A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Chapter One

‘ My dear sister,’ Charlotte read silently, her heart beginning to quicken with a fierce hope and expectation. ‘I do hope that you will come to London for the Christmas Season. I am already expecting your arrival, even though it is still some months away! I have missed your company desperately and have thought of you every day. I cannot bear to think of you alone in the house with our stepmother. I cannot imagine what you are enduring and thus, with that in mind, I must beg of you to come to stay with us. I have already written to our brother to inform him of my invitation to you and I am sure that he will write to you very soon. Do say that you will come, my dear? You are of age now to make your own decision and though I am certain that Lady Barcsay will inform you that you are to remain with her, remember that you are free to make your own choice. Besides, it is not as though you will be abandoning her, is it? A few weeks away from the Dower house will do you good, I am sure of it, and we will be able to spend many happy moments together. Will that not please your heart? Will you not find joy and hope in that? Write to me very soon and tell me that you are coming. Yours, your most affectionate sister.’

Charlotte let out a slow breath as she folded up the letter again and then pressed it to her heart. Ever since Amelia had wed, Charlotte had felt an ever-increasing sense of loneliness. To bring a little respite to that, to find herself in a home filled with love and warmth and happiness would bring her a great relief, she was certain.

Though, of course, she still had Lady Barcsay to contend with.

Closing her eyes, Charlotte took in a long breath and tried to find the courage which she would need to inform her stepmother about such a thing. To go to London for Christmas would be no small thing, for it would mean leaving her stepmother alone here in the Dower house, though, of course, there were other family members that she could choose to go and join if she wished. Charlotte was not her only family.

“I want to go,” she murmured aloud, turning back to her writing desk and, picking up a fresh piece of paper, laying it down on the table and smoothing it with one hand. These last few months had been nothing but difficult, had offered her naught but sorrow and frustration and the chance of escaping it for even a short while was not something that Charlotte could refuse.

‘ Amelia, how glad I am to hear from you,’ she wrote, her quill scratching across the paper in a hasty fashion, as though she were afraid that her stepmother would come into the room without warning and would somehow know what she was writing. “ I cannot say more at present but be assured that I have every intention of making my way to London for Christmas. Thank you for your kind invitation. I shall count the days until we are in each other’s company again!’

Before she could change her mind or lose herself in her thoughts, worrying about what she ought to do, Charlotte signed the letter, folded it and then rang the bell while she waited for the wax to warm itself through. Sealing it closed, she addressed it and, just as that was finished, the door opened and a footman came in. She studied him for a moment before ascertaining that indeed, this was one of the servants that she trusted. Many of them would tell everything that Charlotte had been doing to her stepmother, who would then go on to question her and, at the same time, find fault with her for what she had either done or had failed to do.

“Have this sent immediately,” she directed. “At this very moment, do you understand?”

The footman nodded, took the letter from her without a word and then made his way from the room – and Charlotte let out a long, slow breath, closing her eyes as she leaned back into her chair.

Now all I have to do is inform my stepmother that I will be going to London for Christmas.

A wry smile tipped her lips and though it lingered, a sadness entered her heart and began to pull it down towards the depths. Living with her stepmother had been a dull, painful existence where even taking a breath on some days seemed to cause difficulty. It was as though Lady Barcsay did not want her to be in this very house with her though, whenever Charlotte stepped out of it even to go on a short errand, the lady became very angry indeed and demanded to know what Charlotte had been doing – often times insisting on accompanying her the next time she stepped out. Charlotte did not understand it, for it seemed to her that Lady Barcsay appeared to enjoy making her life a miserable existence, seemed to relish the fact that Charlotte had been directed by her late father’s hopes, to live in this way. There were times when Charlotte had thought to simply state that she would not be doing such a thing any longer, that she would take herself to her brother’s house now that he was back or, even better, to London to find herself a match but then the words of her father came back to her – written words which she had read herself – and her thoughts had crumpled into a heap and faded away.

“Charlotte?”

The door to Charlotte’s supposedly private parlor flew open and Lady Barcsay strode in, her hands to her hips as she glared at her.

“What letters are you writing?”

Charlotte blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“I saw one of the footmen depart and demanded to know where he was going. It seems that you directed him to take your letter to be posted at once, without even a single flicker of hesitation! Is there a reason to that?”

