Page 85 of An Earl's Christmas Seduction
Amelia found Elsie laying out a dress for her, and the maid looked up and smiled.
“Forgive me, my Lady, but your mother told me… well, I’m so happy for you,” she said, and Amelia smiled.
“Thank you, Elsie. That’s very kind of you to say. But I fear it might mean your having to see more of Devonshire than you might like,” she said, and Elsie blushed.
“Well… my Lady, you see… I wouldn’t mind that, though I’m surprised at myself for admitting as much. You see, there’s the stable boy I mentioned. He’s sweet on me, I think. And his mother and I got on very well, and there’s the little one, too… I wouldn’t mind coming back, if your Ladyship would allow me to,” she said, and Amelia smiled.
“I think that sounds a very good idea, indeed. I’m happy for you, too,” Amelia said, and the maid clapped her hands together in delight.
“Oh, how wonderful, my Lady,” she exclaimed, and quite forgetting herself, she threw her arms around Amelia’s neck and kissed her on the cheek.
But Amelia did not mind. Elsie had been a good friend to her, and the two of them talked happily of their respective beaus as the maid helped Amelia to get dressed for the evening. It was not long before the gong sounded, but as Amelia reached the top of the stairs, dressed in a pretty purple gown, she was greeted, not by the butler, but by the viscount, who now began to sing, accompanied by none other than her mother, Lady Turner, and Lady Thornton.
“On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree…”
On the fourth verse, and with the rest of the guests having now gathered at the top of the stairs, listening with bemused appreciation to the rendition, the viscount raised his hands.
“I can’t even remember which day of Christmas it is,” he exclaimed, and the others laughed.
“Well, we’ve had Christmas Day, and Saint Stephen’s Day, and now… it’s the next day,” Lord Thornton said, and the others nodded.
“Then we’d better stop with the three French hens,” the viscount replied, but the three women now continued, and sang the song to its final verse, eliciting a loud round of applause from everyone gathered on the landing above.
“How delightful,” Sir Samuel said, and the three women now curtsied.
Nicholas glanced at Amelia, and it seemed one surprise deserved another. He held out his arm, and she took it, the two of them walking together down the sweeping staircase, Amelia’s dress trailing behind her.
The other guests glanced at one another, and though there were some raised eyebrows, it seemed everyone else understood perfectly well what was being conveyed. But as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Amelia turned to find they were being followed. Both Clara and Edmund, and Isobel and Harry had taken their lead, following arm in arm, as though in declaration of their coupling.
“Goodness me,” Edgar exclaimed, and even the viscount seemed lost for words.
“Well… isn’t this a ball?” Nicholas said, turning to the viscount, who laughed.
“Aye, we’ll make it so. Three couples ready to dance,” he said, clapping his hands together in delight.
Lady Thornton and Lady Turner exchanged glances.
