The Lady’s Christmas Secret by Ella Edon

CHAPTERTWO

Adam Seton was well into his fifth glass of whiskey. Sitting opposite to him in their favourite pub – which had aptly gained the title of Tiddly Botanist, the Honourable Henry Trew did not seem to be able to handle his liquor with the same dignity. He was presently in the middle of one of his famous speeches on a topic he appeared to be most passionately opinionated about.

“Look upon the fallen state of man, my good chap, lo and behold!” He broke into a snorty laugh as he pointed to the rest of the pub’s male patrons and nearly fell from his seat.

The patrons in question, well-dressed men who were there to drown the sorrows of married life in the countryside with a few drinks shot annoyed glances in the direction of the two rakish bachelors; yet, no one dared to protest.

At two and twenty, Adam had seen quite a few things so far in his life, but no one as fervently opposed to matrimony as Henry.

“They seduce us, entrap us, and then, well, the next thing you know, you have half a dozen children running around, and your life is over,” Henry added in a quieter tone, seeming a bit more pensive this time as he took a sip from his drink.

“My good man, how can the very idea of marriage make you so morose?” Adam was thoroughly amused. “Aren’t you the one who always says, ‘there is nothing greater in life than the joys a woman can offer’?”

“You admit it then. You would get married.” His friend’s eyes spoke of betrayal.

Adam laughed. “Oh no, absolutely not. I believe you have misunderstood me. I do pity those who have married. Besides, I don’t believe there is a woman that could ever tame me,” he added with a crooked smirk.

“Hear! Hear!” Henry grew lively again.

“But there is still a matter I find more offensive than the idea of love and marriage, and that is man’s stupidity to believe in it,” Adam continued.

“Surely a man appreciating female grace and beauty as much and as often as you have has experienced coup de foudre at least once,” Henry remarked.

“Nonsense. I would know better than to fall in love at first sight,” Adam rolled his eyes.

‘To be wise and love exceeds man’s might.’ Henry’s expression was that of a man who had just shared a piece of his infinite wisdom.

“I can always count on you to recite the Bardeven when you’re drunk, my friend,” Adam looked at him in admiration before breaking into a smile.

After a brief pause, Henry spoke up again. “Adam, I have a proposition for you.” He moved closer to him, leaning in.

“Well may God have mercy on us all,” replied Adam, loosening his cravat. His thick dark hair reached his shoulders these days, and he was getting hot with the zest of their conversation.

“Mock all you wish, but this is brilliant.” Henry gave a dramatic pause before looking at him with half-closed eyes. “You are going to marry my sister.”

Adam could not help but notice how Henry had announced this nonchalantly as if this was another casual topic of conversation. He let out a hearty laugh that shook him to his core, almost spilling his drink and staining his burgundy vest.

“I hate to disappoint you, but I will do no such thing.”

He was utterly surprised by his friend’s proposition, especially after his dramatic declarations a few moments ago.

Granted, Emily Trew was easy on the eyes, skilled, and tolerable for a daughter of a viscount. She was also the last woman Adam would ever find himself interested in. She lacked the spark and the energy that he always sought in a companion.

Not that he was interested in a lifelong companion. Adam lived and longed for the intensity of experiencing his life as a free man, harvesting the pleasures and the thrills of his youth.

The attraction between two bodies, the flame of passion hidden in anticipation of a new adventure.

“Just think of it! She does not believe in all that love nonsense either, and it is my duty as her older brother to ensure she finds a good match.” Henry leaned closer and tried to pull Adam in a drunken embrace. “Who could be better for my little sister than my best friend?” His slurred speech made his suggestion even more ridiculous to Adam.

Of course, being the heir to his father’s fortune, Henry carried a burden of responsibility with which Adam was more than familiar. Even so, Henry’s situation did not compare to Adam’s. Although Adam enjoyed the privileges of his station and intended to do right by his father’s wishes eventually, fulfilling his marital responsibilities, being pinned down and producing an heir seemed distant notions for the time being. He wished they would remain so for as long as possible.

