Midwinter Manor 2 -Keeper's Pledge by Jl Merrow

Author:Jl Merrow [Merrow, JL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Gay, Historical, General
ISBN: 9781623803261
Google: 5OwLCWuHBbsC
Amazon: B00B7VU0TM
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2013-01-28T11:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

O VER the next few days, Philip saw little of Danny. Christmas was fast approaching, and there seemed to be a hundred and one matters that claimed his attention. For one thing, there was the fitting-up of the manor for the season. Philip had never cared for much in the way of seasonal decoration, having always associated the time of year with Robert’s death, but his feelings for the festival had changed over the last few years. It had, after all, brought him Danny. They’d always kept Christmas quietly, much as Philip had in his lonely years, although with vastly more cheer. This year, though, Philip felt it behooved him as host to make something of an effort.

And then there were his guests themselves. Frederick might spend half the morning methodically reading through the Times from cover to cover, but his wife was less selfsufficient. Nor were Lucy and Matthew reticent in claiming Philip’s time, and though he found himself getting on increasingly well with both of them, still it was something of a strain to be so continually sociable.

He felt, at times, he might take the whole of the following year to recover from this Christmas. It worried at him, that he hadn’t been able to reassure Danny on the subject of their having been seen in flagrante delicto. But then again, Danny really hadn’t seemed half as bothered as Philip himself had been. Most likely he had dismissed the possibility from his mind already.

And Philip suspected he might be doing Danny no favors by telling him Matthew had seen them. With the shoot planned for later in the visit, there would inescapably be contact between them. Danny might be considerably embarrassed at being forced into dealings with a man who’d watched him engaging in such an activity. Particularly as Matthew was his social better. And Danny didn’t know Matthew like Philip did.

No, it was better not to say anything. It might even make it easier to persuade Matthew not to behave toward Danny in a manner likely to cause comment. Matthew might be irresponsible, but he wasn’t cruel. If Philip asked him not to betray to Danny that he’d seen them, Philip was sure he would not.

Lucy invited him to take a stroll in the gardens with her early one afternoon, while the day was at its brightest. It was Christmas Eve, and she seemed curiously excited, as if she truly expected a visit from Saint Nicholas that night. They talked of this and that, and she linked her arm in his almost shyly.

Philip was beginning to wonder if he should ask outright what was troubling her, when she came out with it. “I don’t suppose I could persuade you to take me seriously on the marriage thing, could I?” Her gaze was intent, and her cheeks a little flushed.

Philip could only stare at her. “I… ah….”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Thought not. You won’t reconsider?”

“I’m afraid I don’t really see myself as the marrying kind. I’m sorry.

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