Alice's Arranged Marriage (Home for Christmas Book 1) Read online

  But despite this, he did not even give a moment’s thought to turning back and returning home. He had to get to Alice. He had to tell her that he cared for her—loved her, in fact. He did not want her to return to America. Her fortune meant nothing to him now. All that mattered was her.

  A sudden fear began to course through him as he recalled what she had said about her passage to America. It had been purchased for her to leave England today—on Christmas Eve, of all days. His heart began to pound with a deep anxiety, terrified that he would reach the duke’s mansion only to hear that Miss Jones had decided to, somehow, make her way to the docks and board her ship. What if he could not reach her in time? What if he did not manage to prevent her from sailing away?

  “I must get to her,” he hissed, his voice muffled by the thick scarf about his neck. “I must!” Closing his eyes for a moment, he paused and allowed himself to catch his breath. Perhaps the snow was a blessing. Perhaps it would be the only thing that would stop Miss Jones from leaving London, from leaving him behind. He had to speak to her. He had to see her again, to confess all that he felt and all that he hoped—before it was too late.

  12

  “I do not think you can leave today.”

  Alice let out a long, slow breath, closing her eyes and resting her forehead against the cold glass for a moment.

  “The snow is much too thick,” the duchess continued gently. “And besides which, I know very well that you have not managed to speak honestly to Lord Allerton as yet.” She came closer to Alice and smiled at her gently, but Alice did not even look toward her. “There is too much confusion here for you to turn your back on him now, surely?”

  Alice lifted her head and sighed again. “I do not think that I want to understand,” she said heavily. “It is quite clear that Lord Allerton’s family does not want me and even if he wishes to marry me still, it is only for my fortune. That does not make me feel as though my future here would be a happy one.”

  The duchess’s lips twisted and she looked at Alice steadily, her eyes searching Alice’s face. “And what if you are wrong?” she asked, prodding Alice’s heart. “What if he cares for you?”

  It was a thought that had dogged Alice’s heart and mind all through the less-than-restful night she had endured last evening. Having returned from the ballroom, she had begged the duchess for her permission to remain with her overnight, only for the duchess to say that she had been fully intending to offer her such a thing. Apparently, she had been just as appalled and upset by Lady Fossett’s words as Alice herself had been, and Alice, even in the depths of her grief and sorrow, had seen the anger in the duchess’ eyes.

  And now, it was Christmas Eve, the day where she had been meant to be preparing for her wedding in two days’ time—and instead, she was wondering whether or not she was to return to America. Her passage had been paid for, and so there seemed no reason not to go. She would be leaving her heartache, her confusion, and her sorrow behind her and returning home where, perhaps, she might fit in a little better with society now that she had learned so much from the duchess.

  But the snow had decided to come down so heavily that the duke would not even risk a horse going out in it. Alice had not argued, knowing that the duke was being wise and not deliberately preventing her from going, but inwardly, she was already making plans for when she might next return home. The only thing that continued to burn into her mind was the question as to whether or not Lord Allerton had been speaking the truth last evening.

  “I think that he does,” the duchess said gently, putting one hand on Alice’s shoulder and grabbing her full attention again. “I have seen the tenderness in his eyes when he has looked at you, and you yourself have seen just how much he had changed in his regard for you.”

  Alice knew she could not deny this. “I am aware that he has been very considerate of late,” she admitted, her voice soft as she turned back to face the window. “I thought him merely trying to make recompense for his behavior during the first few days of my arrival.”

  “That may be so,” the duchess admitted, surprising Alice. “But I think that in doing so, his affections for you have grown. He does not want you to leave, Alice. Of that, I am quite certain.”

  Alice made to answer, only for something to catch her eye, something that was moving through the whiteness that lay below. Frowning, she glanced up at the duchess and beckoned her toward the window.

  “Is someone walking through the snow?” she asked, frowning as she saw the person struggling to put one foot in front of the other. The snow was becoming very deep indeed and Alice had not seen anyone out walking so far. “He is finding it very difficult, I think.”

  The duchess caught her breath. “He looks quite exhausted,” she said, leaving the window and hurrying to ring the bell. “We must have him brought into the house, whoever he—or she—is. He must—”

  The rest of her speech was cut off by a loud exclamation from Alice. The person had looked up and, even as the wind whipped the snowflakes this way and that, she felt certain she recognized their face.

  It was Lord Allerton.

  “What is the matter?” the duchess cried, hurrying back toward Alice. “Have they collapsed?”

  Alice could not take her eyes from Lord Allerton, seeing him drop his head and then slowly begin to move toward the snow-covered steps. “It is Lord Allerton,” she whispered, grabbing onto the duchess’ arm tightly. “He has come to the house.”

  The duchess gasped, her eyes wide. “He has walked all this way, in the snow?” she asked, looking into Alice’s face. “Gracious, what was he thinking? We must get him into the house at once!”

