A Very Brethren Christmas by Barbara Devlin

Author:Barbara Devlin [Devlin, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-07T16:00:00+00:00

It was not quite a minute after Amanda hung the kissing bough in the entry to the drawing room that the Brethren husbands lined up their wives to take turns claiming their boon. Grateful for the distraction, she tried not to obsess over Mark’s continued absence, telling herself he was delayed by some unforeseen assignment and would soon arrive.

“Are they always like that?” Eileen loomed to the right and laughed, just as Sir Ross cornered Elaine. “Because I have never witnessed such displays of affection, and that goes double for my brother.”

“Why, Miss Logan, don’t you know that all Brethren marry for love?” To Amanda’s surprise, George engaged Eileen in more verbal fencing, and she pretended not to notice that they still employed formal addresses, which she suspected they did to aggravate each other. “Or do you not believe in such fancies?”

“I believe in many things.” Eileen turned to face him. “None of which would interest you.”

“Is that so?” George stepped in her direction, and Eileen retreated, and Amanda immediately guessed his aim. “Just how do you know what does or does not interest me?”

“Must I explain it to you?” Again, George encroached, and again Eileen withdrew, bringing her ever closer to the bough. “In order to care, you must first have a heart.”

“Big words for a little lady.” He neared, and Eileen gave ground. A warning danced on the tip of Amanda’s tongue, but she kept silent. “Do you think me dim-witted?”

“Oh, no.” She smiled far too sweetly. “You are as sharp as a marble, Viscount Huntingdon.”

“Yet smart enough to corral you.” Gloating, he pointed to the kissing bough, which now dangled above Eileen’s head. “Well, Miss Logan? You know the lore. If you refuse me, you will not marry in the next year.”

“George.” Amanda advanced, just as Sir Ross took note of the situation.

“Huntingdon, do not accost Eileen, else I will box your ears.” The venerable head of the Counterintelligence Corps glowered. “I did not bring my sister to entertain you.”

“It is all right, brother.” Eileen squared her shoulders and gained newfound respect from Amanda. “Yes, I know the lore, Viscount Huntingdon, and I am not concerned, because I have no intention of marrying anyone, ever. But I will satisfy you, not because I have any desire to join society but because I am a proud provincial.”

Perched on tiptoes, she made to kiss George’s cheek, in full view of the family. At the last moment, he shifted, and their lips met for the briefest instant. Eileen drew back as if he struck her, and she touched her fingertips to her mouth. Then she ran across the foyer and upstairs.

“Eileen.” When George would have given chase, Amanda stayed him, and it did not escape her notice that he at last dropped the formalities.

“You arrogant ass.” Ross followed in his sister’s wake, with Elaine not far behind. “She has never been kissed.”

“The study—now.” Amanda dragged her errant nephew by the arm and rued Mark’s absence, because upbraiding men in the family was his duty, not hers.

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