A Birmingham Family Christmas (Brazen Brides Book 5) Read online

  A Birmingham Family Christmas...

  When spinster Annabelle Lippencott is invited by her cousin, Emma Birmingham, to spend Christmas with the extended Birmingham Family, little does she expect to find Spencer Woodruff, the man who broke her heart eleven years earlier.

  Cheryl Bolen’s Books

  Regency Historical Romance:

  Brazen Brides Series

  Counterfeit Countess

  His Golden Ring

  Oh What A (Wedding) Night

  Miss Hastings’ Excellent London Adventure

  A Birmingham Family Christmas

  House of Haverstock Series

  Lady by Chance

  Duchess by Mistake

  Countess by Coincidence

  Ex-Spinster by Christmas

  The Brides of Bath Series

  The Bride Wore Blue

  With His Ring

  The Bride’s Secret

  To Take This Lord

  Love In The Library

  A Christmas in Bath

  The Regent Mysteries Series

  With His Lady's Assistance

  A Most Discreet Inquiry

  The Theft Before Christmas

  An Egyptian Affair

  Pride and Prejudice Sequels

  Miss Darcy’s New Companion

  Miss Darcy’s Secret Love

  The Liberation of Miss de Bourgh

  The Earl's Bargain

  My Lord Wicked

  His Lordship's Vow

  Christmas Brides (Three Regency Novellas)

  A Duke Deceived

  Romantic Suspense:

  Falling For Frederick

  Texas Heroines in Peril Series

  Protecting Britannia

  Murder at Veranda House

  A Cry In The Night

  Capitol Offense

  World War II Romance:

  It Had to Be You (Previously titled Nisei)

  American Historical Romance:

  A Summer To Remember (3 American Romances)

  (Brazen Brides Series, Book 5)

  Cheryl Bolen

  Copyright © 2017 by Cheryl Bolen

  A Birmingham Family Christmas is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Brazen Brides Series

  Chapter 1

  "I have accepted that I'm an old maid and shall never attract a husband." Miss Annabelle Lippincott faced her much-younger cousin and shrugged. One might expect Annabelle to be jealous of Emma, who'd had the stupendous good fortune to have recently married the most sought-after bachelor in the kingdom. Adam Birmingham was not only vastly wealthy, but he was possessed of fine looks and appeared to be devoted to dear little Emma.

  But Annabelle could never be jealous of her cousin. The confirmed spinster held firmly to the belief that happiness was a carefully measured commodity not indiscriminately bestowed. In Annabelle's own case, all her happiness had been spent in the first half of her privileged life. She had grown up in the mansion of her baronet grandfather and was thoroughly doted upon by her father who credited her with far more beauty and accomplishments than she actually possessed. Now into the second half of her life, she was resigned to a loveless existence.

  Poor Emma, on the other hand, had endured a sad childhood as the orphan ward of a stern, exceedingly ancient maiden aunt. Now Emma collected her portion of blissful happiness.

  Emma's eyes narrowed as she regarded her elder cousin and put hands to her hips. "That's the most foolish thing I've ever heard you say! You're acting as if your life is over, and you are but eight-and-twenty."

  "I've been on the shelf so long several new waves of debutantes have come and gone--and most of them fared far better than I." Annabelle's lashes lowered. Better that than seeing pity in Emma's eyes.

  "Can you honestly tell me you received no offers during your Season?"

  "I will own that my dowry no doubt attracted several suitors, but . . . the ones who offered for me were the ones who did not suit me, and the only one who suited chose not to . . . to officially offer for me."

  "I was quite young at the time, but I recall that you were very melancholy when you returned to Lower Barrington following your London Season. I was convinced you'd come home with a broken heart." Emma came closer, touched Annabelle's forearm, and spoke softly. "Was I correct?"

  All these years later the very memory of Spencer Woodruff had the power to accelerate Annabelle's heartbeat and summon tears she was determined not to spill. She had believed him when he said he would ask her father for permission to marry her. Every day those first two years she had looked for him. Every day her father had assured her he'd heard not a word from Mr. Woodruff. Every night she had wept for him in the privacy of her bedchamber.

  Annabelle nodded. "I did fancy myself in love."

  "Did he not return your regard?"

  Annabelle vividly remembered that night beneath the stars at Vauxhall Gardens when he'd taken her hand in his. "I have nothing to offer you but my heart, but if you would do me the goodness of becoming my wife, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make myself worthy of you."

  Recalling the very timbre of his voice, she sighed and faced Emma. "He said he did. He led me to believe he was as strongly attracted to me as I was to him." She shook her head. "I've asked myself thousands of times why him? He was neither titled nor wealthy, but the first time he spoke to me I believed he was The One with whom I would spend the rest of my life. No one before or since has ever affected me so profoundly."

  "Oh, my dear Annabelle. I am very sorry, but that beastly man was certainly not worthy of you!"

  "He wasn't beastly. He was an honorable man. I know it."

  "I will own, you have always been possessed of sound judgment. You're the most mature, level-headed person I've ever known. Even when you were a child. Perhaps the man who captured your ardor may have been beset by some tragedy that prevented him from speaking to your father?"

