Read Online Carola Dunn by Christmas in the Country - Free Book Online Page A

dear Lady Cecily, are of too exalted a station to care for the bibble-babble of the prattle-boxes.”
     Cecily produced a watery giggle, marred by a sniff. “I daresay it will not be half so bad if neither of us appears mortified, but I shall find it very hard to seem ch-cheerful.”
     “You shan’t, my dear, because you have my promise I shall find a way out of this maze. I shall make it impossible for Iain not to ask for your hand, and impossible for your father to refuse it.”
     “Only...only if he truly loves me.”
     “Oh, I believe you may count on that,” said Lord Avon dryly. “Now I come to think of it, it would explain why he has spent the past week looking as if half a dozen of his wealthiest patients just dropped dead. But, if you have no objection, I shall consult Cousin Elspeth. She’s bound to know what’s going on in her brother’s head.”
     “I do not mind. I like Elspeth very much. Lord Avon—”
     “Cousin Jasper.”
     “Not yet! Lord Avon, I am very sorry to have disappointed your expectations.”
     He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “My dear child, I am only sorry my admittedly somewhat cold-blooded approach to matrimony put you to such... inconvenience. I hope we shall be friends as well as cousins.”
     “Oh, yes!” Cecily had never in all the months of courtship liked him half so well.
     They returned to the ball room just in time for him to sweep her into a waltz. No one—including Iain—seeing Lady Cecily smiling up at Lord Avon could possibly have guessed that they had just come to an agreement to part.
     Later on, standing up with Iain for a country dance, Cecily tried to cheer him up, to let him see how her hopes had risen. Even had the figures of the dance allowed private conversation, she could not actually tell him what had happened lest it ruin Lord Avon’s plans. Though he smiled at her gaiety and inconsequential chatter, his eyes remained sombre.
     Perhaps he thought she had heartlessly resigned herself to her fate and resolved to renounce their love.
     No, he would not so misjudge her. He must imagine she was putting on a show to deceive the world, hiding her breaking heart as he endeavoured to do. If only she dared assure him that their future was secure!
     Not until Cecily retired to bed in the early hours of the New Year did doubts begin to creep in. She could not imagine how Lord Avon intended to carry out his promise.
     If he failed to bring Iain up to scratch, she would be utterly humiliated, and if Iain applied to her father for her hand and was refused, he would be utterly humiliated. Lord Avon could not hope to persuade both his cousin and her parents. He had set himself an impossible task, and her life was ruined forever.
    * * * *
     Cecily woke late the next morning. She was dressing in her riding habit when Lady Flint came into her chamber and dismissed her maid.
     “Well, my love, you and Lord Avon were missing from the ball room for an age last night. Have you something to tell your mama?”
     “No, Mama. We were not gone so very long. We were just talking.” She kept her eyes on her reflection in the pier glass, and so saw as well as felt her cheeks grow pink.
     The blush reassured her mother. “No matter, child. I expect he will wait until just before the Twelfth Night masquerade. Most guests will leave the next day so he will not have to put up with a great to-do for days and days. Gentlemen abhor a fuss. Does he ride with you today?”
     “I believe not, Mama. He spoke of the New Year’s Day hunt.”
     “Oh yes, it is something special, I collect. Your papa went off hours ago. Do not ride too far, Cecy, after dancing all night. You must not overtire yourself.”
     “I shall not, Mama, and the sun is shining so there is no fear of a wetting.” She kissed her mother’s cheek, feeling horridly guilty for her deception.
     But if she revealed that Lord Avon no longer intended to make her his bride, she would be