Free Season's Regency Greetings by Carla Kelly Page B

twelve, and feels that you haven’t time for her.”
    â€œ Of course I … well, there may be some truth to that,” Janet said. “H’mm.”
    She was silent then, and it occurred to Cecilia that this was probably more introspection than Janet had ever waded in before. “Something to think about, Lady Janet,” she said.
    She was in the book room, folding her blanket and wondering where to stash it, when Lady Janet came in. She smiled to see that the cucumbers had done their duty. “Ready to tackle the letters again, my lady?” she asked.
    Janet shook her head, then looked at Cecilia shyly. “Not now. I think I will go find Lucinda and David. Did they mention where they were headed?”
    â€œ Your sister said something about the south orchard.”
    â€œ Oh, yes! There is wonderful holly near the fence.” She left the room as quickly as she had come into it.
    â€œ Someone needs to do these letters,” Cecilia told herself when the house was quiet. She sat down at the desk and looked at the last one Janet had written. She picked up the pen to continue, then set it down, with no more desire to do the job than Lady Janet, evidently. She decided to go below stairs, and see if Lord Trevor had carried out his threat to find silver to polish.
    She laughed out loud when she entered the servants’ dining room to see Lord Trevor, an apron around his waist, sleeves rolled up, rubbing polish on an epergne that was breathtaking in its ugliness. He looked up and grinned at her. “Did ye ever see such a monstrosity?” He looked around her. “And where are my nieces and nephew? Isn’t this supposed to be the time I have ordained for my prosy talk on gratitude and sibling affection?” He put down the cloth, and leaned across the table toward her. “Or is this the time when you scold me roundly for abandoning you to the lions upstairs?”
    â€œ I should,” she told him as she found an apron on a hook and put it around her middle. “Now don’t bamboozle me. Did you leave me to face Lady Janet alone when that letter came from her dearly beloved?”
    â€œ I cannot lie,” he began.
    â€œ Of course you can,” she said, interrupting him. “You are a barrister, after all.”
    He slapped his forehead. “I suppose I deserved that.”
    â€œ You did,” she agreed, picking up a cloth. “For a man who fearlessly stalks the halls of Old Bailey, defending London’s most vulnerable, you’re remarkably cowardly.”
    â€œ Guilty as charged, mum,” he replied cheerfully. “I could never have soothed those ruffled feathers, but it appears that you did.” He turned serious then. “And did my graceless niece apologize, too?”
    â€œ She is not so graceless, sir!” Cecilia chided. “Some people are more tried and sorely vexed by holidays and coming events than others. We did conclude that Sir Lysander is still the best of men, even though he dares not brave epidemics. We have also resolved to make some amends to Lucinda.” She dipped the knife she had been polishing into the water bath. “I, sir, have freed you from the necessity of a prosy lecture! May I return to Bath?”
    â€œ No. You promised to stay,” he reminded her, and handed her a spoon.
    â€œ I’m not needed now,” she pointed out, even as she began to polish it. “Hopefully, Lord and Lady Falstoke will be here at Christmas, which will make the dower house decidedly crowded, unless the repairs at the manor can be finished by then. You will have ample time to get to know your nieces and nephew better, and do you know, I think they might not be as ungrateful as you seem to think.”
    He nodded, and concentrated on the epergne again. She watched his face, and wondered why he seemed to become more serious. Isn’t family good cheer what you want? she asked herself.
    It was a question she