  "I've spent the past eleven years asking myself the same question."

  "You need to know--if for nothing else than to restore your faith in men."

  "While Papa lived, I could never write to a gentleman. Now so many years have passed I wouldn't know how to go about trying to learn what became of him."

  "After Christmas, Adam and I will help you."

  Annabelle's gaze flicked to the clock upon the mantel in her bedchamber, or rather the bedchamber where she slept at Emma's impressive new home. It was noon. They were to leave for the country in less than an hour. "Are you certain Mr. Nicholas Birmingham won't mind me intruding on the family's Christmas at Camden Hall?"

  "You goose! You are family! Even though I'm so recent an addition to the Birminghams they make me feel as if I were a sister of the blood. They will all conspire to make you feel a part of this big, caring clan."

  If only. As an only child, Annabelle had always longed for siblings. Emma was her closest relation, and there were eight years between them. "I know there are three Birmingham brothers: Adam, Nicholas and William." She'd heard of t
he family's vast wealth long before her cousin had ever come to London and snared one of them. "But are there any sisters?"

  Emma nodded. "One. Verity. You'll have the pleasure of meeting her, too. She'll be making the trip from Windmere Abbey in Yorkshire."

  Annabelle's eyes widened. "Is Windmere Abbey not the home of the Earls of Agar?"

  "Indeed. Verity is Lady Agar, and she's now the mother of the future Lord Agar who is the most beautiful baby boy ever in existence."

  Annabelle had not expected to be mingling with real nobility. "Had I known we'd be enjoying intercourse with the aristocracy I would have brought my best gowns." Then she realized it had been so long since she'd had occasion to wear one, she had likely outgrown them.

  "Don't give it another thought. None of the ladies are slaves to fashion, nor are they judgmental. They are incredibly kind."

  "You cannot mean there is more than one titled lady coming?"

  "Oh, yes. Both of Adam's brothers married earl's daughters. Lady Sophia's married to William Birmingham, the youngest brother. She's the daughter of the Earl of Devere, and Nick's wife is Lady Fiona, whose brother is Lord Agar."

  Annabelle sighed. "I would wager all those ladies are beautiful." Unlike me. Annabelle was well aware that as she had aged, she'd gotten fat--not fat like those hideous caricatures of Lady Hamilton, but definitely plump. Another reason she would never attract a husband.

  "Yes, they are beautiful, and I know what you must be thinking. How did a little country mouse like the former Emma Hastings ever capture the best prize on the Marriage Mart?"

  "I most certainly was not!" Though, truth be told, that is exactly what Annabelle had been thinking. Emma was bereft of beauty and fortune. At least, she had not been a beauty when she'd left Upper Barrington for London months earlier. But now, with the clothing and hair dressing her husband's fortune could procure, Emma had been transformed into something quite lovely. Annabelle could not help but admire Adam Birmingham for recognizing Emma's wonderful qualities. "Mr. Adam Birmingham is very fortunate to have won your hand in marriage." In this praise, Miss Annabelle Lippincott was most sincere.

  "I am well aware of my blessings, and now my fondest wish is for you to find such bliss." Emma pressed her hands to her cousin's. "I couldn't bear to think of you all alone at Christmas. Now that your father's gone, you must live with us. We are your family."

  Annabelle was almost overcome with emotion. Amongst all Emma's blessings and constant activities with her new family, she worried about her cousin. "I confess I was happy to receive your invitation. I'm looking forward to going to Camden Hall."

  * * *

  Spencer's employer, standing near the door and wrapping a muffler around his neck, eyed him. "Will you be spending Christmas with your sister's family?" Adam Birmingham asked.

  Spencer Woodruff set down his pen and shook his head. "No. She's gone to Shropshire to be with her husband's family."

  "A pity Shropshire's so beastly far away."

  "Indeed. Those of us who must work for a living can't neglect our duties for that many days." Spencer could speak frankly to Adam for even though he was one of the wealthiest men in England, Adam Birmingham almost never missed a day at his bank. The only reason he was able to celebrate the Yule with his family was the close proximity to London of Nicholas Birmingham's estate, where the family gathered every Christmas.

  "It's also a pity you don't have a wife," Adam added.

  Adam Birmingham could also speak freely to Spencer. Despite the disparity in their wealth, the two had become fast friends at Cambridge. Both had been outsiders, Adam because his crass father had pulled himself up from the lower classes, and Spencer because he was a penniless scholarship student.

  When Spencer left school he accepted a position as Adam's clerk and in the ensuing years had risen to become vice president of the powerful Birmingham Bank. "I won't be marrying. I learned in a most cruel fashion that women are not truthful."

  "I won't listen to you maligning women. I've the good fortune to have married an exceedingly truthful woman who has made me the happiest man in the kingdom."

  Spencer smiled. "I'm very happy for you."

  Adam moved to him and slapped him on the back. "I won't hear of you spending Christmas alone in London. You must come to Camden Hall."

