By Winter's Light: A Cynster Novel (Cynster Special Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

girls. “So are you interested in making sunburst shortbread? And Cook said you can help with the mince pies, too.”
    “Yes!” came from the three young throats.
    Daniel found himself smiling.
    “Right, then,” Raven said. He clapped his hands together. “I’ll supervise the Yule log expedition.”
    “And I’ll assist,” Morris said, “armed with bandages.”
    “I’ll need to supervise in the kitchen.” Melinda looked at Claire. “Cook’s run off her feet at the moment, what with all the preparations for the coming days.”
    Claire lightly shrugged. “I’m sure the girls and I can find our way to the wood and back, especially as Annabelle knows the way.”
    Raven, Morris, and Melinda all looked at Daniel.
    He opened his mouth to offer his services, but before he could speak, Louisa fixed her large, limpid eyes on Claire and said, “Shouldn’t one of the gentlemen come with us? Some of the boughs we want might be out of our reach, or heavy, and the sled certainly will be after we’ve loaded it up with boughs.”
    Daniel leapt to fill the perfect opening. “Raven and Morris won’t need me as well—I’ll come and assist the bough-gathering party.”
    “That’s an excellent idea.” Melinda nodded approvingly.
    “Much safer,” Raven added.
    “And Raven and I will also have the two carpenters with us,” Morris pointed out. “That’s more than enough adults to supervise six boys, Cynsters though they may be.” The last was said with a wry look directed at the boys in question, all of whom grinned back.
    Daniel turned to Claire and smiled encouragingly. “You lead—I’ll bring up the rear.”
    Claire looked into his eyes and wondered what had become of her grand plan to avoid him. Stifling a sigh and ensuring that no hint of her rising anxiety showed in her face, she inclined her head and, glancing at the girls, rose. “Come along, girls. Off to get your boots and coats—and don’t forget your hats and gloves—and let’s get started. Not only do we need to fetch the boughs, we have to get them on the walls before dinner this evening.”
    She waved the girls up and shooed them along the bench—so she could follow and not have to place her hand in Daniel’s again.
    If she was to survive the next nine days, she was going to have to do all she could to limit further physical contact.
     
    * * *
    Richard had arranged for three comfortable armchairs to be set on the dais before the fireplace built into one corner of the hall. Having removed to the comfort of those armchairs, enveloped in the warmth thrown out by the flames leaping in the hearth, Helena, Algaria, and McArdle watched the four groups of youngsters depart the hall, three of the groups under the close guidance of tutors, governess, or—in the case of the four fourteen-year-old girls—both.
    “And that,” Algaria said, indicating the last group with a tip of her head, “is undoubtedly wise.”
    Alerted by her granddaughter’s comment, Helena watched Daniel Crosbie as he ushered the evergreen-gatherers out—saw his gaze lift to rest on the lady who led the way. Helena’s lips curved. “Louisa is very quick, is she not?”
    Algaria snorted. “I’m tempted to say she sees too much for her age, but I suspect she gets that from you.”
    Helena’s smile took on a proud edge. “From me, via my son, to her. It goes with the eyes.” She, Devil, Sebastian, and Louisa shared the same large, peridot-pale green eyes. “But for my money, Louisa is right—there is a romance blossoming there. All the better to brighten our days.”
    McArdle, who’d been struggling to follow their oblique exchange, frowned. “Romance?” He glanced at the last boys filing out of the hall. “What romance?”
    Helena and Algaria exchanged a look, then Helena waved. “Never mind. We will just settle back here in comfort and watch events unfold—and then we will see whatever it is that we will see, and whatever we see will be right.”
    It took