As the gaslight flickers and frost patterns dance on windows, dear listeners, welcome to another enchanting episode of The Romance Plot. On this cozy evening, we're stepping back in time to Victorian England with 'A Holiday by Gaslight', a delightful novella by Mimi Matthews. If you're yearning for a tale where love blooms amid candlelit halls and snow-dusted gardens, you're in for a treat. This charming story promises to wrap you in warmth like a favorite wool shawl on a winter's night, bringing together everything we adore about historical romance - from proper manners to improper glances, all set against the magical backdrop of a Victorian Christmas. Picture yourself in Victorian England, where gas lamps cast golden halos through the winter fog and every grand house holds secrets behind its frosted windows. In 'A Holiday by Gaslight', Mimi Matthews crafts a world where social obligations and matters of the heart dance an intricate waltz through decorated halls and candlelit drawing rooms. At the heart of this tale we find Sophie Appersett, the daughter of an aristocratic family whose fortunes have seen better days. Their once-pristine estate now struggles under the weight of mounting debts, even as Sophie's father pursues costly modernizations he can ill afford. It's within these circumstances that we meet Mr. Edward Sharpe, a wealthy merchant whose practical nature seems at odds with the romantic sensibilities of the season. The story unfolds during that most magical time of year when Victorian society embraced their beloved Christmas traditions - from the hanging of evergreen garlands to the gathering of family and friends for holiday celebrations. Matthews paints each scene with delicate strokes, bringing to life a world where every social interaction is governed by strict rules, yet the heart still finds ways to speak its truth.