A Marquess for Christmas (Scandalous Seasons Book 5) by Christi Caldwell Read Free Book Online Page A

expression on her determined face. “It is never too cold for ices, Papa.” She looked to Patrina. “Isn’t that right, my lady?”
    Heat blazed her cheeks. “Er—”
    “See,” Charlotte supplied for her. “It’s never to cold for ices.”
    “I didn’t say that,” Patrina said with bemusement. She glanced over at Lord Beaufort and tilted her chin up. “I never said that.”
    Another smile played upon his lips. “I know, my lady.”
    She tipped her head. He really was quite magnificent when he smiled. Not the cold, emotionless beauty of a stone statue he’d put her in mind of at their first meeting, but someone very real, and very much full of life.
    “But Papa,” Charlotte pleaded, jerking Patrina back to the moment. The girl tugged at her father’s hand. “How can you not show appreciation for—?”
    “That is enough.” His softly spoken words brooked little room for argument and managed to silent the loquacious child.
    She hated the deep, innocent part of herself that still longed to be invited on an outing to Gunter’s. Patrina turned around.
    “My lady?” the marquess called out to her.
    She froze.
    “Surely you wouldn’t allow me to be rude, my lady?” A gentle teasing threaded the marquess’ question.
    She spun back on her heel. “My lord?”
    He held a hand to his chest. The somber gentleman she’d come to expect had a lighthearted glint in his eyes. “Would you reject my offer of gratitude by not joining me and the children for ices to reward your efforts?”
    “I didn’t….” Her cheeks warmed yet again. “Oh.” She’d been about to assure him she’d not assisted Charlotte for the promise of ices or rewards and stopped with the sudden realization that he merely teased.
    Charlotte reached for her fingers and Patrina forced her gaze from the marquess’ riveting stare. “Oh, please say you’ll come. Please.”
    The proper thing to do would be to politely decline. What would the scandal sheets say about Lady Patrina being escorted to Gunter’s with the Marquess of Beaufort and his two, motherless children?
    Only… She dropped to a knee yet again. “How could I ever refuse an offer of an ice?’ She tweaked the girl’s nose.
    Charlotte giggled. “That is splendid, my lady! Isn’t it, Papa?”
    Patrina glanced up to find the marquess studying her and Charlotte with his usual solemnness. He held Patrina’s gaze. “Splendid, indeed.” His mellifluous baritone washed over her like warmed chocolate, so very different than the curt, gruff responses she’d come to expect of this man.
    As she took her leave she realized the absolute folly in accepting the marquess’ offer. Yet as she peeled back the curtain to stare out at the passing snow-covered streets, a smile played about her lips.
     

Chapter 5
    Weston remained closeted in his office. He tapped the tip of his pen rhythmically upon the immaculate surface of his oak desk.
    Protect her.
    Lady Patrina had encouraged him to protect Charlotte, yet, something in the deep, aching hurt in her eyes and etched in the lines of her heart-shaped face suggested she spoke of something so much more than his daughter’s antics earlier that day.
    Not for the first time since he’d come upon Lady Patrina at the frozen waters of the Serpentine, did he wonder at what could make a young lady so melancholy. She couldn’t be more than twenty or so years, and though it seemed an eternity since he himself had been that tender age, he remembered the carefreeness of youth. He’d been very nearly that age when he’d first lost his heart to Lady Cordelia.
    She’d been just nineteen, vivacious, bright-eyed, flirtatious, a diamond of the first waters--in short everything Lady Patrina was not. The subtle differences in the two women most likely spoke volumes to Lady Patrina’s character. After all, as long as he’d known Cordelia, she would never have done something as plebeian as tossing a snowball, nor for that matter, personally escorting a