Free Christmas Belles by Susan Carroll Page A

parts, sir. Are you lost?"
    "I didn't think so," he muttered. "But now I
am not so sure. Is this Windhaven Manor?"
    "Yes, certainly it is." She studied him
thoughtfully, for the first time appearing to notice the cockaded hat tucked
under his arm. Trent's cloak had shifted open enough to reveal the shaft of his
sword and the gleam of his gold buttons.
    The young lady went pale, her eyes widening in dismay.
    "Oh, by my saints!" she whispered.
"Blackbeard!"
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "N-nothing," she stammered. Friendly enough only a
moment ago, she now took a wary step backward. "Could you possibly be
Captain Trent?"
    "I could—that is, I am. And you are?"
    "Chloe."
    This soft response conveyed nothing to Trent until he
searched his memory. "Oh, you must be Miss Waverly's youngest
sister."
    "Next to the youngest," she said. She started to
offer her hand, withdrew it and curtsied again instead. "Welcome to
Windhaven, Captain."
    "Thank you, Miss Chloe. Though I cannot say it has
proved to be much of a welcome so far. Do you realize that no one came to
answer the front door when I knocked?"
    "That is not surprising. Emma and Polly are likely in
the kitchen with Old Meg. That's way at the back of the house. Lucy is still
abed, and Agnes, when she is reading, would never bother herself about the
door. And as for me, I was—"
    "Beating the bushes for fairies with Peggety. Yes, I
know "
    She finally had the grace to blush.
    Trent continued, "I wasn't aware there were any
children upon the estate."
    "There aren't. Peggety belongs to Sukey Green, who
worked as a housemaid here until she married a sailor from Littledon. That's
our village and near enough that Sukey still visits us. Our cook, Old Meg,
makes the best possets, and Sukey is quite heavy with child and-- "Chloe
paused, looking a little self-conscious. "Er- that is Lucy says that I
should say Mrs. Green is 'in an interesting condition.' "
    "Well, ah, yes. Ahem." Trent gave a deep cough. He
was accustomed to hearing seamen swear with fluency and crack the most lewd of
jests, but he felt embarrassed to be discussing women "in interesting
conditions." He made haste to turn the subject.
    "I did find it strange when we knocked so hard and got
no response. I thought we might at least have raised your butler."
    The most enchanting dimple quivered in Chloe's cheek.
"That would have been quite a feat, sir. Poor Giddings has been dead these
many years, and we have never had another manservant. We always leave the front
door unlatched during the day. Everyone hereabouts knows that."
    "What! Leave the door unlatched so any mendicant might
wander in! And what about thieves?"
    "We have no thieves in this district. Besides, we have
nothing to steal."
    Trent's disapproval must have been obvious, for she tossed
her head slightly. "We trust our neighbors enough to leave the door
unlocked. That is just our way here, Captain." She seemed to be defying
him to change the custom, which Trent had every intention of doing.
    He decided that he had been quite wrong to entertain any
notion of Miss Chloe resembling a sea sprite. No nymph would ever be possessed
of such a stubborn chin. But Trent was not seeking any confrontation at the
moment.
    He let the matter of the door pass, saying, "I did not
mean to sound critical, Miss Chloe. I fear I am a little tired from my journey,
and I would like to pay my respects to your sister."
    "Which one? Oh, you must mean Emma." She looked a
little glum as she reached this conclusion.
     "I suppose your sister has told you that—"
    Chloe cut him off. "Yes, she told us all about
that."
    If Trent had expected any felicitations on his forthcoming
marriage from Miss Chloe, it was obvious he wasn't going to get them.
    "I'll show you into the house now, shall I?" She
brushed past him and set off down the path at an astonishing pace, leaving
Trent to follow as he would.
    She was a very odd young woman, Trent decided as he strode
after her. But he was too relieved at the