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    The Christmas Conundrum
    The Christmas Conundrum
    The Christmas Conundrum
    Ebook139 pages1 hour

    The Christmas Conundrum

    By Karen Hall

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    About this ebook

    Victorian London is about to celebrate another Christmas as widower and barrister Daniel Hollingsworth struggles with his decision to re-enter not only politics but the marriage game as well. After all, he's only in his fifties, the best time of life for a man, and the attentions of a politician's lovely widow are tempting indeed. But the growing presence of pretty, liberal newspaper owner, suffragist and widow Tabitha Goforth is turning his life upside down, dragging him into all kinds of crazy causes. Not a suitable kind of wife for a politician. So why is his heart wondering if perhaps "that woman" ,the most troublesome woman in London, might be the best running mate after all?

     Widow Tabitha Goforth may be “that woman”, but with her own liberal newspaper and so many causes to uphold-why stay silent?  And it's such fun to goad barrister Daniel Hollingsworth-if only because he helped send her older daughter to jail. But when Hollingsworth helps a pupil from her younger daughter's school out of a legal tangle, she finds herself drawn to the handsome widower, stirring up old longings she thought she would never feel again.  Will she be ringing in the New Year alone or will Hollingsworth’s kiss prove to be headiest cup Christmas cheer-the chance to love and be loved once more.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBooks To Go Now
    Release dateOct 30, 2017
    ISBN9781386431053
    The Christmas Conundrum

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      Book preview

      The Christmas Conundrum - Karen Hall

      Excerpt from The Christmas Conundrum

      Recalling some of its stories from his last campaign, Daniel asked, "Am I to expect fair and balanced reporting from The Clarion?"

      Her eyes darkened, piercing him with an unspoken accusation and he realized he had angered her. Mrs. Goforth-

      "The Clarion’s motto is Semper Veritas, sir. Her chilly tone rivaled the December wind picking up around them. I presume you have enough Latin to understand what that means?"

      And before he could offer an apology, she was striding to the corner and a waiting cab.

      Copyright

      The Christmas Conundrum

      Books to Go Now Publication

      Copyright © Karen Hall 2017

      Books to Go Now

      Cover Design by Romance Novel Covers Now

      http://www.romancenovelcoversnow.com/

      For information on the cover illustration and design, contact bookstogonow@gmail.com

      First eBook Edition October 2017

      Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

      This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

      If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by

      www.bookstogonow.com

      Other titles by Karen Hall

      One Horse Open Sleigh Race, The Great Christmas Candy Caper, A Christmas Proposal, The Comet that Came for Christmas, Star Carol for Celeste, Christmas Stockings, You’re My Secret Santa, Baby, Love Came for Christmas.

      Chapter One

      GRAY’S INN OF COURT. London. 1899

      Half-past eight o’clock am

      It is a commonly held belief that a gentleman widowed several years who is in possession of a great fortune and charm, as well as amazingly good looks for a man in his mid-fifties, must certainly be in want—if not need—of a second wife.

      Daniel Micah Hollingsworth—Dan to his friends—barrister, senior board member of the Davies, Barkley and Smithfield Shipping Company and member of any number of philanthropic boards, stared at his appointment book and sighed. His daughters Katherine and Victoria-both incurable romantics-had entered in several dinner engagements for him over the next two weeks, all at the homes of Society widows, or at homes of gentlemen of his acquaintance who had sisters who were such. If his eyes did not deceive him, the ink looked newly penned.

      Of course, none of this was done with his permission. But after a suitable period of mourning after the death of his wife Letty five years ago and still continuing to insist he was not in the marriage market, Katherine and Victoria had recently made it their mission in life to find him a wife. Daniel would really have to speak to their husbands about keeping them in check.

      But considering Letty had possessed a mind of her own and had developed a most effective way of getting her own way-usually for the best of reasons-he could hardly blame the girls for inheriting the mother’s persuasive talents.

      Normally he might suspect his valet, Oscar to be a part of this trifecta conspiracy. Despite being a confirmed bachelor, Oscar’s dropped hints about a man in Daniel’s position needing a wife were all too obvious.

      At least, for now, Daniel was safe from the man’s machinations. The arrival of a sister long in the Chinese mission field at his Northumberland family home three days ago had prompted Oscar’s hasty trip north. Lovely country, Northumberland. But at this time of year, when one’s breath could nearly freeze as soon as it left your mouth, only the hardiest of souls would venture so far afield. Daniel preferred his winters less Arctic. 

