Catch of the Season by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Geoffrey needed both patience and courage over the next few weeks. He needed patience to continue showing Allison, Mrs. Munroe, and his family that he did indeed know how to behave like a gentleman. When Mrs. Munroe said unthinking cruelties that brought tears to Allison’s eyes, Geoffrey wanted nothing so much as to throttle her. On the other hand, when Perkins so plainly tried to ingratiate himself to Mrs. Munroe in order to gain Chimes’s rightful place, he wanted to drive the fellow out of Wenwood. In both situations, he was forced to smile and turn aside any faux pas with a witty comment. Twice his attempts earned him a smile from Allison, and several times he caught the marquis eyeing him in silent approval. Surprisingly, both responses helped to ease his temper.

It took considerable courage to watch the marquis court Allison, even if it was in his own quiet style. Several times Geoffrey arrived for a morning call to find that they had already been out on a constitutional around the grounds together. Allison always seemed to look pleased and bubbly after such walks, her mood fading when she saw Geoffrey watching. Geoffrey had to watch silently while the marquis turned the pages of her music when she played to entertain their guests one night after dinner. He had to make conversation with the Widow Munroe while DeGuis held yarn for Allison while they all sat chatting by the fire one rainy day. He had to pretend to enjoy himself when the man read aloud from Shakespeare as they ate a picnic lunch on the knoll, his eyes lingering on Allison as he recited one love sonnet after another.

“He has every advantage,” Geoffrey complained to Alan and Gen that night at the Manor. “With the Widow Munroe’s penchant for quiet amusements, he is bound to come out better than I do.”

“Allison must be bored beyond tears,” Gen mused. “Quiet amusements are no more her cup of tea than yours.”

Geoffrey stared at her for a moment, then sprang across the distance to give her a hug. “Sister Genevieve, that’s it!”

“What’s it?” she asked, laughingly fending him off, obviously mindful of her belly.

Geoffrey grinned at her, hopeful for the first time in days. “Allison would be much happier with more lively amusements, and lively amusements are my specialty.”

Genevieve eyed him. “And what about how you’ve changed?”

“In other words,” Alan put in, “I sincerely hope there are no ferrets involved.”

Geoffrey laughed. “No ferrets, but I cannot say the same for other animals.” When both his brother and sister-in-law looked aghast, he could not help but laugh again. “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll be a complete gentleman. I’ll simply work harder at finding a way to turn the situation to my advantage.”

His chance came the very next day. He was to accompany Alan, Allison, and the marquis on an early morning ride around both estates. He had borrowed a snow white gelding from Enoch the day before when he had gone up to fetch the bay foal to the Manor.

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