Yet Henry’s nonsense has managed to sober me up, Adam thought as he pulled away from his friend’s clumsy embrace.

“Alright, my good man, I think it’s time we took our leave. I’m sure the patrons will be glad to see the last of us for today. You are saying things you are surely going to regret,” Adam said, laughing nervously.

“Just think of it – ” Henry repeated, but Adam cut him off.

“Wait here. I’ll call for the horses,” Adam said, already standing and straightening his coat.

All this talk of marriage and love had made him sick to his stomach, and he felt in desperate need to get some air.

* * *

Caroline’s body wobbled left and right with every jolt of the carriage on the way back from Emily’s home. She had asked their coachman, Mr. Adderton, to take them back as fast as he could.

Presently, she could hear him in the front seat, urging the horses to go more quickly. As their pace increased, the old carriage creak and screech as they passed over rough patches and small crevices on the damp road.

Caroline looked out the carriage window to distract her from the burning worry that plagued her thoughts, fearing that her father would find out everything and punish her for disobeying him so blatantly.

So far, it was not working. As the afternoon light slowly died out, the dark clouds gathering in the distance seemed to like they carried the fury that was about to rain down on her.

Lost in thought, Caroline was thrown across the carriage as it ground to a stop; plunging her forward, her knees hitting the hardwood of the carriage floor.

“Heavens! Are you alright, miss?” Grant rushed next to her from across the seat, looking dishevelled.

Before Caroline could process what had happened to give her an answer, Mr. Adderton’s coarse voice sounded from outside the carriage door.

“Miss White! Are ye alright? I am so sorry. We must ‘ave ‘it a hole quite hard.”

Caroline opened the door, took Mr. Adderton’s hand, and leaped outside, Miss Grant following behind her. The horses were still restless from the staggering break, and stomped their feet repeatedly. As Caroline started assessing their current situation, she could feel her knees growing weak from the shock.

“How soon can you get us back on the road, Mr. Adderton?” she asked.

“I’m afraid the front wheel is broken, miss. I can fix it, but I’m going to need a few hours. Yer going to have to wait ‘ere.”

In the distance, thunder broke. Caroline felt her heart sinking deeper and deeper into despair.

“Absolutely not. We cannot stay here. I need to be back, and I’m already late. Father will be furious when he hears I took the carriage and I, oh no, I – ”

“Miss, calm down, please, you’ll give yourself apoplexy,” said Miss Grant.

“Oh, why didn’t I listen to you? Of course, how could I have known this would happen to us?” Caroline’s voice shook slightly as she realized the trouble her maid would be in.

“These things do happen, miss. I’m sure your father will be worried, but eventually, he’ll understand,” Miss Grant said attempting to console her.

“Do you think we should start walking to the house? It’s not that far – ”

“I wouldn’t recommend that, Miss White,” Mr. Adderton’s voice drifted to them from the back of the carriage, where he was looking through an old dusty bag of tools he kept for emergencies like this. “There’s an ugly storm coming,” he added.

“But if we stay here, we’ll freeze to death!” Caroline said, unsure if she was trembling from the cold or her panic. Her voice grew louder in panic, but she quickly tried to calm herself down.

She knew they were in the middle of nowhere and that there would be no one coming to their rescue. She tried to think while she tightened her grey woolen pelisse around her.

The only other family living out here, so far north of the village, is us and…

Caroline never finished her thought as it was interrupted by the sound of horse hooves. A second carriage was approaching them at high speed. Caroline could not believe her luck.

The coachman of the black carriage slowed the horses a few feet away from them, stopping on the other side of the road.

Caroline watched with bated breath as the coachman walked to the side to help his master step outside. On the polished black wood surface of the carriage door lay the unmistakable family crest of the Setons.