A Christmas Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page A

the disastrous results it has had—making you lose your post through no fault of your own.”
    â€œYes,” agreed Miss Pennington, “but since you both have expressed your sympathy several times already, I don’t see—?”
    Before she could finish, Jamie held out to her a sealed missive which Evalyn saw with surprise was addressed to her. She opened it, and her eyes flew over the words. Lord Gyllford and his sister sent their warmest regards and cordially invited her to spend the Christmas holidays at Gyllford Manor. What did it mean? “I don’t understand,” she said, looking from Jamie to Reggie questioningly. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting your father and his sister.”
    â€œI asked them to invite you,” Jamie explained. “You see, it seemed to us that you would find it difficult to acquire a new post without a character.”
    â€œYes, that’s true, but I still don’t see—”
    â€œMy Aunt Clarissa can help you. She has so many friends in Devonshire. Surely one of them must have need of a governess.”
    â€œBut would she recommend me for such a post without knowing me?” Miss Pennington asked reasonably. “She could scarcely, in good conscience, do such a thing, especially with the knowledge that Lady Carbery has turned me off.”
    â€œBut that’s the beauty of my idea!” Jamie explained eagerly. “She’s bound to get to know you if you’re our house guest for the holidays. And then I’m sure she won’t feel any hesitation in recommending you.”
    The lane they were following took a turning into the wind. The many capes of Reggie’s greatcoat flapped briskly, Jamie turned up his collar and pushed his hands deep into his pockets, but Evalyn didn’t even notice the sudden chill. Mr. Everard’s kind invitation had thrown her mind in a turmoil. She could not deny the attractiveness of his plan. The possibility of two weeks as a guest in a comfortable home, a Christmas holiday in which she would be treated with civility, even kindness, and the prospect of being assisted to find a new post, all these were infinitely more desirable than the prospect of begging for board from an unknown relative, and searching for employment without aid. But the proposal was too good to be true. She could not accept. There were too many obstacles.
    She stopped and turned to Jamie. “Your generosity and concern quite overwhelm me, sir. I can’t think why you should have taken this trouble about me. But you must see that I cannot accept.”
    â€œNo, ma’am, I can’t say that I see that at all, can you, Reg?”
    â€œNo, indeed,” said Reggie earnestly, “it theemth like an exthellent plan to me.”
    â€œBut surely you both realize that it would be highly improper for me to travel alone in Mr. Everard’s company,” Miss Pennington explained shyly.
    â€œOh, but I’ll be going along too,” Reggie said with pride in having settled a ticklish problem with dispatch.
    â€œDon’t be an idiot, Reg,” Jamie muttered. “You would scarcely be viewed as a proper chaperone for a young lady. Miss Pennington’s right. We need another female with us.”
    The three of them walked on in silence. Just as the inn came into view, Reggie chortled. “I have it!” he exclaimed. “We’ll hire an abigail.”
    â€œAn abigail?” asked Jamie, his eyes lighting up. “You mean some village girl?”
    â€œThere mutht be thome girl at the inn who would be thuitable. What do you think, Mith Pennington?”
    â€œI think you are most generous, but I couldn’t dream of allowing you to undertake such an expense in my behalf.”
    â€œNonsense,” Jamie put in firmly. “On that score I will not allow you to voice an objection. Reg has so much of the ‘ready’ in his pockets that he’ll not even notice