“I know more about ships, of course,” Lord Harrow said. “But I would be interested to know more about these railways and what opportunities they might bring. I am always interested in finding out about new business ventures, as you know.”
Isabella flinched. She felt that Lord Harrow’s comments about business opportunities were rather jarring, given the intimate family nature of the gathering. But before she could think any more about it, she noticed Benedict glancing around the room a little nervously.
“Does everyone have a glass of champagne?” he asked.
Lady Evermere looked at him a little strangely. “Why yes, Benedict, of course. Smith has done his duty very diligently, as always. Was there a particular reason for you to ask such a question?”
He cleared his throat. “Well, Faith and I have something to tell you all, and I thought that perhaps, after our announcement, we might want to drink a toast to celebrate.”
Lord Evermere looked up with interest. “A toast? To celebrate? What’s this all about, then?”
Benedict glanced quickly at Faith, who smiled and gave him a tiny nod.
“We are expecting our first child,” he announced with a wide grin. “I cannot tell you how happy we are, and I am sure you will join us in celebrating.”
He raised his glass, and everyone else in the room did the same, with congratulations ringing out from everyone’s mouths before they took sips of the cool, fizzy liquid.
Isabella felt a bubble of joy rising in her chest. Her sister had been married for a while now, and she knew Faith was desperate to become a mother. She crossed the room and embraced her sister again.
“I am so happy for you!” Isabella said. “And what wonderful news for Christmas, too!”
Faith looked at her and smiled. “Perhaps you will have your own good news to share soon, my dear.”
Isabella gave a weak smile. “I am not so sure about that,” she replied. But maybe her sister was right, and her parents’ festive house party was the perfect opportunity for her to find a husband she could love and respect and start a family of her own one day.
She glanced around the cosy library, with the fire burning merrily in the grate, and thought how perfect it would be to find love at Christmas.
Chapter 2
Sebastian let out a groan as Adrian moved his queen forward a square.
“Check,” Adrian murmured, a slightly smug smile on his face.
“You beast,” Sebastian said softly. “I did not see that coming.”
Adrian laughed. “I can see that, or else you would not have moved that pawn!”
Sebastian stared at the board, trying to find the best way out of this current predicament. He and Adrian were well-matched, and normally he did not mind losing to him, but today, he felt a strong urge to win.
Opposite him, Adrian leaned back in his chair and looked at his stepbrother. “You seem a little distracted today, Sebastian, if you do not mind my saying so.”
Sebastian shook his head. “Not really. It is just the usual things, you know.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “The usual things?”
Sebastian nodded. “Tedious matters of business that I would like to resolve before Christmas. That sort of thing.”
“Well, you had better find some focus somewhere, my friend, or else I shall thrash you once again, and you’ll make me think you’re losing your touch.”
“Never!” Sebastian replied, then picked up his king and moved it one square to the left. Now it was safely hidden behind a row of pawns and he could use his next move to advance one of his other pieces and formulate his own plan of attack. The game was not over yet, not by a long way.
They played on silently for a few minutes, and Sebastian thought he was just about to gain an advantage when his mother, Lady Lucinda Sterling, entered the library.
“Sebastian, Adrian, will you come through to the dining room? Dinner is ready now.”
“Yes, of course, Mother,” Sebastian said, getting to his feet. “There will be plenty of time for me to beat you after dinner, Adrian.”
Adrian chuckled. “That’s what you think. Let’s see how the game pans out. Perhaps you will drink too much brandy after dinner and lose your focus, and then I shall take advantage of your weakness!”
