Free A Christmas Bride by Jo Ann Ferguson Page B

beneath the table. How it must hurt him to be false with his grandfather! Wanting to put her hand over his, she could not as the earl asked her how she was feeling in the wake of the accident.
    â€œBetter with each passing hour,” she replied.
    â€œIt must have been horrible,” Felix interjected.
    â€œYes.”
    Timothy’s arm curved around the back of her chair. “I know you all are curious about the events around the accident, as I am, for I do not want to think of something like that happening to Serenity ever again, but speaking of it is certain to unsettle her. I beg your indulgence in speaking of another subject.”
    â€œOf course,” the earl said, aiming a glare at his younger grandson. “We all will keep that in mind.” As he came to his feet, he added, “We shall enjoy so many events in the coming weeks that you shall have no time to let your thoughts linger on what happened, Serenity.”
    â€œSo Timothy has told me.” She was glad when Timothy offered her his hand to help her to her feet. Although she had relished every bite, she had not guessed that the mere task of eating a meal would tire her so much. She wobbled, and he put his arm around her waist again. “Forgive me.”
    â€œThere is nothing to forgive.” Lord Brookindale motioned toward the door. “Timothy, I believe we have kept Serenity too long at our conversation. Will you see that she is settled under Mrs. Scott’s care?”
    â€œThank you,” Serenity said.
    When the old man smiled, she saw a hint of the dashing rogue he must have been a half century before, when he would have been as handsome as his heir. He folded her hand between his. “Rest well, young lady. I don’t want you to miss a moment of the entertainments that these young bucks have planned supposedly for me.”
    â€œFelix has been telling me all about the ball on Christmas Eve,” Melanda said, clearly distressed at being left out of the conversation, for her lips were pursed in a pout. “It will be the very best of anything planned. Better than the mummeries or anything else.”
    Chuckling, the earl replied, “I am looking forward to the good food, but I doubt if I shall do anything as strenuous as riding into the village.” He looked back at Serenity, who wondered if he guessed what a fierce scowl Melanda was wearing now. “However, from what Timothy tells me of your family’s dirty acres, Serenity, I suspect you soon will be in the saddle again. He was relating about your adventures in the hunt with your father’s master of the hounds. You should share the tale of that with Melanda and Felix, if Timothy has not told him already.”
    Serenity did not dare to falter. “My lord—Grandfather, I must own the truth. My memories are a bit unsteady in the wake of the accident. Some parts of my past seem to be gone.” She sighed. “So I don’t recall ever riding to the hunt.”
    â€œDid you know of this, Timothy?” the earl asked, his smile vanishing.
    â€œYes, Grandfather.”
    â€œHave you sent for Mr. Lockins to come and check her to be certain there is no lasting damage?”
    Serenity put her hand on the earl’s arm. “Unless your doctor can reach into my brain and retrieve my memories, there is little he could do. I assured Timothy of that before we left for Cheyney Park this morning. He would not have allowed me to travel if he had been uncertain of my health.”
    â€œAnd because of that, I must insist that Serenity retire now,” Timothy said quietly.
    â€œOf course, of course.” The earl waved his hand in their direction. “I wanted to finish that book before I went to bed, so this will give me a chance.”
    Serenity saw the glance between Felix and Melanda, but could not guess what they were thinking because Timothy led her out of the dining room. He kept his hand on her elbow as he guided her back