Old Acquaintances: Christmas Regency Tale (Regency Tales Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

perfect guest. But he did not rise to offer his hostess a chair, instead leaning back a little in his own so that he could survey her better.
    Judith had gone rather white, but she managed to nod coolly at him. She approached the table and seated herself. It took all her fortitude not to allow how shaken she was by this totally unexpected encounter to show. “Sir Peregrine, this is quite a surprise. I had no notion of your arrival,” she said, and knew instantly how inane and inadequate were the words. Questions tumbled through her still sleep-fogged mind. She knew that she must get hold of herself, and quickly. Desperately, she looked about and she seized gratefully upon the coffee pot.
    “Meaning that if you had known you would have given orders to bar the door against me, leaving me to freeze slowly on the steps,” said Sir Peregrine.
    Judith could not stop the faintest tremor of her hand as she poured steaming coffee into her cup. Anger at herself for the slight betrayal steadied her nerves. She cast an irritated glance at her companion. “How idiotic! Of course I would not have. Though if you mean to rip up at me this early in the morning, I shall probably wish that I had had the opportunity,” she said.
    Sir Peregrine smiled, though with little amusement. “You have always been quick to take fire, Judith.”
    “And you, sir, have always had the singular knack of setting up my back,” said Judith swiftly. All her hopes of a quiet easing into the day had vanished with Sir Peregrine’s unexpected presence, and that did nothing to improve her overall mood. She eyed him in a decidedly unfriendly way. “Why have you come to Elmswood? I do not mind telling you, it is an unpleasant shock to discover you at the breakfast table.” She was still thinking of her lost solitude and therefore his reaction caught her by surprise.
    “Thank you, ma’am! I had long ago been brought to realize that you held me in contempt, but I was not aware of those feelings of revulsion that you have harbored,” said Sir Peregrine. His piercing blue eyes were bright and hard.
    Judith flushed, realizing belatedly how uncivil she had sounded. She had always prided herself on treating others as kindly as she herself would like to be treated. No matter what history lay between herself and Sir Peregrine, it did not give her license to insult him unnecessarily. “I am sorry. I was unforgivably rude. My excuse must be that I am not at my best in the morning. I am not usually so prickly after I have had my coffee.”
    Sir Peregrine stared at her. After a long moment he allowed a fleeting grin to cross his face. “I have overset your hopes of a solitary breakfast, have I? If it will ease your disgruntlement in any measure, I was not best pleased to have my own breakfast interrupted. I detest making conversation so early in the day.”
    “And so do I,” said Judith.
    He laughed and turned his attention to his unfinished plate, obviously with the intention of suspending communication until they were both ready to resume it.
    Judith helped herself to eggs and ham and then set to with relish, finding that she had quite an appetite after her light repast the night before. She finished eating and began her second cup of coffee in the ensuing silence. Over the cup’s rim she watched Sir Peregrine begin on a second helping of steak and kidneys.
    Finally, she sighed. “It is of no use, Perry. I still wish to know why you have come to Elmswood. You cannot have a sudden uncontrollable desire for my company.”
    She meant the last to be a light touch of humor, but when she looked into his suddenly frowning eyes, it occurred to her that it would not be such a bad thing if he had come with the object of seeking her out.
    Sir Peregrine was apparently not subject to the same wistful thought. “Believe me, nothing short of necessity would have brought me to Elmswood Hall. I was informed at the posting house that you arrived there with a young lady who was