      But Oscar knew better than to let Daniel’s daughters get their hands on his appointment book. They must have sneaked into the library after Oscar left. After all, they’d grown up in that house and knew it far better than their married ones. They’d always had free access to the library growing up and even actually read the classics. Who would suspect his daughters could be so sneaky? He would really have to start leaving the appointment book here in his chambers, especially if they planned to eventually marry him off.

      Widows. They were almost certainly as frightening as mothers with daughters of marriageable age. They could sniff out a widower or a life-long bachelor like a truffle-hunting hound or set cleverly hidden attraction traps with the skill of a huntsman, all with the promise to turn his empty, lonely life into one of happiness again.

      And right now, Christmas engagements were all the rage in this year of our Lord 1899, with churches already booked for weddings after the New Year. Even more so, because the days were winding down until the beginning of the twentieth century. That thought alone with all the new modern inventions and social manners, was almost as daunting as a battalion of widows.

      Perhaps spending Christmas in Northumberland was something to consider.

      The door swung open without the preamble of a knock and Daniel’s private secretary, George Edgeworth, hurled himself into the spacious office. He tugged at his tie, undoing its perfect four-in-hand knot and upsetting the placement of his carefully starched collar. Even his hair appeared mussed and out of place. Edgeworth had a touch of an old-fashioned dandy in his appearance, even if he was only thirty years old.  He was an excellent secretary and at Daniel’s request, learned how to type and take shorthand.

      But now this paragon of secretarial efficiency could not seem to control his rapid blinking while his mouth opened and closed several times as if trying to decide whether to breathe or ask a question.

      Well, Mr. Edgeworth? Daniel peered at the man over his gold-rimmed reading glasses. Has someone died?

      It’s-it’s-it’s that woman! Edgeworth gasped, pointing over his shoulder. "‘That’" woman, sir!"

      Do you mean Mrs. Tabitha Goforth? Daniel took off his glasses and put them in his waistcoat pocket. The only woman in London who doesn’t need to be introduced by her given name but is simply known to everyone by the phrase, ‘that woman’?

      Yes sir. Edgeworth fairly huffed out his answer. I can’t imagine why she would even dare show her face here. A woman who is a suffragist and a reformer and —

      Did you ask her?

      "I, sir? An interesting shade of purple flooded Edgeworth’s face. Do you think for a moment I would have asked her here?"

      I meant did you ask her what she wanted? Daniel said patiently, trying not to enjoy Edgeworth’s discomfort. For a man of his tender years, the man could be stuffier than the Queen herself. He could rise to a bait like an unsuspecting trout.

      Oh. Edgeworth took a minute to repair his tie and collar. No, sir. But then I didn’t get a chance to ask. She told me—told, mind you,—that she wanted to see you.

      Should I ask you to stay and witness the fireworks?  No, your heart might stop and it’s too late in the year to find and hire a new secretary. "Well, we mustn’t keep the lady waiting. Daniel straightened his cuffs. Show the lady in, please, Mr. Edgeworth."

      A lady? Shock widened Edgeworth’s eyes to a nearly alarming size. "You’re calling Tabitha Goforth a lady?"

      Recalling The Times description of his visitor after her last arrest in Hyde Park this past summer, Daniel controlled his smile with some difficulty. There may be a fine line between a woman and a lady, Edgeworth, but Mrs. Goforth hasn’t crossed it-yet. Bring her in, please.

      But sir, you have an appointment with Mr. Davenport in a quarter of an hour. His secretary pulled out his own pocket watch as if to confirm the time for himself. He was obviously not going to give up keeping Mrs. Goforth away from Daniel without a final attempt at doing so.

      Which is exactly why you should show in Mrs. Goforth as quickly as possible, Daniel pointed out. The sooner we’re done with ‘that woman,’ the better, wouldn’t you say?

      A triumphant smile erased the petulant frown creasing Edgeworth’s face. Yes sir! Indeed, yes.

      He turned on the heels of his highly polished shoes and with a slower speed than the one with which he arrived, entered his own office through the open door and the waiting room just beyond. In his distress, Mr. Edgeworth had left all the doors open. Daniel stood and thrust his hands into his trouser pockets, preparing himself to meet with the most troublesome woman in London. Mrs. Tabitha Goforth, widow, had certainly earned the sobriquet "that" woman. Reformer, reporter, and even, some whispered, radical. Opinionated, outspoken and obstinate. That was one widow he wouldn’t have to worry about being introduced to at dinner as a possible matrimonial candidate. They traveled in entirely different social circles.  Besides, Katherine and Victoria would have a matching set of vapors if it were even suggested he and Mrs. Goforth meet outside

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