Free Sybill by Jo Ann Ferguson Page A

beginning. That their sharp words had been transformed into such smiles, in the butler’s opinion, had been inevitable.
    â€œGood morning, Trevor,” she called gaily. “How is the planting going?” She noted he held his hands behind his back. “What do you have hidden?”
    He only chuckled and ordered, “Close your eyes.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œClose your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”
    Eagerly she obeyed. She laughed in delight as she held out her hands as he commanded. When a moist tongue licked her face, her eyes popped open.
    â€œA puppy!” she cried. Trevor smiled as she took the small ball of wiggling fur and panting breath from him. The golden fur was a thick covering for the delicate body beneath it. When she held it up to her face, she chuckled as it lapped her once more. “Trevor, she is so cute!”
    â€œShe is a he, Sybill.” He laughed at her delight. “I was riding from Foxbridge, and Mac Beckwith stopped me. He said the puppies were weaned and asked me if you wanted one.”
    She was examining the puppy carefully and saw the white fur on its narrow chest. “This is the one I held when we visited there. I can’t believe Mac remembered.”
    â€œIt would be difficult for any of us to forget how charmed you were.” He winked at the butler who had a smile as bright as the sunshine swirling through the doorway. “What will you name him?”
    Without hesitation, she answered, “Goldenrod.”
    â€œThat’s a fancy name for such a creature.”
    â€œIt’s a perfect name!” she retorted.
    Placing the puppy on the floor, she clapped her hands as Goldenrod’s wobbly feet slipped out from beneath him as he raced about exploring everything. When the puppy began to run toward the back of the foyer, Sybill chased him. She paused for a moment and came back to the two men.
    It was hard to know who was the most shocked when Sybill stood on tiptoe and kissed Trevor on the cheek. “Thank you. Thank you, and thank Mac for me.” With a wave, she went to prevent the dog from finding its way into trouble.
    Marshall closed the door before turning to Trevor. His friend’s dark eyes were following the young woman as she played with her new pet. In the weeks since the two had stopped snapping at each other, they had not been able to hide their strong, mutual attraction. Throughout the servants’ quarters, whispered bets were being taken that Miss Sybill would choose the estate manager over the lord. Silently the butler considered placing his money on Trevor. He had never seen the young woman this happy.
    â€œMac must be taken with Miss Sybill,” he said to fill the silence. “That good-for-nothing family never does anything for anyone unless there’s a copper in it for them.”
    Trevor nodded. Only reluctantly did he drag his gaze from Sybill. It shocked him that she would thank him in such a manner, although he could not help smiling at the thought of her slim fingers on his arm as she pressed her sweet lips to his cheek. “’Twas my thought also. Then I remembered how the family welcomed her as if she was a long lost Beckwith. From the moment she met Mac, he became another man.”
    â€œShe seems to have that effect on every man.” Marshall lowered his voice. “Does Miss Sybill know?”
    â€œOf Lord Foxbridge’s infatuation with her?” He could not pretend not to understand. All the Cloister must know, for little was hidden from the household. Only Sybill, who had not known Lord Foxbridge well before her arrival, would be unable to see the changes.
    Yet she was aware of approaching trouble. The Beckwiths were not the only ones who considered Sybill the successor to the title of Lady Foxbridge. Just a week ago, she had asked him to inform the tenants that she had been invited solely because her father had been Lord Foxbridge’s friend.
    When he saw