A Lass for Christmas (Tenacious Trents Novella) by Jane Charles Page B

who had married had chosen well, and she now knew
what it was like to have sisters.
    Madeline glanced down the pew. Clayton, the
eldest and earl, was seated with his wife, Eleanor and her sister
and four younger brothers. They had arrived yesterday morning,
surprising Mother. When he received Matt’s letter regarding her
impending marriage, and that she and mother were aware of the
situation with Adele and Julia, he had packed up his family and
came north. Across the aisle sat Matt, Jordan, Mother and Grace.
Tears sprang to her eyes when she realized how truly lucky she was.
Everyone was here except for John and Elizabeth.
    That wasn’t true. They had another sister.
One they were never given the chance to know—Julia.
    She had a harder life, or so Madeline
assumed. Raised by only her mother, who had run away. She lived in
a country that was at war with England, and had been ruled by
Napoleon most of her life. Julia never had the chance to find out
what wonderful brothers she could have come to know growing up.
    Even though Julia was the true and rightful
lady of the two sisters, Madeline was more blessed for having her
family, and Madeline now had a purpose. She was going to find her
sister. It was only a matter of time before Society learned the
truth. If she found Julia first and had the chance to know her,
perhaps being shunned by those who had once been friends would not
hurt so much. Perhaps they could become great friends.
    Hope renewed as Madeline stood for the
closing hymn. Though her heart ached at the loss of Lachlan, she
would get by. Somehow, some way, and each day would be a new
beginning.

    Lachlan pounded on the front door. Why wasn’t
anyone answering? There were lights in the lower portion of the
house. Surely someone was here.
    “Perhaps they have gone to church,” Elizabeth
suggested.
    As the miles fell behind them, Lachlan
finally agreed to call them by their Christian names since John
insisted as they were to be family soon. It was still a bit
uncomfortable, but he was getting used to it. Lachlan took out his
watch to check the time and angled it toward the moon so he could
see the face. “How far away is the church?” he demanded.
    “Aren’t you the one who owns an estate down
the road?” John answered. “I don’t recall it being all that far
away though.”
    What was he thinking? Of course he knew where
the church was. But he didn’t know what time the services began or
ended. They could stand here and freeze, or they could go to
church.
    No, he didn’t want his reunion with Maddie to
be in such a public place. Having her family witness the event was
bad enough, but he doubted he could make any of them leave.
    The front door opened a moment later, and a
young woman he had never seen before stared up at them. “May I help
you?”
    “I am Lord Brachton, and I’ve come to call on
Lady Madeline.”
    The maid grinned and stood back so he could
enter.
    “I am Madeline’s brother and this is my wife,
Elizabeth,” John said as he crossed over the threshold.
    The maid bobbed a curtsey. “They are still at
church, but you are welcome to come into the parlor and wait.”
    Lachlan brushed past her.
    “Thank you,” Elizabeth muttered, and they
followed Lachlan in to the room.
    “When will they be returnin’?” Lachlan asked
with impatience.
    The young woman glanced at the clock. “It
should be shortly, my lord.”
    Lachlan nodded and began pacing in front of
the fire.
    Elizabeth and John handed their coats to the
young woman. “Will you be staying the night?”
    “Yes,” John answered.
    “I’ll have a room made up.” With that, she
quit the room.
    John went to the sideboard and poured himself
a brandy and a glass of wine for Elizabeth.
    “Can I get you anything, Lachlan?”
    “Whisky,” he answered and resumed pacing,
looking at the clock every two minutes. How much longer would they
be?
    “I don’t see any whisky.”
    There was a bottle at the manor but he wasn’t
about to