A Christmas Deception

By Cynthia Hickey

Lydia Downs, lady's maid to the spoiled Elizabeth Samson, is badgered into attending the first ball of the season in place of her mistress.

 

A masquerade ball where Lydia meets the kind, handsome, and wealthy Beauregard Hollingsworth.

 

What started as a lark soon turns to lies uncovered, deceit faced, and mistakes faced.

 

Can Lydia and Beau overcome the odds and find true love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cynthia Hickey
• Release date: Nov 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215149270

Cynthia Hickey

Multi-published and best-selling author, Cynthia Hickey, has taught writing at many conferences and small writing retreats. She and her husband run the publishing press, Winged Publications, which includes some of the CBA's best well-known authors. They live in Arizona and Arkansas, becoming snowbirds with two dogs and one cat. They have ten grandchildren who them busy and tell everyone they know that "Nana is a writer."   

Book preview

Chapter One

New York, 1889

Lydia Downs! As your mistress, I order you to take my place at the masquerade ball tonight. Elizabeth Samson stomped her silk-covered foot and pouted.

Lydia frowned. It wasn’t like Miss Lizzy to act so spoiled. She did on occasion, yes. After all, she was the only child of a wealthy family, but this was beyond even her selfishness. Your mother wants you married to a fine gentleman. That’s why she’s planned this... she wanted to say fiasco, this month of parties and outings.

Whoever I’m with at midnight is the man I must attend the holiday functions with. Every single one of them, and she has lined up quite a list. What a bore. Lizzy threw herself across her bed. You simply must stand in for me.

Why would I want to do what you aren’t willing to?

Because you’re not only my lady’s maid, I count you as friend. Lizzy rolled over and folded her hands prayerlike. Please.

I’ll never get away it. I don’t know anything about being a lady.

Oh, pooh. You’re more of a lady in actions than I am. Lizzy smiled. I can tell you’re breaking. Just say yes and spare us both.

Heaven help her, but she was caving. Lydia couldn’t help but think it would be a lark to trade places with Lizzy at the functions. Oh. What about people knowing who you are? I don’t see how you can masquerade as my maid.

I don’t intend to. I’ll have one of the servant girls. They all know how to keep their lips sealed. She clapped her hands. What fun.

For her maybe. Lydia sighed and knelt to place shoes on Lizzy’s feet. Good thing the two were similar in coloring and size. It was only for a month, after all. Once Christmas was past, Lizzy could resume her role in society and Lydia would return to her lowly position. Just this once. I won’t do it again. After the holidays, you must fend off your own suitors.

Lizzy jumped up and threw her arms around Lydia’s neck. Thank you.

Your mother will kill us both if she finds out.

We must make sure she doesn’t find out. You must answer to Lizzy. That’s what everyone calls me. She prattled on as if missing the biggest event of the season was something the girl did every day.

It would never work. I won’t always be wearing a mask.

Seriously, Lydia, stop fretting. We look as if we could be sisters. Act the part and people will believe anything you want them to. In the self-absorbed circles you’ll circulate in, it won’t be difficult at all. But if you’re that worried, leave the ball before midnight. If you aren’t there, mother can’t force the silly rules on you.

~

You look marvelous. Lizzy steepled her hands under her chin.

Lydia turned to the full-length mirror. A stranger stared back. Dark eyes glittered from behind a gold and black mask. A gown of gold and white tapestry, slightly too large, a large diamond necklace and earrings, topped off with an over-large black and gold hat completed the ensemble. It all worked together to hide her features very well. I don’t recognize myself.

You are going to be the envy of every other woman at the ball. Lizzy narrowed her eyes. Perhaps this isn’t a good idea. You’re going to steal every man’s heart.

Every man but one. Lydia smiled. Sir Melvin will see through the ruse right away. As the unsuitable man the wealthy Elizabeth loved, he returned her affections, there was no worry that he would be fooled into spending time with Lydia.

He won’t be at the ball. Lizzy smiled. He’s meeting me in the far corner of the garden so as to remain out of sight. You know the stable hands aren’t invited to such things.

Clever. And entirely inappropriate. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Maybe they weren’t invited, but the servants often watched the proceedings from the second floor.

Wonderful. I’ll slink out the back while you waltz into the ballroom. Remember, to act like me. She gave Lydia a quick hug and dashed away.

Spoiled and bossy? That shouldn’t be too terribly difficult to pull off. Lydia took a deep breath, opened the double doors to Lizzy’s bedroom, and sailed down the stairs, pausing at the entrance to the ballroom. Mercy, her heart was going to burst out of the low-cut dress. She started to tug up the neckline, then remembered who she pretended to be and dropped her hands.

Miss Elizabeth Samson, the butler announced. Out of the corner of his mouth, he whispered, Chin up if you want to pull off this foolishness.

Lydia gasped, jerked up her chin, and stepped into the crowded room. Immediately she found herself assailed by male attention clamoring for promises of a dance. She laughed and waved them away. The ridiculous stroke of midnight would determine the next month, and Lydia planned on choosing her prey carefully. Who would Lizzy pursue?

The dark-haired man in the corner perhaps. He smirked toward her, tapping his forehead in a mock salute. Blue eyes glittered from under a royal blue