Merry Xmas, everyone!!!!

No, I've  not gone completely bonkers.  At least I don't think so.  And  this is the only picture I could find to fit a Regency romance that I'm writing for a Christmas release and Christmas releases are decided by September. So when you factor in editing, re-editing, etc, now is the time to write  a Xmas story.  Tentatively titled Unrepentant Duke, the hero is a completely spoiled Marquis due to become a Duke. He rejects the girl his parents have engaged him to as a child, thinking he deserves far better. His arrogance extends to his deciding he might like to marry her, get his heir from her, and then leave her in the country while he goes back to his old life.

Naturally he'd overdue for a serious setback, and Amanda is just the one to see he gets it. He has her at his country estate and she's decorating for the Xmas season.  There are no Xmas trees yet, as they came over from Germany with Victoria and Albert. No decorations really, except for candles, red ribbons, greenery and mistletoe. Oh yes, and Yule log big enough to last twelve days. The size of the fireplace that would take such a log tells you a lot about how the aristocracy lived in that period.

So here's an excerpt:

She changed to dry boots and went back out, walking to the tree with the mistletoe. To her delight, two of the tallest footmen were already scaling the tree. 

A disgruntled voice sounded in her ear. “Damned if I wouldn’t like to do that. Pardon my language, Amanda, but I feel damned stuffy just watching. That must be great sport.”

Amanda swiveled to find Jared standing beside her, his face filled with boyish longing. He called her by her given name. Well, she’d asked for that when she’d called him Jared.

“Maybe I can spot another tree with mistletoe and you can have it all to yourself.”

He turned sparkling eyes to her. “And will you cheer me on?”

She grinned. “Well, at least I won’t shake the tree so you fall off.”

Jared hooted with laughter. “I’ll accept that as an act of mercy on your part. You’d probably prefer I fall on my head.”

“Nor really. There are other places that might hurt worse.”

He stopped laughing. He placed his hands lightly on her arms, but his eyes bored into hers.

 “Amanda, if you don’t stop being so adorable I swear I’ll kiss you again. And it won’t be like the last kiss.”

She gasped, turned, and almost ran back to the house. She could feel Jared’s eyes following her the whole way.

Her cheeks were flaming with embarrassment. She was a complete idiot. She should have slapped his arrogant face instead of nearly melting into a puddle at his feet. She detested this man, so what in heaven’s name was wrong with her?

If only she didn’t have to see him so much at this blasted party. Maybe she could pretend illness and stay in her room for the rest of the visit. No, she’d only worry her family. She’d just have to stay her distance from Jared for the rest of the visit. With only four days until Xmas there was plenty to do. That was it!  Christmas, and she would decorate this gloomy mansion from the attic to the cellars. They’d evidently never known a true Christmas at this sterile manor. She intended to change all that. If only for this year there would be decorations. And the wonderful scent of pine boughs. They would be bound in sheaves with plenty of red ribbon. The distinctive smells of Xmas had always enchanted her. She’d have to talk to cook to see if platters of gingerbread cake couldn’t be placed in strategic spots.  And mulled wine! She wanted that simmering in pots not only in the kitchen but in other provocative places.

And the mistletoe! It must be tied with a red ribbon into a small swag, and hung in strategic doorways. Surely they’d have enough to make three kissing boughs.  The Yule log!  She gasped at the thought she’d almost   forgotten that.

Oh, there was so much to do. She didn’t have to worry about Jared at all. She would be far too busy."

Would love any comments. Hard to think of Xmas when you're at the beach, but I'm definitely enjoying writing this one.  Or do write me at jswriter@earthlink.net. And you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, all the usual places.