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Category:
Romance
Publisher: Regency Romance Publications
Type: Fiction
Pages: 109
Copyright: Dec 4, 2014
Price: $0.99 (eBook)
Suspense, love, romance, marriage, sex, treachery, conspiracy, secrets, love of mother and father for their first child, puppies, the first Christmas for a little red-haired toddler, a touch of the paranormal, a Knight Templar stepping out of legend, matchmaking, secret societies, family traditions, mystery, historical Christmas traditions, great holiday food,a cup of comfort for mothers and daughters, and intent by an insidious green-eyed fanatic to murder everyone who stands between him and his obsession--all are masterfully woven into the fabric of this suspense-filled, multi-faceted Christmas story and regency romance. All the blessings of the Christmas season resonate with warmth, love, and unbridled passion.
Suspense, love, romance, marriage, sex, treachery, conspiracy, secrets, love of mother and father for their first child, puppies, the first Christmas for a little red-haired toddler, a touch of the paranormal, a Knight Templar stepping out of legen, spies, matchmaking, secret societies, family traditions, great holiday food, a coup of comfor tor mother and daughter, historical Christmas tradiitions, and intent by an insidious green-eyed fanatic to murder everyone who stands between him and his obsession--all are masterfully woven into the fabric of this suspense-filled, mulit-faceted Christmas regency romance. All the blessings of the Christmas season resonate with warmth, love, and unbridled passion. . .
("Nicholas picked her up, admiring her beautfiul Botticell-like body in all its perfection, and carried her to a nearby couch, placing her on it as carefully as if she were a delicate work of art--which, in his mind, she was. As she sank down onto the cushions. . .she held out her arms to receive him. . .")
. . .unexpected love relationships inside th MacDonald castle which was nestled in the cold and desolate highlands of Scotland--in spite of the menace, hatred, and determination to kill lurking just outside the ancient stone walls.
Nicholas fears greatly lthat the madman hiding outside the castle will infiltrate insode the castle; that he will capture ARabella and his daughter, born of love and passion, and subject them to brutal rituals of slaughter unless he, Nicholas, relinquishes possession of the artifact he inherited.
A Templar Knight appears out of the dark of night at the MadConald stronghold on Christmas Eve in response to a clandestine request. From whom? Will his presence balance the scales toward family protection from a malignant, power-mad secret society for Nicholas and his family? Or will it bring destruction on Nicholas and Arabella and their daughter whose abilities are as yet undiscovered? WHAT ARE HIS MOTIVES?
Read "Roisin's Very First Christmas", Elizabeth Key's second book in her continuing cliffhanger series, Regency Romance Trilogy to find out!
Excerpt
The day before Christmas arrived three days later. The castle residents were scurrying around, giving a stairway railing a last polish; readjusting a garland of pine branches so that it hung, just so; whispering to each other as they hid packages in closets, under beds, or inside wardrobes, and keeping a sharp eye on a little flame-haired girl who dashed hither and yon on her pudgy legs, trying with all her might to find presents to unwrap and goodies to eat.
The kitchen help were setting the long table in the Great Hall with silver, tablecloths, napkins, centerpieces, and candelabras in preparation for the guests from the villages and MacDonald lands who would arrive within hours and keep coming until at least midnight.
There might be other guests coming also. Arabella had, days ago, hearkened to her instincts which never failed her. She sent invitations to the lairds of all the clans within travelling distance, inviting them, their ladies, and their families to join them for Christmas Eve dinner. It was her hope that this would help the clans develop more cordial relationships with each other and begin to forget past grudges. She had received acceptances from several and no response from several others. Still, she hoped all would come.
Mrs. Hudson reigned supreme in the kitchen. Under her directions, diahes were carried out to the long table and placed carefully in designated positions so as to show each to its best advantage--soups at one end of the table, then entrees, side dishes, salads, haggis, and last, but not least, desserts and drinks including spirits and coffee. Curiously, there were three empty spaces among the desserts and before the drinks. The help wondered by, but Mrs. Hudson was not forthcoming. She simply said,
"Wait. Wait and see what comes."
Six o'clock came and with it, guests began pouring into the castle in high spirits and expectations for fabulous food and celebratory 'wee drams' of Scotland's finest.
It was at this juncture that Arabella appeared from the kitchen, pushing a cart with the most wonderful-looking confections one could imagine. She placed several of each in an empty space by the drinks, each with a small sign behind it, giving the name of the dessert. The Raspberry Rose Vienna Bavarian Cream Cake was the most beautiful of Arabella's creations, the Apple Trifle with Cream was the most delectable-looking, and the ramekins of Creme Brulee`, decorated with tiny holly leaves and berries, were the warmest, most welcoming, and most Christmasy-looking. Guests were fascinated with all three; they had never experienced the pleasure of eating any of them and they could not wait to partake. As the amall dishes of Raspberry Rose Cream Cake, the Apple Trifle with cream, and the Creme Brulee disappeared from the table, Arabella replaced them for the rest of the guests as they came down the line.
