Read Online A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth; Mansfield - Free Book Online Page B

cover phrase, to be brought out when needed. He suppressed a smile and said politely, “Is there something I can do for you? Can I get you something to … er … help you pass the time?”
    â€œOh, no, thank you,” she said, her face crestfallen. “I suppose I’ll look into your library and find a book to read.” The tone of her voice was so unmistakably gloomy that Philip was left in no doubt as to what she thought of that pastime. She turned, and with hanging head and slow step proceeded toward the library. Philip watched her slow passage across the hall, wondering which of the two young men she had risen so early to see. Reggie had shown no noticeable interest in her the night before. Could Jamie’s flirtation at the table the night before have encouraged her interest there? He hoped Jamie had better sense than to encourage a young and innocent female’s attentions when he was already—even if secretly—attached to another. He sighed, and something of the gloom expressed by Marianne’s retreating back entered into him.
    Evalyn opened her eyes to find Nancy pulling aside the curtains. A cold December sun barely brightened the room, but the look on Nancy’s face seemed to spread light into every corner. She beamed at Evalyn with an eager smile. “Miss Evalyn, I’ve such news!” she crowed.
    â€œGood morning, Nancy,” Evalyn said sleepily. “What news?”
    â€œYe’ll never credit it, I’m sure, ’is lordship sent fer me this mornin’. Sent fer me in partic’lar!”
    Evalyn sat up abruptly. “Do you mean … Lord Gyllford?”
    â€œYes, Miss. Lord Gyllford ’is very self! Mr. ’utton, ’e took me upstairs—’e’s the butler, y’know—an’ Lord Gyllford, ’e smiles at me an’ says ’e’d like fer me t’ be in ’is employ, t’ serve as Miss Pennington’s personal maid, ’e says. To work fer Miss Pennington exclusive ! Then ’e asks me, ever so kindly, if I think I’d be ’appy workin’ ere. Imagine that! An’ I says, oh, yes, yer lordship, I’d be very ’appy. Then ’e says I’m t’ take orders on’y from you. Then Mr. ’utton, ’e pokes me an’ whispers fer me to close me mouth an’ make me curtsey, so I makes me prettiest one, an’ I say I’d be ’appy t’ stay as long as ’e’d like, an’ that I’ll try t’ give good service. An’ then ’utton takes me to the ’ousekeeper, an’ she gives me this lady’s-maid dress an’ this lovely cap! Ain’t I fine? Don’t I look a proper lady’s maid?”
    Evalyn’s head was whirling. Lord Gyllford had surprised her again. Most other men would have forgotten a promise relating to a domestic, made so casually at the dinner table. His attentions to her were as bewildering as they were pleasing.
    She shook her head and tried to concentrate on Nancy, who was gaily pirouetting before her. Nancy did look every inch the lady’s maid in her blue bombazine dress, her starched white half-apron and the lace-trimmed mob cap that neatly covered her unruly hair. The cap, threaded through with a blue ribbon that formed a little bow right over her brow, looked charming. “I think you look finer than I do,” Evalyn laughed as she climbed out of bed, “and much too fine to be serving a mere governess like me.”
    â€œYou ain’t really a governess, are ye?” Nancy asked, peering at her new mistress curiously.
    â€œBut I am a governess, truly.”
    Nancy’s face fell. “But I ’eard ’em whisperin’ about ye in the servants’ ’all like y’ was a fine lady—almos’ like ye was one o’ the family.”
    Evalyn looked at her with amused sympathy. “Do you mind very much that I’m not a real