A Yuletide Treasure Read Online Free PDF Page B

anteroom to heaven, Camilla glanced toward Sir Philip. “That was thoughtful of you, but I shall accompany the gentleman to Nanny Mallow’s cottage.”
    “Bring Miss Twainsbury her cloak, please, Mavis. And a pair of her ladyship’s boots.”
    Camilla smiled at him, having expected to argue the point. She hated being coddled. People, especially men, always seemed to think of her as being some fragile poppet to be protected at all costs. It was as confining as a cage and more frustrating. One could not batter at walls of courtesy, not while retaining some measure of self-respect.
    “Never mind her ladyship’s. I’ll bring her me best boots, since hers won’t never be the same. I think they shrunk a bit when we put ‘em in the stove.”
    * * * *
    In keeping with the strange household, Merridew grumbled incessantly, his voice hardly muffled by the scarf he wore over his mouth. Even over the wind, rising outside the stable, Camilla could hear the constant grievance. “Interfering females, got no sense of fitness. Damn-fool woman ...”
    Sir Philip, helping with the harnesses, glanced at Camilla. “Keep it courteous, old fellow.”
    “Nanny Mallow couldn’t help falling, Mr. Merridew,” Camilla said quietly.
    “Could’ve picked a better night for it,” he said.
    “She did—last night. But no one knew until today.”
    “All right, miss. Sure I mean no harm.”
    “I am sorry for the horses, though,” she said, coming around to gaze at one massive roan. The intelligent eye and quick ear on the side closest to her took her measure. “It’s a cold time to be driven, indeed.”
    “Nothing to them, miss,” Merridew said gruffly. “I seen ‘em play with the snow like boys out on holiday.” One work-twisted hand came up to tug at the carriage horse’s forelock. The other horse, seeing this mark of favor, blew out a gust of breath reprovingly. “Oh, aye, you as well,” the coachman muttered and, as if ashamed of being seen as such a soft heart, started grumbling again.
    In the carriage, as they waited for the doctor, who ran back for a forgotten bottle, Sir Philip lowered his voice confidentially. “You must be shocked by the free-and-easy give-and-take of the household, Miss Twainsbury.”
    “Not at all, Sir Philip.”
    “No? Well, perhaps you wouldn’t presume to comment, but I could see shock in your eyes.”
    “Hardly that, Sir Philip. Showing surprise would be as presumptuous as comment. Your household is your own affair, and your wife’s.”
    “A wife would be useful for many things, but not schooling my servants. They are all old family retainers, or relations of family retainers, and not so easily taught new manners. You haven’t met Cook yet; she’s the most recalcitrant woman on earth. I hope Merridew’s wooing prospers if only to tame him. She is uncontrollable by any earthly means.”
    Camilla had never known the tyranny of a loving servant; her mother did not encourage familiarity, even from those who had served her longest. “Forgive me; I must have misheard you. You did say something about ‘Lady LaCorte,’ did you not?”
    “My widowed sister-in-law. I’m afraid she’s not recovered from the loss of my brother and is often unwell.”
    “I’m very sorry,” she said, embarrassed. Could he tell that she’d been disappointed to learn he was married and was now pleasantly surprised to find she’d been wrong? The doctor came, and she couldn’t pursue the subject.
    They arrived at Nanny Mallow’s cottage in so short a time that Camilla could hardly believe that they’d not taken some secret shortcut. She suggested it as Sir Philip opened the door.
    “Not at all. It’s just the difference between trudging through snowdrifts and riding over them. I haven’t told you how much I admire your perseverance.”
    “As well you might,” Camilla said with a toss of her head that made the hood slide off. Then she gave him a rather cheeky grin. “If I had made it all the way to your