There is but I need not express it to you. “I am merely keeping up with my correspondence,” she said, turning back to her writing table and taking out another piece of paper. “Do excuse me.”

Her stepmother did not move but, instead, came directly beside Charlotte’s writing desk, her hand, in a tight fist, slamming down on the table and making Charlotte jump. “How dare you speak to me with such disrespect? You do not ask me to leave your presence!”

“Yes, I do.” Charlotte, irritated and fatigued, looked up at her stepmother. “And I ask you again to excuse me, for I have some further letters I should like to send.” She chose her words carefully, refusing to give Lady Barcsay any reason to rail at her though it was difficult not to lose her temper. This was how her daily life was, a constant struggle against all that Lady Barcsay said and did.

Her stepmother leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “To whom are you writing?”

Charlotte closed her eyes, blocking out the sight of her stepmother’s furious expression. “To many people. Now, if – ”

“You are the most impolite, inconsiderate creature!” Lady Barcsay cried, her face going scarlet. “How dare you refuse to answer me? What is it that I must say in order to have you speak to me civilly?”

“I am not speaking unkindly in any way. However, some of these affairs are my own.”

Lady Barcsay laughed harshly, one finger coming out to shake in front of Charlotte’s face. “You are meant to be my companion, meant to be a support to me and all you do is leech my strength from me. You enjoy causing me pain, do you not? I think your father would be ashamed, should he see you as you are now.”

Anger flared hot in Charlotte’s chest and she could not hold herself back. She had done nothing wrong and yet her stepmother was insisting that she was the one causing pain and suffering? Using her father in an attempt to make her feel even smaller and more belittled than she was already fired Charlotte’s upset all the more and, in a sudden show of strength, she pushed herself to her feet, the chair’s feet scraping on the floor behind her.

“I am going to go to London for Christmas,” she said, the words rushing out of her now. “I have accepted the invitation and expect to go to spend time with my sister at the very beginning of December. I have no expectation of when I shall return but I shall certainly be away for some weeks.”

Lady Barcsay’s eyes narrowed into dark slits, her face going scarlet. “You have no right to do such a thing. You have no right at all!”

“Yes, I do.” Charlotte drew herself up, folding her arms over her chest in the hope of filling herself with confidence. “I am of age. Therefore, that is what I have decided.”

“And you would leave me here alone?” Lady Barcsay pressed one finger hard into Charlotte’s chest, words spitting out of her mouth. “You spiteful, inconsiderate, selfish, arrogant little – ”

“Might I suggest that you step back from my sister, Lady Barcsay?”

Lady Barcsay let out a shriek of surprise and Charlotte caught her breath, only to turn and then run into her brother’s arms, overwhelmed with relief upon seeing him.

“Thomas, whatever are you doing here?” she whispered, tears beginning to splash onto her cheeks. “I did not think that you would be coming to call.”

Her brother held her tightly for a few moments and then released her. “I received Amelia’s letter yesterday and thought I would come to make certain that all is well,” he said, quietly, before sending an angry look towards Lady Barcsay. “But now I see that my sister is being treated poorly, that she is being spoken to cruelly simply because she has decided to go to London for the Christmas Season? I presume that is why you thought to call her such names?”

“I… I did not mean… ” Lady Barcsay went a trifle paler than before, moving back from Charlotte and her brother, her hands raised as though in defense of herself. “I became upset at the thought of being alone at Christmas time.”

Thomas stood tall, his presence filling the room. “That does not mean that you have any right to speak to Charlotte in such a way, especially when she has given up a great deal already. You ought to be encouraging her to have some time with her sister, ought to be glad to see her enjoy herself in that way.”

“Of course.” Lady Barcsay suddenly seemed very humble, her eyes downcast, her head lowering just a little. “Forgive me, Charlotte. I did not mean to say such things.”

Charlotte cast a glance to her brother, seeing his scowl darkening. It was just as obvious to him as it was to her, it seemed, that there was nothing genuine in what her stepmother said. The only reason she spoke so was because Thomas was the new Viscount and could, very easily, reduce Lady Barcsay’s circumstances, should he so wish to. That was a great fear, Charlotte knew, having heard Lady Barcsay say that very thing to a friend who had come to call – though her stepmother did not know that she had overheard her. It was one of the many reasons that Charlotte disliked her stepmother so greatly, for the falseness and the pretense was more than her heart could bear at times.

