Mistletoe Kisses and Yuletide Joy Read Online Free PDF

About his cat, that is all. I fear he is arrogant."
    " Such men generally are, my dear." With that and more good wishes, the couple moved on.
    Kitty called Pol away from some friends and headed home. She had to keep pausing to exchange greetings, but lingered as little as possible. With luck, people would think she was leaving quickly because the jollity of the season didn't mix well with her mourning. In fact, she wanted to escape before having to speak to a certain lord.
    She felt that even thinking about him might summon him -- like the devil, perhaps. Therefore, she forced herself to think of other things. About the fact that she would miss St. Caspian's if she moved. Most of these people had known her from birth. The same was true of the area, the shops and tradesmen.
    Dividing the house was the only practical solution....
    "Miss Mayhew."
    She froze, then turned, wishing again that it were possible to cut him -- to cut him like the reprobate he was.
    "My lord?" She directed her eyes toward his right ear. He must have hurried to catch her. What would people think?
    " How is your pretty little cat?"
    " As before, my lord. We are keeping her close confined."
    " Poor little thing."
    She glared at him, which meant she looked at him. Which was a mistake. Shaven, his dark hair neatly-arranged, he was exceedingly handsome.
    "Of course," he added with a teasing smile, "a tomcat is not dissuaded by an invisible queen, as you have seen. Despite our efforts, Rochester might bother you again. I can only promise to do my best to control him."
    " Thank you, my lord." Kitty forced her eyes back into the safer position.
    " You must feel free to call on me if there is any further need . At any time -- day or night."
    Need, indeed! Kitty wished she had her umbrella and the courage to bend it over his rascally head.
    "I gather you worship here regularly," he said.
    She met his eyes. "Have you been asking people about me?"
    " Just in general conversation. I have decided to get to know all my neighbors."
    " I'm sure they'll be delighted."
    His lips twitched. "Armed even without umbrella," he murmured. "I gather you are well known to all."
    " I have attended this church since I was christened here, my lord, and have many friends in the congregation." She gave it as a warning.
    " How fortunate you are. It converts me to the notion of attending the local church, at least in the less fashionable times of year. Perhaps soon I, too, will have friends hereabouts."
    Kitty couldn't imagine what he was up to, for the parishioners of St. Caspian's were hardly of his class. She only knew that she had to get away from him before doing something foolish.
    She shot a final dart. "I'm sure most people here will be deeply gratified, my lord, at the honor of your attendance."
    On the way home, Pol for once started a conversation. "That was the man who was out in the garden the other night, miss."
    " Yes. He's the Earl of Felstowe's heir, Viscount Chatterton."
    " Lawks," said Pol, not obviously impressed. "You stayed out talking to him long enough."
    " I was making my point about his cat."
    " Oh." A few steps later, Pol said, "Beggin' your pardon, Miss Kitty, but you'd be best not to bandy words with the like of him."
    Kitty glanced at the maid. "Bandy words?"
    " Like you were back there. Men take that as encouragement, they do."
    Kitty was tempted to give the maid a sharp rebuke for impudence, but she feared she was right. "I hope never to even speak to him again."
    " Right, miss," said Pol.
    Why did she sound disbelieving?
     
    ((---))
     
    Because of her mother's death, Kitty passed Christmas Day just like any other. There had been invitations, but she'd felt she'd be a shadow on the feast on this first Christmas without her family. Next year would be different, but it would never be the same as it had been when her parents were alive.
    Christmas had been quiet last year, because it had come soon after her father's death. She and her mother hadn't decorated