Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!
This week I’m continuing snippets from my upcoming Regency Christmas novella, It Happened Under the Mistletoe. It’s a companion piece to last year’s It Happened at Christmas, and is the story of Roger, Lord Daventry (friend of Nicholas, Lord Benberry from It Happened at Christmas) and Lady Sylvia Montgomery.
I now have the blurb!
BLURB:
Christmas magic under the mistletoe…
Roger, Lord Daventry is contemplating a quiet Christmas at his home in Bath—until he literally falls at the feet of beautiful Lady Sylvia Montgomery. He and Lady Sylvia have an immediate attraction, but everyone is leaving London for their country homes for the holidays. Roger says his goodbyes, hoping to meet Sylvia again in the spring.
Lady Sylvia, however, has other plans.
Cajoling her parents into spending Christmas in Bath, Lady Sylvia is thrilled to meet Lord Daventry once more at the city’s Assembly Rooms. She and Roger manage a tryst under the mistletoe and Roger is ready to make a declaration for Sylvia’s hand. But when her father is called away on business, and her brother, Lord Chumleigh, arrives to chaperone Sylvia, Roger recognizes a man from his past who can sabotage his hopes of marriage to Sylvia.
To set the scene, Roger has come with his cousin to a winter’s ball in London to meet the young lady the cousin is enamored of. But Roger loses his cousin in the crowd, and ends up careening around the room, landing on his knees in front of someone in a white gown.
This week I’ve skipped ahead a few paragraphs. Sylvia has just finished a set with another partner and is perplexed that she cannot find Lord Daventry. We are in Sylvia’s POV.
EXCERPT:
Her last partner returned her finally to her mother, and even as Sylvia struggled for breath, fanning her hot cheeks, she looked about for Lord Daventry. Was he truly not attending the ball tonight? Had she made a mistake regarding his interest in her?
“Lady Kenniston, Lady Sylvia, good evening.” Lord Daventry appeared from nowhere, startling Sylvia so much she jumped, dropping her fan.
“Goodness,” Sylvia clutched her throat as he bent to retrieve the fan, “where did you come from?”
“The card room,” he grinned at her, “honing my skills for the next time we play.”
“Good evening, my lord,” Lady Kenniston said, giving him a nod then resumed her conversation with Lady Marton.
“May I escort you to the floor, Lady Sylvia?” he asked, offering his arm, and she hooked her hand around his elbow.
“You have given me nothing but frights this evening, Lord Daventry,” she said and lifted her chin.
And now to finish the scene :
“I do beg your pardon for startling you just now.” He frowned. “Have I done something else to upset you? I am sorry if so.”
“I have been looking for you all evening.” They had reached the floor where couples were lining up for a promenade. “It was very vexing to think you would not arrive in time for our dance.” She glanced at the line of couples. “What dance are we preparing for?”
“A waltz, I believe.” Lord Daventry’s tone was matter-of-fact, however his eyes gleamed as he searched her face.
“A waltz!” Sylvia tensed then looked over her shoulder, expecting to see her mother bearing down on her. “I have never danced a waltz before in public.”
It Happened Under the Mistletoe and other Yuletide Tales, an anthology of five of my Christmas novellas, is available on Amazon and Smashwords (only until midnight tonight) for .99! Starting tomorrow it will be available on Kindle Unlimited on Amazon.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Christmas Romance Novellas
by Jenna Jaxon
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
You’re always so good about these little details of life back then. As a modern person, it’s hard to imagine the idea of a public waltz being such a big deal.
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I think that is one reason so many people are fascinated by the Regency period, Carrie-Anne. They are awed by the myriad rules that, if broken, could ruin a woman (especially) for the rest of her life. And secretly I think a lot of Regency readers are relieved they don’t have such strictures on them any more. 🙂
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He’s definitely up to something if he popped up just in time for a waltz. I wonder how her mother will react!
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You get his reason for “popping up” next week, I think. And Mamma is not amused, I must tell you!
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I’m glad he showed up but has she been approved to dance a waltz in public yet? She doesn’t want her Almacks’ voucher revoked! The scandal! (Can you tell I love Regency romances?) Excellent excerpt and I wonder what Mama is going to say.
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She has a defense for it ready for Mamma but she’s not actually “out” yet and it’s the Little Season, so they aren’t at Almack’s yet. Sylvia has quite an answer ready for her actions. Whether they will carry any weight with her mother is another thing. LOL Thanks so much, Veronica!
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How scandalous can a man behave? A waltz!
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A gentleman could get himself engaged to a young woman if he held her too closely during a dance. That could be considered a compromising position! LOL
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Scandalous dance the watlz. And the pressure to perform – could easily ruin a person if you danced badly.
Tweeted.
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That’s exactly right, Daryl. Young people had so little contact with one another, how well they danced was a big indicator of how well-bred and accomplished they were. And it was something that was displayed for all to see so the pressure was definitely on.
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Love their teasing banter. And a waltz! How scandalous . . . and appropriate for a little hands on.
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Yes, the waltz was scandalous because you got so much one-on-one time with your partner. And the gentleman got to touch the lady’s waist! Absolutely scandalous! LOL
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Even though I’ve already read these stories, I’m hoping to find time to read them again.
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I hope so too! How did you like the newest one? Under the Mistletoe?
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Just don’t step on his toes! 😀 This reminds me of a scene from Gilmore Girls, when we learn the gruff diner owner CAN actually waltz. That will make zero sense if you haven’t seen the show, but I had to share lol. Excellent snippet!
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Thank you, Julie. I confess I have not watched The Gilmore Girls, but I take the meaning. Someone you don’t expect to have those social graces, but they do. 🙂
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It sounds like she has the perfect partner to dance the waltz with for the first time. Great snippet!
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Thank you, Jessica!
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I’d never thought of that before–how nerve-wracking it would be to learn and then do different dances while in the public eye. A girl might ruin her reputation if she didn’t get a dance right. 🙂
I love these Christmas stories!
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Thank you, Teresa! What’s even worse, young ladies would call the dances immediately before a dance began. So you had to be able to remember all the steps and put them together at a moment’s notice!
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