  Alice did not move. The duchess practically ran from the room, leaving the door wide open as she called for the staff to open the front door and have the drawing room fire stoked. The duke came out of his study, his voice echoing along the hallway as he asked what the problem was, and still Alice merely stood.

  Lord Allerton had come to the house. Despite the snow, despite the wind and the cold, he had been so determined to speak to her, so determined to see her again, that he had forced himself to walk to the duke’s mansion. Little wonder she had seen him struggling. Her heart lifted in her chest as she forced herself to move forward toward the open door, feeling a small swell of hope in her chest as she began to hurry. There was, perhaps, some hope now. Hope that there was a clear explanation for what had happened, that he might feel something true for her. Hope that her future was not as bleak as she had thought it to be.

  “Come into the drawing room at once,” she heard the duchess cry as the duke shouted for the very best brandy to be brought. “You are quite frozen!”

  Alice’s steps quickened as she hurried forward, seeing the hunched figure of Lord Allerton being led into the drawing room. Fear bloomed in her chest as she caught up with the duchess, her eyes fixed on Lord Allerton.

  His face was quite pale, his blue eyes filled with ice. He was shaking violently, walking slowly and carefully as though each step filled him with pain.

  “Lord Allerton,” she whispered, catching his arm and feeling the dampness of his coat soaking through the sleeve of her gown. “Are you all right?”

  Lord Allerton turned his head slowly, his eyes finally reaching hers.

  “I am better now,” he answered, his voice shaking with cold as the duke began to tug the coat from Lord Allerton’s shoulders. “I had to see you, Alice. I could not let another hour go by without telling you everything that I feel.”

  She swallowed hard, feeling tears begin to catch at the corners of her eyes.

  “I feared that you would have gone to the docks,” he continued as she helped the duke pull Lord Allerton’s arms out of his coat’s sleeves. “I cannot tell you just how much joy fills me to see you here still.”

  Taking his arm again, Alice led him to a chair right beside the fire, sitting him down in it and accepting the various blankets that were passed to her by the maid. It took a few minutes, but soon, Lord
Allerton was wrapped in as many blankest as they could manage, and a large glass of brandy pressed into his hand by the duke. Sinking down into a chair opposite, Alice’s heart was in her throat as she saw him shiver violently again, fearing that he might become very ill after what he had endured. There was a silence for a good quarter of an hour, with the only sound being a maid bringing a tea tray—but then, Lord Allerton turned to her and smiled, looking down at himself with a wry grin on his face.

  Her heart freed itself from its anxiety at once. Lord Allerton would recover very well from his walk in the snow, it seemed. There was nothing she need fear now.

  “I feel quite ridiculous,” Lord Allerton muttered as the fire crackled and burned in front of them, throwing heat around Lord Allerton and Alice like a heavy blanket. “But I thank you.”

  The duchess let out a long breath, reminding Alice of her presence. “I am glad you have recovered, Allerton,” she said as Lord Allerton removed one or two blankets from his shoulders. “You were quite foolish to walk all this way.”

  “It was necessary,” he stated, looking at Alice as he spoke. “And whilst I am grateful for your kindness, I must ask for a few minutes alone with my betrothed.”

  Alice started in surprise as the duchess and the duke rose immediately, without even a word of protest. She wanted to exclaim that she ought not to be left alone in such a circumstance, fearing that she would not know what to say or do, but before she could even form a word, the door had closed and she and Lord Allerton were left completely alone.

  “I will remove myself entirely from this, I think.” Lord Allerton removed the rest of the blankets in quick succession, shivering just a little as he did so.

  “I—I do not think that is wise,” Alice said hastily, getting up out of her chair. “You might still be very chilled.”

  Before she could reach him, however, Lord Allerton rose out of his seat and caught her, one hand on her shoulder and the other reaching for her hand. The swiftness of his actions and the sudden nearness of him made her catch her breath, her eyes widening as she looked up into his face.

  “My heart is warmed indeed, to be in your presence again, Alice,” he murmured, his eyes glowing with a heat that she could not look away from. “My fears and doubts grew with every step I took. I was afraid you would already be gone by the time I arrived.”

  She could not say anything, her eyes fixed on his as her heart began to pound furiously.

  “I want to tell you the truth,” he continued, his hand now running gently from her shoulder to her waist. “I want to tell you everything, Alice, if you will listen.”

  Swallowing hard, Alice nodded, finding it difficult to even think clearly given just how close he was to her.

  “I have never wanted you to return to America,” Lord Allerton began, his lips pulling into a thin line. “My aunt, of course, has never thought this match was a wise one and I will not deny that I only agreed to the arrangement in order to save my estate and recover my fortune.”

  Alice’s heart dropped to the floor and she began to lower her head, only to feel a gentle finger lifting her chin.

  “But that soon changed,” Lord Allerton murmured softly. “Once I realized how callous and inconsiderate I had been, I began to find that my betrothed was one of the most wonderful, most courageous, and most beautiful young ladies I have ever met.”

  Alice’s stomach knotted, feeling the urge growing within her to step closer, to draw nearer to him in the way that his presence was encouraging her to do.

