Read Online The Christmas Kittens by Lynn Collum - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynn Collum
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never had to return to Westwood, but eventually she would have to face her cousin.
As Marsden watched the Lockhart sisters smile with resignation at one another, he was suddenly overwhelmed with an urge to protect them. While Miss Lockhart had said little of their circumstances, Miss Anthea had innocently made comments over the course of the afternoon about their cousin's demands. He now had a clearer picture of what life was like for them. It was a rather grim prospect.
“Allow me to put my carriage at your disposal, Miss Lockhart.” The marquess liked the way her green eyes twinkled with gratitude when she looked at him.
“That is most kind, my lord. But if we start now, while Binx's gives the girls their tea, I am certain we shall be able to finish long before dark.”
It was soon settled and Mrs. Shelby bustled away to get the tea tray and send Toby up to collect the garlands. Lord Marsden carried the Kissing Bough to the Great Hall as Karis followed. Finding himself alone with the lady at last, he placed the decoration on a small table and turned to speak with the lady. “I want to thank you for what you did this afternoon, Miss Lockhart.”
A rosy blush settled on the young lady's ivory cheeks as she needlessly adjusted a red bow on the Bough, avoiding his gaze. “I am mortified, my lord, that my cousin would have attempted to compromise herself in such a manner.”
“Don't fret so about the incident. I have put it from my mind. We, all of us, have things our relations do that we have little control over. No one thinks the worse of one for what others do.” Memories of his own humiliation at his wife's hands flashed briefly through his mind, but for the first time he realized he was not responsible for the lady's shortcomings. She'd chosen her own path.
At the moment he was far more concerned with the lady before him. “What I fear is that your cousin might punish you in some way for foiling her plans.”
Karis's heart hammered in her chest when she looked up to see the concerned look in Lord Marsden's grey eyes. Eyes she'd once thought so cold, were now softened with kindness. “You needn't worry about me, my lord. Dorinda is clever. She would never do anything to physically hurt me. No doubt her revenge will be of little consequence, and although it will upset Anthea a great deal, it will be nothing I cannot handle, I assure you. Say no more on the subject, I beg you.”
The marquess looked as if he wanted to continue the discussion, but Karis spied Toby coming down the stairs and went forward to instruct him on where to hang the Christmas decorations.
As the afternoon progressed, she kept her tone light, teasing Toby when a garland hung crooked or telling humorous stories of former Christmas disasters from her youth. There was no need for Lord Marsden to worry over a matter which might prove to be minor. She even managed to get a laugh from the marquess upon telling the story of Anthea accidently pulling the garland down on the head of their former vicar.
Karis watched with satisfaction as Toby hung the last of the garland through the balusters of the stairs, ending at the ornately carved newel post. Making a few minor adjustments to the ribbons, she stepped back and surveyed the stairway, then the Great Hall.
“That was the last of it, miss.” The footman gazed around the hall, thinking the old place vastly improved.
Karis smiled. “Then, we are now finished.”
The marquess lifted the Kissing Bough from the table. “Not yet. Toby, lower the center chandelier and I shall attach the Kissing Bough to that.”
The servant disappeared into a small door, and within minutes, the wheel-like brass lighting fixture came to within a foot above the marquess's head. He gave a shout for the man to hold, then held the Kissing Bough in place as Karis quickly tied the runners to the light. She was intensely aware of the man as he stood watching her nervous fingers work.
“There, it should hold now.”
As Marsden watched the Lockhart sisters smile with resignation at one another, he was suddenly overwhelmed with an urge to protect them. While Miss Lockhart had said little of their circumstances, Miss Anthea had innocently made comments over the course of the afternoon about their cousin's demands. He now had a clearer picture of what life was like for them. It was a rather grim prospect.
“Allow me to put my carriage at your disposal, Miss Lockhart.” The marquess liked the way her green eyes twinkled with gratitude when she looked at him.
“That is most kind, my lord. But if we start now, while Binx's gives the girls their tea, I am certain we shall be able to finish long before dark.”
It was soon settled and Mrs. Shelby bustled away to get the tea tray and send Toby up to collect the garlands. Lord Marsden carried the Kissing Bough to the Great Hall as Karis followed. Finding himself alone with the lady at last, he placed the decoration on a small table and turned to speak with the lady. “I want to thank you for what you did this afternoon, Miss Lockhart.”
A rosy blush settled on the young lady's ivory cheeks as she needlessly adjusted a red bow on the Bough, avoiding his gaze. “I am mortified, my lord, that my cousin would have attempted to compromise herself in such a manner.”
“Don't fret so about the incident. I have put it from my mind. We, all of us, have things our relations do that we have little control over. No one thinks the worse of one for what others do.” Memories of his own humiliation at his wife's hands flashed briefly through his mind, but for the first time he realized he was not responsible for the lady's shortcomings. She'd chosen her own path.
At the moment he was far more concerned with the lady before him. “What I fear is that your cousin might punish you in some way for foiling her plans.”
Karis's heart hammered in her chest when she looked up to see the concerned look in Lord Marsden's grey eyes. Eyes she'd once thought so cold, were now softened with kindness. “You needn't worry about me, my lord. Dorinda is clever. She would never do anything to physically hurt me. No doubt her revenge will be of little consequence, and although it will upset Anthea a great deal, it will be nothing I cannot handle, I assure you. Say no more on the subject, I beg you.”
The marquess looked as if he wanted to continue the discussion, but Karis spied Toby coming down the stairs and went forward to instruct him on where to hang the Christmas decorations.
As the afternoon progressed, she kept her tone light, teasing Toby when a garland hung crooked or telling humorous stories of former Christmas disasters from her youth. There was no need for Lord Marsden to worry over a matter which might prove to be minor. She even managed to get a laugh from the marquess upon telling the story of Anthea accidently pulling the garland down on the head of their former vicar.
Karis watched with satisfaction as Toby hung the last of the garland through the balusters of the stairs, ending at the ornately carved newel post. Making a few minor adjustments to the ribbons, she stepped back and surveyed the stairway, then the Great Hall.
“That was the last of it, miss.” The footman gazed around the hall, thinking the old place vastly improved.
Karis smiled. “Then, we are now finished.”
The marquess lifted the Kissing Bough from the table. “Not yet. Toby, lower the center chandelier and I shall attach the Kissing Bough to that.”
The servant disappeared into a small door, and within minutes, the wheel-like brass lighting fixture came to within a foot above the marquess's head. He gave a shout for the man to hold, then held the Kissing Bough in place as Karis quickly tied the runners to the light. She was intensely aware of the man as he stood watching her nervous fingers work.
“There, it should hold now.”
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