Frosted Window Panes

Back in October I released a new modern Pride and Prejudice Christmas novella, “Frosted Window Panes.” I have posted several excerpts and have another one today. Here are the links to the previous excerpts:

Excerpt 1 

Excerpt 2

Excerpt 3

I have one announcement before I post today’s excerpt. I have now put “Frosted Window Panes” into Kindle Unlimited and… in case there are some of my other books you haven’t read, I have put the rest of my self-published books onto Kindle Unlimited. (The only ones I don’t have any control over are my Sourcebooks published novels, “Darcy’s Voyage” and “Only Mr. Darcy Will Do.”)

I hope you will enjoy the following excerpt, which continues at the Christmas Gala, where my previous posted excerpt ends.

Elizabeth lingered in the library attempting to figure out what just happened… and why. She wondered if he was making amends for his declaration at the restaurant that he did not wish to dance with her. She shook her head recollecting that she had been the first to say she was not inclined to dance with him.

She drew in a breath, steeled herself, and set out towards the ballroom. She heard someone begin talking about the traditional first dance and how it used to be danced by Evelyn Darcy and her husband, then when he died, with her son, and now the tradition continued with her grandson, Will.

She found Jane and Charles and walked up to their side.

Jane grasped her arm. “Isn’t this sweet? They have danced the first dance together since his father died.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth said as she watched the tender scene unfold before her. It was apparent that his grandmother was very fond of Will, as she looked up at him with a wide smile and twinkling eyes. They were barely moving on the dance floor, but they both seemed to be enjoying it.

“Lizzy, are you all right? You look rather pale.”

Elizabeth touched her fingers to her cheek. “I do?” She gave a shrug. “Perhaps I am just tired.” She looked about her at everyone who had gathered around the room watching the pair dance. “Do you suppose the next song will be open to everyone?”

Jane gave a shrug. “I suppose we will soon find out.”

Elizabeth gulped. “That, we will.”

“Why do you ask?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “You will see.”

When the dance ended, the elderly lady reached up on her toes and kissed her grandson.

“You can see she adores him!” Jane said.

Elizabeth nodded mutely.

When the dance ended, it was announced that the next dance would be the traditional waltz to The Christmas Waltz.

Elizabeth watched as Will walked over to her. He extended his hand, and when she took it, she heard Jane gasp.

As they began to walk to the center of the dance floor, she was suddenly aware of all the eyes upon them. Her hand felt warm in his, and yet she felt a shiver course through her. They came to the center of the floor, and the carolers who had been outside began to gather by the microphones.

When other couples walked out onto the floor, she relaxed. Will seemed to notice.

“Were you a little apprehensive thinking we would be the only ones on the dance floor?”

Elizabeth let out a nervous chuckle. “No, not just a little. I was very apprehensive that we would be the only ones on the dance floor. Hopefully now if I misstep, no one will notice.”

“I am certain they will not.”

“I enjoyed watching you and your grandmother. It is apparent you both really care for each other.”

“Well, I can speak for myself that I do greatly care for her. She is a special lady.”

“I can see that.”

“She used to begin the dance with this waltz. Now she has difficulty walking, and the waltz is out of the question. She still wants to open the dancing, but insists the waltz be reserved for those who have the ability to do so.”

The emcee announced the song. “Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this rendition of The Christmas Waltz sung by the Holiday Harmonizer carolers.”

Will turned and placed his hand around Elizabeth just below her shoulder. He took her hand in his other hand, while she reached up and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Just as the song was about to begin, Will said, “There is nothing to worry about, but there is one thing I should probably tell you in advance.”

Elizabeth gave him a questioning look. “And what is that?”

“It has been a tradition that we do a dip at the end of the waltz. Have you ever been dipped?”

Elizabeth let out a breath. “I have seen others do it, but I have never done it myself.”

“When the music slows at the end of the song, I will ease you down to your left. Just relax and trust that I will support you and not let you fall.”

Elizabeth laughed nervously. “Can I trust you not to drop me?”

“Don’t worry. I will let you know when it is about to happen.”

The music started, and the carolers began singing, “Frosted window panes…”

Elizabeth enjoyed how easy it was to follow him. She felt light on her feet, and they danced in synchronized moves to the music. He was a much better partner than her father and Jane, whom she often practiced with, as well as the young, awkward boys who were her partners in dance class.

She also loved Will’s cologne. Ardently. It was the one she had smelled at the store, and now she struggled to keep herself from drawing nearer to him just to take a better whiff.

She was lost in a whirl of thoughts, movement, and reverie when Will looked down. “The song is about to end. Are you ready?”

Elizabeth looked up with a questioning glance. “Ready?”

“The dip.”

Her eyes widened. “Do I have any other option?”

Instead of answering, he began to bend down towards her as his arm at her back gently lowered her. She lifted her hand from his shoulder and extended it out, as she had seen done before.

