Camille Elliot's Blog, page 95
November 28, 2014
She turned her face toward him, and even in the darkness ...
She turned her face toward him, and even in the darkness he could see the gleam of her smile.
He answered with one of his own, and he reached out to touch her cheek because it seemed the most natural and necessary thing for him to do. Like in the carriage when he had touched her hand, he wanted to be connected to her in a powerful way that he could not understand.
Her skin trembled beneath his fingers, then she turned her face away again.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
He answered with one of his own, and he reached out to touch her cheek because it seemed the most natural and necessary thing for him to do. Like in the carriage when he had touched her hand, he wanted to be connected to her in a powerful way that he could not understand.
Her skin trembled beneath his fingers, then she turned her face away again.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
“Your knee is paining you?” She stated it calmly, already...
“Your knee is paining you?” She stated it calmly, already knowing the answer.
“No, I am—”
“There is a poultice I can make for you that will soothe it. I shall give it to your man later.”
He wanted to say that he was well and in no need of any poultices, but Miranda was well known for her skill in the stillroom and sickroom. If it would indeed ease the pain, he ought not to indulge his pride and act like a muttonhead. Say thank you, Gerard. “Er … thank you, Miranda.”
“You are welcome.”
No fussing. No censure. Just a poultice for his knee. Miranda put him at ease like no one else had cared to do.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
“No, I am—”
“There is a poultice I can make for you that will soothe it. I shall give it to your man later.”
He wanted to say that he was well and in no need of any poultices, but Miranda was well known for her skill in the stillroom and sickroom. If it would indeed ease the pain, he ought not to indulge his pride and act like a muttonhead. Say thank you, Gerard. “Er … thank you, Miranda.”
“You are welcome.”
No fussing. No censure. Just a poultice for his knee. Miranda put him at ease like no one else had cared to do.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
November 27, 2014
He had not had opportunity to speak to Miranda since the ...
He had not had opportunity to speak to Miranda since the attack, but she was her usual calm self. When he had made it up the stairs to see how Ellie was doing in the nursery, Miranda had been there after finally coaxing her to sleep. Miranda had not looked as though her nerves were frayed or that she were likely to take to her bed, which was what his mother had done for an hour after he returned.
She had changed, as had them all, for dinner. Her dark blue dress made her skin even whiter, and her hair glossy like a raven’s feathers. When he first saw her, she looked so lovely that he hadn’t been able to speak for a moment. Luckily, she hadn’t been looking at him, and then all the guests had started working on decorating the house with the greenery.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
She had changed, as had them all, for dinner. Her dark blue dress made her skin even whiter, and her hair glossy like a raven’s feathers. When he first saw her, she looked so lovely that he hadn’t been able to speak for a moment. Luckily, she hadn’t been looking at him, and then all the guests had started working on decorating the house with the greenery.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
Gerard pulled his mouth wide in what he hoped looked like...
Gerard pulled his mouth wide in what he hoped looked like a smile and passed Miss Church-Pratton a fir branch.
“Oh, Captain Foremont, are you certain your leg is not paining you?” She gave him a soulful look that brought out the blue of her eyes.
“I am perfectly well, Miss Church-Pratton.” Gerard ignored the ache in his knee.
“I do appreciate your help but I would not wish to cause further injury to you.”
He seemed to be mostly recovered from the events of this morning. He moved a little more slowly and he was not climbing ladders in order to help decorate the chandelier, but he was perfectly able to collect greenery and deliver it to the women who arranged it around the house. Unfortunately, Miss Church-Pratton seemed to call him quite incessantly for more greenery.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
“Oh, Captain Foremont, are you certain your leg is not paining you?” She gave him a soulful look that brought out the blue of her eyes.
“I am perfectly well, Miss Church-Pratton.” Gerard ignored the ache in his knee.
“I do appreciate your help but I would not wish to cause further injury to you.”
He seemed to be mostly recovered from the events of this morning. He moved a little more slowly and he was not climbing ladders in order to help decorate the chandelier, but he was perfectly able to collect greenery and deliver it to the women who arranged it around the house. Unfortunately, Miss Church-Pratton seemed to call him quite incessantly for more greenery.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
November 26, 2014
She was used to hiding. She’d had to hide who she was, it...
She was used to hiding. She’d had to hide who she was, it seemed all her life—from her own parents, from most of her family. People had seemed to constantly remind her that she wasn’t quite right. That she was different.
Her father had been disappointed that she wasn’t charming, that she was too quiet and uninteresting. Her mother had been upset that she’d been hopeless at catching a husband during her season. Felicity disliked her so much that she was eager to foist her off rather than keeping an unpaid servant.
And aside from all that, there was the one secret no one could know, the one sin she could never rub out.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
Her father had been disappointed that she wasn’t charming, that she was too quiet and uninteresting. Her mother had been upset that she’d been hopeless at catching a husband during her season. Felicity disliked her so much that she was eager to foist her off rather than keeping an unpaid servant.
And aside from all that, there was the one secret no one could know, the one sin she could never rub out.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
The last time Miranda had gathered greenery with Gerard h...
The last time Miranda had gathered greenery with Gerard had been sixteen years ago, the Christmas before he went to sea. He would be with the men and the yule log if his knee would have allowed him to keep up, or allowed him to ride a horse without pain.
