Christmas Delights by Heather Hiestand Read Free Book Online Page A

won’t grow if you don’t sleep.”
    “Yes, Uncle.”
    Victoria reached up and pressed her father’s beauty mark back into place. “Is it late enough for us to go downstairs?”
    He held out his arm. “Put on your mask, my dear, and let us see.”
    She put the mask to her face and threaded the ribbons behind her ears. As her father tied them, she felt a sneeze coming on.
    “Kerchoo!”
    “You do not sneeze prettily,” Penelope said. “Keep your mouth closed and wrinkle your nose if it itches. It is much more attractive.”
    “Who told you that?” her father asked with a frown.
    “Mother.”
    Still frowning, her father pointed at the bed. “Go to sleep. Now, Victoria, I think you need a couple of beauty patches, too. It is amazing how they obscure the identity.” He pulled a small case from his waistcoat.
    He added one to her right cheek, then placed a second just above her top lip. “Yes, with that wig I would hardly know you. Lessen the speed of your speech. With your figure so reduced, you should be all but unrecognizable from eighteen months ago.”
    Victoria nodded. She put a finger under her nose to try to stop the next sneeze. Why had she wanted her father to join her at this party? He was dragging down the fun more every minute.
    With a sigh, she took his arm and blew a kiss in the direction of the bed. The mattress squeaked.
    “Will there be cake? Will you bring me some at midnight? Just as it is becoming Christmas Day?” Penelope asked.
    “You would be better to pray upon the miracle of Christ’s birth and think less about cake,” her father advised. “We will see you in the morning.”
    They exited the room. As soon as the door was shut, Victoria whispered, “Why were you frowning when she mentioned her mother? What is going on with Aunt Clarissa?”
    “Not now, Victoria,” her father said in a voice that betrayed exhaustion. “It has been a long day coming here, and now we have this masquerade ball to get through. I cannot deal with family at this moment.”
    “We need to discuss the matter soon. You cannot expect to saddle me with a child when I should be courting,” she protested.
    “The right man will be too industrious to worry if you are caring for a child, Victoria. In fact, it will be a blessing because he will see how you are with children.”
    She rubbed the corner of her eye where the domino was scratching it. If a man saw her with Penelope, he would be more concerned than satisfied by her maternal instincts. “I allowed you to direct my courtship the first time, Father, but surely I have earned your trust this time around?”
    “My dear, I found you a husband the first time,” he said, the skin around his eyes creasing.
    “I think I can find my own, now, what with the title and everything.” Just hopefully not too soon.
    “Your appearance is improved,” he said. “We shall see if you can attract any attention on your own. Now you have not only your dowry but your late husband’s funds as well. Of course, your age is against you.”
    “I’m twenty-one, not even on the shelf by nonwidow standards,” she said.
    “Marriage is business. You’ve lost a couple of years of childbearing, I don’t deny it. But we shall see what we can manage.” Her father looked away as they reached the staircase.
    Victoria stepped down carefully, in front of her father, as they both could not fit. It was for the best, really, because she might have slapped him if he’d been alongside her. How dare the man who loved her best insinuate she was second-class material on the marriage market? She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears that might stain the velvet. Tears wouldn’t do. He couldn’t possibly be correct.

CHAPTER 4
    T ears were never acceptable in public, and this descent was most assuredly not private. The stairs had a slight curve to them, and as she stepped down, she first saw the tops of heads, decorated boldly in holly sprigs and wigs, feathers and hoods. Not to be