Page 174 of Snowbound Surrender
CHRISTMAS WITH A CZAR
EMILY EK MURDOCH
CHAPTER 1
“And yet youpromised to abide by our agreement when we left home,” Anne said with a heavy sigh. A smile was still plastered over her face; they were in public. She was not going to be the one to draw attention to their argument. “After this Christmas, no more talking about marriage. I will remain single, and happy.”
“And I said it was a foolish agreement in the first place.” Sir Thomas Marsh frowned at his daughter as two footmen bowed them through another set of double doors. “I should never have agreed it with you.”
Anne knew it had been foolish of her to think her father would abide by their compromise. The entire carriage ride to St. James’ Court, he had been quiet – a little too quiet.
A footman stared and Anne fought down her desire to blush. She knew she looked ridiculous, dressed up in last decade’s fashions, but that was what Prinny wanted.
The Prince Regent.She must not use his nickname here, at his court! Anne had always hated the pomp and circumstance of the court, but Prinny did not. He loved to feel important, special, loved.
They walked towards another set of doors, and two footmen in the royal family’s livery bowed as they opened the doors.
“Really,” Anne hissed at her father as they walked through, “St. James’ Court, of all places? You think I will find a husband here?”
“You are twenty nine years old,” her father reminded her, not unkindly. “If not now, we are rapidly running out of time.”
Anne rolled her eyes. “I am not quibbling over my age, Father, but your methods. Every young chit of a thing will be here this Christmas, for the Season. Beautiful, young women. You really believe that any gentleman will even be able to notice me?”
“Will there be any girls here like me?” A small voice piped up.
Anne turned to look behind her. Meredith looked uncomfortable in the formal bodice Sir Thomas had insisted she wear.
“Ask Father,” Anne said shortly. “Not many twelve year olds are brought to St. James’ Court.”
She glared at her father for good measure, who protested, “You think I would leave her behind? Besides, you are not unattractive, Anne – ”
“Well, thank you!”
“ – and you have a little charm and wit,” Sir Thomas continued steadily. “If you are determined this is to be your final Season, foolish as I think that is, then I would like the best for you.”
Their little family passed a pair of ladies in the styles of the 1790s, who stared at them. Anne tried to keep her head up high. They may not be highly titled, wealthy, or noble, but there had been Marshes in Romney since the Romans. She belonged here, as the daughter of a gentleman, just as they did.
“Papa, will there be anyone like me here?” Meredith’s voice, a little plaintive now, rose above the growing noise emanating from the double doors ahead of them.
Sir Thomas paused and looked down. “No,” he said finally, “I do not think so, Meredith. But there may be a few children that live around here that you could play with.”
Meredith scrunched up her nose and Anne’s heart squeezed. “I suppose so.”
Anne opened her mouth to speak but they had just reached another set of double doors. Loud chatter poured underneath it, and there was laughter, and music.
Sir Thomas breathed in heavily. “We are here.”
“Yes,” said Anne quietly. “And this is our last fortnight here at Court, Father. You promised. Our rooms may only be downstairs, but this is the last time I am coming here.”
She caught his eye and tried to show him, through the fierceness of her look, that she was in absolutely no place to debate this.
Her father sighed. “You always get your own way eventually, Annika.”
Her heart softened. He only used her pet name when he felt the loss of her mother most profoundly. But before she could speak, the two slightly sneering footmen opened the doors.
The Marshes were hit with the noise and smells of a royal court preparing for Christmas. The room was large, ordinarily a ballroom but today used for the many visitors to the Royal Court to circulate, admire, and be admired. A pair of thrones were situated at one end, at present completely empty.
Anne attempted to hold herself as though she absolutely belonged there, but it was a challenge. It had only been after a lengthy argument that they had even come here, leaving their warm home in the Kentish countryside, to come to this cold and stiff place – and for Christmas, no less.
