A Christmas Romance (9 page)

It was surprising how much one could do in a short time when one was happy and excited and without a care in the word. Theodosia
was dressed, her overnight bag packed after a fashion, her hair swept into a topknot and the contents of her handbag checked in something like ten minutes. She said rather shyly, ‘I’m ready …’

The professor got to his feet, put Gustavus into his basket, fastened the window, turned off the gas and went to look in the small fridge. He eyed the morsel of turkey and the Christmas pudding, but said merely, ‘We’ll turn everything off except the fridge. We can see to it in a few days; you won’t be coming back here, of course.’

‘But I’ve nowhere else—the aunts …’

‘You will stay with me, and since you are an old-fashioned girl Meg shall chaperon you until I can get a special licence and we can be married.’ He gave her a swift kiss. ‘Now come along.’

He swept her downstairs and as they reached the hall Mrs Towzer came to see who it was.

‘Going out, Miss Chapman? At this time of
night?’ She eyed the professor. ‘You’ve been here before; you seemed a nice enough gent.’ She stared at him severely. ‘No ‘anky-panky, I ‘ope.’

The professor looked down his splendid nose at her. ‘Madam, I am taking my future wife to spend Christmas at my home with my sister and her family. She will not be returning here, but I will call after Christmas and settle any outstanding expenses.’

‘Oh, well, in that case … ‘Appy Christmas to you both.’ She looked at George and Max and Gustavus’s whiskery face peering from his basket. ‘And all them animals.’

Stuffed gently into the car, Theodosia said, ‘You sounded just like a professor, you know—a bit stern.’

‘That is another aspect of me which you will discover, dear heart, although I promise I will never be stern with you.’ He turned to look to her as he started the car. ‘Or our children.’

She smiled and wanted to cry, too, for a moment. From happiness, she supposed.
‘What a wonderful day to be in love and be loved. I’m so happy.’

As they reached his house, the first strokes of midnight sounded from the church close by, followed by other church bells ringing in Christmas Day. The professor ushered his small party out of the car and into his house. The hall was quiet and dimly lit and George and Max padded silently to the foot of the stairs where they sat like statues. He closed the door behind him, set Gustavus in his basket on the table and swept Theodosia into his arms. ‘This is what I have wanted to do—to wish you a happy Christmas in my own home—your home, too, my dearest.’

Theodosia, after being kissed in a most satisfactory manner, found her breath. ‘It’s true, it’s all true? Dearest Hugo, Happy Christmas.’ She stretched up and kissed him and then kissed him again for good measure.

IMPRINT: Mills & Boon

ISBN: 9781460892503

TITLE: A CHRISTMAS ROMANCE

First Australian Publication 2013

Copyright © 2013 Betty Neels

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher, Harlequin Mills & Boon®, Locked Bag 7002, Chatswood D.C. N.S.W., Australia 2067.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its corporate affiliates and used by others under licence. Trademarks marked with an ® are registered in Australia and in other countries. Contact [email protected] for details.

www.millsandboon.com.au