When word got out that the Lady herself had made the exquisite desserts, interest doubled and everyone made sure to help him or herself to each of them. It was not long before Arabella's secret was out--that she was an adept in the culinary arts--and her cachet, not only as Lady MacDonald, but as a chef in her own right, soared. Mrs. Hudson had to smile to herself because while her mistress had done her best to keep a low profile in the kitchen, all was to no avail once she brought out her desserts.
All of a sudden, over the chatter of conversation and the tinkle of dishes came the sound of horses and coach galloping over the drawbridge and into the inner bailey, there to stop at the command of a loud "Whoa there, my beauties!" with much stamping of hooves, whuffling, and snorting heard in the night air. NIcholas, as master of the castle, rushed to the door and outside while Arabella and the guests waited somewhat anxiously.
Presently, Nicholas appeared at the door, beaming, with several guests muffled in scarves and greatcoats from head to toe against the cold. Nicholas whispered to them, "Wait, I have to see to the horses and driver." He disappeared for a moment to give orders to the stable boys to take great care of the horses and then brought the driver into the castle with him and returned in a trice to share his surprise.
Nicholas walked over to a table and tinkled on a glass to get the attention of all in the room. When it had quieted down, he announced in a loud voice,"Lairds, ladies, and honored guests, I have been searching in my mind for weeks about what to give my lady wife for her first Christmas with us here in Doinnean. Then it came to me--what better Christmas for her than this?"
He removed the scarf wrapped from around the neck of the first person, then the second, then the third--to reveal Lady Roselynde, Aunt Claire, and Mrs. Beeton, all beaming with joy and gladness to have arrived just in time for Christmas.
"May I present to one and all," Nicholas trumpeted, "lady Roselynde Sinclair MacNeill, Arabella's mother; the Baroness Claire Garrison, Arabella's aunt; and Mrs. Amanda Beeton, Arabella's mentor in the culiary arts and bosom friend? And last, but certainly not least, their fearless and intrepid coachman, Lt. Colonel William Clement Roberts, 9th Queen's own Bengal Lancers, Calcutta (ret.)"
The room erupted in clapping and cheers. Arabvella almost fainted she was so overcome with surprise and joy. Two men lifted Arabella to their shoulders and carried her around the room to the chanting of "For she's a jolly good fellow, she's a jolly good fellow, she's a jolly good fello-o-o-w, so say all of us, so say all of us, so say all of us!" When she was lowered to the floor, she ran over to her mother, aunt, and mentor and hugged them as if she was afraid they would disappear in front of her.
The driver of the coach was divested of his greatcoat amidst many congratulations on accomplishing the long journey from England and made equally welcome at lthe table, first of all with a 'wee dram' which he downed with proper enthusiasm. He was glad enough to take advantage of the feast in front of him. He was told that he also had a bed waiting for him when he was ready to retire for the evening.
The three newcomers and their baggage were taken to their bedchambers where they took off their winter coats and scarves and brought back downstairs to join the guests. When they saw the last three desserts, they knew whose contributions they were. Mrs. Beeton smiled proudly and said, "Only my Lady Arabella culd have made these. See, they have her touch to them!"
Before partaking of the food, Lady Roselynde drew Arabella aside and said in tones meant only for her daughter's ears, "You will have another visitor this evening. He will have come a long way and will be weary to the bone. Please assure that he had ample food and drink and a warm bed to sleep in."
ARabella immediately went upstairs to where the bedchambers were located. She found the one with the most comfortable bed and placed a pillow on it. She made the bed with a sheet, several blankets, and quilts heaped high on it. Then she placed a small incense burner, a large bowl, and a pitcher of hot water on the dresser. Arabella went back downstairs to find a kitchen maid and asked her to light the fire in the bedchamber fireplace and be sure to have enough logs on it so that it would burn for several hours. Then she went to join the celebration. . .
. . ."Husband, with you at my side, anything is possible," she
replied. "Why, just look at. . .What is that great thudding? Someone is galloping over the drawbridge again, almost in slow motion."
Arabella looked at her husband in dawning awareness. "I know who this must be," she articulated to Nicholas. "It is I who must respond to this visitor. Mother told me to expect him.." She waited, still and silent, waiting. Then she began to move again among her guests. . .
After a prolonged interval, there came a knock on the door. Not just a knock, but a great resounding pounding on the door, as though doom was upon the castle. It was heard above the din of conversation and the tinkling of silver and chinaware, and everyone stopped in mid motion, waiting.
Arabella swallowed, paused, and then resolutley strode to the door and opened it. A tall, heavily muscled man stood there, enveloped in a full length black cloak with a hood over his head. . .
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