The Cavalier's Christmas Bride by Lauren Royal & Lauren Royal & Devon Royal

Author:Lauren Royal & Lauren Royal & Devon Royal [Royal, Lauren & Devon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult Historical Romance
ISBN: 9781634690867
Publisher: Novelty Publishers, LLC
Published: 2017-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

HAVING NO IDEA why he’d been summoned to the kitchen late that afternoon, Joseph was on his way when he passed the library and decided to take a detour.

As he’d expected, Creath was inside. But for once she wasn’t reading. A book lay open and forgotten on her lap while she stared at the dancing flames in the fireplace.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, startling her from her reverie. “What are you thinking about?”

A vague expression clouded her face. She still seemed preoccupied. “Well, I went out for that walk, and—”

“You what?” All the air seemed to have left his lungs.

“I took a walk. You knew I was going.”

“I most certainly did not.”

A little crease appeared between her brows. “Yes, you did. Chrystabel disguised me as a boy, which ended up not mattering because no one saw us.”

He might’ve known Chrystabel was behind this. More proof of the recklessness that made them incompatible. More reason to avoid her—and disturbing thoughts of her—at all costs.

He pulled a deep breath into his now-functioning lungs. “Thank God you weren’t seen.”

She managed to wave off his concern while still looking concerned herself. “That’s not what I was thinking about. It’s just…well…I guess things felt different out there.” She looked away from him, back toward the fire. “And ever since, I’ve been thinking about how you shouldn’t marry me. About how it really wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“Not that again.” He was tired of having this argument with both her and his mother, but he wouldn’t berate Creath when she was looking so anxious. Instead, he chucked her under the chin. “You can’t change my mind, sweetheart. Not now that I’ve finally got used to the idea. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. Forever.”

“Are you sure?” she asked wanly.

“I’m sure,” he said, and if a vision of Chrystabel seemed to flash across his vision, he knew better than to pay it any mind. “Are you all right?”

“I suppose so. Yes, I’m fine.” Mustering a small, brave smile, Creath picked up her book. “Do feel free to go about whatever it was you were doing.”

“I’ve been summoned to the kitchen. I dug up twenty potatoes earlier, but I suspect they want more.”

“I like potatoes.”

“Me, too. See how compatible we are?” Glad to see her familiar smile widen, he considered reassuring her with a kiss. But he didn’t feel like kissing her just now. “Enjoy your book,” he said instead on his way out.

Everything will be fine, he told himself as he continued on toward the kitchen. It’s going to be fine. Creath was loyal and steady and a good friend, and theirs would be a pleasant, serene marriage. Young people of his class rarely had the luxury of wedding for love—or lust, for that matter—so marrying for other reasons was no great sacrifice. He could easily have faced a much worse choice.

Or had no choice at all.

Reaching the enormous kitchen, he found it crammed with Ashcroft and Trevor servants, all of them hard at work. Given the last-minute decision to celebrate Christmas, he wasn’t surprised.

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