The Christmas Kittens by Collum Lynn

Author:Collum, Lynn [Collum, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-08-15T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

Dorinda tossed back the covers and hurried to the wardrobe. She'd waited patiently for at least a half-hour, all the while plotting her strategy. Her mother's carriage had just left and she could set her plan in motion.

Pulling out her new burgundy velvet dress with cream-coloured lace at the neck and sleeves, she tossed it upon the bed and rang for her maid. The abigail, who thought she'd have the morning to herself, was surprised to see her mistress up. But the village girl merely did as she was bid and helped the lady dress, for Miss Westerly's temper was legendary among the servants.

The process took nearly an hour before Dorinda was satisfied. At last feeling her best in her new dress and with her black hair fashioned just as she liked it with loose curls in the back and around her face, she chose a cream-coloured casquet bonnet with burgundy flowers about the tiny flared brim. The helmet style hat would allow her perfect face to be seen. Finally she donned a heavy fur lined burgundy cape. Giving the sleeping Princess a final pat, she set off for Whiteoaks with no maid or footman, for that was an important part of her plan.

The journey on foot took nearly three-quarters of an hour, but at last Dorinda stood at the front door of the run-down manor. Patting her curls in place, she excitedly lifted the tarnished brass ring hanging from the lion's mouth and knocked three times.

To her surprise, the door opened in a matter of minutes to reveal a young man in his shirt sleeves, wearing an apron and holding a polishing cloth. He swept her with an accessing gaze. Before Dorinda could utter her well-rehearsed speech, the footman announced, “Lord Marsden and Lady Rosalind are not receiving at this time, miss.”

In her sweetest voice, she cooed, “I have only come to see one of the servants. A young girl who so kindly came to my rescue yesterday when I took a fall from my horse.”

The young man hesitated a moment, then said, “I think that would be Lady Rosalind's nurse you're talkin' about, miss, but Binx is occupied at present.”

“I brought a reward for her kindness.” Dorinda opened her gloved hand to reveal a shining guinea, resting on the burgundy dyed leather.

In a flash the footman snatched the coin. “The marquess said no visitors, and I reckon he meant the servants as well. But I'll see Binx's gets it, miss.” Then he closed the door in the visitor's face.

Dorinda Westerly was outraged. How dare the marquess refuse admittance to the daughter of a baron? Just who did he think he was? Viewing the rebuff as a challenge, she decided she would get into that house this very day even if it cost her reputation.

She wandered up the drive, her mind deep in plots and plans. Turning to survey the weed-choked gardens, she spotted a narrow path which led deep into a hedge-bordered walk. If her childhood memory served her, she thought the path made a great arc back to the west wing of the house.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.