His Bewitching Jewel (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    “It would seem our Miss Massey brings us good luck,” he mused.
    The housekeeper’s eyes flew to the small kitten. “I…I...” Ruby stuttered. He could see that she was trying to come up with something quickly, before Mrs. Teague found a way to take the kitten away from her.
    “Oh, it is a lovely kitten,” Miranda breathed. “Can we have it, Uncle?”
    “Only if Miss Massey wants to part with it, and you shall have to find someone to give it a good bath. I don’t want it carrying anything to my dogs.”
    “Aye, Uncle,” Miranda said. “Might I have it, Miss Massey?” Ruby looked hesitant. “We can call it Joan, for Joan of the Wad, Queen of the Pixies.”
    “I…I suppose so,” Ruby said, reluctantly handing the kitten over to her.
    “Mind what I said, and make sure it is given a proper cleaning, Miranda.”
    “I always mind you, sir,” Miranda said, a cheeky glint in her eyes. Cradling the kitten gingerly, Cordelia looked as if she wanted to step out from behind Miranda to pet the little thing. Though rowdy when playing, his girls were sensitive souls.
    Cordelia still looked frightened half to death of him. He didn’t know how to break through her fear…he wanted her to warm up to him, he wanted her to throw herself at him, and let him pick her up, but she would not. She was far too frightened, and it broke his heart.
    Miranda looked over at Ruby. “Don’t be scared of my Uncle Phineas, Miss Massey. He only looks frightening. He is not as bad as he looks. He cannot help that dour expression he wears all of the time. He has not smiled since Mama died, and we cannot really blame him. Still, it would be nice if he did smile once in a while, don’t you think, Miss?”
    His heart sunk. Ungrateful child. “Thank you, Miranda,” he said.
    His eyes swept over to Ruby. She looked as frightened as Cordelia. He did not know how she would fare in Penryn House, as they didn’t always have peaceful nights, and the floor where her bedchamber was, was the center of some particularly stubborn supernatural activity.
    Perhaps, if she didn’t fare well during her first night here, he would move her. However, that would be tricky, as she was located on the nursery floor, and though the activity might bother Ruby, it would not disrupt the children, at least, it had not so far.
    “I told Miss Massey she would get her Allan apple at the end of October, Uncle, on Allan-Night.”
    He nodded his head. “Quite right. That day will be here before we know it. And with it, comes a certain young lady’s tenth birthday.”
    Miranda smiled. “Come along, Cordelia. Let us go and play outside, before it is time for us to have our dinner. Why don’t we go and skip some rope, or play Battledore and Shuttlecock?”
    Happily, they scampered away, their nursemaids following them closely.
    Finn should have told them it was too late for them to continue their merry little games, but he didn’t have the heart. Their nursemaids had little power over them. Miranda and Cordelia hardly listened to anything they said, and he supposed he was to blame for that as well.
    Their nannies feared retribution from him, should they ever rebuke the children, as he had expressly forbidden it. As such, they basically ran wild. He never had the heart to scold either one of them. Not that Cordelia really needed it. She minded her manners. Miranda was capable of making mischief, and her stubbornness, and strong will could prove to be trouble, if left unchecked.
    He sighed heavily.
    “Miss Massey, I trust you are not a woman afraid of the supernatural?” He might as well drive straight to the heart of the matter. He couldn’t bandy about the bush, not when it he spoke of such a serious issue.
    Mrs. Teague looked at him in a fervent way. “Your Grace, I am certain you don’t want to frighten, Miss Massey. She is hardly old enough to deal with such matters. I think the best thing for all concerned, is if Miss Massey returns from whence she