A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth; Mansfield Read Free Book Online Page A

done.”
    â€œThat’s what I told Reg. Leave it to my aunt, I told him. We won’t have to trouble our heads about a thing.”
    Philip blinked. “What has Reg to do—? No, never mind. I’d better go talk to your aunt before the guests assemble for dinner.” And Philip retreated hastily out the door.
    A few minutes later, Jamie sat watching Reggie make a final inspection of his attire. Lord Reginald was resplendent in a coat of blue superfine covering a waistcoat of yellow satin embroidered with flower baskets in which each flower was a tiny jewel.
    â€œHow do I look?” Reggie asked, turning slowly before the critical eyes of his friend.
    â€œThat waistcoat—well, I don’t know. Don’t you think it’s a bit overpowering?”
    â€œOverpowering? How can you think that? You know nothing about thtyle.”
    â€œThen why did you ask me? Anyway, I didn’t come in here to inspect your waistcoat. I just want to let you know that the Pennington matter is settled. I’ve told my father the whole story, and he says Aunt Clarissa will take care of everything.”
    â€œOh, capital! I mutht thay, Jamie, it’th very kind of your father and your aunt. I don’t think my mother would go to tho much trouble for a mere nobody.”
    â€œMy father doesn’t like to think of people as nobodies. Y’know, I sometimes think my father is a radical thinker. Anyway, we’ve done our part, and now we can forget it. Let’s go downstairs. I want to get another look at that little Marianne Covington. She’s grown up to be quite a taking little thing. Did you notice?”
    â€œNo, I didn’t,” responded Reggie flatly, “and I hope, Jamie, that you’re not going to turn out ath big a bore ath Geoff.”
    Meanwhile, Philip was apprising Clarissa of his chat with Jamie. “The long and short of it is,” he told her, “that Jamie wants to marry Miss Pennington as soon as the holidays are over.”
    â€œAs soon as that?” gasped Clarissa. “You can’t be serious.”
    â€œThat’s what he told me. But he’s perfectly willing to wait as long as you and Miss Pennington think necessary.”
    â€œHow strange! Does he want us to announce the engagement right away?”
    â€œI didn’t think to ask him that. He says they have an understanding. Believe me, Clarissa, that’s more than I have. His attitude is completely confusing to me.”
    Clarissa looked at her brother tenderly. The idea of his having a married son was just too new to him. He needed time to become accustomed to it. “Don’t worry, dear,” she said consolingly, “we needn’t do anything at all until after the holidays. By that time, we shall have grown accustomed to seeing them together, and the whole matter will seem much less shocking. Give it a little time.”
    â€œI suppose you’re right,” Philip agreed.
    â€œWe’ll go on as usual. There’s no need to announce anything until we get to know Miss Pennington better. We won’t make any definite plans until after the new year, when all the guests have gone. That seems reasonable, doesn’t it?”
    â€œQuite reasonable.”
    They left Clarissa’s room and headed for the stairway. It would not do to be absent while the guests assembled. “At least we may thank our stars that she’s such a fine, sensible, imposing girl. Quite lovely, in fact,” Clarissa remarked cheerfully.
    â€œNot lovely,” Philip said with a sudden grin, “ redoubtable .”

Six
    Evalyn sighed with pleasure as Nancy, her one-day abigail, brushed her hair to a soft glow. Everything in the room glowed. There was a cheerful fire in the grate that lit the hangings of the large four-poster bed with a golden light. The paneling of the walls gleamed. The panes of the tall windows sparkled with reflected firelight. Evalyn had never slept