A Winter's Madcap Escapade by Elizabeth Bailey

A Winter's Madcap Escapade by Elizabeth Bailey

Author:Elizabeth Bailey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-09-16T23:00:00+00:00


Chapter Eighteen

The customary mingling at the Luthrie Arms in the village before the hunt set off did not this year fill Alex with the light of anticipation. While he quaffed and responded suitably to friendly overtures of the neighbouring gentry and laughed at the Master’s sallies, his attention kept straying to the carriage where Apple sat with Georgy, who had insisted on coming to see them off. He worried she might be overwhelmed and kept an uneasy eye on her, especially when one or other of the family’s acquaintances went up to greet his sister.

She was honour-bound to present Apple, and Alex could not help feeling uncomfortable about the necessary deception. Difficult enough keeping up pretence before his parents. He’d nearly undone it all yesterday, when Apple presented those extraordinary gifts of hers.

She’d entered the morning room when the family assembled there after breakfast, looking considerably flustered, her arms full with a pile of beribboned tissue paper. She looked from one to the other, her eyes meeting his only fleetingly. Then she fixed her attention on his father.

“I didn’t know when to do this, sir. Georgy mentioned that you exchanged family gifts on Christmas Day, and — and…”

An echo of the rush of tenderness he’d felt as he realised what she was about slid through Alex. Recalling the tentative and troubled look on her face, as if she feared to be making some dreadful faux pas, he felt all over again the urge to rush to her aid. He’d had to bite his tongue to stop himself speaking out. He must be ever grateful to his sire for taking the matter out of his hands and smoothing the moment.

“Can it be that you have taken the trouble to honour us with gifts, my dear Appoline?”

“Well, yes. It’s nothing much, but — but you’ve been kind … you’ve all been so kind. I wanted to do something, if I could.”

Georgy jumped in, squeaking with protest. “Apple, I told you there was no need. Oh, you shouldn’t have.”

Lord Luthrie intervened, moving to relieve Apple of her burdens. “Indeed she should, if she wanted to, Georgy. How very kind of you, Appoline. What is concealed in all this tissue, I wonder? I am greatly intrigued.”

The twinkle in his eyes must reassure her, Alex hoped, adding what he trusted would not give him away. “So am I, sir. Can’t imagine what Apple’s been up to.”

As he spoke, he glanced at his mother and found her regarding Apple with a frowning look, but not with disapproval. He breathed more easily when she smiled and gestured to the card table, opened out for the occasion, where the family had each laid down their offerings for each other.

“You have chosen your moment well, my dear Appoline. We are just about to make this very exchange.”

Lord Luthrie moved to the table and laid down the pile of Apple’s gifts. “I think we must enjoy these first, my dear Pippa, do not you?” He held out a hand to Apple.



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