A Gift Unsought

A Christmas Regency short story -

The chance Alethea had waited for all her life arrived at Christmas. The whole household turned out in best uniforms to welcome the Marquess and Marchioness of Holmwood and their son, the Earl of Payton to Harper Hall. But Alethea was out of uniform for the first time since entering service. She stood proudly in one of Lady Johanna’s cast-off mourning dresses, deliciously bareheaded. No cap, kerchief or apron for Alethea today!