When She Was Naughty (A Christmas Short Story)

By Tessa Dare

A Christmas Eve ball.

A light-hearted beauty.

An earl who needs to come in from the cold.

 

All year long, Chloe Garland's been trading witty remarks and heated glances with her nemesis, the arrogant Lord Cheverell. But when Chloe tricks him into wearing a hideous waistcoat—complete with sequins, pompoms, and jingle bells—to her family's Christmas Eve party, she may have gone too far. Her penalty? A single, scorching kiss—and a Christmas gift she never expected.

 

Love.

 

A warm, funny, Regency short story to celebrate a few cherished traditions: ugly Christmas sweaters, family togetherness, and the true spirit of the holidays—love. Length: approximately 50 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tessa Dare
• Release date: Dec 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393167938

Tessa Dare

Tessa Dare is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of more than a dozen historical romances. A librarian by training and a book-lover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she shares a cozy, cluttered bungalow with her husband, their two children, and a pair of cosmic kittens.

Book preview

About the Book

A Christmas Eve ball.

A light-hearted beauty.

An earl who needs to come in from the cold.

All year long, Chloe Garland’s been trading witty remarks and heated glances with her nemesis, the arrogant Lord Cheverell. But when Chloe tricks him into wearing a hideous waistcoat—complete with sequins, pompoms, and jingle bells—to her family’s Christmas Eve party, she may have gone too far. Her penalty? A single, scorching kiss—and a Christmas gift she never expected.

Love.

A warm, funny, Regency short story to celebrate a few cherished traditions: ugly Christmas sweaters, family togetherness, and the true spirit of the holidays—love. Length: approximately 50 pages.

Chapter One

Chloe Garland looked about the ballroom adorned with greenery and gold bunting, enjoying the familiar, delicious shiver of anticipation.

After all, what was Christmas without anticipation?

As a girl, she had anticipated the sweetmeats and gifts, like every other child. As her older brothers and sisters began marrying and moving out of the family home, she longed for Christmas because they would all be together again.

And then, when she’d grown out of childhood and become a young lady, she’d started anticipating a different Christmas tradition: the family’s annual Christmas Eve ball. Over the years, the party had become a not-to-be-missed event. Her parents’ hospitality and merrymaking were legendary. The music was lively, the décor was unmatched, and the mulled wine flowed freely.

Her first silk gown, her first sip of brandy punch, her first dance with a gentleman...every milestone in her life had happened right here in this ballroom, on Christmas Eve.

Now, at the age of four-and-twenty, Chloe was still finding new Christmas Eve delights to anticipate. Tonight, she was anxiously awaiting the appearance of one particular gentleman.

Justin Peregrine St. George Deville Montague, the fifth Earl of Cheverell.

She took two brimming cups of punch from a servant passing a tray and searched out her mother in the crowd. She found her without difficulty. Mama was impossible to miss. Her hair had gone silver and her hips had widened, and she was still the most captivating woman in any room. It was easy to see why she’d first caught Papa’s eye, and why he still gazed adoringly at her across the dinner table, more than thirty years later.

Mama, you’ve outdone yourself yet again. Chloe kissed her mother on the cheek and passed her a cup of punch. Has Lord Cheverell graced us with his presence yet? she asked, trying to sound as if she cared less then she did.

Her mother shook her head. Not yet. I do hope he joins us. It feels a bit unfair that we’ve stolen his cousin away at the holidays.

"We didn’t steal Rebecca. Andrew married her, and I do believe she was quite willing."

You know what I mean. They were raised together, and Cheverell hasn’t any other family. I’d hate to think of him all alone at Christmas, with no relations to keep him company.

I believe Lord Cheverell prefers his own company best of all.

Chloe, I don’t know what you have against the poor man.

"Poor man? He’s not a poor man, he’s an obscenely wealthy man. And I would hold nothing against him, if he did not hold himself above us."

"He is above us, Mama pointed out. He’s an earl. We are mere gentry. But if Lord Cheverell held our circumstances against us, he wouldn’t have permitted his only cousin to marry your brother. He wouldn’t call on your father when he’s in town, or join us for family outings."

Of course he would do all that. He wants to see Rebecca. He merely suffers the rest of us.

He suffers me least of all, Chloe thought.

Over the months of their acquaintance, she and Lord Cheverell had butted heads at every turn. Chloe was a Garland. She preferred to enjoy life. To laugh too loudly and dance too wildly and occasionally go barefoot in summertime. It seemed a travesty to go through one’s life on earth without ever actually touching the earth. And yet, she doubted that Lord Cheverell had ever brushed an ungloved finger over a lowly blade of grass, or caught a single snowflake on his tongue. Apparently earls weren’t allowed these small pleasures.

Chloe would be content to

[Samantha Gutierrez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sweet, funny, enjoyable novella. Will read more by this author.

[Arah Jell Badayos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A novella that reminded me how much I love Tessa Dare’s writing. When it’s her book, I get to use my highlight button a lot with all the romantic passages that make one smile. When it comes to historical romance, she’s one of the best.

[Morgan La Batt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As always, Tessa knocks it out of the park. Her dialogue is charming and reminiscent of Gilmore Girls in the best way. Her characters are instantly likable. I have no complaints.

[ROSVI C. GAETOS · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Short and sweet and not so bad for a short story.