Midwinter Manor 2 -Keeper's Pledge Read Online Free PDF

dressed in a delicate gold Poiret gown that actually rather suited her, while Lucy, who was seated on his left, had thrown on an over-long creation patterned garishly in orange and purple. Philip hoped she didn’t take offense at him spending most of his time in conversation with Millicent, who was on his right; he found it impossible to look at Lucy’s dress without suffering a dramatic loss of appetite.
    However, as it was soon determined they had absolutely nothing in common, Millicent and Philip’s conversation eventually flagged. What they lacked was more than made up for by Matthew. Some of his stories about the Cambridge theater troupe he belonged to were really quite entertaining, but not all of them, Philip felt, were suitable for mixed company. Particularly those which involved the misappropriation of female costumes for “humorous” purposes. Frederick seemed to agree, telling his brother more than once to “Steady on.”
    Matthew’s full lips curled. “Oh, don’t be such a stick-inthe-mud, Frederick. The ladies don’t mind, do they?” A bravura gesture, wine glass in hand, resulted in several drops staining the tablecloth. Philip thought he saw Standish wince.
    “Well….” Millicent, whom Matthew had addressed, very clearly did mind, but was distressed at the prospect of having to say so.
    “Do you punt at Cambridge?” Philip asked desperately. “I’ve got rather fond memories of floating along the Isis on a summer’s day.”
    Matthew fixed him with a speculative eye. “Yes, you look like the sort of man who knows how to handle a pole.”
Frederick cleared his throat loudly. “Millie, dearest, don’t you think it’s time…?”
“Oh! Oh, yes, of course. Lucy, shall we?” Millicent rose.
    “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to accompany us, Frederick?” Lucy asked archly, as she followed her sister out of the dining room.
“We’ll be along directly,” Philip assured her, as Frederick merely glowered.
    The gentlemen reseated themselves, and Standish served brandy and cigars. The decanter was noticeably lighter upon leaving Matthew’s hands, and Philip decided it might be wise not to pass it in his direction again.
    Frederick was still scowling. “Perhaps, Matthew, when we rejoin the ladies you’ll choose a more suitable subject for conversation.”
    “You know, Frederick , Queen Victoria has been dead for a considerable number of years now.” Matthew leaned back in his chair and blew a perfect smoke ring, just as Philip, who rarely smoked, drew on his own cigar with a regrettable lack of caution and was seized with a fit of coughing. “Oh, very well. What shall we talk about, then? Cousin Philip, why don’t you choose a subject?”
    “I, ah.” Philip cleared his throat, willing his eyes to stop watering. There was nothing he liked less than being put on the spot like that. “Perhaps we should join the ladies sooner rather than later? They must be tired after their long drive,” he added with sudden inspiration.
“I shouldn’t worry about Lucy at least,” Matthew drawled. “She’s got the constitution of a shire horse.”
    Frederick ignored him, turning pointedly to Philip. “You’re quite right. I’m sure Millie will want to turn in early tonight. Why don’t we join them now?”
    “But I haven’t finished my brandy. Or my cigar.” Matthew’s protest went unheeded by Frederick, who had already risen, and Philip was only too happy to follow his lead.
    The ladies seemed, in any event, glad enough to see them when they entered the drawing room. Millicent was sipping her tea as if she’d been ordered to do so, while Lucy lolled in a chair, leafing through a book with very little appearance of interest.
She looked up as they came in. “That was quick. Is Philip’s brandy not up to snuff?”
    “Lucy!” Millicent looked scandalized, but Philip was rather amused. It was on the tip of his tongue to offer her the chance to pass her own judgment on the matter, but Matthew