A Yuletide Kiss by Madeline Hunter

Author:Madeline Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2021-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Noise woke Lucas. It came from outside. He left his bed and looked out the window. Down below the hunting party had returned. Faringdon carried a group of ducks, which he handed to Peter. Rob Matthews brought up the rear.

It looked like Juncker was dragging a tree.

Perhaps he intended to cut off part of the trunk for a yule log. Hopefully not. Freshly cut pine doesn’t like being burned. It would smoke horribly.

He dressed roughly and grabbed the water pail, to go look for the well. But when he opened his door, water already waited right outside. Someone had taken pity on the invalid. He washed, shaved, and dressed, then went below.

Miss Macleod’s guard walked past, clearly heading for the well in the cellar. Across the way noises came from the kitchen. He poked his head in.

The ladies were all cooking. Jenna poked at something in a large cauldron. Miss Younger was rolling pie crust while Miss Macleod sifted flour. Lady Whitmarsh held court at a second table, drinking tea at one end.

The viscountess noticed him. “Come in, Mr. Avonwood. My, you are looking well today. Doesn’t he look well, Mrs. Waverly?”

Jenna turned from the hearth. “He does indeed. A miraculous recovery.”

“No miracle, but a strict nurse.” He ambled over to her and barely resisted the urge to embrace her from behind, as he’d done the night before. He peered into the cauldron. A large mass kept trying to float to the top of the simmering water, and she kept poking it down again.

“It is a ham,” she said. “Another hour and out it comes.”

“I saw ducks arrive back from the hunt, but no boar.”

“I had this in reserve but decided I can replace it easily enough after the holiday. Duck sounds very good, too. Peter will dress them and bring them along soon.” She angled her head toward the viscountess’s table. “There is still some breakfast there. Help yourself if you want, or you can wait a half hour and eat with the gentlemen. I’ll be making eggs for them.”

He decided he couldn’t wait. A day without much food had left a hole in him that needed filling, and even last night’s dinner had not sufficed. He filled a plate with the fried potatoes, bread, and bacon on the table, and sat to eat.

Jenna brushed past him, heading for the door, a basket over her arm.

“Are you leaving that ham on its own?” he asked.

“I’m only going for the eggs and some other items in the cellar. I’ll return soon.”

He swallowed the last of his bread. “I’ll help you.”

He joined her, ignoring the way Lady Whitmarsh’s eyebrow rose just enough to show curiosity.

“I don’t really need help,” Jenna said as they walked through the inner courtyard. “I don’t want you catching cold.”

“I won’t. I am feeling quite myself today.”

“Having a good lie-in can do that.”

“Are you scolding me for not rising at dawn? If you had allowed me to hunt, I would have. Besides, those two servants were no better.

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