My Merry Marquess (Wallflower's Christmas Wish #3) - Annabelle Anders Page 0,39

you.” Aunt Winifred held the door wide as Eve returned from delivering the baked goods. Of course, now her aunt would realize such duties.

Nicholas loved her. Not only had she seen it in his eyes, she’d heard it in his voice. She’d felt it in his kiss.

With regret from having to leave him weighing her down, Eve hooked her cloak on a nearby peg and then climbed two flights of stairs to join her sisters in the attic. How was he going to entertain himself that evening? Would he miss her as she was surely going to miss him?

“We’ve found miles of ribbons.” Noelle stood beside an opened trunk. “And look at this silk.”

“A book of recipes.” Holly moved toward the small window. “Oh! Vanilla cakes. And apple pies and ginger crisps and rum punch. These are grandmother’s recipes.”

Eve moved close and read the inscription aloud. “Because in the darkest of times, baking feeds my soul. And when my soul is full, I can share the fruits of my labor with those I love.” She looked over at Holly. “Mama used to say this. I’d forgotten…”

“Dash wants to marry by Christmas,” Noelle said. “I wanted you to marry first, Eve. You aren’t mad, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“Jack loves me. I’m sure of it.” Holly drew some more books out of another trunk. “At least I think he does.”

Eve inhaled. “I met Lord Merriweather in London.”

Noelle glanced up with narrowed eyes. “He is quite handsome. Not as handsome as Dash, of course—”

“Or Jack,” Holly murmured. “But in his own way...”

Eve opened a third trunk and feigned indifference. She wanted to tell them about her feelings, about everything that had happened, but feared that if she did, she’d be tempting fate.

“He is very kind.” She pulled out a pale green gown sewn in a fashion at least two decades past. Footsteps sounded on the wooden steps, and Aunt Winifred appeared. She caught sight of the gown and smiled.

“Your mother wore that gown the day she married your father.”

Noelle stepped forward with some of the ribbons. “It’s in excellent condition! We could alter the sleeves just so; I could wear it when I marry Dash.”

Warmth blossomed in Eve’s chest, and she blinked her eyes. “It would almost be like having Mother there.”

“Father should be here!” Holly announced.

A moment later, all of them were in one another’s arms. They were overcome with a myriad of emotions. They mourned their mother’s death. They were disappointed at their father’s abandonment. And they were comforted in the knowledge that they would always have one another—Aunt Winifred included.

But most of all, they had hope.

Chapter 12

Eve had located some jars of berries, raspberries by the look of them, in the pantry and decided to bake something different for Nick that morning. She only made a few changes to the recipe she’d discovered in her grandmother’s journal, and she liked the idea that she could show him her love in this way.

With the pie cooling, along with a few loaves of bread, Eve took her time washing up and then dressing in one of her favorite gowns. Aunt Winifred and Noelle were making alterations to their mother’s wedding gown, Holly had disappeared hours ago, and so Eve was quite determined to slip away to see Nick.

Would he ask for her hand today? Her blood flowed hot and then cold at her uncertainty.

He loves me. She needed to cease with this endless worrying.

She would invite him for dinner that evening. She would tell her sisters about their attachment this afternoon. She was going to be brave.

But first, she wanted to simply be with him.

“Eve?” Holly peeked around the door. “Oh, you look lovely. I can almost imagine that you have a beau as well. Is there something you’ve been keeping from us? Something about Lord Merriweather, perhaps?" Holly flushed and she…

Glowed.

“How was your sleigh ride? Any progress with Lord Tidemore?” Eve tied the laces of one of her boots.

“Oh, yes! I’m so happy! He loves me, Eve. He loves me!” She pressed her hands to her cheeks.

Wearing only one shoe, Eve jumped up and wrapped her arms around her little sister. Two of the Bailey sisters had become betrothed to men who they loved and who loved them back. Was their luck changing?

It was as though she was emerging from a long, dark winter. Eve’s heart raced. The possibility of all three sisters finding happiness seemed almost too good to be true. Either that or they were the luckiest ladies in