Miss Featherton's Christmas Prince (The Marriage Game Book 9) Read Online Free PDF

looking for, but it was probably to glean more information about Lord Throughgood. His line of the family had recently come into the title, and he was, after all, her chosen mate, not that Mama knew of Meg’s decision.
     
    Shortly before tea, Lucinda entered the library to find Helena studying a large tome. “What are you looking for, dear?”
    “Liveries in blue and red.” She raised her head, a slight line creasing her brow. “There are quite a lot of them.”
    “Yes, but how many are in Town? That is the question.”
    Her attention was drawn back to the book.
    “What is the significance of the livery?”
    “Jimmy,” Helena answered distractedly, “our youngest footman, told Meg the flowers were delivered by a footman wearing blue and green. But he is forever mixing up red and green. The other day I asked him to bring down some green embroidery thread. My dresser showed him where the basket was, and he brought the wrong color.”
    Lucinda sat on a chair at the table. “Was there no card?”
    “It was not signed.” Her daughter-in-law looked up. “Poor Meg has had such bad luck in suitors, I am concerned.”
    “As you should be, my dear.” Lucinda closed her eyes as she pictured the liveries of all the great houses. “Somerset uses red and blue.” And his son, Hawksworth, was in Town. “Have you found anyone else?”
    “Several, but no one who would send Meg flowers.” Suddenly Helena fixed her bright blue gaze on Lucinda. “Tell me you are not matchmaking again.”
    Lucinda held up her hands with her palms out. “Of course not, my dear. If indeed Hawksworth is interested in Meg, that would be a very good match.” Lucinda rose. “His life is an open book.” At least to those who made it their business to know. “I merely came by to tell you that I will join you at Granby Abbey before traveling on to a house party I have been invited to, and wished to know if you would mind if I brought a guest with me.”
    The dower house at Granby was still occupied by a great-aunt of Lucinda’s late husband. Not wanting to remove the lady, and at the invitation of her son and daughter-in-law, Lucinda had an apartment in one wing of the main house.
    “Of course not.” Helena smiled warmly. “It is still your home. Forgive me for being so quick to accuse you of matchmaking.”
    Lucinda leaned down and bussed her daughter-in-law’s cheek. “I thank you for that. I know a great deal about Hawksworth. He is Almeria Bellamny’s godson. She would have told me if there is anything amiss with him.”
    “Thank you,” Helena said. “I shall keep that in mind. At the moment, though, Meg must allow her heart to mend. It is too soon to think about another match.”
    Lucinda left the library and climbed the stairs to her chambers. So, Hawksworth had decided to distract Meg with a puzzle. Lucinda paused for a moment. Yet who, she wondered, did Meg think the flowers were from? This could turn out to be a very interesting Christmas indeed.
     
    Later that afternoon, Chuffy entered his rooms on Jermyn Street to find a stack of cards that his valet, Manning, had sorted by the type of entertainment. Most of them were for balls, several for house parties, but one was from Mrs. Hiller, inviting him to join the family for dinner the next evening.
    He smiled to himself, pleased to have such an indication of success. After having spent two years traveling in countries where most of the ladies had dark hair and eyes, he had immediately been drawn to Miss Hiller’s fair and purely English appearance. With her light blond hair and pale blue eyes, as well as a perfectly creamy complexion, she was his ideal of a beautiful woman. During their dance, he had been enchanted by her slight shyness, and later by her common sense. Granted, it was early days, but he was fairly certain she was the type of lady he was looking to wed. He would know more after their carriage ride in the Park to-day and dinner the next evening. If he could manage