Free A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth; Mansfield Page A

not learn much Latin from me either, I’m afraid. Tell me, Mrs. Noakes, do you not find it difficult to take care of two such lively boys as the twins here?”
    â€œNot me,” the old woman chortled. “It puts a spring in my step, it does, to be in the company of children again. As I told his lordship this morning, when he rode over to take me up, I’d rather be up and doing than lying about on my bed.”
    A voice came from the doorway. “What she said was, ‘Better to wear out my shoes than my sheets!’” The ladies looked up to find Lord Gyllford smiling at them. “I see you and I have come on the same errand, Miss Pennington.”
    â€œAnd what errand is that, sir?” Mrs. Noakes asked.
    â€œTo see how you fare with those young jackanapes,” he answered, loud enough for the boys to hear.
    â€œWe’re fine, Uncle Philip,” said one of the twins, not bothering to look up from the game. “We’ve been very good all day, haven’t we, Mrs. Noakes?”
    â€œLike two angels,” she answered promptly.
    â€œSince it still lacks an hour to midday, it won’t do to praise you yet,” Philip told the boys. “I’ll expect a full report at your bedtime.” Then, turning to Evalyn, he asked quietly, “Well, my dear, are you satisfied?”
    She flushed and turned to Mrs. Noakes. “Good day to you, ma’am. I hope you’ll not hesitate to call on me if you should have any need of my assistance.”
    She turned, and, finding Lord Gyllford holding the door for her, she left the nursery, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. Lord Gyllford walked beside her down the hall. She glanced up at him timidly. “I’m sorry, Lord Gyllford, if I seemed to be concerning myself unduly in the affairs of your household, but I had so hoped to make myself useful.”
    â€œThere’s no need at all for you to feel embarrassment, my dear. I quite understand your feelings. However, Jamie has invited you here for a holiday, and a holiday you shall have. You may as well resign yourself to it.”
    â€œJamie is … I mean, your son is very kind, but I have no wish for him to put you in a position of such … inconvenience on my behalf—”
    Lord Gyllford stopped her with a gesture of impatience and grasped her firmly by the shoulders, turning her so that they faced each other squarely. “Try to understand, Miss Pennington, that Jamie’s wishes exactly match mine in this. We—both of us, and my sister, too—have invited you to be a guest in this house. A guest . It is, and will continue to be, a pleasure for us to make you happy during your stay. Do you understand? Can you not accept the trifling steps we’ve taken to make you comfortable?”
    Evalyn shook her head. “I am more grateful than I can say, but—”
    â€œYou ‘but’ me too many ‘buts,’ young lady. Just say yes.”
    Evalyn looked up at him. His face was close above hers, his eyes looking compellingly into her own. Again, something she saw back in his eyes made her words stick in her throat. Her heart pounded and her chest heaved with emotions completely new to her. She nodded. “Y-yes, my lord,” she managed, and dropped her eyes.
    â€œThank you,” he said quietly, and his hands fell from her shoulders. They turned and walked down the corridor without speaking. At the top of the staircase he turned to her again. “My guests all call me Philip,” he said pointedly, “and I hope you will permit me to call you by your Christian name. Evalyn is a lovely name. It suits you.”
    â€œOf course you may, my lord,” she said.
    â€œNot ‘my lord,’” he corrected. “Philip.”
    She looked up at him, her cheeks crimson. “Oh, I don’t think I …”
    â€œYes, you can. Say it. Philip.”
    His eyes still held that look. She took a breath,