  “I know that you asked me if your father and I had some sort of arrangement, should you return,” he said slowly. “I did not answer you for fear that you would, in fact, leave me and return to America. My heart was so filled with an affection for you that even the thought of it left me in darkness.”

  “I—I find it hard to believe that when the notes you wrote were—”

  “I did not write those notes,” Lord Allerton interrupted, his expression grave. “My aunt and my brother were involved in a scheme to remove you from this place.”

  Alice blinked in surprise. “Your brother?”

  Lord Allerton winced, looking away. “I have not spoken of my family to you, Alice, I know. Yes, I have a brother—Lord Prestwick. I also have a sister, Lady Georgiana White—but it is my brother I am concerned with.” Sighing heavily, his forehead creased and his eyes narrowed. “He has troubles with gambling and the like, and I have always given him what he needed to save himself from debts—until I realized I had very little left and was forced to refuse him. In fact, I believe I told him, quite firmly, that I would not do so again.”

  A slow sense of understanding began to creep over Alice, her eyes widening as she looked up into Lord Allerton’s face and saw the pain there. “And so he determined to ruin your life in the way he believes you have done to him?”

  “Precisely,” Lord Allerton admitted sorrowfully. “And my aunt was only too willing to help him. Knowing that I would never return you to your father willingly, Prestwick did all he could to try and force you from this place. He did not know that I would gain some financial compensation if such a thing occurred, which only complicated matters.” His hand tightened on her waist and he looked deeply into her eyes, clearly afraid she would not believe him. “They arranged for your passage to be booked, and for you then to become aware of it. They wanted you to return to America, so that, from my aunt’s perspective, I would be freed from you and might then seek a proper English rose to marry.” He shook his head. “It is unspeakable behavior, Alice, and one that I deeply regret was allowed to continue.”

  She swallowed hard, feeling tears begin to form in her vision—but this time, they came from a sense of relief and happiness that swarmed about her. Lord Allerton had not written the notes, as she had feared, and had not bought her passage home in an attempt to send her back. Lady Fossett’s dislike of her and even Lord Prestwick’s cruelty did not matter a jot. All she wanted was Lord Allerton’s affections.

  “There is more to say,” Lord Allerton said hoarsely. “The reason I did not want you to leave, the reason that I have hoped beyond hope that you will still marry me, is because I love you.” This was said with a great breath of relief, as though he had been desperate to reveal such a thing and had been holding it back for some time. “I do not care about your fortune. I do not care about my family. All I want is to make you my wife, so that I might prove to you just how much I have come to love you, Alice.” His eyes searched her face, his face coloring just a little. “This would be the most wonderful of Christmases, should you still be willing to take me as your husband.”

  “Of course I am willing.” It was as though a shroud had fallen from her shoulders, as though she had emerged from the darkness and stepped into the light. Lord Allerton’s explanations told her everything she needed, and his promise of love stole her heart all over again. Reaching up, she tentatively pressed her fingers to his cheek, only for him to put his hand over hers, capturing her there.

  “I have made such a terrible mess of things,” he murmured tenderly. “And yet you are willing to forgive me.”

  “How can I turn from you now, when I love you so desperately?” she asked, putting her other hand flat against his chest and feeling a flurry of excited anticipation rush through her. “I believe your words of love and devotion, because I have seen evidence of it. I do not want to return to America. I want to stay here, with you, as your wife.”

  Lord Allerton’s smile spread across his face at this, his eyes shining with the very same joy that lingered in Alice’s heart. When he caught her about the waist, she leaned up into him willingly, knowing that this was what she had wanted, what she had longed for, and just what she needed.

  “What a wonderful Christmas this will be,” Lord Allerton whispered as he began to lower his head. “I need no gift other than you, Alice, my dear, sweet lady. You are the greatest gift I could ever receive, and I shall spend every Christmas hereafter ensuring that you know just how arden
tly I love you. I will be ever so proud to have you by my side for the rest of our days together.”

  Alice threw her arms about his neck, stood up on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his. Lord Allerton angled his head at once and caught her up in a loving embrace. Alice felt like crying and laughing all at once, her happiness chasing away every speck of doubt, every modicum of confusion. From this day forward, she could look forward to spending her life with Lord Allerton as both his wife and his love. The love they shared would pave the path ahead, taking them through life’s twists and turns together and with each passing day, she would be reminded of what had gone before and how, in the end, love had brought them together.

  A love that began at Christmas.

  Read the Entire Home For Christmas Series!

  Alice’s Arranged Marriage by Joyce Alec

  Mistletoe Magic by Rose Pearson

  Minne’s Mail Order Joy by Bethany Rose

  Hazel’s Mail Order Joy by Annie Boone

  Clara’s Mail Order Joy by Natalie Dean

  Hannah’s Holiday Wish by Sophie Mays

  Her Second Chance Cowboy Billionaire Xmas Secret by Hanna Hart

  Love Light Faith

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