A Holiday by Gaslight(45)

“A love match,” Mrs. Lanyon said, beaming. “Just as the Queen had with her dear Prince Albert.”

Mrs. Sharpe smiled. “I’ve never yet heard my son compared to a prince, but I cannot deny that he and Miss Appersett are well suited.”

“I should say so,” Mrs. Fortescue agreed. “They’ve been billing and cooing all morning.”

Sophie tried not to blush. She’d already done enough of that for a lifetime. It seemed that everyone delighted in embarrassing the two of them.

“You’ve only to say the word and I’ll announce your sister and Murray’s betrothal,” Ned said to her in a low voice. “It would shift the focus off of us, at least.”

“That wouldn’t be very sporting.”

“Perhaps not. But all’s fair in love and war, as the poets say.”

Sophie gave him a look. “The poets haven’t met my sister.”

As if on cue, Emily approached with a few of her friends. “Show Miss Tunstall your betrothal ring, Sophie.”

Sophie obliged her, extending her hand as Miss Tunstall and the other young ladies admired the diamond Ned had given her that morning. It flashed in the gaslight, almost as dazzling as the Christmas star had been the previous evening.

“Oh, look at it!” the ladies exclaimed. “How utterly divine!”

Ned stood beside her, one hand resting at the small of her back. When the well-wishers finally dispersed, he accompanied her to the drawing room sofa. Mama was seated nearby presiding over the tea tray.

Her lips quirked as she watched them sit beside each other. She poured them each a cup of tea. “It will only get worse. People love nothing better than teasing a newly engaged couple.”

“I don’t mind it,” Sophie lied.

Ned was tactfully silent.

She slipped her hand into his. His fingers closed over hers, returning her clasp with a masculine strength tempered by heartbreaking gentleness. “Have you had a happy Christmas, Mama?”

“I have two daughters engaged to two very worthy—and very wealthy—gentlemen. What mother could ask for more?” She smiled fondly at Sophie. “Didn’t I tell you it would all come right in the end?”

“You did.” Sophie’s eyes found Ned’s. “And it’s ended very happily, hasn’t it?”

Ned brought her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles. “I couldn’t be happier. But this isn’t the end, my love. Far from it.”

Her heart fluttered. “You’re right. It’s only the beginning.”

“A toast,” Papa bellowed from his place by the drawing room fireplace. “To the happy couple.”

The guests lifted their glasses. “To the happy couple!”

“And to their future!” Mr. Sharpe said.

Sophie smiled at Ned as she raised her teacup. “To the future,” she echoed. “May it be bright and full of wonder.”

“It will be,” Ned promised. “For all of us.”

And it was.





A Holiday by Gaslight was inspired by the social, scientific, and technological advances of the mid-19th century. Like us, the Victorians were faced with a rapidly changing world. Many wanted to cling to the status quo, but some—like Sophie’s father—embraced the change to the point of folly. Having his country house fitted for gas is just one example. In the mid-Victorian era, the cost of such an endeavor would have been equal to about $100,000.00 in the present day. So, no small sum.

Another prominent theme in A Holiday by Gaslight is adaptation to changing circumstances. Charles Darwin’s then controversial book On the Origin of Species was published in November of 1859. Sophie uses Darwin’s theories as a starting point for embracing a future that is largely out of her control. This culminates in her engagement to Ned, a gentleman who is not of her class.

Speaking of class, those of you who are Elizabeth Gaskell fans may have noticed the subtle allusions to Gaskell’s 1855 novel North and South. Like John Thornton, Ned Sharpe is a stern tradesman with a strong—and rather severe—mother. He also makes the mistake of referring to Sophie as “a beautiful creature.” There are other North and South breadcrumbs in the text if you care to look for them.

Finally, like all my books, A Holiday by Gaslight is sprinkled with actual historical events and Victoriana. For example, in June of 1861, Prince Albert really did preside over the opening of the New Horticultural Gardens at South Kensington. And then, in December of that same year, he tragically passed away.

If you’d like to learn more about the Victorian fashions, holiday traditions, or any of the people, places, and events which feature in my novels, please visit the blog portion of my author website at MimiMatthews.com.





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North Devon, England

September, 1859

Helena Reynolds crossed the floor of the crowded taproom, her carpetbag clutched in her trembling hands. The King’s Arms was only a small coaching inn on the North Devon coast road, but it seemed to her as if every man in Christendom had gathered there to have a pint. She could feel their eyes on her as she navigated carefully through their midst. Some stares were merely curious. Others were openly assessing.