Sweet Surrender (The Dysarts) by Catherine George Read Free Book Online Page A

Alasdair, looking across the room to Fenny, who was chattering to Harry Brett and Jonah. ‘That charmer was a gawky little kid when I saw her last.’
    â€˜But little girls get bigger every day, dear boy,’ said Jeremy, and turned to Kate. ‘Now then, fellow godparent, at what point should we converge, like the Magi, to present our gifts to the infant?’
    â€˜After the cake is cut and everyone is refilled with champagne for the toasts,’ she said promptly.
    â€˜Talking of which,’ said Alasdair, getting up, ‘your glass is empty, Kate. Let me get you a refill.’
    â€˜Just lemonade, please.’
    â€˜Oh, come on, Kate, you must have champagne in honour of your godson,’ he protested.
    â€˜Not for me, thanks,’ she said with finality.
    â€˜Is your aversion to alcohol in general, my dear?’ asked Jeremy gently after Alasdair left them.
    â€˜Not at all. Just champagne—or any kind of wine, really.’ Kate smiled at him, then beckoned to Charlie Hawkins. ‘We hand over the presents after the cake iscut, Charlie. Not that mine will be a surprise. Adam found it for me.’
    â€˜Do tell,’ said Jeremy promptly.
    â€˜Crystal claret jug—silver-mounted, but empty.’ Kate grinned at Charlie. ‘I’ll come to you for the claret when Hal’s eighteen.’
    â€˜I’ll keep you to that, my lovely,’ he promised, and thrust a hand through his red hair. ‘I was over the moon when Adam asked me to be godfather, I can tell you. Never expected it in the circumstances.’
    â€˜A more tactful person wouldn’t ask, but I’m famed for my lack of finesse,’ said Jeremy, eyes gleaming. ‘What circumstances, dear boy?’
    â€˜Adam and I fell out over a woman a while back—before he met Gabriel,’ confessed Charlie. ‘Stupid mistake on my part. All over now, thankfully. Gabriel persuaded him to let bygones be bygones.’
    â€˜Adam didn’t take much persuading—he was only too glad to mend the rift,’ said Kate, and looked up with a smile as Alasdair returned with her glass. ‘Thank you.’
    â€˜Unadulterated, I swear,’ he promised her.
    â€˜Good,’ Kate got up in response to Leonie’s beckoning hand. ‘If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, duty calls.’
    â€˜Gabriel and Adam are about to cut the cake while Dad and Jonah top up the champagne glasses,’ said Leonie when Kate joined her. She gave her sister a keen look. ‘So. How are things with Alasdair?’
    Kate thought it over. ‘Friendly, I suppose.’
    â€˜On your part maybe!’ Leonie’s dark eyes lit with a triumphant gleam. ‘But unless I’m mistaken—which I never am—now you’ve met up again Alasdair feels a whole lot more than friendly towards you , little sister.’

CHAPTER FOUR
    A DAM made a speech, toasts were drunk to Henry Thomas Dysart, and once the champagne had gone round again, accompanied by slices of the frosted christening cake made by Laura Brett, the baby was put down to kick on a blanket and receive his tributes.
    Kate smiled as everyone gathered round to look on. ‘Adam found the jug for me, so it’s no surprise, but at least I know I’ve got the genuine article.’
    Her father patted her shoulder. ‘Good choice, darling.’
    Charlie Hawkins sighed regretfully. ‘I did not buy these through Dysart’s; it seemed too much of a cheek. But I wish I had now, in case they’re not up to scratch.’
    Adam assured his friend that the set of antique silver wine labels was of impeccable quality. ‘But I bet you paid over the odds for them.’
    â€˜No matter,’ said Charlie with dignity, and gave way to Jeremy Blyth, who kissed Gabriel’s hand as he presented her with a large box.
    â€˜Such a trial, dear heart,’ he said, ‘buying a present for a Dysart child. I toyed with the