Free Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson Page B

home?"
    Her heart pounding, Chrissy slowly turned around.
    He looked nothing like the grandfather she'd always pictured him to be. He looked exactly like the grandfather she'd always wished she had.
    Thirty years or so older than the man in the portrait, the Earl of Thornbury had softened around the edges. His hair and mustache was snow white, his face mapped with lines, his body still tall and straight, but leading with a belly politely termed plump. He'd an air of kindness about him, a gentle mien, despite the disappointment that bloomed in his eyes as he got a good look at her.
    "You're not Elizabeth."
    "No, I'm her daughter, Christina. I'm your granddaughter."
    Then the Earl of Thornbury did the most amazing thing. He threw open his arms, smiled with delight and cried, "Chrissy! My little Texas rose. Come give your granddaddy a hug."
    * * *
    An hour later they sat in a pair of wing chairs before a fire laid in the Italian marble hearth of a cozy room called the little library. It had been love at first sight between the two of them, especially once the earl welcomed Lana and the children as honored guests insteadofservants. As her friend settled her children in their rooms in Hartsworth's family wing, Chrissy joined her grandfather for a cup of tea and a bit of get-to-know-you conversation.
    They spent some time discussing her mother and brother. Once she'd caught him up on family news and events, talk turned to the reasons behind Chrissy's surprise visit to Hartsworth. His softspoken encouragement and unflinching support opened the floodgates. She rattled on about the Chili Queens and her mother's disapproval. She told him about her aborted trips to the altar and basically filled him in on events all the way back to the brothel incident that got her sent away to school.
    "So I'm a harridan and a flirt and an all-around disgrace, Grandfather. Mother sent me to you because according to her you are a strict disciplinarian who will keep me in line."
    The earl frowned and turned a contemplative face toward the crackling fire. "I understand why your mother would feel that way. I was a petty tyrant during her formative years, especially after her mother died. But it surprises me that Elizabeth would send you to me." Wry amusement lit his eyes as he said, "After hearing your stories, I must tell you it sounds to me as if you and your mother are very much alike."
    "Me like Mama?" She sputtered a laugh. "Not at all, Grandfather. My mother is the perfect lady."
    "She was a perfect trial when she was your age, believe me. I was harsh on her, true, but I always acted with the best of intentions. I was right sometimes, wrong others. I did the right thing breaking up her first engagement. I shouldn't have interfered with her romance with your father."
    "Mother had a beau before my father?" This was news to Chrissy and it annoyed her in light of all broken-engagement scoldings Elizabeth had delivered.
    "She did. Jilted him at the altar. Dealt her reputation a blow, it did. I'd a devil of a time convincing the Marquess of Rushton that Elizabeth would take his suit seriously. Then she made a liar of me. Fell for your father, instead. Younger son, no title. I was furious with the girl."
    If she hadn't seen the portrait, Chrissy might wonder if she'd stumbled into the wrong country house. This did not sound like her mother one bit. "Is that what led to your estrangement? You didn't like my father?"
    "I liked Delaney well enough. Didn't want him for my Lizzie."
    Lizzie? For ultra-proper Elizabeth? Chrissy sat in shock as the earl continued.
    "Mainly I resisted their plans to leave England. In hindsight, I recognize my efforts to prevent the move to Texas caused my daughter more than her share of grief, and I don't blame her for holding it against me for so many years. One of my greatest regrets is that we didn't reconcile before your father died. I owed him an apology."
    Chrissy's thoughts were in a whirl. "What did you do?"
    Her grandfather