Once Upon a Christmas Knight by Barbara Devlin

Author:Barbara Devlin
Language: eng
Format: epub

once upon a christmas knight

chapter Four

Christmastide dawned on a crisp and clear morning, and the Howes gathered with the Hogarts to attend church services. To everyone’s delight, Barrington and Florence made an appearance, sans their children, given the bitter cold. Afterward, the family returned to Whitstone, for brunch, which Percy barely tasted, as he was anxious to discuss the contents of the letter he received, with Mr. Hogart. But that conversation yielded to Barrington’s desire to convene the men in the study, while the women repaired to the back parlor.

“You have done good work, cousin, as Miss Hogart is charming.” Barrington raised his glass of brandy. “I toast you and your lovely bride-to-be.”

“Hear, hear.” Ernest smirked. “I am pleased to admit my wife predicted Miss Hogart would make an excellent match, and he has done better than you know, brother.”

Percy cast a stare of caution, but Ernest simply waggled his brows.

“Indeed.” Mr. Hogart thrust his chin. “Let us drink to the marriage of two great families.”

“I second that.” Percy nodded, yet his frustration grew, as he needed to speak with Margaret about the events that preceded their engagement, because he would not have her learn the truth, on her own. “St. Valentine’s Day cannot come soon enough for me.”

“When did you know that she was the one for you?” Reclining on the daybed, Barrington stretched his booted feet. “Because I do not recall you ever mentioning her.”

“In all honesty, I chose her while you were on the run.” Percy hated to bring up the unpleasant affair, given his cousin fled arrest for a crime he did not commit, but he would not let anyone labor under the mistaken assumption that Margaret was anything less than his lady, and he had remained quiet for far too long. “We met, formally, at the Netherton’s masque, in eighteen-thirteen, and I have been determined to wed her, since then.”

“You never told me that.” Mr. Hogart inclined his head and smiled. “So you really wish to wed her? This is not merely a union in payment of your services?”

“Uh—sir, I was not going to discuss that in the company of my cousins.” Percy shifted his weight in the high back chair near the hearth. “Per our original agreement, I have shared naught of your situation.”

“What situation?” Barrington inquired.

“Indeed, I am curious.” Ernest leaned forward and rested elbows to knees. “What are you hiding?”

“He hides nothing, Lord Ernest.” Mr. Hogart wiped his brow and frowned. “Mr. Howe merely came to my rescue, after a nefarious blackguard swindled my fortune. As we are for all intents and purposes family, I would share the state of my finances, if only to prevent you from suffering the same fate. And who knows, had I been more forthcoming, I might have spared others from the same downfall.”

“Sir, you could not have known what would happen when you entrusted your estate into the care of Ratking, a cunning man with a silver tongue, who boasted of his prowess and his returns, which I found too outrageous to believe.

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