He did not bring her up immediately, and they gazed at each other for a moment. Elizabeth felt she could barely breathe.

The moment ended, and Will slowly brought her back up. Elizabeth readily noticed many eyes upon them.

She smiled nervously. “Thank you. I enjoyed it.”

“As did I.”

He escorted her to the side of the room where Charles and Jane stood.

“I saw you out there dancing, Charles. You have improved. I did not think you would ever waltz again after last year’s attempt.”

He let out a laugh. “Jane convinced me I could do it. She is a great leader!”

Will let out a muffled laugh.

Charles smiled. “I was pleasantly surprised to see you on the dance floor with Elizabeth. You normally dance with Georgiana.”

Elizabeth turned and looked at Will in surprise. With a nod of his head towards the other side of the room, he said, “As you can see, Georgie has another gentleman in her life, and she begged off the waltz with me to dance with him.”

“Oh!” his friend exclaimed. “I had not even noticed them.” He smiled at Jane. “Jane is the only person I had my eyes on.”

Jane blushed slightly, and Will only shook his head.

Elizabeth was glad for the conversation between the two men, as it allowed her to examine both the man with whom she had just danced and her feelings towards him. She could not think straight around him, and finally decided she should leave.

“If you don’t mind, I think I will be heading home now.” She turned to Will. “Thank you, Will, for a lovely evening. I truly enjoyed myself.”

“Are you sure you have to leave?” Jane asked.

“I think I must. You all enjoy the rest of the evening. I will see myself out.”

“Please, wait,” Will said. “I will walk you out. I insist.”

Elizabeth was about to tell him that was unnecessary, but instead, said, “Thank you.”

Before leaving, she walked over to his grandmother and expressed her delight in watching her and Will dance.

“Oh, pshaw! That was not dancing. He was merely holding me up so I wouldn’t fall!” She laughed and winked at her grandson. “But I thank you for your kind sentiment.” She tilted her head. “I hope I see you here again. It has been a pleasure meeting you.”

“Thank you, but the pleasure has been all mine.”

She and Will walked to the small check room where she retrieved her coat and purse, and Will helped her put it on. Then they stepped outside.

“Ooh, it is cold!” Elizabeth said. “I think it might start snowing soon.”

“I believe you may be right,” he replied. “My grandmother had hoped the freezing weather would hold off until after the Gala so she could keep the pond filled with water. Now that the Gala is over, she will have it emptied.”

“It truly adds a Christmas magic to the home, reflecting all the lights.”

The valet came up and took her claim ticket from her, telling her he would return with her car in a few minutes.

After a few moments of silence, Will looked at Elizabeth and said, “I hope you did not feel as though you were put on the spot earlier.”

Elizabeth looked up. “You mean when you asked me to dance the waltz with you?” When he nodded, she said, “Well, you did at least ask me ahead of time if I could waltz. And I did enjoy it.” She could have also added how light on her feet he made her feel, how secure, how heavenly his cologne was, how handsome…

“I am glad. I came upon you just after my sister informed me that she was going to waltz with her boyfriend. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about the dance.”

“I see.” A surprising wave of disappointment flooded her, and she gave her head a shake to rid herself of it. “Oh, here is my car,” she said, grateful she would now be able to leave.

“Did you purchase a new car since I saw you last?”

She looked at him and then the car. “Oh, no,” she said with a laugh. “It is my father’s car. He loaned it to us tonight because he thought…” She paused for a moment. “He thought we would be more comfortable in it as we were wearing long gowns and all.”

“You… and your sister looked very nice tonight.”

Breathe, she told herself. “Thank you. And thank you again for a lovely evening. I truly enjoyed it.”

“I am glad,” he replied. “Good night, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth wished him a good night as she walked to the car. The valet stepped out of the car and held the door open for her as she walked towards him.

She wanted to look back at Will, but she was certain he would be gone. He had made it perfectly clear to her that dancing with her had happened solely because she had been at the right place at the right time. He probably offered to walk her out to give him the opportunity to make that clear. It was nothing more.

She smiled at the valet and thanked him, telling herself not to turn back to see if Will was still there. Just as she was about to step in the car, she felt a single snowflake fall on her nose. She glanced up and saw that snowflakes were beginning to fall.

Without thinking, she turned back to where Will had been standing and saw that he was still there. She took in a quick breath of surprise. “It is beginning to snow!”

“I believe you are right,” he said. “Drive safely.”

“Thank you. I will.”

“And Merry Christmas, Elizabeth.”

“Same to you,” she replied and stepped into the car.

She gripped the steering wheel and peered up into her rear-view mirror to see he had still not moved. She let out a huff, saying, “Will Darcy, you are making it exceedingly difficult to prove Jane wrong regarding my feelings for you! Exceedingly difficult!”

I hope you enjoyed it!

Click here to go to “Frosted Window Panes” on amazon.