Lady Crenshaw's Christmas by Heidi Ashworth Read Free Book Online Page A

I’m honest, to prove myself to my uncle, a man so lacking in virtues as to render his opinion worse than worthless!” 
    It was now her turn to soothe.  “Shhh, it’s all over.  From now until the babe is born, no balls, no more horseback rides and you may carry me up and down the stairs each and every day.  Come spring we will be the parents to a very healthy baby.”
    “Oh, my darling,” he begged, kissing each of her hands in turn.  “Are you sure?  Are you quite, quite sure?”
    “Yes,” she said, laughing and feeling happier than she had since the night she had told him a baby was coming. 
    Springing to his feet he asked, “Do you feel well enough to stand?  Can you walk or shall I carry you?”
    Ginny laughed again.  “I can walk.  But where are we going?  What of the physician; should we not wait for him?”
    “Exactly!  When he arrives he may examine you in your own room, not on the sofa of the ballroom for half of the county to witness.” Turning to face the room, he scanned what remained of the loitering guests for Grandaunt Regina.  “Grandmama, please make our excuses to our guests.  I am taking my wife to her room where she can enjoy a bit of quiet.”
    “Of course, Anthony.  I shall have the physician sent up when he arrives.” Turning to Ginny, she embraced her and said, “Thank you for the best Christmas gift an old lady could wish.”
    “Whatever do you mean?” Ginny asked, wondering which of the disasters of the evening, big or small, could possibly have filled any of her grandaunt’s desires.     
    “It’s not often a woman witnesses her son receiving the dressing-down he deserves.  It was quite delicious, I assure you.”
    Anthony, clearly impatient with the delay, said nothing but Ginny could not resist asking for further elucidation.  “Do you mean to say his wife scolded him in front of one and all?”
    “No!” Grandaunt retorted.  “That Lady Avery.  She hounded him all about the room as they awaited their carriage, tucking into him like a fishwife.  She even followed them out to their carriage and climbed inside without letting up, not once.  It seems she was incensed about how he treated her dogs, as if dogs belong in the ballroom,” she cried, throwing her hands in the air.  “And then there was the matter of the size of Her Grace’s necklace because, as everyone knows, a woman who is increasing should have the best jewels and how your rubies were the best one could wish for.  The duchess was quite put out by that, I must say.  My son will receive a tongue-lashing from her on that score, mark my words.  Oh!  And there was something about leaves and why shouldn’t someone give you leaves if they had a mind to and how was it your fault if someone should.  I own I did not rightly comprehend what she was saying.”
    Exhausted of information, Grandaunt turned to assist the guests in departing.  Ginny, also exhausted, was glad when Anthony led her upstairs, helped her out of her finery and into a night rail, then tucked her into bed in complete silence.  Once she was comfortable, he pulled a chair up to her side and sat, lost in his own thoughts.
    “Anthony, I am so sorry the ball turned out to be such a catastrophe,” she said, hoping to learn his feelings on the subject.  “I will do better next time, I promise!”
    “No, no, it’s not that.  You did splendidly and the next can only prove more successful, is that not so?” he asked with a tiny smile.  “No, it’s your Christmas gift.  I wish to give it to you.”
    Ginny, having forgotten entirely about his gift to her, was delighted.  “And why should that make you frown, so?” she asked.  “I am persuaded I shall love it above all things, whatever it is.”
    “I’m not so sure.  I think I might have made a dreadful mistake.”
    “A mistake?  Well, no matter.  If it is the wrong size or color or, well . . . shape, it can be exchanged for something that suits better, is