Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings: Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Chronicles Volume 3 Read online

  Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings

  Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Chronicles Volume 3

  Stephanie Laurens

  This e-book is licensed to you for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be sold, shared, or given away.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  LADY OSBALDESTONE’S PLUM PUDDINGS

  Copyright © 2019 by Savdek Management Proprietary Limited

  ISBN: 978-1-925559-20-0

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  Cover design by Savdek Management Pty. Ltd.

  Cover couple photography and photographic composition by Period Images © 2019

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  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  No part of this work may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

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  First electronic publication: October, 2019

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  Savdek Management Proprietary Limited, Melbourne, Australia.

  www.stephanielaurens.com

  Email: [email protected]

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  The names Stephanie Laurens and the Cynsters and the SL logo are registered trademarks of Savdek Management Proprietary Ltd.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  About Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings

  Map of Little Moseley

  The Inhabitants Of Little Moseley

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Also by Stephanie Laurens

  About the Author

  About Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings

  #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you the delights of a long-ago country-village Christmas, featuring a grandmother, her grandchildren, an artifact hunter, the lady who catches his eye, and three ancient coins that draw them all together in a Christmas treasure hunt.

  Therese, Lady Osbaldestone, and her household again welcome her younger daughter’s children, Jamie, George, and Lottie, plus their cousins Melissa and Mandy, all of whom have insisted on spending the three weeks prior to Christmas at Therese’s house, Hartington Manor, in the village of Little Moseley.

  The children are looking forward to the village’s traditional events, and this year, Therese has arranged a new distraction—the plum puddings she and her staff are making for the entire village. But while cleaning the coins donated as the puddings’ good-luck tokens, the children discover that three aren’t coins of the realm. When consulted, Reverend Colebatch summons a friend, an archeological scholar from Oxford, who confirms the coins are Roman, raising the possibility of a Roman treasure buried somewhere near. Unfortunately, Professor Webster is facing a deadline and cannot assist in the search, but along with his niece Honor, he will stay in the village, writing, remaining available for consultation should the children and their helpers uncover more treasure.

  It soon becomes clear that discovering the source of the coins—or even which villager donated them—isn’t a straightforward matter. Then the children come across a personable gentleman who knows a great deal about Roman antiquities. He introduces himself as Callum Harris, and they agree to allow him to help, and he gets their search back on track.

  But while the manor five, assisted by the gentlemen from Fulsom Hall, scour the village for who had the coins and search the countryside for signs of excavation and Harris combs through the village’s country-house libraries amassing evidence of a Roman compound somewhere near, where the coins actually came from remains frustratingly elusive.

  Then Therese recognizes Harris, who is more than he’s pretending to be. She also notes the romance burgeoning between Harris and Honor Webster, and given the girl doesn’t know Harris’s full name, let alone his fraught relationship with her uncle, Therese steps in. But while she can engineer a successful resolution to one romance-of-the-season, as well a reconciliation long overdue, another romance that strikes much closer to home is beyond her ability to manipulate.

  Meanwhile, the search for the source of the coins goes on, but time is running out. Will Therese’s grandchildren and their Fulsom Hall helpers locate the Roman merchant’s villa Harris is sure lies near before they all must leave the village for Christmas with their families?

  Third in series. A novel of 70,000 words. A Christmas tale of antiquities, reconciliation, romance, and requited love.

  Praise for the works of Stephanie Laurens

  “Stephanie Laurens’ heroines are marvelous tributes to Georgette Heyer: feisty and strong.” Cathy Kelly

  “Stephanie Laurens never fails to entertain and charm her readers with vibrant plots, snappy dialogue, and unforgettable characters.” Historical Romance Reviews

  “Stephanie Laurens plays into readers’ fantasies like a master and claims their hearts time and again.” Romantic Times Magazine

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  Praise for Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings

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  “Fans of the delightful Christmas Chronicles by Stephanie Laurens have a delicious treat in store with the latest addition to the series, Lady Osbaldestone’s Plum Puddings. With several budding romances, a mystery, a dash of danger, and a lot of yuletide cheer, this enchanting holiday tale brimming with richly drawn characters will linger in readers’ minds long after the plum puddings have disappeared.” Angela M., Copy Editor, Red Adept Editing

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  “When the redoubtable Lady Osbaldestone’s plans for a plummy Christmas treat for the village lead to a remarkable discovery, her young guests eagerly pursue the trail, along with friends old and new. This light-hearted mystery, set amid the homey delights of an old-time village Christmas, will delight readers from beginning to end.” Irene S., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

  "With an exciting search, young romance, and winter cheer, this is a great read." Kristina B., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

  The Inhabitants Of Little Moseley

  At Hartington Manor:

  Osbaldestone, Therese, Lady Osbaldestone – mother, grandmother, matriarch of the Osbaldestones, and arch-grande dame of the ton

