Free Masked Love (A Christmas Regency Novella) by Nicole Zoltack

years now.
    Had she not been as ignorant to her husband’s many affairs as he had thought? Before he could inquire more, the Haywoods approached. After many greetings and exclamations and hugs and kisses on both sides, the two sets of parents ushered out of the room, their children lingering behind, Lionel and Isabelle still farther back.
    The Haywoods entered what had to be their bedroom first, followed by the Wingraves. “Stay here,” Adrian said to Lionel and Isabelle.
    “I should get back to the party. The guests—”
    “He’s right, Isabelle. Please.”
    Isabelle nodded at Theodosia.
    “Are you ready?” Adrian whispered to his hopefully no longer future wife.
    “Not exactly.” She accepted his offered arm.
    He knew precisely what she meant. Going against their parents’ wishes was not going to be easy. And Adrian had far more to lose than Theodosia. Regardless, he’d give up anything he had to in order for Isabelle to be his, as well as for Theodosia to be Lionel’s.
    His nerves settled, and he waltzed into the room with his shoulders back, his chin up. “Father, Mother, Lord and Lady Haywood.”
    His solemn tone silenced the longtime friends. The four turned to them as one.
    Theodosia deliberately stepped away from Adrian. “We have something we wish to say.” She glanced at him.
    Adrian nodded. Even though he knew this was the right course, his mouth grew dry. He cleared his throat. Pain burned.
    His father the viscount was staring at him with cold eyes. Adrian suppressed a shudder. For more reasons than he could understand, he never felt affection or love toward the man. But right now, he almost felt fear.
    A deep breath freed him of its icy grip. “I do not wish to marry Lady Theodosia.”
    “What?”
    “Why not?”
    “How could you say such a thing!”
    The last exclamation had been his father’s, his booming voice reverberating against the walls. A painting of a summer day now hung crooked on the wall.
    Theodosia stepped forward. “And I do not wish to marry Lord Adrian.”
    Her mother gaped at her. “But, my girl, you two seemed so happy … ”
    The lady shook her hung head. Her body looked smaller, as if she, too, was scared, and trying to hide within herself like a turtle does in its shell, making her look more like the girl her mother called her than the lady Adrian knew her to be. She took several steps back until her back almost touched the door.
    The viscount’s hazel eyes flashed. “No, you two are to be wedded. Have you not signed the contract?” He turned to face Lord Haywood. “You were to acquire his signature on Christmas Eve!”
    “We were interrupted.” Lord Haywood stroked his chin, eyeing his daughter. “What has happened to change your minds?”
    “I love another,” Adrian said clearly and without reservation. Was it his imagination or had he heard a faint “I love you too,” from beyond the closed door?
    “As do I.” Theodosia’s voice was muffled, her head still lowered, her gaze on her shoes.
    “Who could you love more than this beauty?” His father stepped forward and gestured to Theodosia. “She will be a good and pleasing wife for you. She can play the piano, she has a sound mind—”
    “A mind and heart that has chosen another.” Theodosia walked up to her parents. “Please understand, I did not mean for this to happen, but it did. I know love now—”
    Her mother gasped sharply. “You are not a … virgin?” she whispered, dread etched in every line on her face.
    “I did not mean physical love. I found love at the masquerade ball.”
    Her mother’s shoulders eased considerably, and her lips curled into a wide smile. “Ah, my girl, you only think you met love there. How could you love someone if you have never seen their face? No, my child, you have fallen in love with the idea of love. You will marry Lord Adrian, and that will be that.”
    “My lord, will you please come inside?” Theodosia called.
    The door opened, and Lionel