His staff welcomed him heartily, which was nice since Bates had for some reason turned into an icicle, refusing to speak except in curt answers. Well, he’d done the best he could. He’d had no choice but to deliver Caro safely and try to smooth her way. Still, her last quick glance at him haunted his every thought. He did not rejoin his usual group of jolly friends at White’s. If they found out he’d been snowbound for three days he’d face no end of questioning. Worse, ribald comments about buxom serving maids and the like. For some reason the whole imagined conversation made him clench his teeth, saddle Ajax, his favorite horse, and ride through Hyde Park at an early hour. An hour when he’d be unlikely to see anyone he knew, and when he could let Ajax loose. He’d always come home invigorated before. This time he was miserable within half an hour. Nothing worked. Whether he tackled his correspondence or performed his customary duties as an earl, Caro’s beautiful face appeared before his eyes.
What do You think about UnexpectedChristmas (2013)?