  Skelton, Lord James, Viscount Skelton (Jamie) – grandson of Therese, eldest son of Lord Rupert Skelton, Earl of Winslow, and Celia, née Osbaldestone

  Skelton, George – grandson of Therese, second son of Lord Rupert Skelton, Earl of Winslow, and Celia, née Osbaldestone

  Skelton, Lady Charlotte (Lottie) – granddaughter of Therese, eldest daughter of Lord Rupert Skelton, Earl of Winslow, and Celia, née Osbaldestone

  North, Amanda Charlotte (Mandy) – granddaughter of Therese, eldest child of Reginald North, Lord North, and Henrietta, née Osbaldestone

  North, Melissa Abigail (Mel) – granddaughter of Therese, second daughter of Reginald North, Lord North, and Henrietta, née Osbaldestone

  Live-in staff:

&nb
sp; Crimmins, Mr. George – butler

  Crimmins, Mrs. Edwina – housekeeper, wife of Mr. Crimmins

  Haggerty, Mrs. Rose – cook, widow

  Orneby, Miss Harriet – Lady Osbaldestone’s very superior dresser

  Simms, Mr. John – groom-cum-coachman

  Daily staff:

  Foley, Mr. Ned – gardener, younger brother of John Foley, owner of Crossley Farm

  Johnson, Miss Tilly – kitchen maid, assistant to Mrs. Haggerty, daughter of the Johnsons of Witcherly Farm

  Wiggins, Miss Dulcie – housemaid under Mrs. Crimmins, orphaned niece of Martha Tooks, wife of Tooks of Tooks Farm

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  At Dutton Grange:

  Longfellow, Christian, Lord Longfellow – owner, ex-major in the Queen’s Own Dragoons

  Longfellow, Eugenia, Lady Longfellow – née Fitzgibbon, older half sister of Henry

  Longfellow, Cedric Christopher – baby son of Christian and Eugenia

  Hendricks, Mr. – majordomo, ex-sergeant who served alongside Major Longfellow

  Jiggs, Mr. – groom-cum-stable hand, ex-batman to Major Longfellow

  Wright, Mrs. – housekeeper, widow

  Cook – cook

  Jeffers, Mr. – footman

  Johnson, Mr. – stableman, cousin of Thad Johnson of Witcherly Farm

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  At Fulsom Hall:

  Fitzgibbon, Sir Henry – owner, younger brother of Eugenia Longfellow

  Mrs. Woolsey, Ermintrude – cousin of Henry and Eugenia’s father, widow

  Mountjoy, Mr. – butler, cousin of Cyril Mountjoy of Mountjoy’s Store

  Fitts, Mrs. – housekeeper

  Phipps – Henry’s valet

  Billings, Mr. – Henry’s groom

  Hillgate, Mr. – stableman

  Terry – stable lad

  James – footman

  Visitors:

  Dagenham, Julian, Viscount Dagenham (Dags) – eldest son of the Earl of Carsely, friend of Henry from Oxford

  Kilburn, Thomas – friend of Henry from Oxford

  Wiley, the Honorable George – heir to Viscount Worth, friend of Henry from Oxford

  Carnaby, Roger – friend of Henry from Oxford

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  At Swindon Hall:

  Swindon, Mr. Horace (Major) – owner, ex-army major, married to Sarah

  Swindon, Mrs. Sarah (Sally) – wife of Horace

  Colton, Mr. – butler

  Colton, Mrs. – housekeeper

  Mrs. Higgins – the cook

  Various other staff

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  At the Vicarage of the Church of St. Ignatius on the Hill:

  Colebatch, Reverend Jeremy – minister

  Colebatch, Mrs. Henrietta – the reverend’s wife

  Filbert, Mr. Alfred – deacon and chief bell-ringer

  Mr. Moody – choirmaster

  Mrs. Moody – wife of Mr. Moody, organist

  Hatchett, Mrs. – housekeeper and cook

  Visitors:

  Webster, Professor Hildebrand – professor of antiquities, Brentmore College, Oxford

  Webster, Miss Honor – assistant to Professor Webster, his niece

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  At Butts’s Bakery on the High Street:

  Butts, Mrs. Peggy – the baker, wife of Fred

  Butts, Mr. Fred – Peggy’s husband, village handyman

  Butts, Fiona – Peggy and Fred’s daughter

  Butts, Ben – Peggy and Fred’s son

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  At Bilson’s Butchers in the High Street:

  Bilson, Mr. Donald – the butcher

  Bilson, Mrs. Freda – Donald’s wife

  Bilson, Mr. Daniel – Donald and Freda’s eldest son

  Bilson, Mrs. Greta – Daniel’s wife

  Bilson, William (Billy) – Daniel and Greta’s son, Annie’s twin

  Bilson, Annie – Daniel and Greta’s daughter, Billy’s twin

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  At the Post Office and Mountjoy’s General Store in the High Street:

