My True Love Gave to Me by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott [Scott, Regina]
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2010-02-13T07:03:52+00:00

Chapter Nine

Interlude, Baritone Solo

"Can this family be counted on for nothing?" Alan demanded, striding into the Manor and tossing his riding gloves on the entry way table. Munson, their butler, crossed to retrieve them. "Where is my mother?"

"Mrs. Pentercast is in the library, Squire," Munson intoned.

"Entertaining Vicar York."

Alan rolled his eyes. "It only wanted that. I'm going to change, Munson. Should the good vicar take it in his head to leave before I return, detain him. I want a word with him." Even in his frustration he noticed the look of pleasure that quickly came and went in Munson's normally implacable gray eyes. That was one of things he'd always admired about Munson, even as a child: distinguished gray hair, distinguished gray eyes, distinguished gray personality. Everyone who had ever remarked upon him, and they were few as Munson was as unobvious as a favorite piece of furniture, had said the same thing: "What a splendid butler." It was with an uncomfortable feeling of surprise that Alan heard him mumble with unbutlerish glee, "I'd be delighted, sir."

Could nothing go smoothly, he wondered as he changed from his riding gear to his usual dark wool trousers and coat. He couldn't seem to do anything right when it came to courting the incomparable Miss Munroe. He remembered just last spring, a scant two months before her father had met his 132

My True Love Gave to Me

by Regina Scott

untimely death, when he had ridden to town determined to stay the entire Season if that was what it took to win her. Her father had convinced him otherwise.

"Give her time," he had counseled. "We'll be home for Christmas this year, I promise. By then, she'll be heartily sick of this social whirl, if I know my Genny. You'll be the answer to her prayers. Trust me, my boy."

And like a fool, he had trusted the man, little knowing that fate was about to intervene. Once her father had been killed and the family was in mourning, he couldn't declare himself. It was only now, ironically during the Christmas Rutherford had promised him, that he could let her know his feelings at last. Then, just when he thought he was making headway, Geoffrey had to take it into his head to insult her sister! Not to mention his mother alienating her mother by taking up with the vicar of all people.

That one at least he could nip in the bud. He had felt for some time that the gentleman was entirely too sycophantic. If this was another way for him to curry favor with the Pentercasts, Alan could jolly well stop now. He was rather pleased to find the vicar waiting for him in the entry way when he descended some time later. The gentleman was standing to one side of the mirror beside the door, making a show of not appreciating his profile displayed therein. Alan nodded to Munson and motioned the vicar into the sitting room for a private conversation.

"Very good of you

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