  Spencer was also close to Nicholas Birmingham and had been to the impressive Camden Hall once before. "I shouldn't like to intrude on your family gathering."

  "But you're like family. Nick certainly thinks so, and Emma has also grown very fond of you. Besides, it won't all be family. Well, Birmingham family. Emma's cousin's coming. She lost her father earlier this year, and Emma wouldn't allow her to be alone--just as I won't allow you to be alone at Christmas. You'll come to Camden. That's an order." Adam grabbed his beaver and walking stick, strode to the door, then turned back. "You've worked enough today, Pythagoras."

  Spencer wondered if old school chums would ever stop referring to him by the name they'd dubbed him because of his prowess in mathematics.

  Seconds after the door closed, Adam came back. "There will be a place for you at Camden's dinner table tonight. We eat at five."

  Spencer nodded. Christmas at Camden Hall sounded much more inviting than eating mutton at his bachelor quarters in Bloomsbury.

  * * *

  Nick was worried about his mother and Verity. Mama was to have opened Great Acres last week in preparation for Christmas, but they still hadn't arrived from Verity's house in Yorkshire. The courier he'd sent to Great Acres early that morning had just informed him that his mother and sister had not yet arrived in Surrey.

  Nick had heard that it was snowing in Yorkshire. Had their party--Mama, Verity and Agar, and their babe--been forced to abort their travel and wait out the weather at an inn? Or, worse still, had they been stranded and buried under snow? Nick could not purge his memory of Lord Acer's icy death many years ago. That man had been caught in a brutal snow storm on a secluded country road in Yorkshire.

  Nick worried, too, about Verity. Though she had not spoken of it--the proud new mother only spoke of that baby boy of hers--Nick thought her weakened after her lying-in. During that one brief meeting with her whilst he was electioneering in Yorkshire, Nick had been upset by her altered appearance. Her colour was off, and instead of adding girth, she had obviously lost weight.

  Was that why they were late arriving? Had her health declined? Good Lord, had she died? Just last week Mr. Holmes had lost his wife two months after she gave birth--something from which she had never recovered. She was but two-and-twenty.

  Nick's gut plunged. He could not bear to contemplate losing his cherished only sister.

  But perhaps Mama was the one who'd gotten sick. Even though she was a septuagenarian, she had always exhibited remarkably good health.

  He wouldn't have a moment's peace until all of his family was home and safe for Christmas.

  Chapter 2

  Even when Papa was alive, their Christmases were dull occasions. When Annabelle had received the invitation from Emma to come spend her first Christmas without Papa with the Birminghams, she had leapt at the opportunity. The exhilaration of returning to London, the reassurance that Emma was being cherished, the notion of spending Christmas at the eldest Birmingham brother's fine estate, all had lifted her spirits.

  Mingling with members of the nobility both awed her and terrified her at the same time. Even though she was the daughter of a baronet, her only previous association with higher ranking aristocrats had been when she was presented to the queen all those years ago, the same time she'd briefly spoken to the titled patronesses at Almack's. Now she would be staying in the same house with the daughters of Lords Agar and Devere.

  The latter lady, at the last moment, had joined them for the carriage ride to Surrey, where Nicholas Birmingham's Camden Hall was located."I do hope you'll permit me to ride with you to Camden Hall," Lady Sophia said with a bright smile and shrug to her dainty shoulders. "I'd much rather be with
you ladies than be obliged to listen to William and Nick rattling off about their stock exchange."

  She climbed onto the carriage seat next to Annabelle. "I beg that you dispense with formal introductions," she said to Emma. Then she directed a sweet smile at Annabelle. "I declare, Miss Lippincott, I do see a resemblance between you and Emma. It's your nose and something about the mouth." She took Annabelle's hands in hers. "Emma is so fortunate to have you, and we are so fortunate that you're to be joining us for Christmas."

  Upon seeing Lady Sophia's radiant dark-haired beauty, Annabelle became glaringly aware of her own advancing age and expanding waistline. Even the dress she wore no longer seemed so smart when compared to the simple elegance of Lady Sophia's rosy velvet frock with matching pelisse. These inadequacies should have rendered Miss Annabelle Lippincott mute, but strangely she was not.

  One moment in the gracious lady's company dispelled any shyness Annabelle might have possessed. Lady Sophia was the only person who had ever acknowledged the similarity between the two cousins. Most people only saw that Emma was tiny and Annabelle was . . . not tiny. No one ever saw that the two shared the Lippincott nose.As time went on, the lady directed her comments at Annabelle as if every word emanating from that lady's mouth was fascinating.

  Even though Lady Sophia teased that she did not want to ride with her husband, her comments about him could not disguise her deep affection. "I'm so happy that I will get to spend the next three days with my dear William."Adam and Emma's obvious devotion to one another was equally apparent. The Birmingham brothers' solid marriages were almost enough to restore Annabelle's faith in love. Almost. If only Spencer had not betrayed her.

  Thinking about Spencer reminded her of the wealthy old brewer her father had wanted her to marry. "Did you know, Emma, that Mr. Marsden died last month?"