The Duke's Christmas Tidings by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

“Jimmy? What on earth are you doing here?” Sara asked, pulling her shawl around her shoulders to shield herself from the cold wind that blew through the open door.

“I’ve come to kidnap you,” Jimmy said, a smile on his boyish face.

Sara raised her eyebrows. “Kidnap me? Is it customary for a kidnapper to announce his intentions?”

Jimmy laughed. “May I come in?”

Sara dragged in a breath and then stepped aside. “I’m only allowing it because I don’t want to let anymore heat out of the cottage.”

“Whatever you say, Sara.”

“Ah! Mr. Hargood!” Papa said from the comfort of his chair by the fire. “What brings you by on this fine morning?”

Jimmy stepped further into the room to address Papa. “I wonder if I might borrow Sara for a bit this morning. You see, I’ve been asked to lead a sleigh party from Danby Castle, and I think Sara might enjoy coming along.”

“But I haven’t been invited,” Sara put in, nerves settling in her belly. A sleigh party at Danby Castle meant she’d be forced to interact with Mr. Whitton. If he chose to go, of course. Perhaps he hated sleigh rides. But Sara had no way of knowing one way or the other. Better to play it safe and stay home.

“It’s my sleigh, isn’t it?” Jimmy said. “I feel I’ve a right to invite a friend along if I want to.”

Sara’s eyebrows shot up again. “A friend?” He’d never referred to her as such in the past, always wanting them to be much more than just friends.

Jimmy laughed. “Don’t be so surprised, Sara! Of course we’re friends, aren’t we? Why, we’ve known each other our entire lives.”

“Yes, but…you…I…”

“Oh, go on, Sara Beth!” Papa said with a wave of his hand.

“Yes, come on, Sara Beth.”

Sara looked from Jimmy to her father and back again. There was no way she was getting out of it now, she might as well bear it like a good girl and just hope to get through it.

“Fine,” she said at last. “Let me just put on something more appropriate.”

Fifteen minutes later, she was climbing aboard Jimmy’s sleigh, wondering what on earth was wrong with her. She ought not be encouraging Jimmy in this way, especially when there was a chance Mr. Whitton would be joining the party. Would she be able to hide the obvious affection in her eyes in order to spare Jimmy’s feelings? Likely not.

“Thank you for the ginger biscuits,” he said once they were well on the way to Danby Castle. “They were delicious as ever. Though I had to fight Timothy to get my fair share.”

“I gave you two tins full,” she replied, drawing her arms around her shoulders. Blast, but it was cold out.

“You underestimate the power of my brother’s appetite.”

“Is he not staying at the castle? I thought he was Mr. Whitton’s valet whilst he’s in residence.”

Jimmy cast her a sidelong smile—a smile that said he knew something she didn’t—then faced forward again. “He is indeed Mr. Whitton’s valet, but he prefers his own bed to those in the servant quarters.

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