A Rake Reformed (A Gentleman of Worth Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

best to keep up appearances, trying to shave during the first few days of their journey, but it wasn’t too long before he gave up that exercise. It had always been a manageable challenge but, with his hands shaking with cold, he found the task impossible. He must have been a sorry sight indeed.
    Freddie drew his hand over his jaw and, from beyond the doorway, he heard those odd sounds again. They were the very same type of noises coming from down the corridor. He turned his head to concentrate on the source. Wild animals? Burglars? Murderers?
    While Freddie vacillated between reality and his imagination, Jacob entered with a bottle and two glasses.
    “Lookie wot I’ve got!” He raised a bottle of what must have been spirits and glanced over his shoulder. “But don’t ye go tellin’ the Mrs.”
    “Wouldn’t dream of it,” Freddie replied, making his sacred vow. His stay at Penshaw was improving more and more. Then he heard the breathing again. “Ah . . . is there something out there?” Freddie couldn’t help himself but ask.
    “ Summin’ ?” Jacob quizzed back. “ Summin’ like wot?”
    “ Other guests?”
    “Well, we’ve got the livestock down a ways. Wot’s left of them, tha’ is.” Jacob moved to the opposite side of the room and walked along the edge. “The barn’s not been fit for them since the first snowfall.”
    “Animals? In the house?” Maybe not wild animals but animals all the same. It hardly seemed civilized.
    “Well, there’s nowheres to put ’em. The barn’s fallin’ down last summer and we’ve got to keep ’em out of the snow.” The old man stopped and rummaged about, hiding the offerings he’d brought and coming away with empty hands. “The house is plenty big, if you’ve not noticed.”
    “I’ve noticed,” Freddie murmured under his breath. Living under the same roof with the livestock would not be how he cared to take up residence. He muttered wistfully on a sigh, “There’s so very much that needs to be done here.”
    “Ah, here comes the Mrs. with yer supper.” Jacob moved quickly away from his hiding spot near the door, toward his wife. “Let me help you there, ma dear.”
    There wasn’t much light to illuminate the room, only that which was provided by fire. Trevor still slept on the pallet.
    “Ye are a treasure, ye are, Jacob.” Hetta handed him the laden tray that burdened her. “This would have been so much nicer if we coulda gone to Thistles an’ sat down ta a proper Christmas meal but no’ this year.”
    “Aye, the ’arris celebration will be thin o’ company, can’t be ’elped.” Jacob followed his wife and watched her for directions. “Ye don’t know how lucky ye are, gents. Snow really came down fierce-like just after ye arrived, it did.”
    “They’ll be no mummers tonight, that’s fir sure.” Hetta craned her neck, looking over her shoulder at Freddie. “Ye sure ye weren’t expectin’ ’is Lordship to show?”
    “Er . . . I have no expectation he will arrive,” Freddie replied. He had no plans to reveal himself as the earl and owner of the house. “Don’t expect he’d find much of a welcome, would he?”
    “Not from me, ’e wouldn’t.” Hetta settled next to Trevor, preparing to tend to him.
    Jacob set the tray on a table, took up a bowl and a hunk of bread, and handed them to Freddie. “Here ye go, lad. Wish it could be more but it’s all we got.”
    “I am very grateful, sir. Thank you.” Taking the bowl, Freddie caught the aroma from its contents. The weak broth may not have been the most appetizing aroma but it was hot and would be satisfying going down, filling his empty stomach.
    Hetta lifted the two greatcoats covering Trevor. “Look at this . . .” Then she tsked at the other, holding each garment from the shoulder, checking it with a critical eye. “Aw . . . neither one o’ these are made fo’ any-fing other than show. I’ll see wot I can do wit’ ’em.” She had decided, for