what you need for a couple of days, and the servants can bring the rest.

Righto, Grandfather. Richard bowed and left.

Melody. Grandfather gave her a gentle shake at the shoulders. We have not much time. I know it seems I was gruff and did not care for you, but that was because of your mother’s vindictive ways. If she thought I cared too much, she would have kept you from me. And in the next months, the time preparing Richard for what he will inherit is going to take up the bulk of my time—and patience. But Melody, know this. I have seen and understand you. You are the woman of the future. You are the best of us. You carry the nobility that we are supposed to aspire to. I love your brother, do not get me wrong, however, he has been spoiled by your mother’s ways. And your grandmother cannot see through him as I can. I am afraid, child, that the next few months are going to be extra difficult for you. More so than for Richard because you truly care about others. Just remember, I love you, even if it seems I must not.

She nodded, dazed, unsure of what else to say or do. Her grandfather loved her, even saw Richard for what he