“You have decided to go to London then, yes?” Thomas’ tone warmed as he looked to Charlotte, now ignoring Lady Barcsay entirely. “I am glad to hear it. I was afraid that your remarkable sense of duty would prevent you from doing so.”

Charlotte smiled. “I have decided to go, indeed. I would very much like to see Amelia again.”

“Though you must not forget your commitment!”

Looking again to her stepmother, Charlotte caught the flash of anger in her eyes, aware that she was dampening down her true emotions in front of Thomas. “I have no intention of stepping away from that commitment.”

“You cannot decide you have given it up,” Lady Barcsay stated, firmly. “You cannot simply turn your back on me.”

Thomas took a step forward and instantly, Lady Barcsay fell silent. “I wish I had witnessed this will with my own eyes,” he uttered, his tone filled with bitterness. “I find it most difficult to credit that our father would ever have uttered such sentiments.”

Lady Barcsay lifted her chin. “It is hardly my fault that the mail coach the will was in came under attack and that the will was lost in the dark and the discontent of that,” she answered, a little too sharply. “Besides, your sister saw those words and read them carefully.”

Charlotte glanced to her brother and gave him the smallest nod, seeing his frown only deepen. There was something about this situation that unsettled him and, were she honest, Charlotte would admit that she too felt the same. Nonetheless, she had already decided to do as her father had asked of her, regardless of her feelings on the matter. It was her duty, just as it had been her brother’s duty to care for their father’s holdings on the continent. He had not returned until his duty was complete and she, in the same way, would not return to her own freedom until her duty came to an end.

Thomas snorted, his lip curling. “Whether or not father wrote those words, I stand by the fact that it was not an order and not a demand. Charlotte, if you should choose to find yourself in a happy and settled situation, then I will not think the worse of you.” He held up one hand, palm out towards Lady Barcsay, silencing her before she had even begun to splutter. “However, it is good that you are to go to London. I am pleased to hear that. And you, Lady Barcsay, I was to invite you to spend your Christmas with Hannah and me but given how you have treated Charlotte, I am not in mind to extend that invitation any longer.”

“It was a mere moment of anger and upset,” Lady Barcsay answered, her tone a little wheedling. “Pray, forgive me for it.”

Thomas looked to Charlotte who simply smiled briefly and then looked away, leaving the decision with him. He sighed, rubbed one hand over his eyes and then shook his head. “I shall extend the invitation to you, Lady Barcsay, because it is what my father would have wanted me to do. However, I must warn you, if there is any further… moments where you feel the urge to take out your anger upon my sister, then that shall not sit well with me. I do hope I make myself clear?”

“Very clear indeed.” A red spot rose in Lady Barcsay’s cheeks and Charlotte was quite certain her teeth were clenched but, all the same, she remained perfectly composed.

“Now,” Thomas smiled, looking down at Charlotte. “Come, Charlotte, let us take tea together and you can tell me all your news.” He threw a glance to Lady Barcsay. “And I do mean all. ”

Charlotte slipped her arm through her brother’s and walked with him to the door. “You will not change her, you know,” she murmured, as Thomas smiled sadly. “She is afraid you will take some of her yearly income away or remove some of the servants, that is all. There is no genuine thought of change.”

“But I can protect you as best I can,” he told her, opening the door so they might walk through together. “And I am going to make certain that this Christmas, you have time simply to enjoy yourself, just as you always should have been permitted to do.” He patted her hand lightly. “Charlotte, if you should find yourself falling in love with a gentleman, I want you to know that you have my blessing to proceed.”

Charlotte gave him a wry smile. “I hardly think that such a thing will happen, Thomas,” she answered, though he chuckled at her determined response. “And besides that, I have a duty to our stepmother.”

“It is not something demanded of you,” he reminded her, quickly. “If you should find a desire to remove this mantle of responsibility from yourself and instead find yourself happy, then I would be glad to see it, as would Amelia.” He nudged her lightly. “Do promise me that you will consider it?”

Keeping her gaze away from him, Charlotte shrugged, feeling that sense of responsibility to all that her father had asked of her and knowing that she could not turn from it. “I will consider it,” she answered, a little unwillingly. But I shall not turn from my duty.