A Kiss At Christmastide: Regency Novella Read Online Free PDF Page B

looked at the small pile of green and red hats, complete with small balls attached to the tops—shocking him further, a few even had bells attached. “Tell me you are not requesting coin for them.”
    â€œHelping the less fortunate is a virtue that not all people possess, my lord. It does not make me think less of you that you do not understand this, though neither does it raise you in my estimation.” Her stern expression had Lucas regretting his decision to leave his room.
    â€œMy apologies,” he conceded. “It was not my intent to insult you. Your caps are lovely—very festive, indeed.”
    â€œThey will keep the children in the village warm, which is all that matters to people who have so little.”
    If he’d wanted such a lecture, he would have attended a local vicarage to hear the many ways his life had gone awry. “That is very commendable of you,” he said around another bite of food.
    â€œAre you hungry, my lord?”
    â€œI would not have gotten a plate if I weren’t.”
    â€œIt is only that your plate is so full it is overflowing on my mother’s cherished table runner.”
    Lucas stared at his plate before him, noticing a small pile of eggs had, indeed, slid from his plate to land on the table when he’d knifed a large piece of ham. Hoping to avoid notice, he flicked his empty fork to push the escaped morsel back onto his plate.
    â€œHas your coachman been able to fix your carriage?” she asked, focusing once again on her task. “While not as fierce, the storm has not subsided as much as I’d hoped.”
    â€œI am afraid not, though he will brave the weather and journey to town to see if the wheel is easy to repair or if a new one is available for purchase.”
    â€œDo you plan to ride ahead to the holiday party?” He noticed her fingers stilled for the first time when she asked the question, revealing her interest in his answer.
    â€œIt is highly risky to take a horse out in this weather,” he said. “The chances of the beast twisting a hoof in a hole or throwing a shoe are greatly increased.”
    It was obvious by her nod that she already knew this, but she was giving him some sort of test—maybe to see if he’d risk his horse’s safety, or assess how desperately he wished to arrive at the Sheridans’ holiday party. Thankfully, for him—though likely not to Pippa’s favor—Lucas was in no hurry to reach the duke’s country estate. Namely, seeing his parents for the first time in almost two years was not something he was looking forward to. It would be the first holiday they had spent together since he was in knee britches and sent away to boarding school. Even now, Lucas only knew they’d summoned him for the specific purpose of introducing him to his intended bride—and shortly after, announcing their betrothal to all of society.
    There was no other reason—and even now, he saw little need to meet his intended. They would meet eventually anyways…on their wedding day, certainly.
    He and his parents had resided in London, moved within the same circles, for the past eight years, and never had their paths crossed…not in any ballroom or garden party or opera.
    They avoided him, just as he avoided them. They had only seen one another a handful of times to discuss things of little import to Lucas.
    It was a cycle they’d all become accustomed to. One he preferred as it left him to his own devices; however, Lucas was unsure what benefit it offered his parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Bowmont.
    â€œWhat are your plans for the day?” If he were stuck in her home, he at least hoped to find something to occupy his time—idleness was something he’d never favored. He was already tapping his foot rapidly against the floor, though he was thankful for the thick rug that muffled the sound. “I do not expect the storm to pass before supper,