Love in the Country: A Christmas Novella — Jill Barry

It's December 1925 and the young Annabel Crawford is about to get a surprise. Her mother, Lily Crawford, explains that the Viscount Lassiter is unexpectedly joining them for Christmas dinner -- and Annabel couldn't be less impressed! The Viscount walks under a cloud of scandal after the infamous end of his latest engagement and Annabel, already distraught at having to engage in 'drawing room silliness' over the festive period, is irritated that she will have to entertain this reprobate aristocrat who she has never even met.

On Christmas Eve the headstrong Annabel escapes her Aunt Hester's dreadful carol singing and takes her beloved horse Juno out for a ride. But while riding, she is thrown off her horse and into the ditch. Rescued by a two gentlemen in a shiny red Bentley, she is eternally grateful -- that is until she discovers her hero is Lord Lassiter and his servant Ronald Bassett.

Housebound by her swollen ankle, Annabel soon begins to discover their is more to Lassiter -- and his enigmatic servant -- than meets the eye. As the snow begins to fall and threatens to leave them all housebound beyond the festive season, even the cook is drawn into the complex web of feelings and fancies that surround the party. But with such an outrageous past coming to light, will it all end in tears, or can love prevail?

Originally titled: Christmas in the Country.