Peter nodded vehemently. “I am.”
“I am glad to hear that,” she responded. “Will you be kind enough to eat that for me?”
The boy smiled widely. “I will.” He ran a short distance away, stopped and spun back around. “Thank you, miss!”
Arabella felt a smile growing on her lips as she watched the boy’s retreating figure. It felt good to help someone, even though she knew her contribution was minimal.
Her grandmother came to stand next to her. “It would appear that you brightened his day.”
“I hope so.”
“We better get inside before we freeze to death,” her grandmother encouraged.
Dear Margarette
Langdon Hall, Maidstone
December 21, 1815
I wish you were here at Langdon Hall, because you would not believe the great lengths that Arabella is taking to avoid Colin! It would be amusing if she weren’t hurting so. She is still quite upset about him breaking their betrothal before leaving for war, and I fear it is clouding her judgement.
Since we are not spending Christmas together, I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to invite the orphans in the village to come decorate the tree in the saloon and sing songs on Christmas Eve. I asked Arabella to select a tree with Colin, but they ended up arguing most of the time and selected two trees. Two! Can you imagine? Furthermore, the one Arabella selected is peculiar and looks awful next to the grand one Colin procured. I have no doubt that she selected it out of haste just to be rid of him.
It is evident to everyone that Colin is not the same man he was five years ago. Well, evident to everyone but Arabella. She still sees him as only the man who broke her heart. Colin’s mother, Lady Barrett, says that her son has changed since seeing Arabella again. He isn’t nearly as boorish, which is something Lady Barrett thought impossible.
This is my first attempt at matchmaking, and I fear that I am awful at it. I must find a way to push Colin and Arabella together without inadvertently pushing them apart. It is proving to be a much more difficult task than I ever imagined.
I am sending well wishes to you and your matchmaking attempt. I hope you are not encountering any problems.
Fondly yours,
Esther
Chapter Seven
Colin raised his pistol and fired, hitting the middle of the target. Then he handed it off to the footman so he could reload.
John’s voice came from behind him. “Well done.”
Colin turned to face his brother. “Would you care to try?”
John put his hands up. “I do not dare, as I know I would make a fool of myself.”
“Surely, you cannot be that bad.”
John chuckled. “I assure you that I am.”
“I have discovered that shooting pistols relaxes me.”
“That is odd, brother.”
The footman handed the pistol back and Colin accepted it. He turned around, aimed at the target, and fired. He was pleased to see it hit dead center again.
“You have been shooting for hours,” John commented. “Is everything all right?”
“It will be.”
“Mother is worried about you.”
