Peyton and the Paragon by Cathy Peper

Author:Cathy Peper [Peper, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gluesticks and Gemstones
Published: 2016-10-22T21:00:00+00:00

* * *

Peyton swirled the dark red liquor in his glass, then tossed it back in a single swallow. He poured himself a second helping, this time savoring the rich and potent distillation on which his father had probably never paid a penny of excise tax. Smuggling was a reality in Sussex, and those who did not actively participate turned a blind eye to their neighbor’s comings and goings. Peyton could not be certain his father received smuggled property, but thought it quite likely. The Worthing men liked their pleasures, though they didn’t always like to pay for them. In that respect, Peyton was no different. Though he had enjoyed picnicking on the beach, he liked his comforts too well to want to spend more than one meal sitting on the ground with sand in his food. His mother’s expensive French chef had outdone himself tonight, preparing a dinner of more than a dozen dishes including soup, lobster, lamb, goose, a number of vegetables swimming in rich sauces, and finally an assortment of sweets. Peyton had eaten his full and then some, which was why he now lolled in his chair, wishing he dared excuse himself from the coming evening with the ladies and escape upstairs for a nap. Unfortunately his mother would make him pay dearly for any defection. She had already accosted him while he dressed for dinner and bent his ear to a painful and heretofore unprecedented degree. Primarily, she had wanted to know what he thought about Miss Rose Hollister.

“You walked with her on the beach for nearly an hour. What did you think?” she asked him.

“She’s a nice girl.”

“That’s all? You were gone for nearly an hour, Peyton. What else did you learn about her?”

Peyton could barely remember what they had discussed. Most of his attention, and hers as well, he recalled, had been directed towards gathering sea shells. “We were looking for sea shells.”

“Good thinking. She probably found that romantic. Did she mention her charity work by any chance?”

Peyton wondered why the countess kept harping on the Hollister chit. The girls had been at Crosswinds for nearly a week. Usually by now his mother would have found fault with all of them and longed only for the day when they would be leaving. “We spoke on nothing but mundane topics.” Slipping out of his coat, he gazed rather pointedly at her. “Shouldn’t you be dressing for dinner,” he hinted.

The countess laughed. “I am no longer a young girl who must spend hours preening in front of her looking glass. However, since you are rather a peacock, my son, please continue dressing.”

“Absolutely not,” Peyton said, throwing his discarded coat over a chair and seating himself on his bed. “Make your point and make it quickly. This peacock wants to appear downstairs in full dress plumage.”

Lady Roxbury sighed, but did as he wished. “Miss Hollister is the one I was telling you about earlier. The paragon I have selected to be your bride.”

Peyton’s eyes narrowed. “I was under the impression that the choice was mine, Lady Mother.

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