Swept Away by Kristina Cook (Kristi Astor)

Author:Kristina Cook (Kristi Astor) [Cook, Kristina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“Wherever have you been?” Edith asked with a scowl. Sir Edmund trailed behind her.

Christobel did her best to school her features into a pleasant expression. “I was sitting with Marie. I fear I let the time slip away from me.”

It was true, after all. As soon as she and Mr. Leyden had returned, she’d hurried in and had Simpson return her clothing and hair to their proper order. She’d immediately gone belowstairs to check on the recuperating housemaid, as she’d done each and every day since the girl’s assault. Unused to such idleness, poor Marie was going mad with boredom.

Edith just shook her head. “I should have known.”

“Marie?” Sir Edmund asked, his ginger-colored brows drawn over bright blue eyes.

“One of my housemaids,” Edith supplied. “She was...er...recently injured.”

Christobel nodded. “And while she’s abed, I’m teaching her to read.” Indeed, she’d found an old primer in the library and started with the basics, and Marie had shown a quick, sharp mind.

Sir Edmund looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “Teaching her to read? A housemaid? Why would a maid need to read?”

Christobel bristled. “And why not? Such a dull, dreary life, the life of a maid. Should she not be able to escape into the worlds created by the Brontës or Miss Austen? Or perhaps you’d think Mr. Dickens more appropriate?”

Sir Edmund rocked back on his heels, looking entirely flummoxed. “Well, er, perhaps. Still, I don’t think it’s your place—”

“Come, Sir Edmund,” Edith interrupted, casting her a scathing look. “Everyone is gathering in the drawing room. I’ve got a delightful entertainment planned for this afternoon.”

Looking suitably repentant for her outburst, Christobel followed the pair out and into the drawing room, eager to see what diversion Edith had in store for them. Anything to take her mind off John Leyden.

Hide-and-seek. Not what Christobel would have hoped for, even though it had become all the rage of late. Even now, Edith was drawing names from two hats, one holding the ladies’ names, one the men’s. Once everyone was paired up, one couple would be designated the seekers, and everyone else would head out in search of hiding places, either indoors or out in the park. The game could go on for hours, as those “found” joined in the search.

Christobel generally found the game tedious at best—she did not enjoy sitting still, just hanging about waiting to be discovered. But now, as she eyed the hats filled with folded slips of paper, her mind raced. Not Sir Edmund. Please, anyone but him. Silly, of course, as he was the perfect gentleman. Still, she had no wish to be alone with him. What if he were to attempt to take liberties? Thank God Mr. Leyden was nowhere to be seen, because if she were to—

“Miss Christobel Smyth,” Edith’s voice called out gaily. She reached into the dark gray bowler hat that Jasper held aloft. “And Mr. John Leyden.”

Christobel’s heart skipped a beat. She saw the confusion on Edith’s face. Clearly this was not the outcome her sister had hoped for, either.

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