Free Miss Mistletoe by Erin Knightley Page A

to your conservatory. I accept your invitation with great thanks and appreciation, and eagerly await the visit. Is the third week of November acceptable?
    Edgerton
     
    Dearest Cece,
    I believe you when you say that your feelings on the situation have not changed. However, with such a great distance between us, is it any wonder? Perhaps my visit will help to shed new light on the issue. After all, could the bold girl who made her name synonymous with the Christmas decoration which shall not be named for little more than the touch of my lips truly not wish for more? Though you may not admit it, I do hope you look forward to my visit with even the slightest bit of enthusiasm.
    Ever yours,
    Finn
     
    Dear Lord Edgerton,
    We are delighted that you have accepted our invitation. If for any reason you are unable to make the journey, please let us know. Otherwise, we look forward to the honor of your presence the third week of November with great anticipation.
    Sincerely,
    Squire McCrea
     
    P.S. How dreadful of you to bring up the incident. You know me not at all if you thought such a mention would endear me to you. Also, I feel that I must clarify that my father presumes too much with the use of the plural. His feelings and my own are entirely disparate when it comes to the matter of your impending visit. In fact, were you to find an excuse to stay away, I would forever be in your debt.
    Dear Squire McCrea and my dearest Cece,
    The honor is all mine. I assure you, nothing could keep me from such a well-anticipated journey.
    Respectfully and ever yours,
    Edgerton
     

Chapter Eight
    How much should it matter that the very woman he was coming to see had expressly informed him of her reluctance to be in his presence?
    Clearly not much.
    Otherwise, Finn wouldn’t be standing in Cece’s drawing room, waiting for her and her father to make an appearance. He rubbed a hand across his chest, trying to dislodge the unfamiliar tightness of nerves. When it came to Cece, everything hinged on whether or not he could convince her of their suitability during this visit. Considering the scope of his goal, he had very little time in which to accomplish this feat. But he was hopeful. She may not
think
she wanted him there, but her kiss had said otherwise the last time they were together.
    At last the door opened, and Finn whipped around, his heart suddenly pounding like the hooves of a runaway horse. Cece walked into the room, her arm linked with a man that must be her father. Finn let out a slow breath. She somehow managed to actually be more beautiful than he remembered.
    “In front of the mantle,” she murmured to her father, and the man adjusted the direction of his attention, almost seeming to look directly at Finn.
    “Lord Edgerton, welcome to our home. I am Squire McCrea, and this is my daughter Cecelia.”
    Finn paused, confusion knitting his brow. Had she not told him of their acquaintance? He had his answer as she caught his eye and gave her head a quick shake.
    This was ridiculous. He wasn’t going to pretend as though he’d never met her. “The pleasure is mine, sir. Your kindness and hospitality humbles me. As for Miss McCrea, I believe we have been introduced.”
    Her eyes narrowed and she pressed her lips together in a flat line. A perfect way to start his visit—angering the woman he came to woo.
    “Were we introduced at Hertford Hall at some point?” Her voice was pure innocence as she flayed him with her gaze.
    “Indeed—though it was back in the days before I inherited the title.”
    “Ah, yes. Well, we are certainly pleased to have you visit with us, my lord. And of course we understand that you are very busy and will need to keep the visit brief.”
    He almost laughed—that was downright inspired on her part. “Yes, well, any time I can spend in your presence will be much appreciated.”
    The squire nodded, clearly pleased. “Excellent, excellent. The planning of a conservatory is not a project to be undertaken