The Stranger She Married
An Excerpt by Donna Hatch, Regency Romance Author
Available on Amazon
Mrs. Hancock beamed as Alicia reached her side, put an arm around Alicia, and brought her into their circle. “Miss Alicia Palmer, allow me to introduce Lord Amesbury.”
Even more devastating up close, Lord Amesbury turned to her. His piercing blue eyes threatened the strength in her knees. Though taller than most ladies, Alicia still had to look up to meet his gaze. No other color existed in those eyes; no green or gray, only deep, dark blue, like the fathomless depths of the ocean.
All the other men she had met lately, namely those her uncle insisted she consider for a husband, had taken careful note of her figure. But this gentleman only looked into her eyes. Very deeply.
Lord Amesbury inclined his head. “Miss Palmer.” His resonant, bass voice touched her very soul.
Alicia met his frank gaze and a sensation she did not quite understand stirred within her until breathing became a conscious effort. Mrs. Hancock discreetly coughed, and Alicia realized she’d been locked in eye contact with the Viscount much longer than appropriate.
Unable to pull her eyes away, Alicia sank into a curtsey. “My lord.”
No longer merely polite, his smile broadened, warmed, transforming an already handsome face into a perfectly stunning visage. Sensuality radiated off him, not in a manner that left her feeling threatened, but in a way that left her breathless for more. More of what, she did not know. But she wanted to find out.
“Miss Palmer,” Lord Amesbury said, “May I have the next dance?”
Alicia blinked. She looked back at Elizabeth who smiled encouragingly. Mrs. Hancock also smiled and nodded, but a touch of disappointment tainted her approval, reminding Alicia the dear lady had hoped her own daughter would attract the attention of the very eligible Lord Amesbury. That he’d singled out Alicia seemed a dream.
She squelched all hope that she might hold his interest. Surely only politeness motivated him to dance with the plainest girl first. He’d soon turn his attention to the beautiful ladies.
Finding her voice, Alicia replied, “I would be delighted, my lord.”
As the final notes of the current dance ended and the next began, Lord Amesbury offered his arm. She took it, an unfamiliar quiver beginning in her stomach. The art of dancing, she found as the set began, had not abandoned her as completely as her wits. The handsome viscount danced with athletic grace, his attention focused upon her. The warmth of his hand seeped through their kidskin gloves. He held her gently, firmly.
A playful glint touched his sapphire eyes. “I must warn you. Now that we’ve danced, my aunt will take it upon herself to ask you your opinion of me. She will most certainly interrogate me regarding you.”
She met those probing eyes and her mouth curved. “Oh? Has your aunt become your self-proclaimed matchmaker?”
A wry smile touched his lips. “Of course. I’m thirty and not yet married. She feels it her duty to ensure I produce an heir before I’m too old. Despite my efforts to delay that obligation, she persists.”
Alicia nodded, her smile deepening at his indelicate statement. “That is a dilemma.”
“Since you and I have only just met, it will be difficult to offer a fair assessment of your character. And if I say anything positive about you, she’ll plan the wedding.” His smile brightened, lighting up his stunning face.
Alicia missed her step. Even while dancing with the very handsome Duke of Suttenberg two Seasons ago, such a keen attraction for a man had never overcome her as it did tonight. Yet she was nearly twenty, for heaven’s sake, not a missish schoolgirl!
“Your aunt is a strong woman and a kind lady, my lord. I am sure you can reason with her.”
“I suppose she possesses a good heart deep, deep down inside, but be truthful; she’s sharp-tongued and outspoken.”
She laughed and then clapped her hand over her mouth. “My lord! She might hear you.”
He chuckled. “Fear not. We needle each other as frequently as possible. I say worse things to her face. I enjoy watching her squirm and plot a counter- attack.”
That reminded her of the playful banter she shared with her cousin Robert. “I don’t recall her ever mentioning you, my lord.”
His smile turned self-deprecating. “I’m one of those relations no one mentions.”
Since I just love to giveaway things, I have a soy candle with the scent of German chocolate cupcake that I’m going to give away to one person who comments. The candle smells more like you’ve been baking than a really strong chocolate flavor. One lucky commenter will win this yummy smelling candle which comes in a special Glendale Chocolate Affaire box.
Every year we play “I Spy” with the ornaments on my Christmas tree. Being my family, we all get very technical with our clues 🙂
If you can’t eat chocolate then smelling it is the next best thing! Great prize! Well, on to my special family Christmas here. Every year my church would get up donations to make up 12 turkey dinners to needy families for Christmas. Three weeks before Christmas my husband left and suddenly my world fell apart. My finances dwindled and I barely had enough to scrape together for my own family to eat for Christmas. I heard that lay offs were coming on my job and sure enough my employer called me into her office three days before Christmas. She handed me a envelope. I was ready to pass out. She smiled and said the staff had voted my sons to be the angle tree recipients that year.It was $200.00 to buy their Christmas gifts. I cried and pulled myself together.I bought one extra turkey dinner passed the blessings along to another family.I never complained about wrapping presents again!
What a wonderful and touching story. When my husband was laid off in October and still unemployed in December , we were the grateful and humble recipients of many generous gifts and support from friends, family, and even anonymous givers. It really changed my perspective. Thank you for sharing that sweet story.
My favorite tradition is having our little family gather together on Chriatmas Eve and we talk about the 3 Wisemen. We talk about the importance of those first 3 gifts of Christmas and what they mean. Just as the 3 Wisemen gave their gifts out of love, so do we give gifts each year to those we love. Then we exchange gifts with each other – those we love the most.
I think I missed this one, but just in case. My favorite holiday costum is looking at Christmas lights around and about.
I started a tradition of having a tree trimming party. Lots of fun, food, family, friends and I get my tree trimmed lol. Now my oldest daughter has one too!
catslady5(at)aol.com
Fun! I may have to borrow that tradition!
One of my favorite Christmas customs is celebrated on Christmas morning. My mother, who is from Finland, makes a special Finnish sweet bread called pulla. Each year she would make a special Christmas morning batch — one for each of us kids. In one of the rolls there would be an almond. In Finland if you get the almond it signifies good luck for the coming year, but in our household it meant you got to go raid the Christmas tree first. We would line up behind the almond-winner youngest to oldest and then head for the tree down a long, narrow staircase in my parents’ home. As my siblings got older they found it amusing to go extra slow if they ended up in front for the year (I’m the 5th of 6, so I was still pretty young and extremely desirous to reach the tree with utmost haste). Now that we’re all grown up, my mother still makes pulla each year, but delivers one batch to each of my siblings’ homes for their children. 🙂
That’s such a great tradition! I love the idea of the one in charge drawing out the agonizing walk to the tree. It’s just so….kid-like. Thanks for sharing!
Are you the princess that lives in that castle? That is is such a beautiful picture on your blog. I hope I made you smile for a *bonus* point 🙂
Yep, you did 🙂
Wow, what wonderful and fun traditions! I may have to adopt some of them. I couldn’t choose a winner, so I chose randomly using random.org.
And the winner is ….. catslady5.
Thank you all for stopping by and sharing your wonderful memories and traditions with me.
Just wanted everyone to know I received my candle. And it smells delicious!! Thanks again.