Free The Present by Johanna Lindsey

season was a good month away, his sarcasm was duly noted and the two younger gentlemen exchanged aggrieved looks and got back to their gossiping. But Christopher no sooner glanced down at the next entry in the estate books when the butler arrived to announce some unexpected visitors from Havers Town.

    The mayor, the Reverend Biggs, and Mr. Stanley, oldest member of Havers's town council, had each shown up to welcome Christopher to the "neighborhood" on his first trip to Haverston several years ago. He had seen none of these men again, however, since there had been no occasion to visit the nearby town when he was in residence, and he couldn't imagine what would bring them to Haverston again, particularly so late of an evening. They didn't leave him guessing, though, got right to the point of their visit.

    "We were invaded today, Lord Malory."

    "By a bunch of ungodly thieves and sellers of sin," Reverend Biggs said most indignantly.

    Walter latched on to the word "ungodly," asking, "These are different from Godly thieves, I take it?"

    He was being sarcastic, but the good reverend took him seriously instead, answering stiffly, "Heathens usually are, m'lord."

    David, however, had perked up considerably at the mention of sin. "What kind of sin were they selling?"

    But Christopher, annoyed at yet another interruption to his chore, wanted to know, "Why do you bring this matter to me? Why didn't you just have these criminals arrested?"

    "Because they weren't caught stealing. They are very clever, these heathens."

    Christopher impatiently waved that aside, since his question still hadn't been answered. "As mayor, you can just ask them to leave your good town, so I repeat, why do you bring this matter to me?"

    "Because the Gypsies aren't staying in our town, Lord Malory, they are camping on your property, where we have no jurisdiction."

    "Gypsies? Oh, that kind of sin," David said with a chuckle that earned him a disapproving frown from the reverend.

    "So I take it you want me to ask them to leave?" Christopher said.

    "Course he does, Kit. And Walter and I will come along to assist you. Couldn't let you go alone, now could we? Never think it."

    Christopher rolled his eyes. His friends had found something to entertain themselves, after all, and by the look of them both, were quite looking forward to it.

    "I've never seen so many married men in one place," Anastasia said in complete disgust as she joined her grandmother at their campfire that night. "For such a nice-sized town, it was sadly lacking for our purpose, Gran. I couldn't find a single man who wasn't either too old, too young, or too—unacceptable.

    "Not one?" Maria said in surprise.

    "None."

    Maria frowned thoughtfully before asking, "What kind of 'unacceptable'?"

     "The kind that it would never be believed that I would fall in love with."

    Maria sighed with a nod. "No, that kind won't do. Very well, I will tell Ivan tonight that we must leave. He will not question why. You can try the next town."

    "I thought you said you wanted to stay here, that you find this clearing a peaceful place to rest."

    "So I will look for a peaceful place down the road. Do not worry about me, child. I have the will to last until you wed—as long as you wed within the week."

    Anastasia's shoulders drooped upon hearing that. She had promised herself that she wouldn't cry again. If her grandmother really was suffering in her old age, then she would be truly selfish to wish her to remain with the living just because she knew she was going to be utterly lost without her love and guidance.

    So little time left. So much she wanted to say to this woman who had raised her. So many things she wanted to thank her for. But she could think of nothing adequate enough to express it all, except . . .

    "I love you, Gran."

    Maria's face lit up with a smile and she reached over and squeezed Anastasia's hand. "You will do fine, daughter of my heart. Your instincts will guide you, your