Read Online A Promise of Tomorrow by Rowan McAllister - Free Book Online
Authors: Rowan McAllister
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eyes, hoping the other two would take the hint and remain silent until the tea arrived. Anna had perched herself on the edge of a low settee between them. She looked distraught but thankfullysaid nothing.
So, what now, sir knight? You’ve rescued yon fair maiden from the evil villain, now what are you going to do with him? Don’t answer that .
As James sat quietly with his eyes closed, Weir’s words began to sink in, and he was finally able to make some sense of the events ofthe past severalhours.
Weir and Allen must be lovers. He grimaced indistaste… and perhaps jealousy.
He couldn’t imagine anyone choosing a cold fish like Weir for a companion. And while, under other circumstances, he would have been delighted to find that Allen shared his preferences, thinking of what else Weir had implied left himcold.
“Obviously you didn’t learn your lesson last night,” Weir had said.
So, something unpleasant happened between them at the ball. Weir did something to Allen.
His mind shied awayfromexactlywhat that might be; otherwise he might be tempted go back out to find Weir, for Allen’s sake as well as for whatever harm witnessing it had done to his niece and nephew. At least he now had an answer as to why they were so reluctant to speak ofAllen’s troubles.
The rest of what Weir had implied regardingAllen’s supposed payment for their help James knew to be utter nonsense. Firstly, the twins would never have asked for payment if they thought they were doing someone a good turn. They were too kind-hearted and had been brought up too well for that. And secondly, Andrew was most definitely not interested in young men in that manner. James would have known. He was sure of it. So the thought that such a thing would evenoccur to his nephew was preposterous.
The tea and coffee arrived, forcing him from his thoughts, and Anna dismissed the servant and set about serving them like a proper little hostess. It struck him again how much she’d grown. He missed his little hoyden.
It was unfair of him to want to keep her a child forever. He knew that. But he couldn’t help missing the little girl with dirt under her fingernails and twigs in her hair who would climb into his lap and cajole and wheedle until he read her a story or got down on the floor to playthe part ofher pony.
Her eyes met his over the service, and she answered his fond smile with one of her own, the twinkle in her eyes letting him know that perhaps the little girlwasn’t so verylonggone after all.
James was reluctant to start the inevitable conversation, even after they had refreshed themselves. Allen had gotten a little of his color back, but he still looked done-in. Perhaps it would be better if he gave the young man some time to rest and gather his wits. The sun had finally come up, and James hadn’t missed that the clothes he was wearing were the same he had had on the night before, and looking far the worse for wear.
Where did he spend the night? he wondered, recalling his niece’s concernfromearlier.
“Well, I believe I can speak for all of us when I say we have had quite enough excitement for one morning. Don’t you agree?” James said, forcing his tone to be light and bantering. “I would therefore like to propose a rest, for all of us, before we decide what is to be done about all of this. Mr. Allen, if you would be so good as to accept our hospitality, we will find you a room, a bath, and perhaps a fresh change of clothes for you to wear whilst yours are beingcleaned. Mynephew should have somethingto fit you.”
Kyle’s eyes widened, and he said, “Oh, no, thank you, my lord, but I couldn’t possibly impose on you any further. You have already been so kind to me. I could not, in good conscience, ask any more ofyou.”
James leaned forward and, in all earnestness, replied, “Mr. Allen, it is no trouble, we assure you. My niece and my nephew have named you ‘friend’ and as you are such, I won’t hear of you leaving before you’ve
So, what now, sir knight? You’ve rescued yon fair maiden from the evil villain, now what are you going to do with him? Don’t answer that .
As James sat quietly with his eyes closed, Weir’s words began to sink in, and he was finally able to make some sense of the events ofthe past severalhours.
Weir and Allen must be lovers. He grimaced indistaste… and perhaps jealousy.
He couldn’t imagine anyone choosing a cold fish like Weir for a companion. And while, under other circumstances, he would have been delighted to find that Allen shared his preferences, thinking of what else Weir had implied left himcold.
“Obviously you didn’t learn your lesson last night,” Weir had said.
So, something unpleasant happened between them at the ball. Weir did something to Allen.
His mind shied awayfromexactlywhat that might be; otherwise he might be tempted go back out to find Weir, for Allen’s sake as well as for whatever harm witnessing it had done to his niece and nephew. At least he now had an answer as to why they were so reluctant to speak ofAllen’s troubles.
The rest of what Weir had implied regardingAllen’s supposed payment for their help James knew to be utter nonsense. Firstly, the twins would never have asked for payment if they thought they were doing someone a good turn. They were too kind-hearted and had been brought up too well for that. And secondly, Andrew was most definitely not interested in young men in that manner. James would have known. He was sure of it. So the thought that such a thing would evenoccur to his nephew was preposterous.
The tea and coffee arrived, forcing him from his thoughts, and Anna dismissed the servant and set about serving them like a proper little hostess. It struck him again how much she’d grown. He missed his little hoyden.
It was unfair of him to want to keep her a child forever. He knew that. But he couldn’t help missing the little girl with dirt under her fingernails and twigs in her hair who would climb into his lap and cajole and wheedle until he read her a story or got down on the floor to playthe part ofher pony.
Her eyes met his over the service, and she answered his fond smile with one of her own, the twinkle in her eyes letting him know that perhaps the little girlwasn’t so verylonggone after all.
James was reluctant to start the inevitable conversation, even after they had refreshed themselves. Allen had gotten a little of his color back, but he still looked done-in. Perhaps it would be better if he gave the young man some time to rest and gather his wits. The sun had finally come up, and James hadn’t missed that the clothes he was wearing were the same he had had on the night before, and looking far the worse for wear.
Where did he spend the night? he wondered, recalling his niece’s concernfromearlier.
“Well, I believe I can speak for all of us when I say we have had quite enough excitement for one morning. Don’t you agree?” James said, forcing his tone to be light and bantering. “I would therefore like to propose a rest, for all of us, before we decide what is to be done about all of this. Mr. Allen, if you would be so good as to accept our hospitality, we will find you a room, a bath, and perhaps a fresh change of clothes for you to wear whilst yours are beingcleaned. Mynephew should have somethingto fit you.”
Kyle’s eyes widened, and he said, “Oh, no, thank you, my lord, but I couldn’t possibly impose on you any further. You have already been so kind to me. I could not, in good conscience, ask any more ofyou.”
James leaned forward and, in all earnestness, replied, “Mr. Allen, it is no trouble, we assure you. My niece and my nephew have named you ‘friend’ and as you are such, I won’t hear of you leaving before you’ve
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