  Mountjoy, Mr. Cyril – proprietor, cousin of Mountjoy, butler at Fulsom Hall

  Mountjoy, Mrs. Gloria – Cyril’s wife

  Mountjoy, Mr. Richard (Dick) – Cyril and Gloria’s eldest son

  Mountjoy, Mrs. Cynthia – Dick’s wife

  Mountjoy, Gordon – Dick and Cynthia’s son

  Mountjoy, Martin – Dick and Cynthia’s second son

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  At the Cockspur Arms Public House in the High Street:

  Whitesheaf, Mr. Gordon – proprietor

  Whitesheaf, Mrs. Gladys – Gordon’s wife

  Whitesheaf, Mr. Rory – Gordon and Gladys’s eldest son

  Whitesheaf, Cameron (Cam) – Gordon and Gladys’s second son

  Whitesheaf, Enid (Ginger) – Gordon and Gladys’s daughter

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  At Tooks Farm:

  Tooks, Edward – farmer, keeper of the village’s flock of geese

  Tooks, Martha – Edward’s wife, aunt of Dulcie, Lady Osbaldestone’s housemaid

  Tooks, Mirabelle – eldest daughter of Edward and Martha

  Tooks, Johnny – eldest son of Edward and Martha

  Tooks, Georgina – younger daughter of Edward and Martha

  Tooks, Cameron – younger son of Edward and Martha

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  At Milsom Farm:

  Milsom, Mr. George – farmer

  Milsom, Mrs. Flora – wife of George, works part-time in the bakery with her sister Peggy Butts

  Milsom, Robert – eldest son of George and Flora

  Milsom, William – younger son of George and Flora

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  At Crossley Farm:

  Foley, Mr. John – farmer, brother of Ned, Lady Osbaldestone’s gardener

  Foley, Mrs. Sissy – wife of John

  Foley, William (Willie) – son of John and Sissy

  Various other Foley children, nephews, and nieces

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  At Witcherly Farm:

  Johnson, Mr. Thaddeus (Thad) – farmer, father of Tilly, Lady Osbaldestone’s kitchen maid, and cousin of Mrs. Haggerty, Lady Osbaldestone’s cook, cousin of Johnson, stableman at Dutton Grange

  Johnson, Mrs. Millicent (Millie) – wife of Thad, mother of Tilly

  Johnson, Jessie – daughter of Thad and Millie, Tilly’s younger sister

  Various other Johnson children

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  Others from farther afield:

  Goodrich, Mr. Callum Harris – scholarly explorer and dealer in antiquities

  Pyne, Mr. – woodcutter from East Wellow

  Hinkley, Mrs. – housekeeper of Professor Webster’s house in Oxford

  Chapter 1

  December 1, 1812. Hartington Manor, Little Moseley, Hampshire

  “I have a job for you, children. And for Mandy and Melissa as well.” Therese, Lady Osbaldestone, halted in the middle of her private parlor and waved forward her butler, Crimmins, who had followed her into the room.

  Crimmins was carrying two large glass jars filled with coins; he walked to the low table between the chaise and the armchairs before the fireplace and carefully set down both jars.

  Therese’s grandchildren, Jamie, George, and Lottie—the three older children of Therese’s younger daughter, Celia—had delighted Therese and the manor staff by insisting on returning for the third year in a row to spend the weeks leading up to Christmas with their grandmama, the manor household, and the villagers of Little Moseley. Now ten, nine, and seven years old respectively, behind the restrained social façades all three were slowly perfecting as befitted their station in life, the trio remained the same scamps who had first burst on the village consciousness by tying together the ropes of the church bells and attempting to play a peal.

  This year, the three stalwarts had been accompanied by the daughters of Therese’s older daughter, Henrietta. The younger, Melissa, had joined the festivities in Little Moseley the previous year, and this time, Melissa’s older sister, Amanda, known to al
l as Mandy, had insisted on coming as well.

  Therese suspected Mandy had been intrigued by Melissa’s reports of Little Moseley—and by the positive change in Melissa after her previous visit—and had come to see what was so special about a tiny village in Hampshire. As a significant factor in Melissa’s improvement last year had been the impact of Viscount Dagenham, another visitor to the village, Therese had to wonder whether this year’s events would live up to Mandy’s—and Melissa’s—expectations.

  The five had arrived yesterday, all together in the Winslow carriage, which had traveled from Winslow Abbey in Northamptonshire—seat of the Earls of Winslow and Jamie, George, and Lottie’s home—via London and North House, Lord North’s residence in Mount Street, collecting sixteen-year-old Mandy and fifteen-year-old Melissa before rolling on to rural Hampshire.