A Certain Joy

In a season of giving, one woman discovers the joy of having a life that is entirely her own.

Aldenwyck, Massachusetts. Christmas, 1882.

Theodosia Marsden knows the difference between silk and satin, a proper household and a disorderly one, and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. As lady's maid in one of Aldenwyck's grandest mansions, she spends her days surrounded by beautiful gowns, glittering jewels, and every luxury money can buy. None of it belongs to her, of course. But she has never particularly minded.

At home, however, she's simply Dosey. An unmarried woman in her thirties whose family cannot quite understand why she hasn't found a husband and settled down.

With Christmas approaching, the mansion bustling with preparations for a magnificent holiday ball, and her family eagerly awaiting her holiday visit, Theodosia finds herself caught between two very different worlds. One offers independence and purpose. The other, love and belonging.

And as the season unfolds, she begins to question something she has long taken for granted: Who decided a woman's happiness must look a certain way?

A heartwarming Christmas novella from The Aldenwyck Chronicles, celebrating family, independence, and the unexpected pleasure of being exactly who you are.