A Christmas Cotillion by Ellie Thomas

Author:Ellie Thomas [Thomas, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2019-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The next day after breakfast, when taking a short stroll around the gardens, Jonathan was surprised to hear himself hailed by a familiar voice. He turned to see Freddy striding towards him, hands in coat pockets, looking glum and without a crowd of young people trailing in his wake.

“Hello Freddy,” Jonathan said, trying to keep the surprise from his voice as his cousin fell into step beside him. “On your own today?”

“Hmph,” Freddy replied, evidently out of sorts. “The girls have planned some amateur theatricals tonight and so everyone is arriving to join in.” He added to this somewhat grumpily, “They’re all buzzing around Corinna in the drawing-room.

“Ah,” Jonathan said with a raised eyebrow, assuming ‘they’ referred to Corinna’s myriad other swains. “Then you were very clever to leave them to it,” he affirmed, knowing full well Freddy would have left the room out of pique rather than a wise withdrawal.

“Really?” Freddy replied, looking startled by this alternative reading of his actions.

Having got his notice, Jonathan continued, “Absolutely. There’s no point in fighting for someone’s particular regard when they are basking in such a great deal of general attention. A tactical retreat was a very sensible move. Now, Miss Corinna will wonder where you are.”

Freddy’s normally mobile features were completely still, as he took that in. “Oh right,” he said, a little uncertainly, turning to face Jonathan. “So you think I should stay clear of her for a bit?”

Jonathan smiled inwardly, thinking that Freddy hadn’t asked for anyone’s advice, let alone his older cousin’s, for more years than he could remember.

“We wouldn’t want the young lady to think you were sulking,” he said, even though that was exactly what Freddy was doing. “By all means join in when you are ready, but just don’t show a particular preference for her company.”

Freddy trudged alongside him, absorbing this undertaking. “I rather enjoy play-acting and was looking forward to playing the role of the hero alongside Corinna’s heroine,” he mused. “But all the others will be fighting for that part too.”

“Let them,” Jonathan said. “After all, that way, you may get the chance of a better and bigger role.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Freddy, ingenuously, the idea of temporary theatrical stardom evidently appealing to him. They walked along a little further in silence, Jonathan leaving Freddy to ponder his way through this new strategy.

When they had completed a turn around the house and had reached the front door again, Freddy cleared his throat and said, “Well, I’d better be heading in before all the best parts are taken, then.”

“Yes, indeed,” Jonathan agreed mildly. “Thank you for your company, Freddy.”

His cousin gave him a slightly preoccupied smile and Jonathan watched as he walked through the entrance door with the spring returning to his step.

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