A Berkshire Christmas

Simon Audley, the Earl of Stratmore, arrives at the Earl and Countess of Braxton's Annual Christmas Ball. He hadn't planned to attend this year but changed his mind at the last moment. Halfway up the stairs, he ran into a young woman who he decided was fated to be his wife. One look shattered his belief that love-at-first-sight was a myth. Before he can discover her name, she dashes into a carriage and disappears. Simon first instinct was to remain in London and search for the young woman instead of spending Christmas with family in Berkshire. Yet unwilling to disappoint his mother, he vowed to search for her once he returned to London. He had promised his mother that he would be married or betrothed by his thirtieth birthday. Perhaps he would soon be able to keep that promise.When Simon returns to London, he hires a Bow Street Runner to find her. Yet, after two years of fruitless searching, he is no closer to finding the mysterious young woman. As his thirtieth birthday nears, he gives up the search and asks Clarissa Barrington to wed him. Only to realize his mistake when he finds her in the arms of another man. He immediately breaks off the engagement.Kathleen Richards, after the loss of her beloved father and her position within Society, had no choice but to take employment as a governess. Yet, through no fault of her own, found herself dismissed time and time again. When she is dismissed from her latest position, she finds herself on a snow-covered country road in search of an Inn. Then fate intervenes when she is nearly run down by an out-of-control carriage owned by Simon Audley. Simon recognizes Kathleen as the young woman he has been searching for and offers to convey her to the nearest Inn. In a private dining room, he offers her an unbelievable proposal. If she will pose as his fianc until after the New Year, he would find her a position among his acquaintances. Can she accept such a deal? What if after the New Year she would want the engagement to be real? Would her heart be broken? Dare she take the chance?Also included: The Kissing Bough David Chambers, the Earl of Markham, hasn't seen Simon Audley's younger sister Emily since she was a young girl in pigtails. She is now a beautiful young woman on the verge of making her debut into London Society.Emily has been in love with David since her sixteenth birthday. This Christmas is her one chance to prove to David that she would make him a marvelous countess. One complication: Lawrence Nutworthy is determined to marry her. Can Emily use Lawrence's devotion to make David see that she is no longer the awkward sixteen-year-old girl he recalls?