Regency Romp - Happy Christmas Mr Jones (Regency Romps) Read Online Free PDF

tempted.’
                  ‘You should follow your heart, old fellow.  Your uncle may leave you his fortune one day – but you could always make a career in the army.’
                  ‘It is a thought,’ Michael said.  ‘My uncle is hale and I have few hopes there but I could always ask her and face me father down…’
                  Tomas nodded but said no more.  His friend must make up his own mind, he would not push him into what might be a rash decision.  For himself it seemed that half his work was done; it was extremely fortunate that Michael’s family was invited to a ball at the Manor.  He had expected that he would have to scour the district to discover where Miss Lydia lived, but now he knew - and he would be seeing her at the ball the next evening.
                  Would she be as lovely as he remembered?  If he found that she had the same effect on him as before, he must find a way to pay court to her – even if meant extending his stay here well beyond Christmas.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    ‘You look lovely,’ Jane said as her sister entered her bedchamber.  ‘That dress always did suit you – and Mama’s pearls look well on you.’
                  ‘Are you sure you do not wish to wear them?’ Lydia asked.  ‘They are as much yours as mine, Jane.’
                  ‘Mama’s jewels are for us to share,’ her sister said.  ‘We are lucky to have the pearls, this ruby pendent I am wearing and the sapphire one, also the matching earbobs.  I wish there had been more but, as you know, most of the things she had were sold after Papa died.  Until one of us marries, we will share them…and then we shall have to decide how to split them between us.’
                  ‘You like the pendants best so I think you should have them both,’ Lydia said.  ‘I prefer the pearls, but we can take turns in wearing them.’
                  ‘How like you to give me the most valuable,’ Jane said and smiled.  ‘We shall share them for the moment.  If one of us marries a rich man…’  She sighed and shook her head.  ‘Perhaps it will happen for you, Lydia.’
                  ‘And why not for you?’ Lydia demanded.  ‘You are beautiful, dearest.  If we have a season I believe we shall both marry well.’
                  ‘Perhaps,’ Jane said.  ‘No more of this, my love.  We shall go and find the others and then go down.  The guests will be arriving soon.’
                  ‘Yes,’ Lydia agreed.  ‘Do you think there will be anyone exciting  at the ball this year, Jane?  Last year I did not meet a single gentleman that I would like to marry.  Besides, most of them were already married or widowed.  I am not sure I would wish to marry an older man who already had a family.’
                  ‘Beggars cannot always choose,’ Jane said and could not quite hide her sigh.  ‘I may have no choice.  Major Johns has been paying me attention for some time.  I had the excuse of my mourning to put him off but now…I know my uncle thinks I should take him.’
                  ‘That is not fair.  Major Johns is so much older…and he is a little fat,’ Lydia objected.  ‘You would have much more chance of finding a man you liked if we had a season.’
                  ‘But can we really expect Uncle Simeon to pay for it?’ Jane asked, looking grave.  ‘He might wish to be fair to us, Lydia, but he has his own daughters to think of.’
                  ‘Surely it would not cost so very much if we were to accompany Annabel and Mary when they have theirs?’
                  ‘Not in terms of accommodation or entertainment – but there are all the clothes we should need.’
                  ‘Yes, they would be expensive,’ Lydia agreed.