A Christmas Conspiracy by Mary Chase Comstock Read Free Book Online

squirm, nip, and bark quite vehemently. This, naturally, prompted the twins to convulse in peals of laughter once again, despite their father’s pained expression.
    Just then, a door opened onto this scene and a lady garbed in nightrail and cap stepped out into the hall. “I have had an extremely trying journey,” she complained. “Now what is all this to-do?”
    “Fanny?” Sir Giles croaked.
    “Mama!” the twins cried together.
     

Chapter Five
     
    “Flops!” Fanny exclaimed as she stepped forward. “Why, there you are, you bad dog! Whatever do you mean, Giles, by ill-using my Flops? Do not just stand there gaping at me—hand him to me at once!”
    Giles was indeed gaping. Whether the sudden appearance of his wife—in flannel, no less—was more astonishing or the apparent lapse in her ordinarily impeccable taste, as represented by the noxious canine he held squirming before him, he did not know. Without a single word, however, he handed the furry bundle over to her.
    “Good night, then,” she said tersely, tucking the creature under one arm. “No doubt I shall have the pleasure of seeing all of you at breakfast.”
    With that, she turned and re-entered her chamber, somehow managing to close the door behind her with a snap which seemed to mark the end of all discussion.
    None of the three who stood staring after her uttered a word—aloud, at least. Between the twins, the air buzzed with their mental tête-à-tête.
    It worked! Genie exulted as she squeezed her sister’s hand. Mama is here—and just look at Father!
    Oh, dear! Tavie glanced at her parent to see a mixture of surprise, indignation, and—could it possibly be?—yearning. He does look rather . . . stricken.
    Stricken!? Her sister rolled her eyes. You make it sound like the gout! Surely this must be love!
    I suppose it must be. Tavie frowned thoughtfully as she scanned her father’s pale visage. If only he did not look so very much as if he were about to be sick.
    It is lovesickness, to be sure, Genie sighed, just like in the novels.
    At that moment, their father suddenly shook himself and looked about. “To bed, girls,” he told them in a dazed voice.
    “But, Father,” Genie began, “surely—”
    “We shall speak of this another time,” he cut her off brusquely. “Now, do as I say.”
    As the girls turned to go back to their chamber, however, Genie could not help but say somewhat self-righteously, “You see, Father, I told you we had not set anything in your bed—nor would we!”
    “Yes, yes,” he said impatiently. “Your pardons. Now good night.”
    More of this and I shall begin to believe in Father Christmas again! Genie smiled and tucked her sister’s arm under her own. He actually begged our pardon.
    Indeed , Tavie returned cautiously. Not in the most gracious manner, you must admit, but still, ‘tis something entirely out of the ordinary.
    If he had turned a somersault, I should not have been more surprised. Oh, Tavie! I have high hopes we shall prevail.
    For shame, Genie! This is the first I have heard that you had harbored any doubts. At any rate, the battle is pitched. Now it is time to refine our plans!
    Oh, come now! I am convinced there must be very little else for us to do now except go to bed and wait for love to find its course!
    Buffleheaded romantic! Tavie teased. I expect you are correct—what a good thing, too, for I am almost dead with fatigue. What a busy day we have had. And what a heartening end to it!
    * * * *
    Fanny sat in bed, the covers pulled well up to her chin and her hands clasped to her burning cheeks. What perverse humor had taken hold of her, she wondered wretchedly, that she must behave in such a high-handed, shrewish manner?
    And what a droll sight she must have been! Surely Giles must think she had become the veriest dowd, decked out as she was in this vestal gown and foolish cap, making such a fidget over a badly comported mound of fur. Why, she must have looked at least as preposterous