The Christmas Countess. Adrienne Basso

is a most inconvenient time for me to be away from London. Since I’ve decided to stay in England for at least a year, ’tis imperative that I establish a stronger business presence. Currently, I am in the middle of some very delicate negotiations for mining rights in Cornwall. This venture needs my complete attention in order to succeed.”

      “Perhaps you can arrange to return to London for part of the time?”

      “And leave you on your own with Hampton? Not on your life.”

      “There will be a house full of guests, including the earl’s mother. I hardly think my reputation, or virtue, will be in jeopardy.” Rebecca rolled her eyes, but her brother was gazing out the window and did not see. “I appreciate your concern and support, but I am well beyond a time in my life when I need someone to protect me, to shield and shelter me from the world.”

      Daniel huffed. “Maybe if someone had done a better job of that years ago, we would not be in this particular mess.”

      Every muscle in Rebecca’s body stiffened, surprised to feel the hurt. He did not mean it the way it sounded, she told herself. He is merely annoyed and frustrated because of the inconvenience and interruption to his schedule. “I apologize again for not conferring with you before accepting the earl’s invitation, but I simply could not allow the opportunity to spend time with Lily to slip out of my grasp.”

      Daniel turned to her. Rebecca saw a moment of embarrassed anger cross his expression. “Curse my wicked tongue. I do not mean to vent my foul temper on you. Forgive me.”

      “Oh, Daniel.” Rebecca appreciated his apology, yet found herself compelled to explain further. “Please try to understand. I have no real desire to spend the holiday with Lord Hampton at his grand country estate. Truth be told, the very notion intimidates me. But this might be the only chance I will ever have to be with Lily and I know in my heart if I do not do this I shall waste far too many of the days ahead dwelling in bitterness.”

      “Hush, now. Of course you must go. We must go.” Daniel darted her an embarrassed look, then awkwardly patted her hand. “I know it is necessary for you to seize this opportunity. Though no one who knew the truth of the matter would fault you for wallowing in pity and resentment. ’Tis monstrously unfair what our parents did.

      “As for Great-Aunt Mildred, let me just say it is a blessing she is already deceased or else I would not be held accountable for my actions toward her.”

      Rebecca heaved a small sigh and smiled at her brother. It did her bruised spirits good to have him play the champion for her. “I know this visit will not be easy for either of us, but at least it is a happy time of year. Celebrating Christmas often brings out the best in people.”

      Daniel grimaced. “I find the holiday can oftentimes be a foolish combination of sentimentality and over-blown piety.”

      “But you always loved Christmas when you were a boy.”

      “That was a very long time ago, Becca.”

      Knowing she would never win an argument on that subject, Rebecca felt it prudent to change the course of their conversation. “How long before we are there?” she asked.

      “The coachman told me another hour.”

      Rebecca straightened and looked out the carriage window. There had been a subtle transformation in the landscape that had previously escaped her notice. The more densely populated area outside the city proper had given way to a gently rolling countryside, the fields now bare, the meadows still boasting a few sparse patches of green.

      The woodlands and copses were without leaves and the bareness was a fitting accompaniment to her mood. Though she had professed her great desire and determination for the necessity of this upcoming visit to her brother, Rebecca worried if she was doing the right thing.

      Would it be easier or harder to leave her daughter once she had become acquainted with the little girl? Was she possibly making a most difficult situation even more intolerable? Would it be better to try to forget about Lily and simply move forward with her life?

      And what of the earl? Was her attraction to him merely the natural female instinct of admiring a handsome, powerful man? Or was there a deeper, more complex connection that she could not begin to define or understand?

      These thoughts plagued her for the next hour, but when they passed a sign announcing they had entered Kent, Rebecca threw off her worrisome mood. It was a lovely, charming, rural area, one that reminded her a bit of her home in Taunton. They rode through a prosperous village, with a fine selection of goods displayed in the shop windows and numerous, well-dressed people frequenting those establishments and her mood lightened further.

      Beyond the shops were clusters of houses. Some of the dwellings had thatched roofs; others were constructed of stone and slate. All had bare gardens neatly tidied and dormant in the winter cold and there were hedgerows or painted white fences marking their boundaries. As the carriage reached the outskirts of the village proper, it clattered past an old Norman church, then turned onto a curving road that crept up a hill.

      In the distance, Rebecca could see the manor house and its extensive grounds. The sun was high in the sky, its wintry rays brilliantly reflected in the many small-paned windows of the four-story house. There was smoke curling from the ten chimneys she counted, an inviting, welcoming sight.

      Her excitement and delight held until they pulled into the long gravel drive, but then as she thought of the days ahead, the emotions in her gut began to churn. However was she going to manage?

      A trio of liveried servants encircled the carriage even before it came to a complete stop in the courtyard. The men bustled efficiently around the coach, assisting Rebecca and Daniel from the interior, then organizing the luggage, horses, coachman and grooms with a skilled efficiency that bespoke of extensive experience with visitors.

      The front door was opened by a stiff, unsmiling butler, but his severe greeting was softened by the immediate appearance of the housekeeper, an older woman dressed in black with a white lace cap perched on her head.

      “Welcome, welcome, to Windmere manor,” she said with a happy smile. “’Tis always a delight to have guests among us, but never more so than during Christmastime. I am Mrs. Evans, the housekeeper. If you find yourself in need of anything, anything at all, during your stay, please be sure to ask me.”

      There was no chance to reply, for the dowager countess next appeared. She too smiled with delight and welcomed them graciously, apologizing for her son’s absence by explaining he was away from the manor attending to estate business.

      “We are so pleased that you were able to join us this year,” the dowager countess said. “We look forward to your joining in our outings and soirees. There is always something lively and delightful to do at Windmere during the holidays.”

      “Splendid,” Daniel said with a congenial smile.

      “I know you must be tired after your journey,” the dowager countess continued. “The servants will show you to your chambers. We are having an informal luncheon served at one o’clock. I look forward to seeing you both then.”

      Rebecca smiled her thanks, pleased their arrival turned out to be slightly less of an ordeal than she had feared. A footman assisted Daniel while she followed the housekeeper up the grand staircase, through the hall, then down a long corridor.

      After assuring the housekeeper she needed nothing further, Rebecca took a moment to enjoy the solitude in her bedchamber. As she walked by the four-poster bed, she could smell the lavender-scented sheets. The room was pleasantly appointed in shades of blue and cream, dominated by a subtle pattern of forget-me-nots in the wallpaper and repeated on the silk bed coverlet.

      A small settee featuring the same floral pattern in brocade was at the foot of the bed, facing the hearth. There were two thick rugs, one blue, one cream, covering the floor.

      In addition to a dressing table, with a matching mirror, and a large cherry armoire, there was a writing desk on the far wall and a plush blue chaise