He joked with Ellie and with the other children, but every so often, the distant sound of a man’s voice in the woods made him look up, and a harshness would settle over his face like a mask. Or rather, perhaps his cheerfulness was the mask.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
He joked with Ellie and with the other children, but every so often, the distant sound of a man’s voice in the woods made him look up, and a harshness would settle over his face like a mask. Or rather, perhaps his cheerfulness was the mask.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
November 25, 2014
It was just a flicker of a glance that Miranda sent to Ge...
It was just a flicker of a glance that Miranda sent to Gerard before she looked away, but the certainty struck Laura like a blow. Miranda was in love with Gerard. It might be a girlhood crush, but the feelings were there, waiting to mature to true, deep affection.
Laura was no matchmaker, but a part of her wished for happiness for both Miranda and Gerard, both of whom were lonely in their own ways. And yet how could she convince Mary Foremont to allow Miranda to travel back to their home with them and with Ellie, knowing what she did about Miranda’s feelings?
Would she only be encouraging a situation that would result in heartbreak for Miranda?
Or would two hearts somehow find each other across the gulf of Miranda’s protective shell and Gerard’s bitterness?
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
Laura was no matchmaker, but a part of her wished for happiness for both Miranda and Gerard, both of whom were lonely in their own ways. And yet how could she convince Mary Foremont to allow Miranda to travel back to their home with them and with Ellie, knowing what she did about Miranda’s feelings?
Would she only be encouraging a situation that would result in heartbreak for Miranda?
Or would two hearts somehow find each other across the gulf of Miranda’s protective shell and Gerard’s bitterness?
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
“My dear.” Laura stopped to take Miranda’s hands in hers....
“My dear.” Laura stopped to take Miranda’s hands in hers. “It will only be for a few weeks, perhaps a few months. After Christmastide, I am promised to an elderly aunt in Northumberland, to help her organize the repair of her cottage. But once that is completed, you will come to stay with me in my townhouse in London.”
“Do you need a companion?”
“Not particularly,” Laura said cheerfully, “and I would suspect you would be a poor companion. You do not scurry nervously. And I have seen your embroidery, it is atrocious, so you would not be able to untangle your employer’s silks.”
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
“Do you need a companion?”
“Not particularly,” Laura said cheerfully, “and I would suspect you would be a poor companion. You do not scurry nervously. And I have seen your embroidery, it is atrocious, so you would not be able to untangle your employer’s silks.”
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
November 24, 2014
He’d heard from Lady Wynwood, who obviously disliked Miss...
He’d heard from Lady Wynwood, who obviously disliked Miss Church-Pratton, that she had broken her engagement earlier this year to an officer who had been wounded at Corunna. However, the season in London had not resulted in a second engagement, and Gerard could tell that her charm had an edge of bitterness and desperation.
He had no intention of being her next matrimonial target. With his injury, he was in no condition to even consider a more far-seeing future. He must concentrate on the most immediate needs, namely being able to discard his cane and to relieve the burden upon his parents.
It was a cowardly thing to do, but he simply grasped at the first idea that came to mind. He took a small glass of wassail from the maid serving the punch at a side table and then wobbled on his cane, spilling the drink on his waistcoat. The scent of wine, nutmeg, and apples grew stronger, and he felt the warmth as the hot beverage soaked through his shirt.
“Oh, dear!” Miss Church-Pratton fished out her handkerchief, a thin lawn square the size of a playing card, and swabbed at his chest.
Her hand seemed to be touching a larger area of his chest than the spill, and he hastily stepped away from her suspicious ministrations. “I do beg your pardon, Miss Church-Pratton. I must change my waistcoat before it stains.” He turned and left.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
He had no intention of being her next matrimonial target. With his injury, he was in no condition to even consider a more far-seeing future. He must concentrate on the most immediate needs, namely being able to discard his cane and to relieve the burden upon his parents.
It was a cowardly thing to do, but he simply grasped at the first idea that came to mind. He took a small glass of wassail from the maid serving the punch at a side table and then wobbled on his cane, spilling the drink on his waistcoat. The scent of wine, nutmeg, and apples grew stronger, and he felt the warmth as the hot beverage soaked through his shirt.
“Oh, dear!” Miss Church-Pratton fished out her handkerchief, a thin lawn square the size of a playing card, and swabbed at his chest.
Her hand seemed to be touching a larger area of his chest than the spill, and he hastily stepped away from her suspicious ministrations. “I do beg your pardon, Miss Church-Pratton. I must change my waistcoat before it stains.” He turned and left.
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
For the better part of the last half hour, Gerard had bee...
For the better part of the last half hour, Gerard had been staring up Cecil’s hairy nostril. It was most unpleasant, but Cecil had kept his nose upturned the entire time of their discussion here in the library, which had taken place directly after dinner. Gerard wondered that Cecil didn’t get a crick in his neck from looking down at all the world, all the time. Or perhaps Cecil simply had extraordinarily large nostrils.
“Regardless of what you say, I still see no need to remove Eleanor from my care,” Sir Cecil said, playing with pretentiously large silver paperweight upon his desk. “She is perfectly content here.”
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses, 99 cents only until Nov 30th
Kindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
“Regardless of what you say, I still see no need to remove Eleanor from my care,” Sir Cecil said, playing with pretentiously large silver paperweight upon his desk. “She is perfectly content here.”
--From The Spinster's Christmas in Mistletoe Kisses
, 99 cents only until Nov 30thKindle
iBooks
Kobobooks.com
Nook
