My True Love Gave to Me (The Marvelous Munroes Book 1) by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott [Scott, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Edwards and Williams
Published: 2016-11-30T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

New Year’s Eve, Seven Swans a-Swimming

“G

eoffrey Pentercast is the world’s greatest lout,” Allison declared in the music room doorway.

Gen looked up from her place at the spinet, where she had been trying in vain to lose herself in a stately minuet. “And you claim I continue to harp on the same chord? I thought we exhausted that topic yesterday.”

Allison flounced over to the window seat and threw herself down in a huff, only to leap to her feet with a squeal. She snatched Gen’s embroidery out from under her and scowled at her sister. Gen offered a contrite smile.

“That topic cannot be exhausted,” Allison told her, sitting more gingerly, “because he continually finds new ways to insult me.”

“What has he done now?” Gen asked, closing the lid over the keys in resignation to her fate.

“I was attempting to convince William that he must come visit us tonight right after midnight…”

“After midnight?” Gen interrupted with a frown. “Whatever for?”

“New Year’s, silly,” Allison scolded with a shake of her flaxen curls. “We shall have good luck if the first person to set foot through our front door is a fair-complexioned gentleman, and William certainly fits that bill, unlike some others I could name.”

Alan’s dark head came to mind, and Gen forced it away. “I suppose he does. What does that have to do with Geoffrey?”

“I was getting to that, if you please. There I was, to the point of convincing William that he must be our hero, when who should walk into the conversation as bold as brass but Mr. Geoffrey Pentercast. Oh, the absolute gall of the man! He teased me that he will show up instead of William, and that will ruin everything.”

Gen raised an eyebrow. “As if we would open the door after midnight anyway.”

Allison clapped her hands with glee. “That’s it! We just won’t let him in. That will keep him from being our first footer.” She jumped to her feet. “I will tell Chimes this very minute.”

“Tell Chimes what?” their man-of-all-work asked, appearing in the doorway with an armload of firewood for the rack. He hustled it into place by the little stone fireplace and stood back to dust off his hands. It did little good; his entire uniform was coated with dust and grime.

“You’d better not let Mother see you,” she whispered in warning as he paused beside her.

He shrugged, offering her a wink, then focused on Allison. “Go on, Miss Allison, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

“You are not to let Geoffrey Pentercast into this house after midnight tonight,” Allison announced grandly, head high. “I will brook no resistance on this issue, Chimes. Do I make myself clear?” When he merely eyed her with a frown, she dropped her pose and wrung her hands. “Please?”

He grinned. “Now, don’t you worry, miss. I know we need a blond head in that door first off. Neither Mr. Geoffrey nor the Squire get through that door after midnight.”

Gen nudged him with her foot. “I don’t

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