An Excerpt from A Cotillion Country Christmas
"A Tradition of Love" by Carolynn Carey
The days in December seemed to fly by but Thea felt she had the activities leading up to Christmas Eve well in hand. Mrs. Gilbert had been a tremendous help and of course whenever Thea felt she needed extra hands, she could always call on her mother and sisters.
She did face one problem, however, one that she couldn't discuss with anyone. Her relationship with Robert continued to be a worry to her. Although he often appeared to enjoy her company and occasionally found an excuse to touch her hand or wrap his hands around her waist to help her dismount, he never showed even the slightest interest in consummating their marriage. Thea was beginning to think there was something wrong with one of them but she had no idea what it could be and she couldn't bring herself to ask her mother or sisters-in-law for advice. The mere thought of bringing up such a topic brought hot blushes to her face.
Still, there had to be something she could do to arouse Robert's interest in her. She was already twenty-four years old and if she didn't become a wife in more than name only, she was never going to be able to start the family she so desperately wanted. Unfortunately she didn't know what to do other than smile, flirt a little and hope for the best.
Still, there were small signs of progress. Robert no longer ignored her in order to immerse himself in his work. Ever since he'd hired Josiah Murdock as his secretary, he'd appeared much more at ease. He still spent a few hours each morning in the library but now he made it a point to join Thea for dinner and for an hour or two of conversation in the drawing room after they ate.
Of great encouragement to Thea was the fact that they were never at a loss for things to talk about. Robert showed a good deal of interest in Thea's family and was forever asking her to expound on the characteristics of one of her brothers or sisters so he could understand them better.
And the activities of the neighborhood were a frequent topic of conversation. Robert had spent so many years avoiding Maulton Manor that he needed to become reacquainted with most of the local people.
Thea longed to tell Robert how she felt about him-how she had felt about him since she was thirteen years old. But her greatest fear was that any confession she might make in telling Robert that she loved him would merely make him feel responsible for her happiness and the last thing he needed was another responsibility.
So Thea threw herself into their Christmas preparations. She and Mrs. Gilbert spent hours going over recipes Thea had borrowed from her mother and together they decided on a variety of side dishes for Christmas day dinner.
They also cleared off mantels and sideboards throughout the house in preparation for the decorations they would create when the men carried in the greenery on Christmas Eve.
The magic day of December 24 was growing nearer and nearer. Only six days to go, Thea reflected with joy the morning of December 18 when she awoke. She rang for Mabel and then hurried to dress and dash down the stairs to the breakfast parlor where she would join Robert for a substantial meal and a discussion of their individual plans for the day.
Today, however, she found him at the foot of the stairs already dressed in his riding clothes and greatcoat. His expression was solemn and he reached to grasp her hands when she halted in front of him.
Thea's good mood evaporated. "What is this, my lord, that you are going out so early? Is something amiss?"
Robert's brow furrowed. "I'm sorry to leave you so precipitously, my dear but I just received a missive from my estate manager in Essex. There's been a fire. One of my tenants has lost his home and two of his family members were injured. I need to travel to Essex to review the situation."
Thea's shoulders slumped. "I'm deeply sorry. This is a terrible time of year for a fire. But surely your manager could ensure that the injured receive proper medical attention and also find a home for the family until they can rebuild."
Robert shook his head. "I can't expect my manager to make these decisions without me. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be back before the end of the month."
Thea felt tears burning at the back of her eyes but she willed them away. She refused to let her disappointment add to Robert's burdens. Although she felt he should have more confidence in his managers' abilities to do their jobs, she knew she could not change him. "Do you have all you need for your trip, my lord?"
"I do. Thank you for your concern, my dear."
"In that case…" Thea dug deep and found the courage she needed, then rose on the tips of her toes, placed a hand behind her husband's head and pulled him down for a quick kiss on the lips.
Copyright © Carolynn Carey.
This excerpt is copyrighted material.
It may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the author, Carolynn Carey.
