The Duke's Christmas by Anthea Lawson

Author:Anthea Lawson [Lawson, Anthea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680130553
Publisher: Fiddlehead Press

Chapter 8

Drew pulled his top hat lower over his forehead, shading his eyes from the brilliant, icy sparkles as he guided the sleigh over the new snow. The runners made a shushing noise as the horse pulled the sleigh briskly down the fir-lined drive—nearly the only sound in the muffled landscape he and Mena traveled through.

Well, that and the ring of Viola and Theo’s voices drifting back from the front sleigh as they argued about decorating the tree.

The morning had dawned clear and full of promise. After breakfast—marked by both his mother’s and Lady Marston’s absence—the rest of them had decided to go sleighing down to the village. At the appointed hour, he, Theo, Viola, and Mena gathered by the front door.

“I’m glad to see you found your hat,” Mena said to him as they stepped outside into the cold morning air, where the grooms had the horse-drawn sleighs waiting.

“If not my decorum?” He grinned at her. “Your bonnet is fetching, Miss Clarke.”

Or perhaps it was the face beneath it that he found of such interest, despite the suspicious look in her brown eyes.

“It isn’t, particularly,” she said. “Not like my favorite hat—which I’ll have you know was ruined by the snow, after all.”

“I’m sorry to hear it,” he said, neglecting to mention that the maids had brought word to the housekeeper right away, as he’d asked, and the matter was being seen to.

As the party descended the front steps, the matched grays tossed their heads in the traces, a little confused to be separated and put to work pulling these odd contraptions instead of the usual carriage. They were good steeds, though, and Drew knew they’d settle as soon as the party set off.

“I’ll ride with Theo,” Viola said, setting her hand on the curved edge of the front sleigh and giving Drew a significant look. “You and Miss Clarke drive together. Shall we stop at the inn for luncheon?”

“I recall they make a fine steak-and-ale pie,” Theo said, nodding. “I approve this plan.”

“Is that agreeable to you, Miss Clarke?” Drew asked, handing her into the sleigh. “My siblings tend to be somewhat high-handed.”

“Your entire family is horribly opinionated,” she said, her smile taking the sting from her words. “But if I objected, I assure you I’d speak my mind.”

“I’m relieved to hear it.” He settled beside her and took up the reins, trying not to pay any heed to the warmth of her against his side. “Sometimes, I’ve found, people are afraid to voice their objections to a duke.”

She arched one brow. “It’s hard to be overawed by a boy I once shoved into the pond.”

“Ha!” He couldn’t help his burst of laughter. “As I recall, I pushed you in first.”

“Only up to my ankles,” she replied. “You, however, were soaked to the skin.”

“And got a thorough scolding from my tutor, I’ll have you know.”

“Didn’t you tell him you were studying amphibians?” she asked innocently.

“He was unsympathetic.” Drew grinned at her. “Do you know, I’d nearly forgotten how much time we used to spend roaming the estate.

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