One Snowy Regency Christmas: A Regency Christmas Carol / Snowbound with the Notorious Rake. Christine Merrill

      ‘Speak what? And to whom? To your father? To me?’ Joseph took his place on her other side, as though he could make himself heard to the woman through proximity. But she said no more and, realising the futility of it, he looked up at the ghost. ‘What do you want? I will give it to you, if I can. I am not totally without a heart, you know.’

      ‘I think you can guess what she wants,’ the ghost said. ‘And why she does nothing about it.’

      ‘It is not as if I am forcing the union on her. She agreed to it. And what does Bob have to do with any of it?’

      ‘Not a thing, I expect, if it all goes according to your plan. He is a gentleman, is he not?’

      ‘But he is a man first,’ Joseph said. ‘If he wants the girl for himself, then why does he not say something?’

      The coachman laughed in response. ‘You make it all sound quite simple. I envy you, living in a world as you do—where there are no doubts and everyone speaks their mind. The woman he loves has chosen another. He has been bested by a richer man. He will step out of the way like a gentleman.’