smiled. ‘Thank you for my mistletoe.’
‘It may bring you luck, Miss Lydia.’
‘I am sure it will,’ she said. ‘Thank you – and Happy Christmas, Mr Jones.’
‘Take care of yourself. We shan’t forget you, even though we may not see you again.’
Lydia watched as he turned back towards his home. She had a lovely warm feeling inside knowing that things had turned out so well for him. If only something good would happen for Jane – and her.
Carrying her mistletoe, Lydia began to walk faster. It was Christmas Eve and people would soon be calling, either to leave presents or to thank them for their hospitality at the ball. She was beginning to feel hungry…
It was as she entered the Manor grounds that she saw Major Johns coming towards her. She guessed that he had been up to the house and felt a little nervous as she saw that he had noticed her.
‘Ah, Miss Lydia – just the person I most wished to see,’ he said. ‘I had to come. I could not sleep all night for thinking of you…and I must tell you that I adore you and I shall not bear it if you will not be my wife.’
Lydia gave a squeak of fright. This was what she had feared – but Major Johns had seemed so considerate last night. Something had changed. She could feel it – feel his anger and his resentment…but why? What had made him change towards her?
Her heart jumped with fright as he moved closer and she took a step back. ‘Please, sir…I hardly know you…’
‘A pity you did not think of that last night…but then, you were merely playing with my affections, were you not?’
‘Oh…’ Lydia felt terrible as she saw the accusation in his eyes. ‘I did not mean to hurt…I was only…’ It was impossible to say why she had behaved so badly.
‘I know exactly what you and your presumptuous sister thought,’ he said bitterly. ‘I heard your conversation last night and it may interest you to know that I never had the intention to ask her. There is someone I think more worthy…’
Suddenly seizing her, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Lydia gave a gasp of fright and slapped him. For a moment he stared at her so angrily that she thought he might hit her but he let her go.
‘Think yourself fortunate that I am a gentleman, Miss Lydia. You are carrying mistletoe, which entitles me to kiss you. I dare say you intended to encourage some other poor fool, but you have your just deserts. I have paid you back for your trick and we shall think no more of it for your uncle’s sake.’
Lydia swallowed hard, inclined her head and ran in the direction of her home, clutching the mistletoe. What a horrid man he was after all.
She could not go inside feeling as she did. Turning in the direction of the summerhouse, she sat down on a bench that was icy cold and felt the tears drip down her cheeks. Scrubbing the back of her hand over her mouth to wipe away that awful kiss, she let the wretchedness seep over her. What a wicked girl she had been – and now she had been punished for her trick.
She gave a little sob of despair. How could she have been so very foolish? She wasn’t a bad girl and she certainly had no intention of using Mr Jones’ gift to entice someone into kissing her. Feeling hurt and despoiled, she threw the bunch of mistletoe on the ground beside her.
‘Crying, Miss Lydia?’
Lydia’s head came up at the sound of a man’s voice. Seeing Captain
‘It may bring you luck, Miss Lydia.’
‘I am sure it will,’ she said. ‘Thank you – and Happy Christmas, Mr Jones.’
‘Take care of yourself. We shan’t forget you, even though we may not see you again.’
Lydia watched as he turned back towards his home. She had a lovely warm feeling inside knowing that things had turned out so well for him. If only something good would happen for Jane – and her.
Carrying her mistletoe, Lydia began to walk faster. It was Christmas Eve and people would soon be calling, either to leave presents or to thank them for their hospitality at the ball. She was beginning to feel hungry…
It was as she entered the Manor grounds that she saw Major Johns coming towards her. She guessed that he had been up to the house and felt a little nervous as she saw that he had noticed her.
‘Ah, Miss Lydia – just the person I most wished to see,’ he said. ‘I had to come. I could not sleep all night for thinking of you…and I must tell you that I adore you and I shall not bear it if you will not be my wife.’
Lydia gave a squeak of fright. This was what she had feared – but Major Johns had seemed so considerate last night. Something had changed. She could feel it – feel his anger and his resentment…but why? What had made him change towards her?
Her heart jumped with fright as he moved closer and she took a step back. ‘Please, sir…I hardly know you…’
‘A pity you did not think of that last night…but then, you were merely playing with my affections, were you not?’
‘Oh…’ Lydia felt terrible as she saw the accusation in his eyes. ‘I did not mean to hurt…I was only…’ It was impossible to say why she had behaved so badly.
‘I know exactly what you and your presumptuous sister thought,’ he said bitterly. ‘I heard your conversation last night and it may interest you to know that I never had the intention to ask her. There is someone I think more worthy…’
Suddenly seizing her, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Lydia gave a gasp of fright and slapped him. For a moment he stared at her so angrily that she thought he might hit her but he let her go.
‘Think yourself fortunate that I am a gentleman, Miss Lydia. You are carrying mistletoe, which entitles me to kiss you. I dare say you intended to encourage some other poor fool, but you have your just deserts. I have paid you back for your trick and we shall think no more of it for your uncle’s sake.’
Lydia swallowed hard, inclined her head and ran in the direction of her home, clutching the mistletoe. What a horrid man he was after all.
She could not go inside feeling as she did. Turning in the direction of the summerhouse, she sat down on a bench that was icy cold and felt the tears drip down her cheeks. Scrubbing the back of her hand over her mouth to wipe away that awful kiss, she let the wretchedness seep over her. What a wicked girl she had been – and now she had been punished for her trick.
She gave a little sob of despair. How could she have been so very foolish? She wasn’t a bad girl and she certainly had no intention of using Mr Jones’ gift to entice someone into kissing her. Feeling hurt and despoiled, she threw the bunch of mistletoe on the ground beside her.
‘Crying, Miss Lydia?’
Lydia’s head came up at the sound of a man’s voice. Seeing Captain
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